Two more short days passed and castle Westbrook was hit with yet another sad day. Father Gregory finally gave up his long fight with the mysterious illness and an hour after dawn he gave up the ghost in his sixty first year of his age. He was old for the times. Most men were fortunate to see forty and he'd gone beyond that by twenty years. He'd seen three generations before he'd joined his ancestors in that final resting place that awaits us all.

The service was short, simple and dignified. All was according to Gregory's instructions for the old priest had known his end was very near.

Edwin helped carry the surprisingly light coffin to its last resting place under the floor of the chapel near the altar. The remains of Gregory were buried in that chapel where the revered father had officiated for over twenty years.

To father mark's surprise young Bellamy spoke a lavish Latin prayer over the remains of Gregory just before the coffin was lowered into the ground.

Later father mark asked, "I didn't know you were so eloquent with the Latin young Bellamy?"

Edwin gave the young priest a self conscious grin. "It was my last tribute to him. I suffered through his instruction for over five months while my arm was healing. I confess there were days I wished him to be sent to perditions flames. My prayer was my last tribute to him. I went from enduring the drudgery of Latin to finding the great luxury and beauty of the language. It is no longer a dead language to me."

Mark laughed, "Perdition's flames eh? I know what it's to struggle with Caesar and all the rest. By the way did you know that father Gregory left a gift for you?"

"No, I didn't good father."

"He told me to give you Virgil's Aeneid. We actually have an extra copy. It seemed that he made one for the abbot of Ashby and another one just for you. Both of us worked on it since I arrived."

Edwin bowed and kissed the priest's ring as a sign of great respect. "Good father that is a rare gift. We only have a few books at our castle and Virgil is the prince of Latin writers. I thank god now that he permitted me to learn Latin well enough to appreciate and enjoy this great gift. Books are a treasure beyond the value of mere gold."

"Well spoken Edwin. Now if you could only give up those two sinful women, I might even have hope of making a priest of you."

Edwin saw the good natured gleam in the young priest's eyes. "Good father, I cannot abandon them now when they are so close to their time. They depend on my gratitude and protection and only a churlish oaf would make them beg for their bread now. What shall I consume the apple and throw the core away?"

Mark shook his head in mild rebuke. "Edwin, Edwin, tis the fault of most men to be ensnared by the devil's most enticing temptations, women. As Adam was tempted of eve so most men fall anew when some spicy lass with a winsome smile and evil appetites doth enter a good man's path. Well at least you accept the responsibility of caring for your soon to be born bastards. You're better than many I've seen in my day. I hope you remember Gregory when you enjoy reading about the ancient roman hero."

"That I will father, that I will. It was the gift of a prince and I be not worthy of it."

"None of us are worthy Edwin. But for the sacrifice of Christ would we be all condemned with the evil angels that serve terrible Lucifer." He sighed, "I will miss Gregory although I knew him but for a few months. I envy you all the hours he spent with you. He gave you the rich treasures of his great knowledge."

"I do know that. As long as I live, Gregory the priest will hold a special place in my memory. I'll miss him as I miss Sir Thomas."

***

Kate struggled up to her feet at the pounding that rattled her chamber door. Edwin and Meg were both out so she had to answer the summons. Her belly was filled to bursting with the results of Edwin's lusty frolicking and it slowed her to an awkward wobble. She felt like she weighed an extra hundred pounds as she slowly stumbled to the large oak door and hesitantly opened it.

The stern face of Godfrey Chatterton stared at her. Disgust and anger were clearly written on his young, handsome face. "You be Kate Tanner, Edwin's whore?"

Kate trembled from both his appearance and his tone. "Yes my lord. Is there something amiss?"

"You and that other whore Meg Laflur are amiss. I'll be wanting you two to leave as soon as I inform young Bellamy that his presence is no longer welcome at Westbrook. He brings shame to our house when he dallies with the likes of you and that other cow Meg. We'll be well rid of you two shameless sluts. You'll be in good company, that other slut Jane Wheeler will also be sent packing."

Kate felt fear jolt through her young body like a huntsman's knife. "But it be winter and our time is short. Even Jane is but a month behind us. Will ye not wait until spring?"

Godfrey laughed but there wasn't a trace of mirth in it. "Not a chance wench! You make your bed now sleep in it with Edwin! But by God you and the other minx won't be littering this castle with your illegitimate vermin. So you and the other whore best get your things together. I'll be speaking to that young Whore son presently."

HE slammed the door in her face and she was alone again. She sank to the pallet where so many happy moments had been shared. It was here that Edwin had filled both her and Meg with his potent seed and now the fruit of those libidinous moments of ecstasy were about to burst into the world. She hadn't been able to service Edwin for over three weeks now save with her talented mouth. It was quite the same with Meg. They still burned in their little lust holes but they'd been told by the local apothecary who claimed to have some knowledge of such things that they would risk a premature delivery if they sported to close to their time. So they had to finger themselves while they drank those mouth filling loads of Edwin's sweet cock cream.

Kate began to weep when she thought of leaving in such disgraceful circumstances.

When Edwin eventually returned after Gregory's funeral he was met by both Meg and Kate. Their eyes were red and they were clearly upset.

"What be the matter loved ones?"

They told him what Godfrey had said.

"The man's daft! IT be winter and you two are in no condition to travel a long distance. This be madness!"

Meg sighed, "Mayhap it be madness but I fear Godfrey is resolved. He wants the both of us and you out of his sight as soon as you can arrange it. Even Jane must leave. Lady Gwendolyn is going to be returned to her father's home in Wales, although she'll be sent in better circumstances than us."

Edwin was stunned. It was early December and his two whores were soon to deliver the fruit of his lust and with very little warning he'd have to bring them to his father's castle. His father wouldn't be pleased to see his son come back with two fallen women complete with soon to arrive bastards. But there would be no other place to go. Even at that, it was almost thirty miles in cold weather and he only had one horse. How could he transport them?

"I will speak to him but regardless of what he decides you are both under my protection."

Edwin found Godfrey in the great hall, enjoying an early supper.

"It's no joke Edwin. I want you and those two sluts out of my sight as soon as possible. Weather permitting, I expect you to be gone from this place in a few days and by the way just so there is no misunderstanding about all this, you're not to come back here unless you are specifically invited."

"Sir Godfrey, I ask you to let the women stay till spring. You must know their delicate condition would make such a journey a danger to them both, especially at this time of year."

"You should have thought of that before you spent your seed so profligately young Bellamy. Perhaps my father could wink at such behaviors but I certainly can't and won't. Why my brother would have my hide if I permitted such unspeakable baggage to linger at Westbrook!"

"Is there nothing I can say to change your mind? If your brother is in France he might not get here till April in any case. You can't cross the channel this time of year."

"There is nothing you can say and as for my brother, he'll get here. By the nails of Christ he'll get here though Satan himself bar the way. Now make your arrangements and be gone with you. God's wounds man! I can't believe you'd actually request to stay here! Have you no shame?"

Edwin looked for a long time at that hard face with the cool green eyes and the clenched jaw. He knew now there was no point arguing any further. "I will do my best to comply with your wishes. May we have the use of a spare wagon at least?"

"Speak to Ralph about that. I suppose we can spare one till spring. Just to see the back of you and your disgusting sluts"

Edwin left the insufferable presence quickly before he was tempted to do something foolish. He grimly smiled to think that this Godfrey wouldn't think those sluts were so disgusting if it were his own cock snugly lodged inside their wriggling holes.

Within a few hours everyone in the castle knew of Edwin and his harlot's banishment. Gwendolyn knew she was soon to return to Wales and she gave Edwin a few blankets by way of a servant sent to Kate's room. Gwen wouldn't see Edwin though. She'd brought enough scandal to the family and now she also would have to travel in winter with her young daughter, Madelyn and her new born boy, Brian. Her delivery had been relatively easy but this winter trip would be hard. Fortunately there was a Welch castle just twenty miles to the east and she was sure she would be well escorted being a lady of high rank. Well she'd never been all that enamored of the English anyway except for the urgent fucking from Thomas and a few choice squires. She'd miss Jane though but she didn't dare bring that vixen to her father's home. They might be liberal in Wales but there were limits even there.