Danburgh Castle Read online

  Emma was not alone. In her arms she carried a small child and inside her –she now knew for certain– she carried another.

  “Where are we going, Mammy?” the child asked.

  Emma beamed at him. It had been a blessing and –she believed– a sign, that speech had been gifted to the child only upon her return to the farmstead. “To our new home, Oswald,” she said.

  “Is it far?” he asked.

  “Not so far,” she assured him, kissing his brow.

  Emma’s pride dictated that she walked from the village to Danburgh Castle, to take residence with Lord Robert.

  Since Emma had last set foot in the castle, much had changed. The Lady Fiona had been banished.

  Upon hearing of the matter, and fearing that Lord Robert’s power over the land would be weakened by the severance of his alliance with the Scottish thane, the King had suggested that Lord Robert marry a Norman noblewoman. Lord Robert, however, proposed a less obvious match. He shocked the King by declaring his preference for an English commoner.

  When Emma arrived at Danburgh Castle she was greeted by the woman-servant, so familiar to her from earlier times. The woman was surprised by the manner of the new lady’s transport. “You came on foot?” she asked incredulously.

  “Yes,” Emma replied.

  “But, my lady, it is not safe–”

  “I hope, good woman, that my union with Lord Robert will unite our people and I intend to show that I have trust in this belief by living without fear.”

  Leaving Oswald in the care of the woman, Emma made her way to the great hall of the castle to be greeted by her lord. She found him, sitting in a throne-like chair on a dais at the head of the long banqueting table. His elbow rested on the arm of the chair and his chin rested in his hand. He sat in his tunic and hose, with his legs apart. He watched Emma intently as she walked the length of the table to stand before him.

  Emma could see, as she approached Lord Robert, proof of his pleasure in seeing her, outlined distinctly in his tight hose.

  “Where are my boys?” Lord Robert called to her.

  “The good woman has taken Oswald to meet his younger brother, Harry,” she replied.

  Lord Robert nodded approval. “Now, will you take your place beside me, Lady Emma, as my future wife and the mother of my sons?” he asked, gesturing with his hand to the empty seat.

  “No, my lord,” Emma replied calmly, shaking her head.

  Lord Robert looked at her quizzically.

  “There’s somewhere I would rather sit,” Emma explained, mounting the platform, hitching up her skirts and diving eagerly upon him.

  ***

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  Also by the author:

  Elizabeth Clansham - a contemporary novella set in the Scottish Highlands – available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Clansham-ebook/dp/B005LFNWDG

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-Clansham-ebook/dp/B005LFNWDG

  The Beacon Singer - a contemporary novel set in the English Lake District – available on Kindle:

  http://www.amazon.com/The-Beacon-Singer-ebook/dp/B006BYDHQS

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Beacon-Singer-ebook/dp/B006BYDHQS

  For information on the author and her other publications, please visit Catherine E. Chapman’s profile page on Amazon:

  http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-E.-Chapman/e/B005LG8HVM

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Catherine-E.-Chapman/e/B005LG8HVM

  For current news, see Catherine’s blog:

  http://www.romanceornotromance.wordpress.com

  Catherine is also on Twitter:

  http://twitter.com/CathEChapman