Crusade

I often wondered what words had been said by the three of them in the hours between the two gatherings, but they had been spoken by a very select group within our Brethren: two sons of Bourne, a daughter of Bourne and one of its granddaughters; and they concerned yet another generation from that small but far from inconsequential Fenland village.

‘I have a suggestion which I believe will resolve the dilemma we face and, more importantly, is in the best interests of the child. This siege is going to take many months. Antioch must fall if Jerusalem is to be taken, so the army will be camped here for some time. Adela should not be here in her condition throughout the winter; she needs warmth and the care of the best physicians. Estrith hardly shows, so we are the only ones who know she is pregnant…’

Hereward paused to gather his thoughts before continuing.

‘Estrith and Sweyn have agreed to the following; it is important that it is endorsed here, so that our Brethren can continue in its bond of loyalty. What will be agreed here will be known only to us, until such time as Estrith, Sweyn and Adela decide to tell the child about our decision. If that hasn’t happened at the time of the death of the last of us, it falls to the last surviving member of the Brethren to care for the child and tell it the truth about its birth. In due course, the child will be admitted to the Brethren in its own right.’

He put his right arm around Estrith’s shoulders and sat her down next to Adela. Then he asked Sweyn to sit on her other side.

‘We four are now the only survivors of our home in Bourne. Until recently, it looked like its lineage would die with us, but now, miraculously, my grandchild will continue not only that ancestry, but also Torfida’s and mine. Estrith and Adela have agreed to travel to the coast at St Symeon, where the Emperor is establishing a supply base for the siege here at Antioch. They will then sail to Constantinople, where Estrith will enjoy her confinement under the protection of the Emperor and where Adela will be able to recover away from public view in the Blachernae. I have spoken to Tacitius; he will provide an escort, make the arrangements with the Emperor and tell him about our deception and need for the utmost discretion. If, by the time the child is born and weaned, it is safe for it to return to the Holy Land, they will join us, hopefully in a liberated Jerusalem.’

There were smiles all round from the four children of the Fens, but Hereward had saved the crucial part of the plan until last.

‘After the birth and weaning, the three of them will emerge from the Blachernae and Adela will be presented as the mother of the child. No one will know otherwise, except us. Estrith will, of course, stay close to the child, but it will be raised as the natural child of the marriage of Adela and Sweyn. In truth, we Brethren will all be its family and guardians, as we are for one another. We will tell the Princes and those whom Estrith has been caring for that she is returning to Constantinople to care for Adela’s wound and to help her with what would be a very difficult pregnancy.’

Adela laughed out loud. ‘A difficult pregnancy — it’s the conception that would have been the difficult part, with me in this condition!’

There was laughter all round and the four of them embraced warmly. Robert and I looked at one another. We both smiled. It was a remarkably simple solution, but one that could only work through an exceptional rapport between Estrith and Adela.

I had to ask the question.

‘Can the two of you deal with this — especially you, Estrith?’

‘As my father said, it is in the best interests of the child and of the Brethren, so we will make it work. I know that the bond between mother and child is very strong, but I’m not giving my child up. We will still be a family, and I will see the child all the time.’

‘That could make things worse, not better.’

‘Perhaps, but I think I can cope with being Aunt Estrith rather than Mamma. Adela will be better at that.’

Adela seemed relaxed; her demeanour was certainly very different from the day before.

‘I’m not sure I will make a better mother — it’s the last thing I ever thought would happen. But the only things that matter are the six of us and our new member — the little beast. And mark my words, girl or boy, it will be a little monster; I will make sure of that!’

Everyone laughed at a typical Adela comment, but I had one more question.

‘All you have ever wanted to be is a warrior. You have achieved that and won the admiration of your fellow knights and thousands of Crusaders. Are you prepared to give that up to raise a child, one that isn’t even yours?’