The Copper Sign (23 page)

At hearing that, Claire lost her composure, and that’s probably exactly what he had hoped for. “I pulled you behind the barn? It was you who without asking gave me a disgusting, sticky kiss and swore eternal love to me—as if that’s anything I would ask you for!”

“And then I didn’t even recognize you again. I know, I’m an impossible fellow!” he asserted, remorsefully. “But the truth is I never did forget you! You have become such a beautiful woman.” Guiot sighed and grinned again.

Claire was still furious.

“I don’t care one whit whether you recognized me or not— your childish protestations don’t mean anything to me, either. Get out, save your sweet talk and your blarney for Morgane— she’s still young enough to fall for that sort of thing.” Angrily, Claire turned her back on him.

“Morgane,” he said, stretching the word out. “Pretty but boring. I think experienced women are much more interesting.” He winked at Ellen, who sat at the table, grinning.

Claire noticed it and gave Ellen a severe look before turning back to Guiot. “Go now, you impudent fellow!” she fumed.

Guiot ducked, nodded good-bye to Ellen, and left.

She couldn’t see anything underhanded about him, but Claire got even angrier.

“Why doesn’t he just clear out, this good-for-nothing?” she scolded after he had left the workshop.

Guiot came more frequently now to ask for work or to try to make amends, and each time he infuriated Claire.

The next time he visited the workshop, Claire was away.

“Can I help you?” Ellen asked politely.

“Well, you could put in a good word for me.” He cocked his head to the side like a begging dog.

Ellen laughed. “That probably wouldn’t do any good. Anyway, I don’t know why I should do that for you.”

“Have a look at my work yourself.” He handed Ellen the two scabbards he was carrying.

They were carefully done, nicely decorated, and technically perfect. Claire would appreciate his work if she only didn’t like him so much, Ellen thought.

Suddenly Claire stood on the threshold. “Now is he running after you? I told you, he makes eyes at all the women.” She regarded him angrily.

“God, isn’t she beautiful when she’s mad?” Guiot asked, turning to Ellen.

“Here are some samples of his work. He wanted to show them to you in order to perhaps change your mind, but you weren’t here. So I took a look at them.” Ellen made a point of staying calm as she handed the two scabbards to Claire.

Surprisingly, Claire examined the samples, possibly because it was the best way not to have to look Guiot in the eye. “Good work! I find nothing wrong with it, but I explained to you that I don’t need any help.”

Guiot’s gaze wandered to the pile of slats already cut and trimmed to size. That looked like plenty of work.

Claire followed his gaze and blushed, because it made her look like a liar. “I can’t pay you decent wages even if I have lots of orders,” she said in embarrassment.

Guiot nodded and seemed to understand. “How about us getting married? Then we could work together. Wouldn’t that be the solution to our problem?” His voice sounded unemotional, but his eyes sparkled.

Claire looked at him in disbelief. “The solution to our problem? I didn’t have any problem until you came back. I have always provided for us, and we have managed to get along. Why now should I submit to a man like you?”

“Because you love me?” Guiot smiled innocently.

“Just get out now, and don’t ever come back, do you hear! I’d rather marry a stinking old geezer than you, of all people!” she scoffed.

Guiot lowered his eyes.
He looks like a man who is deeply in love
, Ellen thought sympathetically.

Without replying, he left the shop

The other women in the village who had placed their hopes on getting him as a husband wondered what might have happened to make Guiot change so much. He never came to the fountain anymore to chat with them and no longer spent evenings with his father sitting in front of their cottage. If anyone caught sight of him anywhere, he was always sad and depressed.

Two weeks later Morgane saw him leaving town as his father stood at the fence, crying. The entire village gossiped about why he had gone away.

Ever since his offer of marriage he had not returned to Claire’s workshop. At first, she didn’t seem to care, but after a while it appeared to Ellen as if she kept looking toward the door more than she used to.

“You see, I said from the very start, men like that are just no good. He comes back here suddenly after all these years, can hardly wait to propose marriage to me, and then he leaves again. Can you image how dumb I would have looked,” she sputtered one day, “if I’d said yes?”

“Claire, do you still not get it…that he left for your sake? You love him, don’t you, so why didn’t you want to marry him?”

It was obviously a stroke of fate, but Claire had not been open to it.

“How would that have changed anything? Didn’t you see how the other women in the village looked at him? Heavens, good-looking women like Morgane!”

“But it’s really you he loves.”

“I think differently. Men are not capable of true love; what they want above all is what they can’t have. He wanted me because I rejected him, but once we got married he’d want the other women instead. Marriage out of love doesn’t last, that’s the way of the world, and it only makes you unhappy.”

Now Ellen understood: Claire was afraid of love!

“He’s gone, and it’s better this way, believe me,” Claire added, and Ellen wondered who she was trying to convince.

Ever since Guiot had left, Claire worked like one possessed. She tried hard to look happy, but she couldn’t hide her feelings. She didn’t laugh and didn’t enjoy eating anymore.

Things couldn’t go on this way! Claire was as stubborn as a mule! It wouldn’t be easy to change her opinion about love—it seemed too late for that anyway—but Ellen wanted to help Claire and Guiot. She had to find a way for them. Guiot would make Claire happy again, and Ellen would be able to move on without having a guilty conscience.

“Excuse me if I’m disturbing you, but do you have a moment to give me?” Ellen asked politely when old Jean opened the door to his cottage.

“Come in, my child,” he answered amiably.

The room was surprisingly clean and comfortable. Straw mats lay on the hard dirt floor, and there were clean sheets on the wooden bed in the corner. There were a number of hooks along one wall to hang clothing, and three of them were unused.
This is probably where Guiot hung his things
, Ellen thought.

“Do have a seat.” The old man pointed to two chairs next to a table near the fireplace. He licked his wrinkled lips and fetched two cups and a pitcher of stale beer. Then he poured a cup and passed it to Ellen, took a big gulp out of the other one, and sat down.

“I’ve come because of Guiot,” Ellen said, and was immediately angry at the way she put it. She didn’t want the old man to think she herself was interested in his son. “And because of Claire,” she quickly added.

The old man stared into space. “His mother died early and I raised him myself. The boy was all I had, and nevertheless I sent him away so he could learn a trade and would have things easier later on. I had to be thrifty and work hard to be able to afford the apprentice’s premium, but it was worth it to me.” The old man’s eyes filled with tears that he quietly tried to wipe away.

Ellen took his rough, wrinkled hand and squeezed it compassionately.

“When Claire’s husband died, I traveled to Eu and begged Guiot to come back, but he didn’t want to. ‘Do you know how many men will be chasing after his widow?’ he asked me. ‘I’m doing fine right here,’ he said, and then a few weeks ago he was standing at my door. You can’t believe how happy that made me.”

Ellen thought of Osmond. How much she would love to see him again!

The old man’s Adam’s apple bounced up and down as he took a few big gulps, and then he continued: “Ever since they were little children he cared for her more than anyone else, and then he didn’t even recognize her. You should have seen them when they were youngsters: Claire was a real broomstick, not especially pretty but lively and a bit fresh. It was only when she became a young girl that she was a real beauty. Her marriage and the child did her a world of good and taught her common sense. On his very first day back, Guiot fell in love with her and when he realized who she was, he made up his mind. ‘I’ll marry her,’ he told me, and he looked happier than I have ever seen him. I was glad for him, but every time he visited her he came back home depressed. He hoped she would think it over, but she turned him down every time. He became lovesick and said he could only forget her if he never saw her again.” The old man sounded bitter. “He’s no worse than her first husband. If only for the sake of the business he would have been the right person for her.”

“He’s the right person for her,” Ellen said emphatically, “and Claire knows that, too. But she’s afraid.”

The old man looked at her, perplexed. “That’s just nonsense! Guiot would never hurt a fly.”

“No, no, she’s not afraid of being beaten,” Ellen said, trying to reassure him. “She’s afraid of losing his love once she belongs to him.”

“She rejects him because she’s afraid of losing him?” The old man looked at her in disbelief.

“Claire thinks men are unfaithful and that she will suffer less by rejecting him than if she found him cheating on her someday.” Ellen took a deep breath.

“Women always make things more complicated than they really are,” the old man opined, shaking his head in disapproval.

“You’re right there, but that’s just why I came to see you. Somebody must force them to do the right thing. I owe Claire a lot and want to help her. She doesn’t admit it, but she is terribly unhappy because Guiot left.”

“Serves her right,” the old man grumbled.

“She loves Guiot, and with a little coaxing we can get her to marry him,” Ellen said with a knowing smile.

“It’s too late for that,” old Jean said, sounding hopeless.

“I don’t think so, unless you don’t know where he went.”

“He was going to go back to Eu.”

“Then let’s hope he is still there. I have an idea how we can make this all work out.” Ellen smiled and stood up. “Don’t give up hope—with a little luck your son will soon be back. But…” Ellen put her finger to her lips and put on a serious face. “Don’t forget, not a word to anyone, or my plan won’t work.”

The old man nodded politely but skeptically and showed Ellen to the door.
I’ve got to do it
, she thought, rubbing her hands together. She had an idea on how to bring the two lovers together, and brimming with excitement she hurried to the castle.

“Halt! What is your business?” the guard at the gate demanded, blocking Ellen’s way. “I have never seen you here before.”

“I’m from Beuvry and wish to see the advocate’s wife.”

“What does it concern?” the guard asked slowly, in no hurry to let Ellen pass.

“That’s none of your business. The lady knows me—I’m the one who saved her son’s life, and if you don’t believe me go and ask her. My name is Ellenweore.” She planted herself in front of him just as she had done long ago as a blacksmith’s boy. Her imperious manner unnerved the young guard.

“Then pass, but you will have to announce yourself again at the residence tower,” he said, trying to look unfazed as he let Ellen through.

The second guard was more cordial and pointed to a large meadow behind the tower. “
Madame
is back there with her children. You may go to her.”

Ellen watched from a distance and couldn’t help admiring the lady’s grace and beauty. She was sitting in the grass playing with her youngest child and fondling him. Two nurses played ring-around-the-rosy with the older children, giggling and dancing merrily. Adelise de St. Pol had married the Advocate of Béthune while still very young and had given him several sons and daughters, whom she raised with great devotion. The eldest son had already left home.

“How are you, Ellen? You look well. And Jacques and Claire, are they also in good health?” The lady received them holding her youngest child in her arms and allowing the child to tug at her hair.

“I’m worried about Claire,
madame
, and would like to ask you for help, even though you have long ago repaid everything we are entitled to with your generosity.”

“What is wrong with Claire? Is she ill?” Adelise de Béthune looked concerned.

“I’m afraid she soon will be if we don’t find a solution.”

“Come and have a seat with us here in the grass.”

Even before Ellen could sit down, little Baudouin saw her and came running toward her.

“My angel, my angel!” he exclaimed, laughing, and Ellen had to catch the little fellow in her arms. As she bent down to him, he cuddled up to her and wrapped his arms around her neck.

“My, how you’ve grown!” Ellen exclaimed.

“When I grow up, I’m going to be a knight,” he said proudly, looking at her with a serious expression. “Then you can ask me to do anything you want.”

“Be careful of what you promise, or I might ask you to marry me when I’m an old hag,” Ellen grinned.

“You wouldn’t do that,” he objected, but then he added with uncertainty in his voice, “Or would you?” His mother and the nurses broke out in laughter.

“Baudouin, will you go to the kitchen with Hawise?” the lady asked, looking at her son and nodding to one of the maids. “Bring back some cookies for us all, and some cider so we can eat here in the garden.”

“Oh yes!” he cried, and ran off.

“So now we have a moment to ourselves. Tell me what is troubling Claire.”

Ellen told her about everything that had happened and what she planned to do. Lady Béthune looked troubled at first, but her face brightened with every word Ellen spoke.