Jeniver was in full agreement as she looked at Gallus. “Absolutely not,” she said. “Gal, you will ride with us to Kennington and ask Lord de Lara on Maximus’ behalf. He cannot refuse an offer of marriage if it comes from you.”
Gallus threw up his hands. “Wait,” he commanded softly. “I cannot go to Kennington tonight. We agreed that you would return Lady Courtly. I have serious matters to discuss with my brothers and I need them both with me.”
Jeniver frowned. “Nothing is more important than a marriage, Gallus,” she said. “Your business can wait. Go with us now to Kennington and then you may discuss your business later tonight after we have settled with Lord de Lara.”
Gallus eyed his wife, displeased. He could see that she was being quite stubborn and he didn’t want to upset her, but his matters had priority over Maximus’ betrothal at the moment. Still, he could see by the expression on her face that it would be very difficult to convince her otherwise, especially in her emotional state. The pregnancy had wreaked havoc on his normally calm and sweet wife. It had made her a crazy woman at times. With this in mind, he drew in a calming breath and crooked a finger at both his wife and Maximus.
“A moment with you both, please,” he said. “Ty, please take Lady Courtly in hand. I must speak with Max and my wife, alone.”
Tiberius was more than happy to escort Courtly even though Maximus was literally growling at him. He ignored his brother and took the lady over to a table where they had wine and fruit and cheese. Meanwhile, Maximus and Jeniver went to Gallus, who pulled them to the edge of the room so they could have a bit of privacy.
“Max, I… Max, look at me,” he said, noting that his brother’s attention was on Tiberius and Courtly. When Maximus reluctantly looked at him, he continued. “You know I had a meeting with de Montfort today. We will be leaving for London on the morrow and we must discuss plans and logistics of such a move. I do not have time to enter marital negotiations with Lord de Lara. Moreover, I am sure he has the same news that I do and will be moving to London tomorrow as well. His daughter, I would assume, will go with him. Can we not discuss marital contracts once we reach London?”
Maximus was clearly, and deeply, unhappy. “London?” he repeated. “Why are we going there? I thought de Montfort was convening a big gathering at Oxford tomorrow?”
Gallus grunted. “As I said, plans have changed,” he replied. “De Montfort received word that the king is convening his supporters next week and he wants to be there. Therefore, we move to London.”
Maximus rolled his eyes in exasperation. “That is all well and good, but it is quite possible that my business cannot wait until we go to London,” he said. “Courtly has said that her father intends to send her and her sister back to Trelystan Castle, mostly to separate Courtly from me. Evidently, he has chased away every suitor she has ever had and he did not like the fact that I paid his daughter attention at the feast last eve. It would seem that her father has an aversion to men when it comes to his daughters.”
Jeniver was listening serious as Gallus exhaled sharply, with impatience. “Max, listen to me,” he muttered. “I am very sorry to say that Kellen de Lara’s approval of your betrothal is not the most important issue we face at the moment. There is something even more critical than all of this. Because de Montfort wants us in London by next week, we cannot go home and visit Honey. We cannot spare the time to see to her.”
Maximus was distracted from Courtly and Tiberius now with the mention of his dying mother. He hissed. “Damnation,” he growled. “Can we not even spare a few days, Gal?”
Gallus shook his head. “You know I am as unhappy as you are about this, but we have no choice,” he said. “Moreover, my sorrow is deepened because I do not believe it will be safe to take my wife into London, either. It is a dangerous place at any given time and we will be spending most of our time with de Montfort and the allies, which would leave Jeniver alone a good deal of the time. It is my intention to send her back to Isenhall. I feel I have little choice. She will be safer there.”
With that, he reached out and took Jeniver’s hand, pulling her gently to him. As Gallus kissed his wife on the temple, Maximus was watching the two of them.
“Then in your sorrow from being separated from your wife, surely you can understand my desire to seek a betrothal with de Lara,” he said quietly. “You do not want to be separated from the woman you love and I… I do not want to be separated from Courtly. I must know she is mine, Gal. Can you not understand that?”
Gallus could, somewhat, but Maximus’ behavior had him frustrated. He struggled not to explode. “Of course I do,” he said with some anger. “But, Max… why you? Why now? You are my rock, my most dependable warrior. You are an immovable object, but now, suddenly, you are pleading like a childish squire, bleeding all things soft and silly about wanting a woman. How can you do this now when you know how badly de Montfort needs our focus?”
Maximus stiffened at his brother’s words. “I am allowed to be a man in all ways,” he said, struggling not to snarl in front of Jeniver. “I am allowed to have feelings for a woman. You’ve had the opportunity twice and I have not had it at all. Now, when I have found a woman I want to marry, you begrudge me the same happiness you have known? Are you truly so selfish?”
The situation was starting to get ugly and Jeniver put herself in between the two of them so they wouldn’t start throwing fists. “Max, he does not begrudge you happiness,” she said to calm the situation. “He does not mean it the way it sounds.”
Maximus was so angry that his lips were starting to turn white, tense with rage. “He means it exactly that way,” he said, both to Jeniver and to Gallus. “I will not let him ruin my chance for happiness. If her father will not allow us to marry, I have no qualms about abducting her and leaving England for good.”
Shocked, Jeniver and Gallus looked at him. “Max, you wouldn’t,” Jeniver gasped. “You would not leave us!”
Maximus opened his mouth but Gallus reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his tunic. “You are mad,” he hissed. “You do not even know what you are saying. I did not say that I would not speak with de Lara on your behalf. I simply asked you to wait. How is that destroying your chance at happiness? If the lady loves you now, she will love you next week or next year. Why is it so urgent that you marry her this instant?”
Maximus didn’t like to be grabbed, not even by his brother. Jeniver could see his fists balling and she shoved him back, smacking her husband’s hand so that he would release him. Pushing the men apart was strenuous and she was already feeling sick and weak, but she jabbed a finger at Maximus in a stunning show of strength.
“You will not fight him, do you hear?” she commanded. Then, she looked at Gallus. “And you know very well that family loyalty supersedes everything. Your loyalty is to your brother most of all. You will listen to me well, both of you. Gal, we will all take Lady Courtly back to Kennington now, whereupon you will speak with Lord de Lara about Maximus. You will get the man’s consent to a marriage this night or we will stay at Kennington until you do. Once you have his consent, Lady Courtly and I will return to Isenhall while you and Maximus go to London. Lady Courtly will be of great assistance to me, as you know I am not feeling my best as of late. We will remain with Lady Honey and your daughters until you and Maximus return from London. Maximus will then marry the lady the moment he returns. Now, will that convince both of you that the situation is not worth fighting over?”
Gallus didn’t like to see his wife so upset. Her pregnancy had been very taxing on her, and even now as she scolded them, he could see that she was rather pale. Nay, he didn’t like it at all, not one bit. He looked at his brother.
“She is right,” he mumbled. “Family is the most important thing. I did not mean to make you feel guilty for your feelings towards the lady, but you must understand that there is a great deal of pressure on me to mobilize our army and move at the head of de Montfort’s force. And you… you are my warrior. You are the k
night that all men hope to be. I cannot lose you, Max. I simply cannot.”
Maximus was softened by his brother’s words and he, too, didn’t like seeing Jeniver so upset. He was feeling a great deal of remorse that he had upset her so, but mostly, he was fixed on what she had said.
“I know,” he said after a moment. “You will not lose me. But I need your help, Gal. Lady Courtly says that her father has chased away every suitor she has ever had and I do not want him to chase me away. I have a feeling I cannot intimidate him into agreeing to my demands. Therefore, I need your help. Badly.”
Gallus relented, mostly because he knew he had no choice. He looked at his wife. “Very well, sweetheart,” he said. “We will go to Kennington now and open negotiations on behalf of Max. I suspect I should just turn you loose on de Lara because we shall have his agreement much sooner.”
Jeniver grinned, relieved that Gallus and Maximus were no longer fighting. “I would not be opposed to that,” she said, although she was seriously thinking of resting for a little while. She was beginning to feel quite weak now. Still, this situation would not wait. She needed to be strong. “Allow me to go and gather my things and then we shall depart. Kennington House is not far from here, truly. We should make it there in little time and, depending on how soon we can gain de Lara’s agreement, we should be back this evening in plenty of time for you to discuss business with your brothers.”
Gallus cocked an eyebrow at his wife as she turned for the stairs she had so recently come racing down. “It is not that simple and you know it,” he said. “Negotiations could take more than just a few moments of your time.”
Jeniver cast him a glance, giving him a wink. “Not if you turn me loose on him.”
Gallus lifted his shoulders. “If you feel up to the task, you may try,” he said. “He may respond better to the soft overtures of a woman.”
Jeniver’s only reply was to smile as she turned back for the stairs. The moment that she did so, however, the entire room began to rock unsteadily and she began to feel very weak and dizzy. Grabbing for the banister was the last thing she remembered before everything went dark.
PART THREE
WINDS OF WAR
CHAPTER TEN
Kennington House
“Where is my daughter?”
At sunset, Kellen was standing at the gates of Kennington, waiting for his child to be delivered and already, the situation wasn’t going well. He was gathered with a group of his men, including St. Héver, armed to the hilt and appearing as if he were looking for a fight.
Maximus’ heart sank when he saw the offensive posturing that Kellen was presenting. He looked at Gallus, who appeared terribly strained and grossly impatient with de Lara’s demeanor. Having just left his ill wife, Gallus was in no mood for foolery. He couldn’t even present a semblances of politeness at de Lara’s question.
“She is with my wife,” he said flatly. “My wife became ill this afternoon and your daughter has been kind enough to tend her. Given that my wife has no ladies about her and I do not want serving women touching her, I accepted your daughter’s offer. That is what I have come to tell you, de Lara.”
Kellen looked unhappier than he had when they’d first arrived. He eyed Gallus and Maximus, and the host of de Shera soldiers behind them. There were about thirty, including three very big knights. Jaw flexing, Kellen took a few steps towards Gallus as the man sat astride his volatile, red jennet.
“I am sorry that your wife fell ill, my lord,” he said through, Gallus was sure, clenched teeth, “but you can surely afford great care for her. I want my daughter returned home.”
Gallus wasn’t going to let de Lara bully him. More than that, the man was being plain rude. Bracing his big, gloved hand on his thigh, he leaned forward and looked the man in the eye.
“I can afford the best care in England for her,” he said. “But that is not the point. The point is that your daughter graciously volunteered to sit with her and tend her so that my wife is not being attended by people she does not know. Your daughter is a generous and giving individual, qualities you do not seem to have. Kindly tell me why you were so hospitable and kind to my brother last evening and then today you treat us as if we have done something unspeakably wrong. Well? I am waiting.”
De Lara eyed Maximus as the man sat, emotionless, astride his black and white steed, waiting and watching for Kellen’s reply. Kellen, however, was reconsidering his attitude after Gallus’ scolding. Nothing the man had said was untrue. He simply didn’t like anyone to point it out. It was his prerogative to behave however he wished, especially with his daughter at stake.
“I am grateful to Sir Maximus for saving my daughters from a burning building, my lord,” he finally said. “But you must understand that I am very protective of my children. I do not like it when they are out of my sight. I worry just as any father would. The fact that your wife promised to bring my daughter home at sunset, yet she is not here, concerns me greatly.”
Gallus scowled. “Why should it?” he said. “You know where she is. You know she is with my wife. She is safe and comfortable. Why on earth should you be concerned for her safety?”
Kellen was starting to become flustered. “You do not understand,” he said. “Since my wife died, it has only been me and my girls. I am naturally protective of them.”
Gallus waved him off impatiently. “My first wife died two years ago this summer,” he said. “I have two small daughters and I am protective of them as well, so do not speak to me of being protective of your children. Your daughter is safe and I need her help. I will bring her back to you as soon as my wife has sufficiently recovered.”
Kellen wasn’t happy with that directive, not in the least. “Where is my daughter?” he demanded one last time. “You will take me to her immediately.”
Gallus sighed sharply. “She is at The One-Eyed Raven Inn,” he told him. “If you want to go to her, then you will do it on your own, but if you go near my wife in your attempt to get to your daughter, know that I will strike hard and strike fast. No man goes near my wife. Is that in any way unclear?”
Now, threats were being leveled and Kellen was forced to back down. He didn’t need the Thunder Lord as an enemy but he was rapidly heading in that direction. He glanced at St. Héver, standing next to him, seeking the man’s silent support, but all he received was an impassive expression in return. At that point, he was coming to think that perhaps he was looking like a fool for being so demanding and rude. After a moment, he lifted his hand in a gesture that implied a reluctant surrender.
“It is clear, my lord,” he said. “I am not attempting to offend you. I simply want my daughter returned to me, as your wife promised.”
Gallus would not accept the man’s apology. “What you have done is insult my honor and my wife’s honor,” he said coldly. “You have implied great distrust in us as if we have done something to deserve it. Do you always treat people this way, de Lara? It is a wonder you have any allies at all.”
Kellen could see that he had, indeed, insulted de Shera a good deal. He would have to attempt to mend that state if he wanted to keep his standing in de Montfort’s rebellion. Insulting the Lords of Thunder was not a way to get ahead in life, or at least in de Montfort’s world. With a heavy sigh, he struggled to appear submissive, at least as much as he could. He was a stubborn man, however, and it was difficult.
“You will forgive me, my lord,” he said, laboring to spit out the words. “Will you please come inside and enjoy some refreshments? Allow me to at least make amends for my slander against you and your wife. That was truly not my intent.”
Gallus glanced at Maximus, who was more than willing to go with the man. They both realized that this would be the perfect opportunity for Gallus to present a marital contract to de Lara, especially now that they had the upper hand against him. De Lara had been scolded and now he was being rather docile because he had tried to stir up a battle he had no chance of winning. Maximus intended to take advantage of
his surrender because, in those first few tense moments after they’d arrived, he could see what Courtly was talking about when she described her father’s protectiveness over his daughters. I am not entirely sure what drives my father to chase away all suitors, she had said. Maximus could clearly see what she had meant. Kellen was a zealot when it came to the protection of his daughters. Therefore, he knew to proceed carefully.
“Then we accept,” Gallus finally said, only when he received Maximus’ imperceptible nod. “Lead the way, de Lara. Let us see if your hospitality is enough to ease my anger against you.”
Kellen had his soldiers open up the big, iron gates and usher in de Shera and his men. Gallus had his soldiers take up station near the gate, away from the bulk of de Lara men who were across the bailey and closer to the great hall. Scott, Troy, and Stefan had accompanied them to Kennington and when Gallus and Maximus entered the hall that Maximus had feasted in the night before, the knights followed with a somewhat suspicious manner. Having seen de Lara’s fit, they weren’t entirely sure that they weren’t in enemy territory and were on their guard.
The big hall of Kennington was cold and dark when they entered and Kellen immediately set about starting a fire in the hearth, but he had to do it himself because Ellice was still keeping her servants hidden. Gallus thought it was all rather odd until he remembered what Maximus had said about the night before, how Lady Courtly had been forced to cook the entire feast because of a disagreement between her father and his sister. As Kellen tended the hearth, which must have been embarrassing for him, Gallus leaned in to his brother.
“I see what you mean about the de Lara’s sister absconding with her servants,” he muttered. “Was it like this last eve, too?”
Maximus nodded, looking around. “It was,” he said. “But the aunt was here this morning. In fact, it was she who insisted that Courtly attend Jeniver on her trip. De Lara tried to tell us that he needed Courtly to tend her younger sister but the aunt volunteered. I wonder where the aunt is?”
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