The Rose Of Lorraine Part 39

John offered her his arm. "Very well, we will go down and tell the comte our farewells together."

"I want to tell him the truth before I go, John. And I want you to make him go to Chandos Enceinte with me."

John took a deep breath. "What purpose would that serve, Bella? You would deliberately break his

heart?"

"No." Bella shook her head. "Look, Chandos, how do you think my family felt the day I disappeared?

They've been grieving for me all this time we've known each other. Comte Saint Pierre has the right to know the truth."

"Bella, he won't understand the truth. Even I do not understand it."

Desperate, Bella argued. "You have to do something. I can't bear to leave her father here. You can make him go with us."

"And how would I do that? Do I draw my sword and hack his retainers to pieces in his very house? Shall I bind and gag an old man and cart him against his will to a s.h.i.+p? Don't be absurd, Bella." "He's old. He'll die when this city goes under siege." "You don't know that," Sir John quickly countered. "I do. I know that all these people here are going to starve....August 4th, Chandos. Almost a year from now... that's how long its going to take." "They each make their own choice. Just because you know the future does not give you the right to make choices for others. G.o.d allows us free will. So must you, Bella. Here, there is honor in surrendering to a greater force."

"Would you do it? Surrender to a greater force?"

"Thus far Bella, I have not had to. Come, you are upsetting yourself needlessly as well as meddling where you have not the right to interfere. Say nothing more. I will extend to Isabella's father the invitation to my home. More than that you cannot ask of me nor of him. The Comte also has his pride. Now take my arm and conduct yourself with the dignity required of you."

"That says it all, doesn't it? I don't belong here, I never did...and I never will so long as...."

"Bella! I am in no mood for this discussion. It is not the time nor the place to resolve this."

"Why? You don't have to feel obligated to look out after me. I would as soon remain here, where I

could be of greater use and feel needed, as to be shuffled back to England where I must twiddle my

thumbs and wait for you and your king to tire of playing war."

"Is that what you think?" he sparked in anger. Reaching out for her, he took hold of her upper arms, drawing her to him, shaking her rather gently. "So I only look after you from obligation, do I?"

"It's true, isn't it?"

"Nay, Bella. I look after you for love. You have become my heart and soul. I am no good with words, not like you are. You twist me inside. It is agony to see you cry.

Would that I rather face a thousand armed men in battle than deal with a woman's tears."

His voice broke and he crushed her to him. His mouth sealed on hers, speaking more eloquently the real truth between them. He kissed the dampness from her eyes then held her gently in his arms.

"Bella, you are my wife. Stubborn, headstrong and willful are the least of your faults and graces, aye, but you are my wife none the less. You aren't some foundling cast onto this earth to wander about aimlessly spouting doom and gloom. G.o.d gave you to me for a purpose. And I shall keep you the way I see fit. Sometimes you will not like that, but so it is the way it must be. Now. Do you cease this pouting because you haven't had your way, or do I tip you over my knee and settle this argument the only way G.o.d empowers a man age to deal with his woman's tears?"

"With brute force?" Bella exclaimed. "How can you say that after telling me so sweetly that you loved me? Oh!"

"Because I know of no other means allowed to me to use as defense against your tears. G.o.d gave women tears. All he gave us poor men are our fists. One is no contest against the other. Your tears melt the most hardened heart. Cease, Bella. Give in to me on this. I will find some way to make it up to you. I promise you no matter what fate befalls this city, the Comte St. Pierre will not be harmed. Somehow I will find a way to see us all through these perilous times."

"You will?" Bella asked, but she didn't really have to. She could see the truth s.h.i.+ning from his determined eyes. "Oh, Chandos, I do love you so. You are the most n.o.ble, most wonderful man I have ever met in two lifetimes."

"You love me?" he asked incredulously. "Is that true, Bella?"

"Oh, aye," she whispered, hugging him for dear life itself. "I will love you always and forever. G.o.d gave you to me, John de Chandos. You touched me and woke me up to see and feel all the colors in the rainbow. You are my life, now and forever more."

Epilogue.

"Maman! Maman! Vite, vite!" Henri shouted from the edge of the allure. "The Christopher! It has come!"

Bella rose from her comfortable chaise in the garden, startled by Henri's urgent call. Clarise was quick to take tiny Gracie from her mother's agitated arms. "Go on then, milady. You've been waiting long for this s.h.i.+p to come in."

"Thank you, Clarise," Bella flashed a smile as she s.n.a.t.c.hed up her hems and started running with everyone else in the castle for the watergate. By the time Bella reached the castle's dock, Sir Neville had the gates open wide.

Henri gave a hoop for joy and bounded up the gangplank and into his father's arms. "Papa!" Henri spilled the news.

"We've got a baby sister, finally!"

Bella hurried after him, grinning. She was swept up in the same encompa.s.sing arms and kissed soundly.

"Qu'est-ce que c'est, mon couer?" demanded Eustace Saint Pierre.

Bella turned in Chandos' arms and saw the comte waiting impatiently with Robin, Geoffrey and James

Graham to also be greeted properly.

"Oh, Papa," Bella said. "You look so thin."

"Nonsense!" he declared, proudly patting the lost bulk of his waistline. "I've never felt better in my life.

Come here and kiss your father, you ungrateful child, and tell me about this new bebe of yours? Who does she look like? Is she a Saint Pierre or another blasted Chandos?"

Bella looked at Henri and nodded that he could tell what his little sister looked like.

"She's got black hair, Grandpere, and can scream louder than all us men combined!"

"Ach," the old man said, kissing both of Bella's blooming cheeks. "That's the way of it, Chandos. You'll have no peace from this day forward."

Chandos smiled. Bella cast him a wink and went on to greet Geoffrey and Robin. In her new contentment she even found she could welcome Sir James with hugs and kisses. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary, those icy blue eyes of his searching her happy face.

"You have changed, lady," he admitted. "You are not the same woman, I think." Bella smiled puckishly. "What makes you say that?" He brought his hand up, touching her jaw, turning her face slightly more toward the sun. "I can't explain it, lady. Someday, when we're both old and gray, maybe we will talk about it. Until then, I remain your servant, always."

He bowed formally and touched his lips to the back of her hand once more.

"Thank you, Sir James." Bella smiled and turned to greet the king and the Black Prince. Both were all in one piece and home again. The war was as over as it could be for now. Calais belonged to Edward the Third.

But for Bella what mattered most was the tiny daughter she proudly placed in her husband's strong and

capable hands.

"Did you suffer?" he asked Bella, almost oblivious to the tiny girl squirming and waving her arms to gain his undivided attention.

"Honestly, no." Bella laughed. "All children should be born as easily as this little darling was."

Chandos looked down at the baby girl who had twisted enough to loosen her cap. Tufts of Chandos black hair sprouted from her little head, but her eyes were that indiscriminate color that in good time

would be the same ginger as her mother's.

Bella leaned over his arm, admiring her daughter. "She's not exactly perfect, my lord husband." "Oh?" Chandos scowled, examining the infant more closely. He counted arms, legs and fingers in the blink of his eye.

Bella's lips twitched. She had everyone's rapt attention as she reached across Sir John's strong arm and lifted off the baby's embroidered cap.

"Ha!" Geoffrey shouted. "Look, she's got ears just like me."

Bella laughed and for once she slid her thick hair behind one ear and winked at Geoffrey. "And...just like me!"

Robin colored to the roots of his hair, and muttered, "I'll be d.a.m.ned."

"Whisht!" James Graham growled. "There's ladies present." He offered the tiny miss in her father's arms a battle scarred finger to grasp, asking, "Have ye christened the wee la.s.sie?"

"Well, there really hasn't been time," Bella answered. "Besides, I had to wait for her father and all of her G.o.dfathers to come home. You certainly took your time. Father Kerwin's about beside himself, offering prayers for safe voyages and heathen, unbaptized babies. First stop, Chandos Chapel. Young Grace needs a real name."

"Grace suits her fine." Chandos laughed, deeply pleased and amazed. He bent his head to kiss Bella. Robin leaned over his father's shoulder and Geoffrey poked his head in from the other side. "I dunno," Geoffrey said, shaking his head. "With ears like that, she looks more like a weasel to me." Robin hooted in delight. "Ha! Weazie it is, then." To Bella's chagrin, Weazie stuck for years and years.

Author's Notes:.

According to history, Calais fell in siege on August 4, 1347. King Edward's terms of surrender were severe. He called for heads of six prominent burghers and the keys of the city. With the death of six, he would allow those who remained within Calais walls to live.

Upon hearing the terms mayor Jeanne de Vienne wept. Then the richest man in town, Eustace Saint Pierre stood up and said. "Gentlemen, it would be great pity to suffer so many people to die of starvation, if means there be to prevent it. If that were possible, such means would please our Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe that if I die to save my townsmen, I shall find grace with G.o.d. I will be the first of the six."

Then a second man, John Daire, stood and said, "I will be second." His cousin James Wisant and his brother, Peter came next. In all six volunteered to die so that the rest of Calais could live.

"Cut off their heads," King Edward commanded. All those present entreated the king to have mercy. Queen Phillipa is said to have fallen to her knees, begging the king to spare their lives. King Edward responded to his queen, "Lady, I wish you had been anywhere but here. I can not refuse you. I give them to you; do with them as you please."

The queen conducted them to her apartments, clothed them, fed them and sent them on their way in safety.

It was Eustace Saint Pierre's sacrifice that inspired me to write The Rose of Lorraine. I hope I have done him justice as well as each beloved historical character whose lives I drew upon to craft this story. John de Chandos lived and was one of the most chivalrous, n.o.ble knights of his times. King Edward said that of all the men he knew, only John de Chandos could have prevented the war with France. He was truly le plus ill.u.s.tre chevallier du monde--the most n.o.ble man in the world.

Visitors to the Jardin Richelieu in Calais can see the six Burghers commemorated by Rodin in sculpture. Curiously, Rodin's models for these statues can be seen in the McNay Inst.i.tute's permanent collection in San Antonio, Texas. I cannot say how many times I have studied those sculptures at the McNay in rapt fascination, visualizing the people and events that inspired such magnificent art. Like Bella, I was drawn to their mystery and fell in love with this cruel and uniquely chivalrous time.

end.