The Order of the Lily (45 page)

‘We were going to pass lances and cross swords as well,' came Gillet's petulant reply. ‘And unless you prefer a brother full of holes, yes, it was.'

‘And, in a manor so well appointed as this one, you have no other mail?'

‘Armand and I sorted the pieces last week. Most have gone to the armourer for repairs.'

‘Then, with all your companions in residence, are there not a few pieces that might be borrowed?'

‘I have a camail,' said Gabriel. ‘Or perhaps I should say cam-eeowl!' There was a barely suppressed splutter.

‘And I have a spare pair of steel mesh kittens,' chortled Guiraud. ‘Sorry, I meant to say
mittens
.' Quivering lips were drawn tight.

They were all perched on the brink of an abyss, filled with side-splitting laughter, and they knew it. Only Mouse seemed to share Gillet's feelings for this untimely predicament.

‘Agh, come on, lads.' He rose and clapped his meaty paw on Gillet's shoulder. ‘This is no time for joking. Ill fate has befallen our comrade's armour. This is no trifling thing. 'Tis a terrible
cat-
astrophe!'

A wild bellow of long overdue laughter burst from everyone. Gillet finally capitulated, grinning as Mouse lifted him in a crushing bear hug.

Cécile woke unexpectedly before dawn the following morning, feeling famished. Assured the heavy breathing beside her meant Gillet was still sound asleep, his exertions at quintains the previous day having taken their toll, she slipped from the covers to raid the kitchen's pantry. As she was smuggling her illicit consignment back to her room, Margot's door cracked open and Armand furtively stepped out. He lacked a doublet, the laces of his chausses were indecently loose, and his bedraggled hair looked as though he had just rolled from the Cotswolds to Dover. Stupefied, Cécile stared as he blew a kiss back into the room before quietly closing the door. He turned and, finding himself observed, blushed rosily.

‘Armand! What …?'

‘Sshhh, Céci. Hush, please.' He guided her to her chamber door.

‘Armand, the last time I looked, your bed was in there,' she hissed, stabbing the air towards the room on the far side of Gillet's. ‘That,' she pointed up the hall, ‘is Margot's chamber.'

‘I never could fool you,
ché rie
,' he simpered.

‘Armand!' She stamped her foot softly, but her voice elevated with each syllable. ‘She is the
wife
of Gillet's brother.
Your own cousin's wife
. Do you
realise
what you do?'

‘Ssshhh! Please lower your voice.'

‘My voice
is
lowered. 'Tis my temper that rises!'

‘Please, Céci. It just happened. It was not planned.'

‘Do you mean to say that you two actually …'

He gripped her elbow in agitation. ‘
Sacré bleu
.
Hush
. After you and Gillet retired last night, we all began to play chess and, well, after a few ales, Margot and I entered into a silly wager.'

‘What wager?' whispered Cécile venomously.

‘Aaah …' He pressed his finger against her lips, but she bit it. ‘Ow!'

‘Ssshh,' she hissed, panic-stricken that they would wake Gillet. ‘What wager?'

Armand sucked his injury resentfully. ‘A chivalrous knight does not tell.'

‘Armand, you will have more than my plaguey teeth after you if Gillet learns of this.
Mon Dieu
.' She felt almost faint at the thought. ‘
What if Arnaud should find out
?'

Armand frowned sulkily. ‘There is no reason that he would. Margot is hardly likely to tell him, is she now?'

‘So that makes it above board, does it? Did you even consider the consequences? Do you not think Arnaud will notice if Marguerite is swollen like a steeped plum when he bids her return?'

‘Merde, Cécile! You are acting the shrew. Do you think me so foolish? There are
ways
, you know,' he retaliated.

‘Do
not
“merde” me! I am not stupid, but I hardly think Margot has prepared herself. A vinegar sponge will not work after the event. Even
I
know that!'

Armand smiled with a hint of sadness. ‘I am sorry, sweetheart. I sometimes forget how innocent you are still.'

Cécile glowered indignantly. ‘Not so innocent, Armand-Amanieu d'Albret. Grant Gillet with some expertise on the subject. He is an excellent tutor.'

Armand's grin flashed. ‘Beneath the sheets? But of course, he's Albret! But, in your case, he had no need to teach you this.'

The chamber door opened and Gillet appeared in his braies, scratching his head sleepily. ‘Teach her what?' He gave a jaw-breaking yawn. ‘What am I lacking in teaching Cécile?'

Armand raked his cousin with a glance and snorted at Cécile. ‘So, it is permissible for you.' He faced Gillet. ‘Keeping her nose out of trouble.'

Cécile was ready to draw blood. ‘Keeping
my
nose out of trouble?'

Gillet frowned, his observance darting between Cécile and Armand and, noting the state of his cousin's undress, he glanced sideways down the hall. Armand had the grace to blush. Gillet sighed heavily. ‘I thought we agreed, Armand.'

‘Ah, well,' he pointed to Cécile's haul, ‘you should have kept her bedside aumbry full. Mayhap a “horn of plenty” would be a better investment.'

Gillet surveyed the collection of food in Cécile's hands. He tugged her into the room, grimacing wryly. ‘It was full last night. Get some sleep, Armand, you look terrible.'

‘You knew?
You knew
.' accused Cécile, the minute the door was closed.

Gillet resurfaced from under the bed, having located his missing chausse. He sat down to draw it on, his lips pressed in a tight line.

Cécile eyed him with suspicion. ‘But how could you have known? According to Armand, we had already retired.' Her eyes widened. ‘This is not the first time, is it?'

Gillet's face remained passive but his cheeks grew pink. ‘No.'

‘And you accept this?'

He glanced at her briefly. ‘What is to accept? Two people, both lonely during the season of giving and sharing.' He paused in tying his laces. ‘What is so wrong, Cécile? It happens all the time.'

‘Not under my roof!' she exclaimed, collapsing beside him.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. ‘
My
roof, sweetheart.'

‘But what of Arnaud? He is your brother.'

‘A misfortune of fate, and one of which I care not to be reminded. Do you forget what he did to you?' Gillet tied the final knot on his chausse and then sighed. ‘Sweetheart, any keep that is left unprotected will eventually be plundered and, whether or not you approve, Armand is a free lance. He can bed any or as many women, maids, whores, and it happens, wives, as he likes. If he chooses to run a dangerous list that is his concern, not yours.'

‘The list is not his to run. What of the physical consequences?'

Gillet smiled briefly as he secured his second chausse. ‘There are ways to avoid complications.'

‘Oh, oui! Armand was quick to inform me,' she chided peevishly. ‘You have been neglectful in some of your teachings, mon amour.'

‘Ah. I begin to understand the conversation I interrupted. It is nothing so imaginative, Cécile, simply “
coitus interrup-tus
”. The man withdraws before any seed is spilled into the womb.' Gillet pulled his lacing taut and then, capturing her chin, pressed a kiss against her mouth. ‘No seed, no child.' Disappearing under a billow of linen, he wriggled into his shirt and scooped up his doublet. ‘I must meet with Llewellyn but if you would like I shall return with some suitable refreshment.' He eyed her stolen sugary treats.

‘So you do not perceive any wrongdoing in Armand tup-ping a married woman?'

Gillet shrugged his shoulders. ‘It happens. We did not tell you because Armand did not want you to worry.'

‘And the fact that Margot is married?'

Gillet's face split in a teasing grin. ‘I do not know why you find this so disturbing. You lay nearly every night with a married man!' He ducked quickly and sensibly quit the room before a custard pastry splattered against the door at head height.

By early afternoon, Armand slid sheepishly next to Cécile at the board. ‘Still friends?' he smooched, kissing her cheek. ‘Come on,' he pinched her leg playfully, ‘forgive me.'

Gillet's eyebrows slowly rose in question and Cécile's will crumbled. He leaned toward her. ‘What would you say if I told you that our conversation this morning has inadvertently helped solve a problem?'

‘Oh?'

‘Yes. Our guests shall take their leave soon and, while Mouse accompanies Gabriel to visit with his sister, Armand goes to Arras to see the Mesdames. I was considering that Margot should accompany him. Since Arnaud has deserted her, I will declare her abandoned, and take her into my custody. Lord Felton is still anxious to make amends for the mishandling of your case, and he would gladly agree.'

Cécile knew that the bailiff had been at pains to repair his relationship with Gillet and, consequently, a successful confession was squeezed from the men arrested at the mill. Gillet learned that Humphrey de Bohun, the man whom Cécile outbid at the auction, was responsible for orchestrating the destruction. His father, William, had passed on recently and the young Earl of Hereford thought to make himself more powerful by sabotaging the Albrets' mill. He had been severely reprimanded and Gillet was left with no doubt that losing the Andalusian had not sweetened Bohun's temper.

‘Margot will be happier in Arras,' said Gillet, returning his thoughts to the topic at hand. ‘And she will be far from her husband's whips and bridles.'

Cécile gave a long sigh. ‘Yes. I suppose so.'

Gillet squeezed her hand. ‘Perhaps Arras will be your salvation from Sir Thomas also, once you deliver of the child?'

She could see that the festive interlude had not entirely prevented Gillet from dwelling upon their problem. Cécile gazed around the cheerful, noisy hall. It had been a wonderful, warm and happy Christmas. Her heart leapt at the suggestion of seeing the Mesdames again but thoughts of her impending lie-in and her father's threat snapped her back to reality. A sudden cold chill crept over her.