Brigid glanced at her father, but he looked down at her and smiled broadly, which made the girl realise that she was being married off. Being given away without asking her. She knew it would happen someday, that it was the fate of every daughter, but now that the moment had finally arrived, the girl's soul shrieked with indignation.
– Father… But how can I leave you and my mother? – Brigid whispered with pain in her heart.
But it was not the pain of future separation from her parents: her heart sobbed at the realisation that it was not William Tury who would be her husband, but Philip Norton! She had warm feelings for him, of course, but only as the brother of her best friend… She knew nothing about him! She had seen him so seldom, only a few times in her life, for he had spent all his childhood with his knight uncle, and then had disappeared for five years in Europe, fighting for Henry and the interests of England. And though she saw William as seldom as she had once seen Philip, William seemed to her the nearest and most familiar creature in the world after her dear Alienor.
– It is time for you to marry a worthy man, my daughter, and Sir Norton is such a man. He will make you happy and give you many healthy and beautiful children. – Sir Guise touched his daughter's shoulder again, as if to encourage her, but she knew that her father was telling her to shut up and silently accept his will.
And the girl was so used to obeying that she smiled falsely, nodded her head in agreement, and, as a woman should, lowered her gaze to the floor.
– Are you not pleased, my lady? – Philip frowned slightly. He had expected a completely different reaction: he had always thought that this beautiful woman had tender feelings for him and only waited for his return. The fright and rejection that involuntarily appeared on Miss Guise's face saddened him.
Hearing Philip's voice, Brigid blushed, not knowing what to reply so as not to offend or demean his dignity.
"No, sir, I am not glad! My heart is weeping, and if you have any pity and sympathy for me, you will tell my father that you do not wish to marry me after all! Please give me freedom and time! What if William changes his mind and wants to make me his wife?" – The girl thought in despair, but said otherwise aloud:
– I am flattered, sir… I did not expect… You have come… We are all very glad…" Her voice sounded softly, with a gasp, for she was struggling with her excitement, but the manner in which these meaningless words were spoken assured Philip that Miss Guise was so glad of her engagement to him that she could not find words.
For it is so easy for a man to see the right signs when he wishes to possess the heart, soul, and body of the woman he loves!
– Let me speak to my father. But first, please, let me feel the tenderness of your palm, my dear bride," Philip asked quietly, and held out to the girl his large palm, which was hardened from many battles and exercises with a sword.
How the girl wanted to strike that palm, to throw it away from her! Alas, she had no choice: in the world of men the consent of women is not required. Only Alienor was so fortunate as to have a father who supported her every decision.
– I am honoured, sir," Brigid said, and timidly placed her small white palm in the palm of her fiancé's hand.
– You have such delicate hands, miss," Philip smiled, squeezing the girl's hand a little more firmly than the rules of propriety allowed. But she was his betrothed, and he thought he was allowed small liberties, and if not, Brigid's father would let him know that he had crossed the line.
But Sir Guise only smiled silently and watched the dialogue of the young people: it was not worth scaring away such a groom. Even if Philip Norton were to kiss Brigid's hand… Well, he could turn away or pretend that this liberty had not occurred to him.
– But, dear Philip, find your father as soon as possible," Sir Guise interrupted the awkward scene in a soft tone, wishing to formalise the engagement of his daughter and Philip Norton with the blessing of the latter's father. – 'Your father and I have much to discuss, but, as I said, Brigid's dowry…'
– I expect no dowry, sir. By letting me walk your daughter down the aisle, you have already given me a treasure," Philip interrupted his future father-in-law.
– Love is the greatest jewel God gives us," smiled Sir Guise, who did not love his wife in the slightest, but had married her out of convenience. – But I think your father should give you his permission to have one of his castles and quite a large piece of fertile land given to you.
– These properties will be given to me without hesitation, sir. When I went to war, my good father promised me that if I returned alive, I could marry any girl dear to my heart, and I would have the use of Shadow Castle and its surroundings.
– Then I am at peace. Knowing your father, my best friend, I'm sure he's a nobler and more generous man," Sir Guise said flatteringly. – But you must speak to him, and I will speak to my daughter. – He had to send his daughter's betrothed out of the room to have a serious talk with Brigid about her marriage and to assure her that it would benefit all the Guises and perhaps help them out of debt and poverty.
The poverty of the Guises was so flagrant that if it had not been for Sir Norton, who loved his old friend Richard Guise in a brotherly way, lending him money again and again and knowing that he might never get it back, the little noble family of the Guises would have died of cold and hunger. For even the dress which Brigid wore that day had been bought with the money of the generous Sir Norton. But Sir Guise had difficulty accepting his position, and considered it an offence to borrow money… And here is such a generous offer! Philip Norton wishes to marry Brigid! Even though he knows she's not to be given a dowry! Who would have thought the Guises would be so fortunate?
Philip realised the justice of his bride's father's words and, in order to bring the happy hour of the first wedding night with this modest copper-haired beauty as soon as possible, made a silent bow to Guise and left the room.
"No… No! I do not wish to become his wife!" – cried Brigid to herself in horror, not daring to raise her eyes to her father. Her violet eyes filled with tears again, for she realised that she could not refuse Philip… And dare she? Her parents had told her many times that she should be quicker and smile more often, because her rich husband could help them to regain their former glory. And it would be good if this husband was a close king and could put in a good word for his wife's family… And Philip Norton was just such a man: the son of a royal councillor, a loyal servant of the king, a brave warrior and as handsome as his sister. What groom could be better than Philip?
"William. He could be better," the girl sighed doomily, and two large tears escaped from her long lashes and moistened her snow-white cheeks.
– 'Don't cry,' Sir Guise said in an orderly tone, who could not bear a woman's tears.
– I'm sorry, Father…" Brigid wiped her cheeks hastily with the palm of her hand.
– Philip is doing us all a great favour by marrying you," Sir Guise said in a softer tone and gently lifted his daughter's chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.
– I know, father," the poor girl whispered loudly, trying to force a smile.
– Besides, he is the brother of your beloved Alienor. Just imagine what beautiful children he will give you! And Alienor will be their aunt! – Sir Guise continued.
– You are right, Father… Of course you are…
– I have cared for you all these eighteen years. Your mother and I wish you nothing but happiness, and this man, I'm sure, will be your keeper and protector.
It was a lie. Since his daughter's birth, Sir Guise had seen in her only faults and an unnecessary mouth to feed. He and Lady Jane had expected a son who, when he grew up, would be able to support himself by serving with the king or in the English army, but instead of a boy, a daughter was born for whom a dowry was to be given in the future, and when Arthur, the Guise's eldest son died of fever and they were left with only a daughter, there was no one to pass on the family name, for Brigid was destined to take her husband's name. And may Brigid's son be able to inherit Guise Castle, but the ancient family name that came to England centuries ago with the Frankish conquerors will be lost forever. The death of Arthur, who tenderly loved his sister and tried to shield her from parental barbs, caused the quiet rivulet of insults against her to turn into a raging, roaring waterfall.
The last phrase made the girl smile sadly: ah, if only it were like that! Alas, they were but fine words!
But Sir Guise mistook his daughter's smile for a smile of understanding and gratitude.
– Imagine how happy Alienor will be when she hears that you and her brother will be husband and wife! – he exclaimed quietly and took Brigid's cold palm in his own.
– She will be delighted, yes… – Brigid squeezed her father's palm convulsively: never before had he given her such an honour! It was the first time Sir Guise had ever held her palm in his, and this paltry paternal caress seemed so sweet that she was ready to run down the aisle with Philip at this very moment.
– It is your destiny, my daughter, to be a wife and mother," said Sir Guise affectionately. For a moment he was bitter that his only child would be leaving home, but he immediately consoled himself with the thought that Philip could enter the king's inner circle and persuade him to restore the Guises to their title, fortune, and castles.
– I realise that, Father, and I will not disappoint you. – Brigid kissed her father timidly on the cheek and then touched the back of his hand with her lips with feeling. – Tell your mother everything, and I will bring joyfull news to Alienor. – With a deep curtsy, the girl left her father's room, fighting the hot tears that once again came to her violet eyes.
***
The old servants laughed with joy and clutched at their hearts: the master's son had returned from the war! Oh, how he had grown up! Ah, alive and well! Not a cripple! Arms and legs in place! The young maids, who were seeing Philip Norton for the first time, abandoned their work and looked at him with rapt attention. This castle had never seen such a handsome man! Those long white curls, that somewhat oblong but handsome face, those impossibly dazzling eyes, blue as the summer sky! He is tall, his chest is so broad, and his left palm rests menacingly on the hilt of a large sword hidden in a metal scabbard! Who is he? Where does he come from?
– He looks like our Miss Alienor! Could he be her brother? – One of the girls guessed as the richly dressed nobleman disappeared around the corner of a wide stone corridor decorated with expensive tapestries, among which a huge dark green tapestry with the Norton tree was a special place.
The girls whispered and agreed that the handsome man was indeed Miss Alienor's brother, and therefore the son of Sir and Lady Norton, and they hurried to find an older servant to ask the poor fellow what he knew of the handsome young Norton.
But Philip was completely oblivious to the lustful and admiring glances of the maids: he was looking at Brigid, his copper-haired bride, so modest, so shy… How sweet it would be to undress her himself on their wedding night! Of course, he will not be allowed to take off her wedding dress, but still he will get the most tasty piece of the bride's garment: her white, long, night gown. He takes it off slowly, so as not to frighten the chaste Brigid, and when the dress is on the floor, he will cover the bride's body with soft, tender kisses…
Entering, without knocking, into his father's chamber, young Norton was displeased to find that he was not in the room. But Philip did not have to wander round the castle and garden: as he opened the door to leave the chambers, he almost knocked his own father down.
With a short sigh of surprise, his father rushed to embrace his son.
– You're back… You're back! – Sir Norton whispered fervently, not letting Philip out of his loving embrace.
– I told you I would come back, father! And here I am! – Philip said in a trembling voice, full of tenderness and joy.
– Six months! Not a word! – Sir Norton sobbed, pulling away from his son. Then he put his palms round Philip's smooth-shaven face, and, as if he could not believe that it was not a dream, pressed it so tightly that the young warrior had to laughingly withdraw his father's large, warm hands from him.
– How can there be none? I sent two letters! – Philip was surprised, but then laughed ringingly. – But the Devil with them! How glad I am to see you, dear father! What a fine beard you have grown! It's time for braids! Have you not heard that the King's court nowadays imitates Henry and his short beard? You're part of this court, it's time you got rid of those cosms!
– Enough, my son, enough! Let the young spoil their beards, but we old men will remain true to the old days," said Sir Norton, smiling good-naturedly and patting his son on the shoulder. – What an outfit! It is as if you had not come back from the war, but to a wedding!
– How cleverly you've got me, Father! I am going to marry! – Philip said in a more serious tone, and a happy smile lit up his handsome face. – I have dreamed of this girl for five years, and now she has given her consent!
– She has?
– And her father, of course.
– When did you have time? Must be some Spanish passion rose?
– Only one girl could win me over. Only one rose. A rose born in my beloved Mother England.
– And the name of this beauty…
– Brigid Guise.
The happy light in Sir Norton's blue eyes faded, the corners of his lips drooped.
– Come into my chambers, my son," he began.
– What is wrong, father? – Philip interrupted, as he recognised the shadow that had suddenly darkened his father's countenance.
– Come in, come in. We can't stand here in the middle of the corridor! – Sir Norton pushed his son into his chambers, then quickly went in himself and closed the door tightly behind him.