The Remembered

Chapter Twelve

March 1438

Stamford



A cold wind swept across the North Sea from the east and found no resistance as it pushed across the Fens and into Stamford the day that John Darby rode into the village on a beautiful horse. His purple cloak was an impressive sight as it caught the wind and sailed behind him. His horse kept his head high and great plumes of steam escaped his nostrils with each lunge forward. John thought that it felt good to be home again after being gone for so long. His schooling was completed, he had been to the south of England and to Calais, France. He had observed first hand how the wool trade functioned and now he was ready to join his father in the trade.

His father was pleased that his son had chosen to join him in the trade and upon his arrival they rode the nearby area to survey the sheep. There were thousands upon thousands of sheep in the fields and their wool was thick. The Darby's had every reason to be optimistic about the harvest of wool in the coming spring and summer. Wool prices were up and so the future look bright indeed.

On the way back to the estate, John wanted to stop at the All Saint's Church. He was fond of the church of his youth and though it was smaller and less ornate than some of the fine church's that he had seen outside of Stamford, it remained dear to him.

As he and his father approached the church, he was surprised that it seemed even smaller than he had remembered. 'This church really ought to 'ave a fine steeple,' he remarked to his father as they dismounted.

'Aye,' agreed his father. 'Per'aps you and I can pay to 'ave a fine steeple added if wool does well this year.'

The priest had come outside at that moment and overheard the last comment. 'God will surely smile upon you if you were to raise a steeple in 'is name,' he said.

Smiling, his father replied, 'And per'aps me bones will also find a resting place within the walls of the church.'

'Aye, per'aps they will,' agreed the priest. With that the priest embraced John and welcomed him home. 'I trust that you 'ave faithfully been attending church while you 'ave been away.'

'Aye, I certainly 'ave,' John assured the priest.

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On the road between Boston and Nottingham



Richard had returned twice to the Nottingham area in the ensuing months since he had first gone to Trowell in search of Elizabeth. He had searched many hamlets and villages without success. After each trip, he was a little less hopeful than he had previously been. And now he was heading back along the road that had become so familiar to him. With each trip he wondered how it was that the family had vanished so completely.

This was to be his last trip before Spring. He had promised his father that he would return to Easton-on-the-hill prior to Spring to see whether his help was needed and so he intended to go straight from Nottingham to Easton-on-the-hill without returning to Boston first. If his father didn't require his help, he would return to Boston then.

Richard felt that the Master glazier had been very accommodating, allowing him to leave at his leisure to search again and each time receiving him back. He had told Richard to let Elizabeth go. Richard thought about those conversations often. The Master maintained that Elizabeth had willingly left and that Richard should have the marriage annulled. Richard couldn't believe that Elizabeth would willingly disappear, but it was getting more difficult to deny.

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Lambley, Near Nottingham



Elizabeth realized that she was well treated by Thomas. She was starting to get accustomed to his touch and had long since stopped recoiling. This was not the life she would have chosen, but decided that it must be God's will. Why else would she have been torn from the life that she had previously known? She had always been anxious to do God's will and why should this be any different. The few days prior to her marriage to Thomas were difficult for her, but she had determined at that time that she would be a good wife. She felt that the best way to ensure that her child was happy and well cared for was to ensure that her husband was happy. It became her objective to please him so that he would feel loved.

She didn't want to admit it at first, but life with Thomas was actually a good life. He was a hard working man. He was polite and provided a good home. For the first time in her life, she didn't live on earthen floors. They lived in the village, above the bakery and the house had more rooms than any house she had ever expected to live in. And there was always plenty of food in the house.

She had finally accepted that Richard was dead. She never mentioned his name and she also never mentioned that she was with child by him. Her pregnancy was starting to show and Thomas was so excited that he was going to be a father. He couldn't be happier and she was surprised that his happiness caused her to also be happy. Thomas had paid to have a dress made for her as a surprise. She never had expected to own such a fine dress, though she would now have to wait until after her child was born to wear it.

'Thomas, you are going to be a father,' observed one of his customers.

'Aye, and it will be a fine boy who will sumedee be a baker,' grinned Thomas.

'You think that you are 'aving a boy then?' asked the customer.

Just then Elizabeth walked into the shoppe. 'Nay,' said the customer, 'it will nay be a boy. I can tell by the way she is carrying the baby.'

Thomas feigned displeasure and said, 'We will luv a girl just as well. Will we nay me luv?' as he placed his hand on Elizabeth's stomach. Elizabeth just grinned and placed her hands over his.

'Thomas,' Elizabeth said, 'I must visit me mum. I shuld like to take sume fresh bread to 'er. Wuld that be alright with you, me luv?'

'I 'ate for you to walk that road alone, me luv,' protested Thomas. Elizabeth looked at him with sad eyes that she knew would melt his heart and said nothing. 'Please 'urry me flower. It luks like rain.' Then rubbing her stomach again, said, 'Please take care of this lit'le one.'

'I will me luv,' promised Elizabeth. 'I will nay be gone long.' She wrapped some fresh bread in a cloth and took her hooded cloak and left the shoppe. She realized that she was learning to love the care that Thomas showed to her.

______



Richard had spent the last two days searching in the area of Calverton and Woodborough with no success. He realized that it had now been months since he had last seen Elizabeth and that if there ever was a trail to follow to find her, it had long since grown cold. His conversations lately were similar to the one that he had had with the priest in Calverton the previous day. Richard had asked whether a family with two lads and a lass had passed through or had settled in the area in the last several months. The priest had been polite, but had made it clear that several families fitting that description may have passed that way in the last several months, but he could not remember them all. As far as a family fitting that description was concerned, he did not know of any settling in the area. Inevitably, the person would then ask what Richard's interest was. When he said that he was looking for his wife, they would laugh and reply that his wife did not want to be found. Richard had heard this so many times, that he now believed it and he was done with his search.

That is why he had now turned his face toward Easton-on-the-hill. He had promised his father that he would return before Spring.

A light rain was falling when he entered Lambley. He was hungry and tired but decided that he would conserve his funds by purchasing bread from a baker, rather than stopping for a meal at a public house. He was greeted warmly by the baker, who was shorter and more stout than himself. Richard was not feeling very cheerful and just wanted a loaf of bread and a meat pie before he started back on the road and he wasn't wanting conversation. The sooner that he could get back onto the road, the further he would be able to travel before nightfall.

'Afternoon sir,' greeted the baker, 'and whot can I get for you this fine dee?'

Richard hardly even looked up as he asked for a loaf and a meat pie. As he reached for the loaf and the pie, the baker asked where he was traveling to.

'Just as far a West Bridgford todee,' was all that Richard offered.

'That rain will likely get worse still,' said the baker, 'you will need sume shelter before dark.'

'Aye, I am acquainted with the woods, I will be fine.'

The baker handed Richard the loaf and the pie and asked, 'Whot brings you to Lambley then?'

'I am just passing through,' Richard said, still never actually making eye contact with the baker.

Thomas was feeling a little odd about this stranger that offered so little information about himself, so he decided it best to pry no further. 'God be with you then,' offered Thomas.

'And you as well,' said Richard as he replaced his hood over his head and placed the food beneath his cloak and headed out into the rain.

______



Elizabeth had wanted to visit her mother to ask some questions about preparing for the birth and how to care for the child. They had a pleasant visit that ended too soon.

'Stay with us tonight, Elizabeth,' entreated her mother, 'the sky is getting darker and it will surely rain 'arder before you get back 'ome.'

'Nay, Thomas will be worried if I do nay get back soon.'

'Will he nay worry all the more knowing that you are in the rain?' questioned her mother.

'I will be fine,' said Elizabeth. 'The sooner I leave, the sooner I will be 'ome, then Thomas will nay 'ave to worry.'

'Be off then child,' encouraged her mother smiling, 'go with God's speed.'

Elizabeth had a fine cloak with her to cover her head. She found though that she wished the cloak were a little larger to better cover her growing stomach. As she walked, she mused at how she and her mother were closer now than they had ever been. She had always been drawn to her father, perhaps because she had spent so much time with him at the market. But, now with him gone, she found that her mother was a source of comfort, knowledge and friendship. She realized that she had much to learn about being a wife and mother. She was glad to have her mother near.

It wasn't long before the rain started to come down with more intensity. It seemed to be driven by the cold wind. She considered seeking the shelter of a tree or perhaps the next farmhouse, but decided to press ahead. She pulled her hood more completely over her head to keep the driving rain from hitting her face. The road was slick and puddles were forming so she had to watch closely as she picked her way.

Suddenly she was aware of a man coming toward her on the road in the opposite direction. She was initially startled since she hadn't seen him earlier because of her hood and the necessity of keeping her head down to watch the road. Traveling alone, though not far, always caused her some concerned, but she hurried on and decided to keep her head down and not look at him.

Soon the man passed without saying a word and she was relieved. After a short while though, she ventured to look over her shoulder. The man was taller than most men and thin. He too wore a cloak over his head against the wind and the rain. She watched as he rounded the corner and disappeared behind a tree. Turning to face Lambley again, she hurried on in the rain.

______



Richard hadn't gone far from the baker's shoppe when it started to rain harder. He was glad to have been able to find a sufficient quantity of beeswax to rub on the cloak to better keep the water out. He thought about some of his earlier trips and how wet he would get after several hours in the rain. Tightly woven wool kept the water out reasonably well, but not after hours of persistent rain. Now with the addition of beeswax, he was warm and dry.

He noticed a woman walking the same road toward him and wondered why a woman would be on a road alone at this hour. He didn't feel that it was safe. He noticed also that she was with child. It was his nature to offer help to women, especially those that were with child, but under these circumstances, he didn't wish to alarm her. Instead, he passed quickly and quietly so as to not cause her concern. He couldn't make out her face because of the hood that she worn as protection against the rain and wind. After he had rounded the corner and passed by a tree he stopped and peered back around the tree to see that she was alright. He watched her for a short time until she too rounded and corner and vanished.

As Richard continued on the road to West Bridgford, he couldn't help but think of Elizabeth. He thought that if circumstances had been different, perhaps he and Elizabeth would even now be expecting a baby. The thought made him even more sad for his loss, but he walked on in the pouring rain. It was almost as if nature itself was expressing his emotions.

Richard found some shelter in the hollow of a large tree and ate his meat pie. It was still warm and it tasted so good. As he ate, he thought about Easton-on-the-hill, about his mother and father, Geva and Ralf and about Margaret. He expected that his father had probably already started working the fields a little and wondered whether Ralf was helping. If Ralf were helping, it would be because Lind had accepted an offer to allow Geva to marry Ralf. He wondered how his mother was coping with the loss of her son. He felt sorry for his mother and felt that he should have been a better son to her in her time of sorrow. He wondered whether Margaret was still mourning Bromley's death. Was she still living with his mother and father? Maybe there was another man interested in her.

After eating and resting, Richard pushed the thoughts of home to the back of his mind and pressed on. He expected that if the rain were to let up a little, he could be home in a couple of days. They would be long, hard days, but he was accustomed to that.

Richard spent the night in West Bridgford at the 'Stag and Hound' public house and inn. He spent the next night in Melton Mowbray at the 'Cock and Horse' public house and inn. Finally, in the early evening of the next day, under clear skies, he walked into Easton-on-the-hill. He came from the northwest, so he didn't go through Stamford on the way.

Margaret was the first person that he saw as he neared the cottage. She was going to the well to fill a bucket with water. He watched her for a few moments and was surprised at how lovely she was. He realized that he hadn't really noticed her for a very long time. He sprinted toward her, hoping to surprise her. She looked up when she heard footsteps and was so surprised and filled with joy that she dropped the bucket, spilling its contents.

Richard held open his arms and she rushed into them and threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly. 'Richard,Richard!' she burst out with excitement and then started to cry. Richard smiled and laughed lightly when he saw that her excitement mirrored his own.

'Margaret, it is so nice to see you again,' Richard said as he wiped her eyes. 'Comb, let us get sume more wat'er.'

Still overjoyed with the reunion, Margaret looked about expectantly and asked with excitement, 'Where is Elizabeth then? Is she with you?'

Richard stooped and picked up the bucket. 'Nay,' he replied without looking at her.

His tone concerned Margaret and she took on a more sober mood and asked 'Did you nay find Elizabeth, then?'

'Nay.'

'Was she nay at Trowell? Bromley said that they were going to Trowell.'

'They were nay at Trowell. Only an abandoned cot'age was at Trowell where they shuld have been.'

Margaret stopped and faced Richard. Grabbing his arm with one hand and covering her mouth with the other she gasped, 'nay at Trowell? Where did they go?'

'I do nay know,' replied Richard.

Suddenly the excitement of their reunion dissipated.

'Where did you luk?'

'I luked in many, many villages, and hamlets around Not'ing'am. I also luked in Not'ing'am,' replied Richard in a straight and even tone. Margaret noticed that he seemed to choke a little as he spoke and then he regained control of his emotions.

'I am soory, Richard. You will find 'er in the summer,' she offered hopefully.

Richard took Margaret's arm with one hand and the bucket in the other and motioned her toward the well. As they walked, he said, 'Nay Margaret. I am dune luking. I 'ave prayed to find 'er, I 'ave luked many dees. I 'ave been in rain and snow. I 'ave slept in the woods and beneath rocks. I do nay believe that she can be found. It must nay be God's will. I do nay even know that they are near Not'ing'am. Shuld I search all of me life?'

He was almost sorry that he posed that question and he was hoping that she wouldn't answer it.

'I am soory Richard,' Margaret replied sincerely. 'Per'aps you will feel differently comb summer.'

'Nay, Margaret, me mind is firm. She believes me deed and she must go where her father says. Where that is, I can nay say.'

With the bucket full, they headed back toward the cottage. Richard knew that he would likely be required to repeat this same conversation once inside, but he decided to face it and have it done.

It was a joyous reunion when they entered the cottage. Richard's mother, Gleda, nearly fainted at the sight of him. Geva was thrilled and so was his father, Lind, despite his more tempered response. They were each saddened at the loss of Elizabeth from their lives. They loved her dearly and now it felt as though she were dead. Lind assured Richard that he had done well in looking for her. 'Can you find a sheep's 'air after it has been sheared and mixed with other wool?' asked Lind in a rhetorical way of stating that in a land as large as England, it would be nearly impossible to find someone once they were lost.

Once the loss of Elizabeth had settled on the family, there wasn't much else to say and they retired to their beds. The next morning Geva was excited to share her news.

'Ralf and I are to be married soon,' she excitedly told Richard.

'That is wonderful news,' Richard said and then looking at Lind, 'Does that mean 'e is 'elping on the farm then?'

Geva didn't wait for her father to respond. 'Aye, 'e is and we will live in the sod cot'age,' she said excitedly.

Lind smiled and confirmed the arrangements. 'So, Richard, I will 'ave a sone on the farm yet. You are free to be a glazier.'

This was exactly what Richard wanted to hear, but despite that, he felt as though he was letting his father down.

'Are you sure,' Richard asked sincerely.

'Aye, sone. Boot I am concerned that you will 'ave to move from place to place and we will nay see much of you,' responded Lind.

Richard assured his father that he would return as often as he could. Lind invited Richard to step outside with him. After they were outside, they walked to the back of the cottage near to the cow's enclosure. Lind didn't want to be overheard.

The two men stood at the enclosure, and seemingly watched the cow. Richard thought that he had an idea why they were there.

'Richard,' began Lind, 'you know that Margaret is very fond of you.'

'Aye?,' responded Richard.

'She is a gud woman. She works 'ard and is 'ealthy.'

'Aye, that she is,' was all that Richard offered.

'She has mourned Bromley.'

'Aye?' said Richard in a lower voice as if to say, 'And? Go on.'

'She is pleasing to luk at also.' Richard was a little surprised to hear Lind admit this and he looked at Lind and studied his facial expressions.

'Aye, she surely is,' responded Richard slowly and now looking away from Lind.

'You 'ave known 'er since you were children and she combs from a gud family.'

'Aye, we played together of'en, boot I think that she used to 'it me,' replied Richard with a smile.

With the mood a little lighter, Lind walked away from the enclosure and toward the fields. Richard followed close.

'Aye, and you deserved it,' Lind assured him jokingly. Richard felt good. It had been a long time since he and his father had enjoyed a laugh together. 'If you were to ask 'er to be your wife, she wuld agree,' said Lind, now looking directly into Richard's eyes. The conversation was now serious.

'Father, I am married in the eyes of God and the Church, I can nay take another wife,' responded Richard.

'I spoke with the priest last week and 'e said that you culd 'ave the marriage annulled.'

This struck Richard with a blow. 'Annulled,' he thought, 'that is so final. I can nay do that. And whot if Elizabeth combs back to Stamford?' asked Richard.

'She 'as been gone for munths. She thinks that you are deed, Richard. She is nay combing back to Stamford.' It pained Richard a little to have his father speak so directly on the subject, but he recognized the same words that he had thought privately.

'Margaret wuld be a gud wife,' said Lind.

'I do nay luv Margaret like I luv Elizabeth,' Richard objected.

'Boot you will, sone,' urged Lind. 'Many men 'ave learned to luv women that they knew less than you know Margaret.'

'I did nay say that I do nay luv 'er, just that I do nay luv 'er like I luv Elizabeth.'

'Aye, I am nay suggesting that you do or shuld, yet. Boot you can and you will sumedee if you try,' promised Lind.

Richard was looking at the ground now, seriously considering Lind's advice. It was not a surprise to him. He had already had the same thoughts. To hear his father speak the words actually helped to validate his own thoughts.

'You need a wife, Richard. Margaret needs a 'usband. I 'ave seen 'ow she luks at you and listens closely to every word that you say. And, by the way, I 'ave not'iced that for years.'

Richard looked up. Had he really been so blind to Margaret as to not notice her interest in him all these years? All he had eyes for was Elizabeth previously, and of course Margaret had been a faithful wife to Bromley. 'Boot, 'ave things now changed?' he wondered privately.

'I will speak with Margaret,' he promised.

'Gud,' replied Lind as he placed a hand on Richard's shoulder. 'Let us go inseed.'

As they walked toward the cottage, annulment suddenly made sense to Richard. If Elizabeth thought him dead, she would likely want to remarry. He needed to get the annulment if for no other reason than to release her from the moral obligation.

Later that morning, Richard asked Margaret to accompany him to Stamford. He needed to visit the priest that had married he and Elizabeth and it would give Margaret the opportunity to visit the market. Richard made up an excuse to visit the church to check on the state of the leaded glass windows.

Richard enjoyed Margaret's company very much. He had forgotten how quick she was to smile and how cheerful her disposition. As they walked along, Margaret playfully stole his cap and ran off with it. He easily caught her and hugged her as he retrieved it.

Leaving Margaret at the market, Richard hurried to the All Saints' Church to find the priest. He found him inside and related the situation to him. The priest was very disappointed, but understanding and told Richard that he would take care of the annulment right away. He said that he had heard of people getting separated and then not being able to find each other again, but hadn't known any personally. He advised Richard to keep the situation relatively quiet so that the suspicions of the sheriff were not aroused. In such cases of missing persons sheriffs had a way of suspecting the worst. Richard thanked him, but assured him that there were plenty of individuals that knew he left before Elizabeth and had seen her after he was gone.

On the walk back to Easton-on-the-hill Richard told Margaret how much he admired her strength since Bromley's death.

'It must 'ave been difficult for you after Bromley deed,' said Richard.

'Aye, I was very sad, boot Lind, Gleda and Geva were very kind,' replied Margaret. 'Sume dees I did nay want to get oot of bed.'

'Do you still miss 'im?'

'Aye, very much. Do you miss Elizabeth?'

'Aye.'

'Per'aps you will find another woman that you will luv as much as Elizabeth.'

'Aye, there is a woman that I do luv, boot she does nay know it,' replied Richard looking at Margaret as they walked.

Margaret returned his glance and then looked away. 'She is indeed fortunate,' Margaret replied.

'I spoke with the priest todee,' said Richard, 'and 'e released Elizabeth's obligation to me.'

Now Margaret looked at Richard and asked, 'Why wuld you do that? Do you really nay expect to see 'er again?'

Richard understood that this sad and unusual situation was difficult for his family to accept. So, despite the fact that he felt he had had this same conversation already, he patiently replied, 'It 'as been munths that she 'as been gone, and she thinks me deed. Do you nay think that she may wish to marry again? 'er father will nay allow 'er to stay in 'is 'ome forever. 'e will offer 'is widowed daughter to another man. 'e may yet 'ave dune so.'

They walked on in silence for a while after that. It felt a little awkward to Richard because he had more to say, but wasn't sure how to say it. Eventually, he stopped Margaret on the road and held her; then the words spilled out of his mouth.

'Margaret, I luv you. I wuld like for you to be me wife.'

It seemed rather awkward and he was sorry that he hadn't chosen his words more carefully, but he didn't know how else to express his feelings.

Margaret smiled broadly and pulled him close to kiss him. 'I wuld luv to be your wife,' she excitedly replied. 'Boot, let us wait a few munths. We do nay know boot Elizabeth may comb back.'

This put Richard in a difficult position. Of course, he hoped that Elizabeth would find him, since he couldn't find her, but he also didn't want Margaret to feel as though she was second choice either. 'Boot,' he thought, 'there is nay a way to escape me feelings for Elizabeth.'

'Aye, you are right, boot then will you be me wife, me luv?' asked Richard.

'Aye, I will,' replied Margaret with a smile.

After a warm embrace, they continued to Easton-on-the-hill, where the news was welcomed with joy.

Richard left the next day for Boston after getting a promise that if, for any reason, she or his family should leave the farm, that she would leave notes along the way as to where they were going and that she would never believe anyone regarding his death. Lind thought it humorous that Richard would be so concerned, but Margaret promised.

Richard promised to return in the coming months and make her his bride.