Warrior's Moon A Love Story Read Free Page B

to death herself, she is.  What is it you want with her?”
    The stranger gave a mean spirited grin that exposed crooked, blackened teeth.  “She owes my Lord money, she does.  Rent owned on the ground they farmed.  Took out with me master’s rents, they did.”
    Rose shook her head.  “I don’t believe you.  Not for a second, I don’t.  But when she wakes, I’ll tell her you were here.  I will.  Now get on wi’ you.”
    “You tell her that young Lord Rosskeene will have his rents.  If not his rents, then something else.”  He gave her that disgusting smile again.  “You tell her.  I’ll be back.”
    The man left, and Rose grumbled under her breath, “Wicked young master. ‘Tis a shame, that’s what it is.  Lord help us all and what is the world coming to?  Lord Rosskeene has been a good and kind lord, he has, but what’s to become of us when that young one takes over?”
    When Rose told Isabella about him, Isabella sighed sadly.  Tears filled her eyes as she said, “We didn’t owe him money, but it truly wasn’t money he was after.  Even heavy with child, he kept trying to force me to come and work for him in his manor house.  Kalder could see what was happening and when Rosskeene kept raising t he rents to force me to give in . . .  Well, we finally left as secretly as we could to protect me.  And eventually Chantaya.  She looks so much like me.” 
    She closed her eyes and tears seeped out as Peyton’s mother spoke kindly, “Forget that now Isabella. ‘Tis over, it is.  You’re just an uncommon beauty, that’s all.  These spoiled young lords forget their place, I say.  But, there’s not a thing this young Lord Rosskeene can do what with you laid up.  Forget him and focus on getting your strength and your heart back.  There’s a little dark haired angel runnin’ round here who needs some vinegar to keep up with.  You worry about little Chantaya and not some young gentry who takes in too much territory.  You’re safe here.”
    Isabella swallowed and nodded as she whispered, “Thank you, Rose.  Thank you.”
    Just then, Chantaya came running in the door with a tiny handful of squashed wildflowers, raced across the room and launched herself onto her mother’s bed.  Peyton grinned as his mother cautioned Chantaya to be more careful and then Rose smiled and said to Isabella, “See what I mean?”
     
    That night, when Rose told Willem as they lay beside each other, she admitted, “Your Mum would have had a conniption to have seen me talk to the young master’s messenger like that.  She would have thought it disrespectful and completely provocative.  And it probably was, but what’s to be done in times like these?  Isabella’s been through enough and these young bloods are completely run amok.  Heaven help us when the young Master takes over completely.”
    Willem pulled her close.  “Yes, heaven help us.  But Mum was wrong, Rosy.  She didn’t want me off doing something as dangerous as becoming a knight, but we both know there are more important things than life.  God and kingdom.  Honor.  Integrity.  You were right to stand up for Isabella.  We must all stand up against evil if we are ever to have security.  Apathy and selfishness are the most dangerous things of all.  If good citizens say nothing, then evil will prevail. 
    “In truth, I still wish I’d gone to be Sir Broughton’s page.  Even if I’d ended up a knight and killed in battle, it would have been better than watching some of the most powerful men in the kingdom of Monciere become corrupted.  If we stand for nothing, our whole region, nay our very kingdom will fall in time.  Mum was wrong, but we can continue to help our sons understand better than we did.  ‘Tis the only way to bring needed change.”
    Rose gently patted his arm around her and snuggled closer.  “I’m sure we’ll always regret they insisted you stay and choose a safe path, but to me you will always be Sir