Dear God, could this get any worse?
That being the case, she’d rather burn to death.
A hand grabbing her hair and pulling her head out of the water told her that someone else had a different idea about it.
CHAPTER FOUR
The main level of Canterbury’s keep housed a smaller family hall, the earl’s private bedchamber, along with a small receiving room for Lady de Lohr and a solar for the earl. As far as keeps went, it was a very large one and had generous-sized rooms.
Chad knew the keep as well as he knew the grooves and contours of his own face. He’d spent much time here as a child before going to foster far to the north at Sommerhill Castle and then moving to Lioncross Abbey Castle, the seat of his famous grand-uncle. He’d spent about twelve years away from Canterbury before finally returning after he’d receive his spurs, and the place was still home for him. It had a certain smell to it that he found comforting – smoke, dogs, and freshly baked bread. His mother liked to bake bread herself, in fact, and she always seemed to be baking loaves with currants or herbs or cheese in them. So much bread. Even now, as he entered the keep, he could smell that bread. It gave him comfort like nothing else in the world.
But he could also hear voices in his father’s solar off to the right. It was a room that had been used by two generations of de Lohrs and before that, several generations of the Hampton family. Chad’s grandfather, David, had married the Hampton heiress, which is how Canterbury became a de Lohr property. But to him, it was simply home.
And he drew strength from his home, strength to face the men that had been chasing him all night, men who wanted to take that small woman hostage. Bracing himself, Chad entered the chamber.
It was a low-ceilinged room that had a layer of smoke hanging next to the ceiling beams. Two big Irish Wolfhounds were sleeping in front of the fire, their heads popping up when Chad entered the room. In fact, every man in the chamber turned to look at him when he entered, including his father.
“Chad,” Daniel de Lohr, Earl of Canterbury, sounded very happy and relieved to see his son. He came out from behind the table he’d been standing behind, a table that was cluttered with parchment and quill, maps and a couple of very precious books. “Come in, lad. Do come in and embrace me.”
Chad went to his father, eyeing the six knights who were standing in a cluster over near his father’s table. He recognized all of them; they were men known in the military ranks as Henry’s Guard of Six.
So it was the Six who followed me….
Chad didn’t say what he was thinking. In fact, at that moment, he was prepared to feign ignorance of the fact that he’d been followed and see where that took him. Therefore, he forced a smile at the group, projecting as much congeniality as he could.
“Greetings, Father,” he said as Daniel came to him and embraced him. “It is good to be home.”
Daniel squeezed his eldest son tightly. “Praise God you have made it,” he said, his voice tight with emotion. He released Chad long enough to look the man in the eye. “You are without injury?”
“Without, Papa,” he smiled wearily at the man. “You needn’t worry.”
Daniel’s tired gaze lingered on him a moment and in that expression, Chad could instantly see that not all was well. Something had his father on-edge; he could see it in the man’s eyes. Therefore, his pledge to be congenial fled.
Stefan and Perrin were in the room along with Chris, Arthur, and William. Chad glanced over at his brothers and cousins, acknowledging them, before returning his attention to his father.
“Henry was victorious at Evesham,” he said to Daniel, “but I am sure you already know that. It looks as if Henry sent his Six to inform you personally.”
Daniel nodded. Nearing his sixth decade, he was still a handsome and healthy man, more than most. His arm was still around his son’s shoulders as he turned to Henry’s knights.
“Aye,” he said. “They have come to tell me a good deal. You know these men, do you not? Greet them properly, Chad.”
Chad knew them, indeed. Everyone did. They were some of Henry’s most trusted men, all of them knights of the highest order; Aidric St. John, Dirk d’Vant, Jareth de Leybourne, Torran de Serreaux, Britt de Garr, Kent de Poyer. Chad knew de Serreaux and d’Vant particularly well, and he’d fought side by side with de Poyer at Evesham. They were good men but their loyalties, and their relationship to the king, were complicated.
“Good knights,” Chad said evenly. “Didn’t I just see you a few weeks ago on those bloody fields at Evesham? Did you miss me so much that you had to come to Canterbury?”
The knights grinned to varying degrees. The leader of the Guard of Six was Torran de Serreaux; a big man with dark hair and dark eyes, he was as handsome as he was cunning and strong. His family was very old and his relations, both blood and political, ran deep. He and Chad had a long history and a pleasant one, and he would do his best to keep it that way.
“Chad,” he greeted politely. “My friend, as much as seeing you brings me pleasure, I am afraid that my visit here is on business for the king.”
Chad looked at the five other knights. “He usually does not send you in a group like this,” he said. “Moreover, one or more of you usually remains with him. At least, that is how it was before Simon de Montfort managed to capture him. What is so important that you are all here?”
It was a direct question following a statement that could have been construed as an insult against the Six. They were Henry’s personal guard, men who both protected him and did his bidding, and it was common knowledge that when Simon de Montfort had overwhelmed and captured Henry, Simon had stripped the Six of their weapons but had allowed them to remain with their liege, but it was in a purely captive role. They’d remained with Henry for more than a year in captivity until Evesham, when Henry had been freed by Chad, among others, and the Six, who had been with Henry, had been subsequently armed. They had fought like madmen for Prince Edward and had been instrumental in bringing down de Montfort. Chad had even seen de Leybourne and de Garr participate in mutilating the man. It had been gruesome, but from their standpoint, understandable. Warfare had made it so.
De Serreaux didn’t seem to take Chad’s statement as an insult, fortunately. He smiled wryly. “Much has changed in this past year, has it not?” he said. “I can hardly believe that we have our freedom once more and a debt of gratitude goes to you. Had you not recognized Henry in de Montfort’s armor, the battle could have been quite different.”
Chad lifted his eyebrows expectantly. “So you have come to thank me?”
De Serreaux nodded. “Indeed,” he said. “From Henry’s own lips. He is very grateful for your loyalty. For the loyalty of the entire House of de Lohr. Surely Henry could not survive without your support.”
Chad sensed something more to that statement. He wasn’t sure what more, but he didn’t like it. It was almost as if de Serreaux were being too complimentary, too thankful. It seemed odd. Chad glanced at his father to see the man’s reaction to all of this before responding.
“The House of de Lohr always stands with the crown,” he said. “I was glad to be of assistance. Now, with Simon gone, Henry shall once again enjoy his right upon the throne. He no longer has to worry about de Montfort the Elder. Now, the young Simon is still flirting with rebellion, but with the father gone, I believe the son’s rebel tendencies shall fade with time.”
De Serreaux shrugged. “I was just speaking to your father about that this morning, in fact,” he said. “Simon de Montfort the Younger can still lead a substantial rebellion. Even with Simon the Elder gone, Henry does not feel that the situation will be calm. Simon the Younger can still stir up trouble for him.”
Chad was starting to see where this conversation might be going and what had his father edgy. “How?” he asked. “He does not command nearly the men his father did.”
De Serreaux nodded. “That is true, but there are those that still support de Montfort and rebellion.”
De Serreaux shook his head. “Not every bit,” he said. “But at least within England, all men should be supportive of the king, don’t you think?”
“I think men have a free will to support whomever they please.”
De Serreaux’s dark eyes were fixed on Chad as if realizing that Chad knew everything he was going to say. It was in Chad’s expression and de Serreaux, being a man of respect as well as of tact, lowered his gaze and moved to the nearest chair. When he sat, it was heavily.
“Mayhap,” he finally said. “But there are men that Henry very badly wants to court, Chad. I have been discussing the situation with your father. Henry wants the support of the House of de Shera. They have supported de Montfort for many years and with the man dead, Henry is hoping to entice them back into supporting the crown. I was asking your father how he thought we should go about such a thing.”
Chad looked at his father now, understanding why the man had been disturbed. “You could have gone to Lioncross Abbey and discussed all of this with Curtis de Lohr,” Chad said. “His army is bigger than my father’s and he controls the Marches. Why come to Canterbury?”
De Serreaux shrugged. “That was not my intention,” he said. “My intention was only to go to Newington Priory but I was told that you got there before me. Therefore, I came to Canterbury to explain the situation in the hopes that you will give me what Henry seeks.”
He said it most politely. In fact, it was very non-threatening and because de Serreaux was calm, Chad remained calm. He sighed heavily, crossing his big arms.
“The de Shera girl?”
“The de Shera girl.”
Chad shook his head. “Torran,” he said reproachfully. “She is a small lady who is absolutely terrified of what is happening. She does not even like her father or brother, for Christ’s sake, and they have much the same feeling for her. There is no love between these family members and Henry holding her hostage to force the House of de Shera into supporting him will be a waste of time. Do you truly think Gallus and Maximus and Tiberius will surrender because you hold a cousin? Of course they will not. They will not surrender their convictions for one little woman.”
De Serreaux was listening with interest. Or, at least he pretended to. “May I speak with her at least?”
Chad turned to look at his brothers and cousins behind him, noting that all of them were posturing with hostility one way or another. “I don’t see why not,” he said. “But she will have a heavy escort. I am sure you understand.”
De Serreaux’s dark eyes glimmered, as if finding humor in this tense situation. He threw a thumb over his shoulder, back at the men behind him. “I come with a heavy escort, too,” he said. “It will be a crowded interrogation.”
Chad grinned because de Serreaux was starting to. They ended up snorting at each other, the determination and stubbornness of each man. Neither one wanted to offend the other, but they both knew the truth of the situation. It was serious, indeed.
“I am going to take a wild guess and say that de Moray told you of Henry’s plans for the girl,” de Serreaux finally said. “It does not take a genius to figure out that de Moray put you up to this. His daughter is married to Tiberius de Shera and it is well known that de Moray, de Shera, and de Lohr are as thick as thieves even if you do not all fight on the same side. De Moray was there when Henry spoke of his intentions. No one else in that room would have run to you but de Moray.”
Chad wouldn’t give away his source. He chuckled, waving the man off. “It does not matter what I know or how I know it,” he said. “Besides, de Moray is so loyal to Henry that the man practically bleeds crimson and gold. He would not betray his king.”
De Serreaux threw up a casual hand. “Who said anything about betraying Henry?” he said. “It is only natural that he would be concerned for his daughter’s husband and the man’s family. I hear he is quite fond of Tiberius. So when he heard of Henry’s plans for Aurelius de Shera’s sister, it is only natural that he would whisper in your ear about it. The de Lohrs are also related to the House of de Shera, are they not? Mayhap he told you so that you could slip in and save the girl from Henry’s clutches. And just so you know, Henry doesn’t want to hold her as a hostage. He actually has an advantageous marriage planned for her.”
Chad frowned. “Since when does Henry burden himself with the marital arrangements of lesser nobility?”
“Since the lady no longer has a father. Henry thought a marriage to a warlord would be to her advantage. Create an alliance and all that.”
“An alliance for Henry.”
De Serreaux cocked his head knowingly. “What else?”
Chad looked at his father full-on now, coming to understand that what he’d been told was not what was actually transpiring. Daniel gazed back at his son, rather caught up in the political dealings going on in his solar. Now, a good deal was starting to come clear to Chad and he turned back to de Serreaux, confusion evident on his features.
“So Henry wants to marry the girl off?” he clarified. “He does not wish to keep her hostage?”
De Serreaux nodded. “Let us be honest, Chad,” he said. “No amount of pleading or coercion or hostage-taking will force the Lords of Thunder to do something they do not wish to do. So Henry thought that by marrying one of his loyal barons to the girl, it would create an alliance that would weaken the House of de Shera’s loyalty to de Montfort. Tiberius is already married to de Moray’s daughter and if another member of the house were to marry another of Henry’s barons….”
“Then it would strengthen the de Shera ties to the crown.”
“Exactly.”
Chad was rather surprised by the entire suggestion. He was trying to come up with something more to say about the scheme when Daniel spoke.
“You heard my son,” he said. “The girl does not have a relationship with her brother or father. How would her marriage to one of Henry’s loyalists weaken the House of de Shera?”
De Serreaux pointed to Chad. “As your son said, it would strength the de Shera ties to the crown,” he said. “It would also breed a host of half-de Shera sons who would be loyal to the king. Do you really think the Lords of Thunder would fight against their own blood?”
Daniel frowned. “But you are talking years down the line,” he said. “And you are speaking in theory. This girl is being used as a pawn but she means little in the grand scheme of things. I must say it is a foolish plot.”
De Serreaux lifted his hands, indicating the situation was out of his control. “It is not my plot,” he said frankly. “It is Henry’s. He is hoping a marriage might help the Lords of Thunder see the light. Now, may I please speak to the girl?”
Chad’s brow furrowed. “Why are you so anxious to see her?”
“Because I am the warlord Henry would have her marry.”
Chad’s eyes widened and he looked at de Serreaux as if the man had lost his mind. “You?” he repeated. “Are you serious?”
De Serreaux didn’t seem too happy about it. “I wish I wasn’t,” he said. “But Henry wants me to marry the girl. He has promised me lands in Devonshire if I do.”
As Chad stared at de Serreaux, something odd happened. He actually felt… jealous. Aye, it was jealousy, something he hadn’t experienced in years. He almost didn’t recognize the emotion but as he looked at tall, dark, and handsome Torran de Serreaux, he wasn’t at all apt to produce Alessandria for the man’s perusal. To the devil with that thought. Nay, he wasn’t going to do it in the least.
“But…,” he said, “but you clearly do not sound as if you want her or thi
s marriage. Why did you not refuse?”
De Serreaux shrugged. “Because I must have heirs some time,” he said, sounding resigned. “I suppose this is as good a time as any. Plus, she is a de Shera. They breed strong sons. Just look at the Lords of Thunder – how many sons between them now?”
Chad had no idea how to answer that. “I do not know,” he said, disinterested. “A half dozen, at least. So… this is all about using her as breeding stock?”
De Serreaux simply lifted his hand, a helpless gesture. “If I am being forced into marriage, how else can I view it?” he said, although he wasn’t trying to be cruel. Simply factual. “Will you let me see her or not?”
Not! Chad thought, but he immediately bit his tongue. He had no idea why he was reacting so oddly to the suggestion of a betrothal between Alessandria and de Serreaux. All he knew was that he didn’t like it. But he stilled himself, embarrassed that he should feel so strongly about it.
“She is with my mother,” he said, realizing that he very much wanted to wrap his hands around de Serreaux’s neck and squeeze the life from him. “She has had a difficult night, so at least let my mother tend to her before you speak with her.”
De Serreaux scratched his dark head. “We have had a difficult night as well,” he said, glancing back to the knights behind him, all of them in various stages of exhaustion. “I believe we could use a meal and some sleep. I was chasing some fool all night long, you know.”
“I would not call if him a fool if he managed to evade you. It would seem you were made the fool.”
De Serreaux grinned wearily. “I would agree with that.”
With that, he stood up, exhausted. It was clear that the subject at hand was finished for the moment and looked at Daniel.
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