A Brother's Love - Book 3 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Two

Boone, the enthusiastic young doctor of Chanoine, was extremely pleased with the progress in the healing of Jobyna's injuries.

The two indents made by the arrow both sides of her shoulder, were little more than scars and the terrible bruises had disappeared. When the doctor dressed her forearm, he saw great improvement.

The day Jobyna no longer had to wear the bandage was a day of great relief. Springtime had surrendered to an early dry summer and the wrapping had made her feel hot. Now that the bandage was finished with, Jobyna could use her arm and thus begin to increase its strength.

Preparations were made to attend the second fair of the season in Frencberg. The boys prepared their goods and helped load numerous carts with the coveted Frencolian wool and woolen garments. People from as far away as Spenola in the South and Chezkovia in the North attended the fairs. Louis Junior, called "LJ" by his peers, with Marcus and Luke, and an escort, would travel to the capital to tend their stalls. Taxes would be paid directly to the king's treasurer before their return to Chanoine and king's knights would accompany the profits back to the manor house where the money would be divided and shared between the managers of the workhouses.

After the excited boys had been given a hearty send-off, Boone turned to the baron, speaking quietly, "Narda and I will have a baby before the winter."

"Congratulations! There hasn't been a child born in the manor house since Jobyna, and even then, I wasn't present for the birth. Have you told my wife?"

"Narda will tell the baroness. And if your wife tells Mavis, then all of Chanoine will know!" Chortling, the men moved off, not realizing that Jobyna had overheard.

As fast as her legs could carry her, Jobyna ran to the doctor's apartment to question Narda. The young woman wasn't there, and Jobyna searched until she found her crushing herbs for her husband's medicines, chatting away to Mavis, who was helping.

"I heard Boone tell Papa he was going to get a baby. Where will it come from?" Jobyna asked. The bright-eyed girl heard Mavis' sharp in-drawn breath, and she spoke reassuringly to Narda, "It's all right. Boone said everyone in Chanoine will know soon but what puzzles me, Narda, is that Boone once said he didn't think you were ever going to get one; I heard him say you were a baron, whatever that is, but I think it means that if you are a wife, you don't have any children."

Jobyna frowned and spoke her confused thoughts, saying, "I'm glad Mother is a baroness, and has us five." She ignored Mavis' gaping mouth and said to Narda, "But now Boone is so sure you are getting a baby!" She wrinkled her small nose, asking, "How does he know that you will get it before the winter?"

To Jobyna's concern, Narda took her arm and walked her to the central stairs. "I'm sure you have better things to do than to gossip with the servants, Miss Jobyna. Isn't it time for lessons?" She looked up as Ellie appeared, leaning over the top balustrade. "There you are! Miss Ellie is looking for you. You shouldn't eavesdrop! And I wouldn't go around asking questions about babies, Miss Jobyna. Your father wouldn't think it proper. Your mother is the only one to speak to of such private matters."

Jobyna felt frustrated. It was one thing to be told off for something one did in rebellion but to be told off for having overheard good news made her unhappy. She studied her lessons in silence, striving to keep her mind upon the Latin verses. When Ellie left the schoolroom, Jobyna lingered. She repeated her questions to her mother and explained what Narda had said.

"Narda is right. You shouldn't eavesdrop, Jobyna. You'll learn all about babies when you're older."

"How old?" Jobyna asked. "I'm almost twelve. I no nothing and I could be married in four years."