"Let every man able arm and provision himself to ride to London," Gaunt roared.
I will not let them eat my son. He will not fight without his men around him to be surely slain. I will cry defiance to the king if need be, and if that is being forsworn, then forsworn I will be. He is flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, and they shall not have him.
The day before the tourney, in the women's quarters of the White Tower, Maud and Joan of Shrewsbury were exchanging half-confidences.
"Oxford tells me that Hereford may change sides at the tourney," Joan commented when the other ladies were out of earshot.
"The more fool Oxford," Maud replied tartly, for her temper was on edge with waiting for events to move. "The only thing Hereford could change for is to separate himself from Chester, and he would never do that. There is no such thing as political expedience to a man raised in the principles of Miles of Gloucester and so young as Roger of Hereford."
"Oh? Oxford thought that Pembroke had warned him to change because he hoped to separate him from Lord Radnor. If Hereford fights on Radnor's right hand, it will increase the difficulty of pricking Radnor hard enough to keep him abed."
"If that was intended, it would indeed. For that type of wound—bad enough, but not too bad—care and consideration are needed."
The bright color in Joan's cheeks faded appreciably. ·"Madam, you cannot mean to have him slain!"
"What else? Why, Joan, you are distressed. If I had known you still had a lust to that particular piece of manhood, I would not have told you. It would have been easier for you to have believed it to be an accident. My dear, I am truly sorry, but you have spoken of him with such cold disdain for the past year that—"
"I assure you my distress is for no such reason. I have not now, and never did have any feeling at all except, oh, perhaps, a little pity, for Lord Radnor. I did only what we decided would be best. Shrewsbury felt it to be an object of the first importance to block his betrothal to Elizabeth of Chester. That accomplished, I was finished with him. Still, I knew him well. To snuff out such a life deliberately … I am distressed for a pet dog that dies."
Maud knew that Joan was really upset because it was not like her to make foolish statements, and at the time she had been leading Lord Radnor on a string he had already been contracted for Leah. The business with Elizabeth had been years earlier. She did not appear to notice the slip, but went on sweetly.
“I must say that this surprises me. What exactly was between you two was always a puzzle, but I must compliment you, and Shrewsbury too, upon your powers of dissimulation. I would have sworn, and I am no fool, that you were in love and that your lord knew nothing. Radnor, it was plain, was hard hit, but he is like glass in matters regarding women. I wish it were so in other matters; things then might not have come to this pass. I am a little sorry for his silly bride, but she is plainly simple." Of this, Maud was not at all sure, but she wished to enrage Joan. "She will forget him in a month or two. Speaking of that, and since you say it is not a tender subject, I have heard that he is completely besotted about her. I have set my servants upon his and they talk."
"About what?"
"Everything. Is that not the way with servants? Imagine, he could not summon sufficient resolution to leave her behind with her parents—and she told me in ten minutes everything she had seen and heard. I scarcely needed to ask a question; it poured from her. Her eyes are already wandering too. You should see how she looks at William of Gloucester. Radnor will be spared the grief of being cuckolded at least."
"I can scarcely believe that Lord Radnor could care for such a woman. He took her, I know, because of the dower lands, and he was none too eager to fulfill the contract."
"Yes, he was mooning over you like a sick calf then. It is true that he is mad for her now, nonetheless. He has changed. It is a matter of jest with his men that he cannot wait to get up the stairs to her solar. And for all he speaks sharply to her and she does not know her power, the servants say that he is ever kissing and pawing her. They are afraid to enter the room for he always must break an embrace and looks black as night at them. He is so mad for her," Maud added, laughing, "that he discusses business with his master-of-arms in her presence. I know some things that will cost Lord Radnor dear—or would if he lived."
Maud knew what she was doing. The color had returned, higher than ever, to Joan's face and her blue eyes fairly shot sparks. Whatever momentary softness she had felt for her old love, for Maud believed not a word of that nonsense about not caring for him, she felt only hate now.
Maud had miscalculated again, however. She had set Leah's worth and Joan's intelligence both too low and had, all unintentionally, given Joan reason to believe she might win Cain back and a weapon to use for that purpose. Joan was willing to accept the fact that Cain was presently enamored of his wife's physical charms—after all they had only been married for about three weeks. She had always thought, and now was sure, that Leah was not equal to him. As soon as he discovered this, he would be bored and might easily be brought to appreciate a woman who had more to offer than a mere body, especially when the body was well worth having too.
Lord Radnor had left her—Joan faced the fact—because she had betrayed him. How bitterly she regretted it now, not the betrayal, which was necessary, but the crude way she had told him and laughed at him. She had been so sure that he was too much her slave, too much in love to resent anything. Now, however, it was his wife who had betrayed him, and Joan was in a position to save his life and warn him that Leah was a fool and was carrying tales to Maud.
In her own apartments at home, Joan bit her lips over the wording of her message. She had no fear that Leah would read it, for she was sure that the girl was too ignorant to read. What was more, she cared not a fig how jealous Leah became. Her difficulty was that she wished to communicate the idea that she was risking her safety and her husband's prosperity to do Radnor this service. Neither was true, of course, for although Joan desired Radnor, she did not care enough for him or for any living soul except herself to risk anything. Even with a warning, Radnor would probably be badly enough hurt to be incapacitated, and that was all that was necessary for Joan's purposes. She only wanted to keep him from seeing Henry of Anjou until Shrewsbury had a chance to conclude his business with the young pretender. About Maud's plans for Wales she knew and cared nothing.
Leah laid aside the message when it arrived with a sinking heart. Like everything else she kept about her, the parchment Joan used was permeated with her scent and Leah was coming to recognize the odor as readily as her husband would. She silently handed the note to him when he came in from his conference with Philip. Cain had no need to smell the parchment; the hand was perfectly familiar to him. His first impulse was to fling the missive into the fire, but for one thing there was no fire and for another his curiosity was awakened. He glanced at Leah who was looking out of the window, her back to him, and then broke the seal.
"My lord: I dare not sign this, but you cannot fail to know the sender. If you do not take great care, the prize your wife will have for the tourney is your body laid upon your shield. Mayhap she deserves this, for she has betrayed your secrets to the queen out of spite for your harshness, but you should die a nobler death. I hope you understand, for I dare write no more and risk all by even so much for your sake."
"I hope Lady Shrewsbury has not bad news for you." Leah's voice was totally without inflection and she had not turned around.
Cain looked at his wife's lance-straight back. He certainly did not want another scene like the one last night. On the other hand, he dared not show Leah the note because of the warning in it. She would have hysterics, he thought, if she were frightened any more. He could not help, moreover, being distracted by a burning curiosity about Joan's purposes. Surely she would rather have him dead than alive after what had passed between them. He was ashamed even now of what he said in parting from her, but Radnor merely showed his ignorance of the fact that his death could bring Joan n
o satisfaction. Only two things could ease her heart—to see him humbled and to have him sue once more for her love.
"I wish," Radnor said finally with magnificent non sequitur, "that I had not laughed so heartily at Hereford's dismay yesterday. I am now in almost the same position, except, praise God, I have no witnesses of my discomfiture. I cannot deny that this is Joan of Shrewsbury's hand, nor that there is something here that I would not have you see. I swear, however, that it is no matter of a private nature between Joan and myself. For the rest I care not—she warns me that you have betrayed me to the queen."
"You need tell me nothing. I ask out of concern for your well-being alone," Leah replied mendaciously. "I am not like to question your behavior again, my lord."
"I hope not, but I would not have you distressed for nothing. Of all women on earth, you need concern yourself least with Joan of Shrewsbury. Are you not even interested in how you have betrayed me?"
"If you do not believe that I am faithful to you in word and deed, what could I do to convince you? I know I have betrayed nothing. If you choose to believe Lady Shrewsbury—"
Radnor laughed and gave his wife an affectionate hug with one arm. Whatever Leah's knowledge of her father's doings, he was sure she had told Maud nothing. "She does not name any particular thing. What lies have you been spreading now? Leah, Leah, you will never go to heaven if you speak so many untruths."
"I will go to heaven! God understands everything. Surely He will understand that it is needful for me to protect my husband's interests among those who wish him harm."
Covering his face in humorous despair, Radnor gave up the struggle. He replied, chuckling a little, that she must not forget to confess that she told lies and do her penance. He had to go out again to see what support he could muster for Hereford since there was no longer any hope of saving Chester, but he hated to leave Leah while her mouth still drooped disconsolately. More and more her gaiety was his happiness, and her sorrow, no matter how small and foolish, wrung his heart.
"I must go out on business. Nay, it is nothing to do with this letter, and you may believe me for I am not the prevaricator that you are. I must speak to William of Gloucester and Leicester and some others before the council meeting. Tomorrow I will have no time because of the tourney. What will you do until I return?"
"Nothing of which you would disapprove, my lord. There is always much to be done. I must talk of wines to the steward, of meat and flour and spices to the cooks, of sewing and cleaning to the maids—"
"Well, I do disapprove. You cannot always toil. It is Friday—oh, Lord, fish again—there seem to be five Fridays in every week. Why do you not go to the market, and not to buy wine and meat and flour, but to see the fairings? Giles will— No, I need Giles. Beaufort can escort you and I will give you more money." That should cheer her up, he thought; above all women liked to buy things.
"You are very kind," Leah replied in a small, sad voice.
"Have you forgot how to smile this afternoon?" There was a short pause while Cain did some mental gymnastics. "Would it make you happier if I went with you, Leah?" He could not bear her unspoken depression and was now prepared to rearrange his own schedule to please her.
Having what she wanted, Leah did smile, turning her face up to his with brightening eyes. "Of course it would make me happy, but you must not do it. You are merely indulging me, and your affairs must come first. I will wait for you."
"That will take too much time. I do not want to be late in returning. Remember that I am to take the evening meal alone with the king tonight. I know what is best to be done. Go alone, and I will meet you at the Horse Market in Smithfield. I intended to buy you a riding mare or two and I need a replacement for my dead stallion. I will come as soon as possible, but do not look for me before Nones. Now kiss me quickly, and I must go. I am late already."
"Be careful, my lord. Oh, how I wish I might go with you."
"To watch me or to protect me? Go to, do not be such a goose. I would look something a little more than foolish explaining that I had brought my nursemaid along." He laughed at her, pushing away his doubts and telling himself that he should be flattered by her jealousy and her fear.
Radnor's first call was on William of Gloucester whom he found teasing a small dog with bits of meat prepared by a pretty boy. Radnor scowled at William's choice of company and William laughed. He did, however, gesture to the boy, who removed himself and the dog to the guardroom below.
"You have heard about Hereford's latest folly?"
"We have more similar senses of humor than I thought if you are going to class treason as a form of folly," William rejoined.
Cain snorted impatiently. "Well, so it is, in this case, but that was not what I meant. You know the tale that has been spread—give it what backing you can."
William smiled. "So be it, but no woman can save him if he failed to stop Pembroke. How could you send such a trusting child to fulfill such a duty? And do not ask me how I knew that Hereford had failed. I can read your face. Where is Pembroke?"
"I wish to God I knew. You know what it will mean to your father and your lands if Chester and Hereford are taken prisoner. Can you find where Pembroke is, William? Perhaps we can save the oats still. It would be worth—much—to all of us."
The heavy-lidded eyes flickered open and William's lips drew back farther in a brief, vicious grimace that was no longer a smile. He would have allowed few other men to see that expression, but his trust in his foster-brother was absolute, secure enough even to allow him to speak his true mind.
"If I can, you would be the last man I would tell of it. Fool that you are, you would try to save him for the sake of the blood bond that is between you. If I find him, he will die—and I do not desire to have you try to foil my purpose."
Radnor did not answer that remark. "Have you heard any more about Henry's movements?"
"Only what you know. That he will land in Devonshire. We receive his letters, but we still have been unable to reach him. How goes your part of that business?"
"I will see Stephen tonight, alone, without Maud. I am almost sure I can get from him letters in his own hand confirming Henry as his successor. To Stephen it will mean nothing; he is easy of promise who never intends to keep his word. I sadly fear I will not be able to have the letters stamped with the Great Seal. Maud controls that, but one cannot have everything.
As it is, such letters will be of value if by some mischance Eustace is crowned during Stephen's lifetime and more argument arises on the king's death. With these letters in hand, I can get money—to send Henry home, to pay the troops he has brought, and for whatever else is needful. Thus we spare our own purses for that time when money will not be thrown away. I know Maud holds the purse strings, but she will see that it is better that Henry should go, even at her expense, than that he should stay holding those letters and fomenting continual unrest."
William nodded, his face impassive again but his eyes still showed his anger. "It is the best that can be done, I suppose. If it had not been for this idiocy of Chester's, we could have done more. I believe Stephen could have been forced to proclaim the true succession in council, before the whole court."
"Perhaps," Radnor replied, "but we must adjust our desires to what is possible."
"So I believe also, as you well know, and I think you should take your own advice. Have you asked your wife where her father lies hid?"
Cain took a step forward threateningly, but William did not move except to lift his eyes challengingly.
"It is well to hope, ill to believe, and disastrous to trust," William sneered. "If I were you, I would take neither food nor drink from my wife's hands before the tourney." Cain started to turn away, but with a movement swift as a striking snake's William caught his arm. "Have a care to yourself. When Henry is king, you may kill yourself in your own way, for all of me, but until that, day it would suit my purposes very ill indeed if your father had no successor to his title other than Pembroke. What better place to
have a fatal accident than a tourney? And what easier way to be sure of such an accident than a potion to make a man only a little drowsy?"
Shaking with fury, Radnor gripped Lord William and glared into his passionless face. He could have crushed William with a single blow, but he was not really angry with his foster-brother; his fury was the impotent rage of insecurity. "Why do you missay Leah?"
Delicately, William freed his gown from the grip Radnor had taken on it. "I do not missay her. For all I know, she is as pure in heart as the Virgin. I only know that she is Pembroke's daughter and I urge caution on you because you have a look on your face these days that only a man besotted upon a woman wears."
"I am sure she is innocent."
"That is why I said my say. Think on it. Do not be so sure that you may be alive and more sure."
Radnor's mood was black as pitch when he left William, but fortunately the Earl of Leicester was of equable disposition and did not take offence. He agreed readily enough that it would be to no one's benefit that Hereford should be attainted, provided the young man would behave himself in the future.
"I believe he has learned his lesson," Radnor said shortly. "He will meddle no more with Chester's doings—if he comes scatheless out of this. He is hot-tempered, however, and if his property or his honor is touched, he will seek revenge. This is why I would have a free pardon for him."
Leicester nodded understandingly. "I will do nothing against it, I assure you, and for what my influence with Stephen may do you will have my voice for Hereford's support. The young are hot-blooded and prone to mistake."
Cain bent his lips into a smile with an effort. "I thank you and I thank you for your patience with my bad temper."
"A man who faces what you do and yet troubles himself about others' well-doing may be forgiven much."
The remark stopped Cain in his tracks as he was preparing to take his leave. Apparently the whole court knew he was to be slaughtered. It did not sound like Pembroke's usual careful planning. What was more, it could not be suspicion of Pembroke's intentions, because Leicester gave no sign of knowing that Pembroke was in London, On the other hand, Leicester was close to the king. It was difficult to believe that Stephen would be party to such a thing; it was not his way. But it was certainly worth questioning further.
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