Deception

Chapter 88

- Chapter 88 -

"They never married." Robin spoke confused as Esme noticed Guy had began to pace.

"No. They only ever planned to. Didn't they, Guy?" The stranger spoke as he stopped and Robin glanced up to look at him and noticed his down cast eyes.

"You knew? " He questioned in disbelief and slight anger that he wasn't told as Guy sat down away from them all. His distance hurting Esme and himself, not that he was ready to admit that.

"I found out." He muttered.

"I saw my mother making her way into the forest... and so I followed. She still loved him. I was so angry. She told me that I had to forget him.....pretend that he didn't exist... yet here she was, denying me my father. I confronted her, I remember telling her that we couldn't abandon him and that he needed care. I had wondered if Malcolm made her do it? She told me that they were to get married on Saturday and I was to promise not to say anything until it was done. I tried to convince her to leave Nottingham, go back to France and take Father with us." Guy told as his face fell and the camp grew quiet.

Esme wanted to reassure him and hold him but he stared emptily into the flames refusing to acknowledge her presence.

"Then she collapsed in pain and she told me to run and get help. I'd never run so fast. I thought that..." Guy whispered as he began to realize what had happened.

"She was in labor." The stranger interrupted as Guy glances at Robin and Esme, who has been watching and listening intently.

"I see that now." Guy muttered.

"What happened to the baby?" Robin questioned.

"He was early... but strong." The stranger spoke

*************

It was late in the night as Ghislaine sits up in the bed, cradling her newborn. Malcolm comes over and solemnly sits by her.

"Look. He's so quiet, like he knows he's a secret. And look at this. Ghislaine pulls the blanket back from the baby, revealing a red arched birthmark on his right breast. My son, by this mark, you will never be lost to me. I have thought of a name: Archer. Do you think it suits?" She whispered to him as he kissed her forehead and smiled down sadly at his son.

"I do. But it's—it's—" Malcolm struggled to speak as Ghislaine bends over the baby, crying.

"I know. It's time." She cried.

"Ghislaine! I nee-" Esme called out as she opened the door and froze and quickly closed it behind her. Everyone remained shocked as Esme saw the newborn in her arms and covered her mouth in shock. Ghislaine was trying to fight back her tears as Malcolm looked down at his new son with tears in his eyes.

"I won't breathe a word" She swore an oath as a silent understanding was sealed between the three of them. Esme had come to seek Ghislane's assistance as one of her old whip wounds had re-opened and a small stain of red had seeped into the back of her pale grey dress. She saw the struggle that Malcolm had as he wanted nothing more than to embrace and comfort Ghislaine but he had to take the baby away.

"Let me hold him" Esme whispered as Malcolm easily handed her over with tears in his eyes, thankful of her help as he quickly embraced Ghislaine.

"Downstairs in the stables......please could" Ghislaine couldn't even speak the words as Esme nodded quietly. She knew that the baby was to be taken to a safe place until the parents could marry and reclaim him. As they had said there was a man in the stables waiting as she gently handed over the baby.