Lord Liar Part 8

Perhaps she would never see him again, so these last seconds were important--she must remember his image, if only to remind herself of the kind of man never to trust! It was a simple matter for Aldyth to persuade her father to return home. After all, Ranulf had left, and paying their respects to their liege 1ord's heir had been the reason for the journey to begin with.

"Wouldn't you like to stay a fortnight or so longer, daughter? I would come and escort you back," her father offered.

She knew he was surprised at her eagerness to leave. Normally she loved her visits to Kingsclere and spent the time chatting with the lovely countess and romping with the twins, Adele and Agathe, whom she had tended as babes.

"Nay, Father. It's been pleasant, but I have much to do at Sherborne.

There are apples to put up, herbs to dry, and I need to plan which of the livestock to slaughter for the winter meat . " On the following morning, after they had bidden the earl and his lady a fond farewell and set their mounts on the road back to Sherborne, Aldyth broached the matter that had lain heavily on her mind ever since the day before.

"Father, I have decided I do not wish to marry." Sir Nyle nearly dropped his reins.

"Not wish to marry?

What means this, Aldyth? Can it be you have discovered a religious vocation?

I never thought to see you a nun rather than a wife and mother, but if 'tis your sincere desire. " The thought was so ridiculous she laughed.

"Nay, father, of course not! Can you picture me a meek and holy nun, praying all day and half the night and following some abbess's orders?

"Tis just that I have decided that--that the wedded life does not sound agreeable, either. I wish to just continue as we have been, Father. I will be your chat elaine and you need never fear growing old without me at your side, helping you whenever you need it."

"I thank you very much, daughter, but I am not yet in my dotage!" Sir Nyle snapped, then sighed heavily.

"And my still-nimble brain reminds me that what you have just proposed, though motivated no doubt by filial love, is out of the question. As much as I would keep you by my side forever, child, I know I cannot. I have already done so too long or you would not have gotten such an idea in your pretty head."

"Father, but I" -- She saw his mouth tighten.

"Aldyth, however we would wish it were otherwise, there are only two places for women in this life--the convent or the marriage bed. It's time you chose one or the other."

Her mind spun in confused circles.

"But why, Father, why?" Why was he speaking so now, when he had never before urged her to marry? She had been turning the pleas51 ant young lads who would court her away from Sherborne ever since she had returned from living at Kingsclere!

Sir Nyle sighed again and wiped his brow. He clucked to his horse and motioned for both of them to ride a little ahead of their escort.

"I merely realized I've been soft with you for too long, Aldyth. You ought to have been a young wife with babes of your own by now. Yes, and you would have been, too, but your father was too selfish to see it."

Aldyth put out a hand to her father's wrist.

"You've been talking to G.o.dtic, haven't you?" She should have foreseen that her brothefts worry would lead him to talk to their father.

G.o.dric was so worried she would fall afoul of Ranulf or some Norman lordling like him that he had felt bound to interfere.

If only she could have rea.s.sured him that she preferred to marry no one, to continue keeping house for their father.

A new thought struck her. Had he told their father how he had found Ranulf and her in the stable? She did not want there to be bad blood between her father and the man who might well be his overlord someday, if Sir Nyle lived longer than Lord ltienne.

Sir Nyle waved a hand.

"Now, G.o.dric didn't say anything I hadn't been thinking.

"Tis just that I am growing older, daughter--my bones remind me of it every morning. I will not always be around to protect you" -- The thought cut her to the heart.

"Father, you're not ill, are you?

Have you been hiding something from me? "

"Nay, Aldyth, be calm. I am as hale as a man of my years could hope to be, but I do not deceive myself I shall live forever. I" -- "But you will be here for many years, please G.o.d," she said quickly, "and then, like as not, G.o.dric will be castellan at Sherborne. I can keep house for him, as well,"

she said, aware of the desperation in her voice. If G.o.dric minds his temper, she thought, and learns to accept reality, he will be castellan at Sherborne someday. If not. Sir Nyle's voice was becoming exasperated.

"G.o.dric will marry someday, in the fullness of time. And he will bring his bride home to Sherborne, and she will expect to be mistress there. A keep cannot have two chatelaines, Aldyth, you know that."

Another woman mistress of Sherborne? Aldyth bristled at the thought, forgetting that only days ago she had dreamed of the day she would wed Ranulf and become the lady of his castle, leaving her beloved home behind.

"In the past you have turned away several young men who would have made good husbands for you. Some of them are still unwed. I want you to reconsider them, daughter," Sir Nyle continued, chewing on a hunk of the excellent cheese the countess had sent along.

"There axe plenty of young knights, as well, who would wed you in a "

Normans, all of them," she retorted with asperity, " and only too glad to point out what a favor they were doing a humble English caste Ban even as they used the dowry the earl was kind enough to give. Nay, Father, G.o.dtic is right.

The English should keep to their own kind. " " Would your feelings have anything to do with the change in young Lord Ranulf? " her father asked, eyeing her keenly.

She looked away, lest her father see her wince. '"Twas but a girlish fancy, and calf love on his part, if anything. I'm ready to put away chiIdish things, Father."

He looked relieved.

"Well then, what about young Harold?"

Her father certainly meant to get down to business without further delay, she thought, startled anew.

"Too fat,"

she said.

"Yes, now that you mention it, I thought so too, though he has a kind nature.

What think you of Allwin of Eastham Farm?"

"That pimply fellow who drinks overmuch? Father, he couldn't even ride from his land to our keep without a skin of wine on his saddle. I think he was far more enamored of our cellar than of me!"

"Osbert Osbertsson, then? He has a huge holding between Sherborne and Odiham."

"And six children from his late wife, whom he killed with bearing them in six years. And he has a shrewish mother living there. She'd make my life wearisome, if I survived Osbert's demands."

"Aldyth" -- her father began in a warning tone. "Father, each one you've suggested is worse than the last!

I'd rather live out my life in a convent than wed anyone like those men! "

"Nay, daughter, do not fret. We'll find someone suitable," he said placatingly. Then he snapped his fingers.

"I.