Page 379 of Historical Hotties
Gisella followed simply because she was told to. It was better than standing around, worrying. Unhappy, she let Sparrow lead her out of the reception room and into the entry hall. Sparrow tried to take her into the big room with the Roman tiles on the floor but Gisella pulled towards the front door and Sparrow relented, following her out into the warm day.
The sun was out overhead and the humidity from the river was stronger here than in the house. There was the house in its “U” shape, a pebble path leading from it, through the gardens, and then to the drive and wide courtyard area where the soldiers were gathering. Gisella was practically towing Sparrow towards the courtyard but Sparrow convinced her to wander through thegarden a bit and admire some of the lovely flowers. From their position in the garden, they could see the activity with the troops more clearly and Gisella seemed to calm somewhat. As long as she was close to the action and could see Bastian, her mood was better. Coming upon a carved stone bench, Sparrow forced Gisella to sit down beside her.
“Now,” Sparrow said quietly. “Tell me what is going on with you and Sir Bastian. Honestly, Gigi, you are acting like a woman in love. I have never seen you so distraught over a man.”
Gisella looked at her friend sharply. “In love?” she repeated, shocked, but just as quickly, the idea settled with her. She mulled it over. Then she turned to look at Bastian as he mingled with his knights, a head taller than the rest of them, and her heart swelled enormously. “I… I am not entirely sure if I am in love with him, but I certainly care for him. He is kind and quite wonderful.”
Sparrow’s gaze lingered on Bastian, too. “Then what is not to love about him?” she asked, her gaze moving to Gannon and wondering if someday she would love someone, too. “I can see a change in you, my friend. I think you have fallen in love with your husband.”
Gisella wasn’t startled by the idea the second time. Her gaze stayed on Bastian and she began to reflect on their relationship in just these few short days. After a moment, she sighed. “It seems like a lifetime ago that we met,” she murmured. “Was it really only a few days ago? That is so difficult to imagine. I feel as if I have been around him my entire life.”
Sparrow grinned, holding her hand. “I am so happy for you,” she said, giving her a hug. “After your terrible beginning with him, I was not entirely sure you would even like him. It seems that you do.”
Gisella looked at Sparrow and, seeing her grin, began to laugh. “I do,” she agreed, joy in her heart that she couldn’t begin to describe. “I do very much.”
Sparrow nodded. “I can tell,” she said. “But you must now do what all wives of great warriors do– you must let him do what he must do. You cannot stop him, Gigi. If you try, you will only make yourself miserable. You have seen enough knights and warriors to know this.”
Gisella’s smile faded, thinking of Bastian going to war against Suffolk because of her. It was enough to make her feel sick again. As she sat there with Sparrow and worried, Bastian and Sir Andrew headed in her direction. She watched them approach, her heart beating wildly at the sight of Bastian, swelling with joy. Perhaps Sparrow was right. Perhaps shewasin love with him. She couldn’t explain her feelings any other way.
“Lady de Russe,” Bastian greeted her with a smile on his lips. “It is agreeable to see you out here. Are you sure it is not too hot in the sun for you?”
Gisella smiled up at him, focused on him as if he were the only person in the entire world. “Nay,” she said. “It is a lovely day. We were just sitting here and enjoying the garden.”
She made it sound quite innocent and Sparrow cast her a somewhat disbelieving look, but Gisella ignored her. Bastian, however, didn’t see Sparrow’s expression. Much like his wife, he seemed to be singularly focused, only upon her.
“The river makes it a bit sticky, but it is not too terrible,” he said. Then, he indicated Andrew, standing to his right. “My lady, you remember Andrew Wellesbourne, of course.”
Gisella nodded. “Of course,” she said. “Welcome to Braidwood, Sir Andrew.”
Andrew was without his helm this morning and displaying a full head of curly blond hair. He nodded politely to Gisella’s statement.
“Thank you, Lady de Russe,” he said. “I only wish the circumstances were happier.”
Gisella’s smile faded somewhat. “As do I,” she said. “You brought more men with you, I see.”
Andrew nodded, glancing at Bastian to make sure the man approved of him commenting on such a thing. Bastian didn’t seem opposed to it so Andrew continued.
“I did, my lady,” he said. “May I be honest and say that Bastian told me what happened with Thomas de la Pole. The man shall be punished for what he did. It is inexcusable.”
Gisella nodded. Then, she simply turned and walked away. She was afraid if she remained and there was more discussion about the impending military action, she might break down and she did not want to do that in front of Andrew. She was already dangerously brittle this morning, emotions she had never experienced before swamping her. She had never had to deal with having someone she adored heading off to battle. Aye, she adored him. To think of something happening to Bastian brought tears to her eyes and as she headed into the kitchen, to the rear of the gardens, someone grasped her gently by the arm.
“Wait,” Bastian said softly. “Where are you going?”
Gisella shook her head. Then, the tears came, tears she had been trying very hard to stave off.
“I… I am going into the kitchen,” she said tightly. “Mayhap your knights would like some refreshment. I was going to see to it.”
Bastian looked at her lowered head, seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks no matter how swiftly she tried to wipe them away, and his heart ached. It had never ached for anyone the way it was aching for her.
“Gigi,” he said softly. “Sweetheart, I know this may seem overwhelming to you, but you understand why I am doing this. You understand that I must.”
She nodded, wiping quickly at her nose. “I know,” she said, not oblivious to the fact that he had called her by a tender pet name. “I know that you are doing what you feel is right and I am sorry that I am not supportive of your call to arms. I will do better, I promise.”
She turned away from him, heading into the kitchen again, but he stopped her, this time with both hands. He pulled her into an embrace, feeling her instantly cling to him, holding on to him tightly. Her reaction nearly broke his heart.
“I do not want you to do better,” he whispered. “I have never had anyone feel so strongly about my leaving for battle. But I want you to understand that I will not go to arms unless it is absolutely necessary. The men you see here today are men that will go with me to Wallingford Castle as a show of force. I want Suffolk to see that I am quite serious about him turning his brother over to me and a show of force is part of that presentation. Does that make sense?”
She nodded, pulling gently from his embrace so that she could wipe at the tears on her face. “It does,” she said. “But I still do not like it. If Suffolk does not agree to your demand, these men will go to battle all because of a slap. Men should not die because of a slap, Bastian.”
