Great Protector (23 page)

Richmond
smiled; a thin, ironic gesture. "'Twould seem so. Our king believes he’s
doing me a favor by wedding me to Northumberland's daughter, a powerful
position by any account, and I will not fault him his generosity. In addition, he’s
also making a political match by pledging his most loyal knight to a fortify an
alliance that has never been particularly robust. He’s strengthening the bonds,
and I cannot fault him for that, either."

Gavan
did not say anything for a moment as the gravity of the circumstance settled.
As the fire in the hearth died and the orange sun cast its final light over the
landscape, he turned to Richmond.

"What
do you plan to do?"

Richmond,
the cut above his eye swollen and his inflamed nose aching, gave a laborious
sigh. "Above all else, I will marry Arissa. This entire mess pales in
comparison to my love for her."

"Then
it must be a great, great love," Gavan murmured. The familiar impish smile
made a weak comeback as he gazed at his friend. "I am not sure if I should
stand by your side or run for my life."

Richmond
cracked a faint smile. "If I were you, I would plead complete ignorance of
the entire situation. But for you, that will not be a difficult stretch."

Gavan
laughed softly, his demeanor returning. "I shall disregard that remark, my
lord. You cannot afford to insult those who would support your cause."

Richmond's
smile faded. "You are a favorite of our king's, Gavan. That could change
should the situation grow ugly," he paused a pensive moment, scratching
his head in a nervous gesture as he struggled to compose riotous thoughts.
After a brief lull, blue eyes focused upon those of deep, earnest brown.
"Now that you are completely aware of my situation, my friend, I would
hear your advice on the matter. And do not think to spare me."

Gavan
gazed at Richmond for a long moment, his mirth fading as well. "Will you
actually listen to my reasoning or ignore me as you always do?"

"I
shall listen."

Gavan
could read the desperation in Richmond's expression and he pondered the
predicament as evenly as he was able. After a moment, he spoke with gentle
urgency.

"When
you reach London, I would suggest that you present your petition for Arissa
before any other business can be conducted. Bargain if you must in order to
gain Henry's cooperation; your service in return for her hand, for example.
Anything to gain an edge. You have got to show the king that you are well aware
of your worth; with Hotspur bordering on rebellion, Henry needs you as much as
you need him. Do not underplay your value to the man. Use it."

It
was a passionate, entirely insightful statement. Richmond had calmed somewhat,
cocking an eyebrow at his friend. "How astute, Gavan. And how
political."

Gavan
met his gaze steadily. "I know that Henry relies on you tremendously. He
will not deny you if you play the game, Richmond. You have always been good at
games."

"Arissa
is not a game."

"Aye,
she’s. She’s a part of the most powerful game in the world. It's called Politics."

"And
you are suggesting that I blackmail Henry with the threat of withdrawing my
service if he does not grant my demand?"

"Exactly."

"But
I am sworn to him. I have pledge my loyalty. I cannot simply retract my vow as
one would break a simple promise."

Gavan
crossed his thick arms, his rich brown eyes glittering. "Think for a
moment, Richmond. What would happen if you threatened to leave his service? If
he threw you in the vault, he would be depriving himself of your service at his
own hand and that, my friend, would weaken his stand against the Welsh
tremendously. If, in fact, Hotspur's offense at Henry's lack of faith forces
him to side with Glendower, the king needs you desperately and you must be
prepared to use that to your advantage."

Richmond
sighed weakly, glancing to the smoldering embers of parchment. Gavan could
sense his indecision, his pain, and he sought to accomplish final reasoning
that would propel Richmond from the realm of indecision.

"All
of your life you have bowed to the man. You have been his greatest strength,
his most obedient knight willing to do anything for his cause. You obviously
proved that the day you accepted Arissa's guardianship. Now it is time for
Henry to pay you your due. Demand that he show you as much loyalty as you have
shown him."

Richmond
stared at the distant flames, his pensive expression unreadable. Gavan
continued to watch him, riveted to his face, waiting for an indication alluding
to his inner thoughts.  After a moment, Richmond's eyes came away from the
crackling fire, the news of the day consuming his thoughts.
The Welsh,
Hotspur, his betrothal, Gavan's advice
.... God's Teeth, it was almost too
much to bear. 

He
had no choice but to accept the world in which he had chosen to exist. But
foremost above the swirling depths of his disturbing reflections, one idea reigned
supreme and he found himself calming with the mere memory of her face. How he
needed that calm.

"She’s
furious with me, you know," he muttered.

"Who?"

"Arissa."

Gavan's
brow furrowed. "What did you do this time?"

With
a heavy sigh, Richmond spilled out the entire story and then some.

  
***

Arissa
could hear the sounds of laughter and music wafting on the chill night air.
Clouds were beginning to gather in the midnight blue sky, indicative of an
approaching storm. The bailey below her window was filled with soldiers on
their rounds, men on horseback and still others with large wolfhounds. As the
party was in full swing in the cavernous expanse of Lambourn's gallery, the
guest of honor was nowhere to be seen.

Lady
Maude had pleaded for twenty minutes for Arissa to come downstairs and take her
rightful place. Arissa had stubbornly refused, insisting that her stomach was
terribly upset and she would not embarrass herself by becoming ill in front of
her guests. Actually, it was not far from the truth; her stomach was twisting
with more emotion than she ever thought possible and it was difficult to
refrain from asking of Regine's fate.

Knowing
her mother to be the consummate worrier, however, she suspected that if the
woman had any knowledge of Regine's trouble, she would not have been pleading
with Arissa to join her own party in lieu of shielding her baby from the coming
wrath.

Since
Maude was obviously ignorant to her youngest daughter's problems, Arissa was
led to believe that her father was shouldering the shame entirely. But she
refrained from asking about her father, too. She simply wanted to be left alone
to wallow in her misery.

She
was, however, able to convince her mother to leave with the assurance that she
would rest for the time being in the hope of improving her illness. Promising
her mother that she would try to join the celebration later, Maude was able to
rejoin her guests with the anticipation of Arissa's future company when, in
fact, Arissa had no intention of joining the party Richmond was in the process
of ruining.

Her
frustration and misery had not abated since he had left with Regine. If
anything, it had deepened. She simply could not believe that he had been so
cruel, so unfeeling and insensitive toward her needs. He had hurt her deeply
and had not been the least bit concerned with his actions.

A
soft knock on the door roused her from her thoughts. Rubbing her arms against
the cold breeze, she turned toward the heavy oak panel.

"Who
comes?"

There
was a slight pause. "Someone who wishes to congratulate you on your
birthday."

She
recognized the voice. Opening the door, she was greeted by Gavan Hage's smiling
face. And what a face it was; square-jawed, masculine, and very handsome. Gavan's
lively brown eyes were glittering as she opened the door.

"I
thought something was missing in the gallery," he said, his huge fists
resting on narrow hips. "When I realized it was you, I made haste to
locate your whereabouts. What are you doing in here while the rest of Lambourn
is drinking themselves into oblivion?"

She
couldn't help but smile at him. Gavan was a calm, mannerly, gentle knight with
the most enormous shoulders she had ever seen. A few inches shorter than
Richmond, he was as strong as a bear.

"I
am not feeling well," she offered lamely. "I thought to rest a while
before attending my party."

His
smile faded. "Richmond told me that you were angry with him. May I come
in?"

Her
smile faded as she stepped aside, ushering him inside her bower. Softly, she
closed the door.

"Did
he tell you why?" she asked quietly.

He
nodded. "Regine is downstairs enjoying herself, as you should be."

Her
brows drew together. "Regine is down.... I do not understand. I thought
Richmond was going to tell my father.... surely Regine is being punished!"

A
flicker of a smile crossed Gavan's lips. "Indeed, she
was
punished.
I said she was enjoying herself, but I did not mention that she cannot sit
down. She most likely will be unable to use a chair for a week."

Arissa
was completely puzzled. "What are you talking about, Gavan?"

He
chuckled softly. "Richmond spanked her. Welted her backside so severely
that she can scarcely walk. Your father does not know, and Richmond's soldier
remains in the vault. He will be stripped of his rank and weaponry and
dismissed from the corp come the morrow. Richmond thought it would be best to
handle it in this manner rather than create a chaotic issue out of the event. He
will leave the explaining to Regine; she’s six months to comply or he will tell
your father himself."

Arissa's
eyes opened wide with surprise. "He.... he did not kill the soldier?"

Gavan
shook his head. "A few men witnessed Regine's seduction. In fact, one man
even heard Regine order him into compliance. Although the soldier should have
known better, he was more or less coerced by an aggressive young girl who
demanded she teach him the finer arts of sexuality," he snorted softly.
"I would have hoped that Regine would have outgrown this peculiar phase
she seemed to have entered into last year. To demand a common soldier into
taking her virginity is bizarre at best."

Arissa
let out a sigh of disbelief, of relief. "And Richmond will allow Regine to
tell father what she’s done?"

"She’s
six months."

Arissa
turned away from Gavan, almost weak with alleviation. She had spent the past
hour hating Richmond for ruining her party with his misplaced sense of
determination when, in fact, he had dealt with the situation as befitting his
wisdom and tact.  Since he had never said exactly what he had intended to do,
and she had assumed the worst. She should have trusted him. Hesitantly, she
turned her gaze to Gavan.

"Surely
he’s angry with me," she said softly. "I said hateful words, Gavan.
Is that why he sent you here? Because he’s too angry to come himself?"

Gavan
shook his head. "Nay, Riss. He sent me because he thought you might punch
him in the nose if he attempted to show his face. He wanted to make sure your
anger had cooled."

She
smiled, ashamed of her rage. "I was foolish, I suppose. I should have
trusted him."

"Aye,
you should have. Richmond has always had your best interests in mind," his
gaze moved over her black head, looking at her through new eyes. Certainly she
was an incredibly beautiful woman; he'd always thought so. He should have
realized Richmond's attraction long ago.

Arissa
nodded in agreement as Gavan pondered his thoughts. She noticed his distant
expression but attributed it to his long ride from London. Her face brightened
as she changed the subject. "We missed you during the Stick and Ball game
today. It was most exciting."

Gavan
chuckled softly. "Richmond is much better at the game than I. Moreover, I
understand the earl's team was victorious without my help."

Arissa
raised her dark eyebrows, her expression humorous. "Nonetheless, you were
missed. Richmond did not have you to knock over the opposing players, making
his victory much harder fought."

He
laughed again. ""Tis all I am good for, truly. Knocking down men who
oppose Richmond's tyranny."

Arissa
put her hands on his arm. "You think too little of yourself, Gavan. I am
sure you are good for other things, although I cannot think of any at the
moment." Slipping her fingers into the crook of his elbow, she laughed
happily at his insulted expression, deeply relieved that he had come to explain
the turn of events. Suddenly, she felt very much like attending her party.
"Shall we go downstairs? Bart promised me a special performance."

Gavan
cocked an eyebrow. "God's Teeth, more paganistic teachings? Or, mayhap, he
plans to reenact the entire battle of Marathon; portraying five thousand
soldiers all by himself."