“Is it something about Charlotte? Her family?” Hugh muttered. “I assure you she is honorable—”
“We’ll talk later,” Gareth said, and sat next to Moira.
“What do you plan to do, now that you’re back in England?” Graham asked Charlotte, as he bit into an apple.
Hugh returned to his seat and glanced at his parents. Nothing. He must speak to John and find out if he had any information. He raked his hand through his hair. For the moment, he pushed the panic aside and returned to the conversation.
“An apple, Lady Charlotte?” his mother asked as she passed the basket.
“I’ve spent my time exploring London,” Charlotte said, “No thank you,”
“Of all that ye’ve seen, what do ye like most?” his mother asked. His father had no reaction.
“The horse races at Smithfield.”
“Ah, like Martha,” Donald said as he sipped more beer.
Silence. It dragged on. Where had the smooth conversation of a few minutes ago gone? He dealt with the peerage and nobility often, many were his clients. Had he been insensitive? Introducing his family to a lady hadn’t entered his mind as irregular. Uncomfortable, he was eager for this interview to be over.
“Charlotte also likes riddles.” He examined the apples and chose one. He hoped the change of subject would put everyone at ease.
“I’m not too bad at riddles,” Donald said. “What runs but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, a head but never weeps and a bed but never sleeps?”
Donald smiled, bit into the apple, and waited for her response.
“A river,” she said.
Donald almost choked but managed not to appear disappointed. He put the apple down. “Yes, right. Do you have a riddle for us?”
“You have no idea what you’re starting,” Hugh said. “Her riddles are renowned in London.”
“Go on, Charlotte.” Donald glared at him.
Graham chuckled as he took a piece of fruit from the bowl.
“An eater lacking mouth and maw; yet trees and beasts to it are daily bread. Well-fed it thrives and shows a lively life, but give it water and you do it dead.”
Donald chewed his cheek and concentrated. Several times he started to speak but changed his mind. At last, a smile lit his face.
“Fire.”
“Yes,” Charlotte said.
“I’ll have one for you tomorrow.” Donald said.
Thankfully, at least for Hugh, the conversation moved on. His mother chatted with Charlotte, then Graham drew her to the stone wall, where they had a clear view of the field and Merlin, Graham’s prize horse.
“What were the two of you chattering about?” Hugh asked his mother.
Moira smiled. “We spoke about Clan Gilmar and Glen Kirk. She told me about the Sagamore estate and the surrounding area, the forest, meadow and river. It’s clear she has a love for the place.”
His father joined them, a refilled tankard in his hand.
“It would be nice to have a lass at the table. With the three of ye and yer father I am always outnumbered.”
“I never saw it that way,” Gareth said. “You didn’t have any trouble putting us in our place.”
“Should I rescue her from Graham?” Hugh asked. They glanced at the two standing in deep conversation.
“No. He’s behaving and she’s doing just fine,” said Donald. “During our turn around the hall, all her questions were about you. We told her you are a bully who always had to have his way.”
Donald finish the last of his beer. “I could put in a word for you if you like. She has a good heart, even offered to help instruct the children at the archery exhibition.”
“Dinna listen to him.” His mother put her hand over Hugh’s. “Charlotte’s a lovely lass. I’m sure ye are aware of that. What are yer plans?”
“Attend the treasure hunt,” Donald interrupted. “I would put my coin on her enjoying the games, if I were a betting man.”
That wasn’t what his mother meant.
“Hugh, what is yer plan?” His mother said.
Hugh glanced at Charlotte, surprised to find her staring at his father.
“Hugh?”
“Yes, Mother?”
Graham and Charlotte came back under the tree.
“Yer plans.”
He reached out to Charlotte. With a smile on her lips, she took his hand.
Chapter Four
On the outside, Charlotte smiled graciously and held her head high. Inside, her stomach was in knots. She was glad Hugh had her hand for moral support.
The small tremor of Hugh’s hand told her he, too, was nervous. Hugh drew her to his side. She stared at his lips, firm, sensual, and waited.
“I’d like to introduce—”
“Another introduction?” Donald said, and winked at Charlotte. She was beginning to think he wasn’t so bad.
“Introduce you to my future wife.”
She glanced at Moira, a proud mother who was all smiles with maybe even a tear or two. His father wasn’t moved.
“Well done,” Donald and Gareth said, soundly slapping Hugh’s back. They talked over each other while Moira made her way to the happy couple.
“Ye both have my blessing,” Moira said. “Are ye posting the banns while ye’re here?”
Hugh didn’t say anything.
“That may be a bit premature. Hugh hasn’t spoken to my father.”
“I haven’t met him,” Hugh said. She reveled in the gentle softness of his voice.
“Father has been away for some time.”
“I was beginning to think that this lovely lady was only here to challenge me at archery,” Donald said.
“That, too,” Hugh said. “Charlotte is entering the archery tournament.”
“I hope you plan to console her when she loses. I’ve never lost an archery contest,” Donald said.
“There’s always a first time.”
“Excuse me, my lord,” One of the castle guards approached Gareth. “This just arrived from Lord Reynolds.”
His father turned the parchment over and revealed a black seal. Because it was used for urgent messages, Hugh went to his father’s side.
“Wait here,” Gareth said to the guard and moved a short distance. Hugh accompanied him.
Gareth broke the seal and unrolled the scroll.
I’m sorry, my friend, the information we’ve kept shut away is beginning to come to light. Things have been set in motion that neither you nor I can prevent. The best way to control the message is to deliver it yourself. Do not leave it to anyone else. I hope to return to Glen Kirk with more information. W.
Gareth’s expression stilled and grew serious. After several heartbeats, he returned to the guard.
“There is no response.”
The man saluted and headed for his post.
“What does Lord Reynolds mean? What information have you kept hidden?” Gareth fidgeted with the parchment.
His father’s expression tore at him. He had never seen him so… so pained.
“This will impact you the most. For that, I am sorry.”
“Father, please don’t leave me with riddles.” They walked back to the others.
“I’d rather keep this amongst us,” his father said, as he handed Moira the message. He remained at her side.
Charlotte’s seat was empty. Hugh glanced around.
“If you’re looking for your bride, she thanked us all for a lovely morning and set off for the castle to prepare for the afternoon’s exhibition,” Graham said. He looked at his father then at Hugh. “What’s this all about?”
“It’s only us, Father,” Hugh said.
Moira dropped the note on her lap.
“Hugh is right. They have a right to know.”
“Whatever it is, tell us what you need us to do.” Donald was on his feet at his brothers’ side. Gone were his easy smile and teasing tone.
“Listen to our sons. Each one is eager to help. I told you our boys would support you.”
> His father lowered himself in the seat next to his mother.
Hugh stood with his brothers, unsure what to do or say. In the end, they sat and waited.
The crowd of guests, with their vibrant clothes, excitement and anticipation paraded in front of them. They chattered and bargained, old friends catching up, new friends being made. People waved to them as they passed by, headed to the castle or the butts. The vigorous activity and enthusiasm filled the air.
Not under the golden beech tree. There, the silence was awkward.
Gareth turned to Moira. “This is more difficult than I thought.”
“Just tell them,” she said.
Gareth squeezed her hand then faced his sons.
“I am Gareth Talbot—”
“Father, we know who you are,” Graham interrupted.
“Gareth Talbot Eden, fourth and sole surviving son of Thomas Eden. I am the Earl of Sagamore.”
Did he hear right? Hugh glanced at his brothers, who looked as confused as he was. Both were white as chalk. Their eyes and mouths set wide open in stunned surprise.
His father was fighting his own battle, one he couldn’t help him with. Hugh’s world slipped from under his feet. The very foundation of their family, who he was, had just changed.
His father was Lord Reynolds’s constable, his right-hand man. He led the troops, saw to the estate when his lordship was away. Hugh tried to put his world back in order, but it was impossible. He glanced at Gareth. Deny his legacy and the responsibility of an earldom? Family was important to both his parents. His father would defend the family, never give up. He would die first. What had happened that would cause him to hide his identity?
Startled by the idea, he was sure he had part of the answer. Gareth Talbot Eden was hiding his identity.
Hugh dug deep in his mind to find any mention of Sagamore. Nothing. The first time he heard about Sagamore was several months ago at court. It wasn’t until he met Charlotte that he really took note of the earldom.
“Charlotte,” he mumbled, and stood.
His father reached out to him. “We’ll work this out.”
“Is this some jest?” Hugh asked.
Gareth lowered his arm. “I wish it were.”
Hugh slowly sat before his knees gave out. He tried to get the flying thoughts in his mind to settle.
“I know this is difficult,” his father said. “I’ve gone over this moment so many times. You need to know this doesn’t change who I am, who you are, or what you mean to me. My choice to not claim my birthright was just that, my choice.”
“There’s a story behind this,” Hugh muttered. “Forgive me, Father, you are the person who made us uphold our responsibilities as men, as part of Clan Gilmar, and part of Glen Kirk. Did that mean nothing? Were they empty words?”
What had been known truths moments ago were shattered. Loyalty replaced with betrayal. He refused to accept the deception and fought to regain some semblance of life before Lord Reynolds’ message arrived.
“Not at all.” The defiant tone in Gareth’s voice rang with command. “I made you better men than me by teaching you your responsibilities. That hasn’t changed. Our name is the only thing that is different.”
“And the fact that we are responsible for an earldom,” Graham said. “Is that why you asked Charlotte if the earldom was vacant?”
“If you are the Earl of Sagamore, who is Miles Eden?” Hugh’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Now that is the problem.” His father scrubbed the back of his neck and lowered his head. “Miles Eden was my father’s younger brother. He’s been dead for thirty years.”
John’s warning exploded in Hugh’s head. The defunct earldom was suddenly reclaimed by a man who appeared out of nowhere. Was it to line his pockets, set himself up as an aristocrat, and marry off his daughter to a wealthy man?
What little ground Hugh had grabbed onto for himself moments ago washed away, and left him falling into emptiness.
“How can you be so sure your uncle is dead?” Hugh’s voice begged him to take back the words.
Gareth lifted his head. With pained resolve, he looked at them all.
Gareth’s expression wasn’t new to Hugh. He’d witnessed it once, maybe twice when what followed wasn’t easy, or pleasant.
“Because I killed him.”
Hugh’s mind reeled, unable to grasp or process his father’s words. He glanced at his brothers. They were as dazed and confused as he was. Killed his uncle?
A warrior and protector, this was the man who taught him the meaning of family and loyalty. These weren’t empty words, but values he lived by, values they all lived by.
He and his father had no secrets between them. How did he not know this? As the shocking words sank in and his mind began to function, there was so much he wanted to know. But for the moment, he sat silently by while his brothers talked over each other, peppering their father with questions.
“Quiet down,” his mother said, then turned to Gareth.
“Tell them the rest,” she said softly.
Gareth let out a deep breath. He leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs, and his hands clasped. He faced his sons.
“My mother was Sarah Talbot, my father Thomas Eden. I had three brothers –William, James, and Richard.
“We were a close family, much like us. We tormented each other, played pranks, but by all that is holy, we stood shoulder to shoulder when necessary.”
A smile tugged at Hugh’s lips.
“You instilled that in us,” Graham said.
“From the time we were young,” Donald added. “As a boy I measured my shoulders to yours all the time.”
“I remember.” His father’s eyes misted over. “You used to put on my shirt to see how much you grew.”
Hugh ached. He had never seen his father brought so low.
“For years, my father struggled with his younger brother over money. Miles complained the apartment provided for him was too small and his yearly allowance was too little for a man of his position. To him, the final insult was to have his allowance doled out monthly.
“The move was taken to ensure his funds lasted the year. It was not a good solution, but it curtailed his gambling and spending. He believed his resources were endless and was sure my father was stealing from him.”
“That’s absurd,” Donald said. “If you’re anything like your father, that’s the last thing he would do.”
“Miles got it into his head that if he was earl, his troubles would go away. That required all of us to conveniently vanish and never return.”
The meaning was clear. Silence. Hugh glanced at his brothers. The tightness of Graham’s jaw and shoulders was a reflection of how Donald looked.
“You don’t have to go on,” Graham said, after a few moments had passed.
A brief smile flittered across his father’s face. “I do. I must tell all of you everything.”
“So, my uncle and two others engineered an ambush. In one day, not even an hour’s time, I lost my father and three brothers. Only my mother and I were left.”
He and his brothers listened to the description of what their father faced when he came upon the scene of the ambush.
The pain on his father’s face was raw and deep. The devastation of losing his family was as real this moment as it was all those years ago.
Guests for the tournament strolled by, laughing, waving to them without a care while his world shattered.
God help him, Hugh’s thoughts went to Charlotte. Did she know?
A voice, John’s voice whispered in his ear. I warned you.
He closed his eyes to shut out everything. If Miles was dead, who could Charlotte’s father be? He knew the answer before he finished forming the question.
An invisible hand clamped over Hugh’s mouth to stifle the single word that came to mind before he screamed. Impostor.
“I hated myself for not being with them. I convinced myself I could have prevented the massacre. I wouldn�
��t have, but that realization took me longer to reach. The guilt at being the lone survivor hung around my neck like an oxen’s yoke.”
“What could you have done?” Donald asked.
“Nothing. I had to accept what happened and move on, if not for myself, for my mother. She was all I had left.”
“The ordeal didn’t end there. After burying my father and brothers, Mother wasted away. Miles and Mother had been close.” His eyes twinkled as if he saw a distant memory. “She argued with Father that it was his duty to care for him. When Father took a hard line, Mother made sure to see to it that Miles had a place to stay and food, even a little money.”
“Did she have the same suspicions as you?” Graham asked.
“After the burial, Miles came to visit her. She glared at him and screamed he was a murderer. Everyone in the house was shocked. Nothing I did soothed her. If anything, she got worse. She sat for days either weeping silently or staring at nothing. I couldn’t get her interested in her garden or seeing friends. Six months later, I laid her to rest. I failed her as I had failed my father and brothers.”
“No, Gareth. You didn’t fail any of them,” Moira said, her arm around his shoulders.
“Miles took everything that mattered from me.” His father’s lips trembled.
The proud warrior. How could anyone bring him so low? His own kin. As the story unfolded, he understood his father’s reaction. He too would avenge his family.
“Why wasn’t Miles arrested?” Graham asked.
“I spent months hunting down anything I could find to prove Miles killed them. In the end, the authorities found a witness who proved he was elsewhere and couldn’t have murdered them. Furious, I went on a campaign to make him confess.
“As the new earl I became his worst nightmare. I evicted him from the London house and refused to pay any of his bills over his allowance. I cut his credit everywhere. Then, I waited. I wanted him to suffer and know that it was me who controlled Sagamore. I goaded him until he challenged me… I killed him in a duel in London.” The last was said in a whisper.
Silence.
“We both died that day. Miles’ lifeblood emptied on the field. My heart bled, but not enough to put me out of my misery.
“I didn’t want to go back to Sagamore. Instead, I left London and wandered for months from one town to the next. I had never been so alone.
Hugh: Pirates of Britannia Connected World (Sons of Sagamore Book 1) Page 4