A Fall Through Time (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #1) (12 page)

Eric and Stacey talked into the night and he pleaded with her, “I beseech ye my love, do not try to change things too fast.  I know ye and ye will want to make life better for the villeins.  We will do what we can, but ye cannot change this world overnight.  My first duty be to keep ye safe.  We have talked of this before and ye know our history.  It be a dangerous and bloody time.  I would keep ye and our bairns safe from all harm. Stacey knew he was right and she loved him even more for it.  She knew Eric was a good man and a good overlord.  She knew she had much to learn of his time.  In her head and heart, Stacey wondered if loving Eric so much was what kept her from returning to her own time.  She missed all of her loved ones back there, but she loved Eric more.  Only time could tell what the future would hold.

The Understanding

T
he earl and countess reached Dun-Raven a few days later.  Everyone was happy to have Miss Stacey back.  They were even happier to hear she was now, the Countess of Dun-Raven. They had been back at Dun-Raven two months when a messenger from Finwick arrived.  Eric read the letter and said, “Well, my uncle Hugh be dead and his wife wants to go live with my cousin Mary and her family. Aunt Agnes said before uncle Hugh died, that he confessed to the priest that he had wronged me by poisoning both my father and Frances.  He truly thought Dun-Raven should be his and not be bequeathed to a boy.  He thought I would die in the service of the king.  “Mother was right,” he said. “She had suspected him all along.”

“I’m so sorry,” Stacey said. 

“Don not be, sweetheart, he be a rouge.  I knew he hoped for sons.  Thank god, he only had daughters.” 

“Who are you sending to Finwick?”  Stacey inquired.

Eric smiled at Stacey and said, “I am sure ye have someone in mind.” 

Stacey said with all the innocence she could muster, “That’s your decision, husband.”

The next day Katherine sought Stacey out to tell her that his lordship had asked Giles to take possession of Finwick for him. He will ask the king to make Giles a baron. “I’m so happy for you, but I will miss you sorely.  After you’re all settled in, may Callie come back and help me?” 

“Of course,” Lady Katherine said with a knowing smile.  She knew Rodric and Callie were in love.  This would be the answer for both of them.

Stacey’s days were filled with learning how to run a castle.  Lady Katherine was right when she told her that she would not always be there that it was her duty to know everything.  That way there was no waste, cheating or pilfering. Some men think women are stupid.  They will try what they can, it be human nature.

Stacey’s and Eric’s nights were filled with making love, for her it was no surprise in February when she knew for sure that she was pregnant. When she told Eric, he was overjoyed but asked, “How did this happen?” 

Stacey laughed and said, “You silly man, what did you think would happen when we make love every night?” 

Stacey knew he was happy about the baby, but something was bothering him.

Later that afternoon when Stacey came upstairs to rest awhile, Franklin was moving Eric’s things out of their solar.

“What are you doing, Franklin?”  Stacey asked.

“Moving his lordship’s things to another solar,” he said.

“Why?” she asked and then said, “Never mind, I’ll take care of this.  Leave everything where it is.”

When Eric came in to wash up for the eventide meal, Stacey kissed him when he came into the hall.  She had been doing this for two months, but this time he held her back from him.  As always, there were people in the hall ready to eat. Stacey said nothing until after the meal. Eric and Langston went into the parlor to attend to business. Stacey gave them time, then went to the door and knocked. When Langston answered, Stacey said, “Will you excuse us please, Langston?  I need to speak with my husband.”

“Of course, my lady,” Langston said. 

When Stacey came in, Eric smiled at her and asked, “What do ye need, sweetheart?” 

“I need you,” Stacey said. 

“I am here, my love.  What do ye need?” 

“I need you to stop telling Franklin to move your belongings out of our solar.” 

“My love, I do not want to move out but there is the babe to consider.” 

“Well,” Stacey said, “in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not Frances.  I didn’t have my head screwed up in a convent.  You are my husband, your place is in my bed and by god that’s where you’ll be as long as you’re married to me.”

“What about the babe?” he asked.

“Eric, listen to me, this child is safe deep within me.  It is no bigger than your thumb.  As long as I’m healthy, making love can’t hurt it.  Even when I’m close to the end of my pregnancy and we can’t make love I still expect you to sleep in our bed.  I didn’t get with child by myself.  I expect you to be there with me through the good and the bad. Are we clear on this?”

Eric came around the writing table, took Stacey in his arms and said, “Yes, my love, I believe we be.” 

Eric kissed her.  Not just a peck, but a sensual soul tingling kiss.  He picked her up and carried her upstairs to their solar.

Langston told Franklin, “Well, it appears business must wait while other business be taken care of.” They both laughed and said goodnight.

***

I
n the late spring, a Tinker arrived with all his wares and asked permission to bring his cart into the bailey. People who needed his wares quickly surrounded him. Molly needed needles and thread along with a few trinkets to brighten the gowns she made. Stacey came to look at the many things he had for sale. This was the first time she had seen a tinker on the castle grounds. As she was asking about his many wears, he looked at her strangely and asked, “Do you find anything that suits your fancy, m’lady?”

Stacey stopped looking through his items and looked at him. He was smiling and chatting with his customers as they gathered round, but she could feel his eyes on her without looking at him. She turned

and started back into the castle, when the woman with him said, “M’lady, might we bring some lovely things into the hall for ye too choose from?”

“Yes, of course, but wait until the morrow. Let our people choose first.”

Stacey knew she was nervous, but didn’t know why. She walked upstairs and watched the Tinker from her window as she wondered what there was about him that seemed so familiar. Whatever is was it was eerie. After Langston finished the financial transaction with the Tinker, the countess waited for him and asked, “Langston, how well do you know this Tinker?”

“Not at all, m’lady,” he said with a frown. “This be his first time on the castle grounds. If ye find some fault with him m’lady, I will send him packing.”

“No, no, Langston, leave him be. I was merely curious about...I’m not sure what. He and his wife seem to be honest people.”

“Yes, m’lady, we would tolerate no less at Dun-Raven,” he said with a smile.

The next morning, after breaking the fast, the Tinker’s wife brought a few things in for the countess to see. While inspecting the merchandise Stacey asked a few innocent questions, “Do you enjoy the traveling life?”

“Aye, m’lady, tis the only life I have ever known. Me dad was a tinker a’fore he died and my John took his place.”

“Were you born here in Yorkshire and John is your husband?”

“Aye, m’lady, we be wed most three summers now and no, I not be from Yorkshire, I be from the south. I don’t rightly know the name of the place, as we never stayed long in one place or the other. John says one day we’ll settle and have a nice little shop in town.”

“I hope you do, I’m sorry, I don’t know your name,” Stacey said.

“Gretchen, that be me name, m’lady. Do you fancy more than the lace, m’lady?”

“This lace is beautiful, Gretchen. Is it Irish lace? Do you think you’ll be back this way next spring, my babe should almost be walking by then,” Stacey said as she laid her hand protectively on her stomach.

“Aye, m’lady, tis lovely Irish lace and I have no way of knowing where we’ll be next spring. I must go m’lady, John will be waiting.”

“Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to hold you up,” Stacey said as she paid for the lace. “I hope to see you again next spring.” Stacey watched her walk out the door, still wondering what was there about her and her husband John that held her interest. She was putting the lace in her sewing box when it dawned on her. Oh, my god, she thought, to herself; it can’t possibly be. Well, why not, you’re here a voice in her head said. She was up and to the stairs when she met Eric coming up. As soon as Eric saw her face, he asked, “What be wrong, sweetheart, ye look as if ye have seen a ghost?”

Stacey wasn’t sure if she should tell him or not. He had enough to cope with trying to understand her world and protect her in his world. “Sorry, my love, I had a cramp and I thought it was the babe. I was just being over cautious,” Stacey said. She thought, it might be best for them and for her not to pursue it any further. However, she told herself; I am almost positive when they spoke English they contracted their verbs the same as I do. That was what I recognized, but couldn’t put my finger on it. Stacey wanted to tell Eric, but didn’t want to cause the couple trouble or put them in danger. She knew Eric could or would send soldiers after them if she asked him to, but she didn’t want that. She knew how hard it was to keep secrets in a castle full of people. Finally, she decided it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie. If the couple came back next spring, she would talk to them in private.

The New Viscount

S
tacey’s pregnancy had been very easy with very little morning sickness.  She knew she was healthy

and she hoped and prayed the baby would be healthy too.  She was now living in a time when life expectancy for children left much to be desired.  There were no antibiotics and no immunization, nothing but good care and love.  Stacey felt she was ahead of the game, because she had knowledge from the future. Over the months, she had been telling Eric that he was to deliver their baby.  Eric almost went crazy when she told him her plan. “I will find ye a midwife my love. I know nothing of birthing a child.”

“If I can go through the pain of delivery, surely you can catch it when it comes out,” Stacey informed him.  She explained to Eric that she didn’t trust other people to have germ free hands.  If dirty hands touched her or the baby, they could get an infection and die. Considering the alternative, Eric agreed.  Stacey had miscounted the months; she thought the baby would be born in September.  When she woke up with pains on August sixteenth, thirteen-seventy- one, she new she had miscalculated the time.  She woke Eric and told him to get Alice and Nicole.  She told Alice to boil lots of water just as she had been telling her.

“We’ll need boiled water, clean sheets and cloths, the oil cloth, vinegar string and scissors,” Stacey told Nicole. “We will do this just as we have been practicing.”

Stacey spent the time pacing the floor.  Eric was pale and tried to get Stacey to sit down, but she insisted it was better for her to walk.  She told Eric to go eat. 

“No, love, I do not want to leave ye.” 

“You’re so sweet and I love you, but please go, Eric,” Stacey insisted. “It will be awhile yet.  If I need you, I will call. I need you strong; I don’t want you to pass out on me.”

Eric felt affronted, so he said with some indignation, “I am not a weakling, Stacey.  I have seen blood before.” However, he went to eat just the same.  Stacey made sure the scissors and string were boiled in a water and vinegar solution.  Around two in the afternoon Stacey’s water broke.  Then a pain came that was so severe she had to sit down on the floor and could not get up. Eric picked her up and laid her on the bed; her contractions were coming hard and fast.  Her gown and hair were soaking wet. Eric wiped her face with a cool cloth, Stacey had another hard contraction, and said, “Look Eric, what do you see?”

“The head I think,” he said.  

“Listen to me Eric; when I contract again, if the head is out, bend the little shoulders and help him out.” 

“Him?” Eric said. “How do ye know he be a lad?”

When Stacey had another hard contraction she said, “For god’s sake Eric, just do it.”

Therefore, he did and with the next contraction out slid a beautiful dark haired baby boy.  Eric tied and cut the cord, then laid the baby in his mother’s arms and took care of the placenta.  Eric washed and padded her then brought a pan of water to wash the baby.  The baby was lying quietly in his mother’s arms blinking and looking at his parents. Stacey laughed at him and said, “Do you suppose he is trying to decide if he wants us for parents or not.”

Eric touched his tiny hand and said, “If that be the case, he be stuck with us my love. He be a most handsome lad, I would not trade him.”

Eric brought the pan of water for Stacey to bathe the baby that was when he started to cry.  When she heard the baby’s cry, Stacey said with a laugh, “Well, he’s a real boy, he doesn’t wanna’ wash.”

Eric laughed too, but confessed he had never been so frightened in his entire life.”

When Stacey had the baby clean and in a thin blanket, she handed him to Eric.  He leaned over, gave her a kiss and said, “Thank ye my love; this be a wonderful gift ye have given me.” 

Stacey smiled and said, “Well, it was only fair, you gave him to me first.”  She had explained to Eric about the male sperm determining the sex of the child.  Eric was amazed by all the scientific

information the future held.  He never tired of asking Stacey questions.

Stacey and Eric named their son Geoffrey Shane FitzMorgan.  After he fed at his mother’s breast, he slept.  Stacey was up the next day, but she and the baby stayed in their solar.  Stacey wanted him strong before people were touching him and getting too close.  She knew that people in the middle ages didn’t understand about germs, therefore she tried to be very careful.

Eric would try to finish his business each day, so that he could be there for the six o’clock feeding.  He never realized how much a father could love and want to protect someone so tiny.  He loved Stacey and knew she could take care of herself, if need be; but this tiny little person was his to protect.  Most of all he loved watching him with Stacey.  He did not want to leave them in the mornings and could hardly wait to get back to them at eventide.