The Troubadour's Romance (17 page)

“
Never lie to me,
Felise
, and I will have no choice but to take every word from your lips as truth. Yea, I believe you. Now, I am for trying to save this day without black looks or tears. What of you?
”

She nodded bravely and he turned her, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm and leading her back to the house. They strolled as lovers would, appearing to any onlooker to be comfortable with each other.
“
Perhaps one day,
Felise
, you will forgive Henry for giving such serious thought to your rich lands.
”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and her eyes were aglow, but she would not look up at him and give all her secrets away on this, their very first day.
“
Perhaps,
”
she said.
“
If I ever accustom myself to your grim countenance.
”

***

In a dim gallery in Windsor, two knights met and, upon seeing each other, paused at a fair distance. It was obvious the meeting was a strained one, and th
ey regarded each other with hig
h suspicion. Boltof was the one to take a further step and relax his expression.

“
I thought we should talk, Wharton. We have both been slighted.
”

Wharton moved closer.
“
I would have expected you to support him. Have you not called yourself friend?
”

Boltof laughed wickedly, his eyes glittering with a strange light.
“
My bite is the deeper, rest assured. I made myself a friend to Royce when his power with the king became obvious. Henry values the bastard, though I can
’
t say why. And Celeste required little urging to lie with him ... but what more can I say of my sister? She does not draw many looks from the men, and her estate is not large enough to trap them.
”
He shrugged.
“
Truth be known, she craves any man. But I am the fool, for he betrayed me ... as is the way of all Leighton men, is it not?
”

Wharton gave a solemn nod, for he had likewise made himself a friend to a Leighton and lived to rue the day.

“
Whether you call him betraying or not, I heard the banns posted by Henry
’
s own voice. It is a matter of fact that he sanctioned the marriage
--
”

“
Royce forced him,
”
Boltof nearly shouted, forgetting to keep his anger in check.
“
I sent him to Henry on my own .
..
”

Wharton
’
s smile slowly
spread, hearing Boltof
’
s admis
sion. He was possessed by a superior feeling, though he too was not above using the influence of a friend to attain his wants. And he had wanted the woman and her land. She would have made a comely prize in his bed; he had ached for her from the first time he s
aw her. And her land in France
under Richard would have pleased his father, per
haps changing their relationship for the better.

“
Yea, I sent Royce to the king for me,
”
Boltof said.
“
I offered him half the booty for his mighty influence. But he went to Henry for himself. My stake in this is not small, Wharton. He betrayed me and disgraced my sister, for she will bring nothing to our family now. And the insult to my father is beyond your imagination.
”

“
I see little you can do about it,
”
Wharton said unsympa
thetically.
“
Perhaps you can buy Celeste a decent marriage if you
’
re clever. Or send her to a convent.
”

“
It matters little to me that the king approves the mar
riage between Leighton and Scelfton. Indeed, the Scelfton house is in much turmoil over this. My father spent the evening hours with Lord Scelfton and they laid every curse to Royce while killing the better part of a keg. They would not chastise any honorable knight who changes their posi
tion.
”

“
But will the Scelfton house move against Royce?
”
Whar
ton asked.

Boltof looked away for a moment.
“
They will not move against Henry.
”

“
That is what I thought. Nor will I.
”

Boltof
’
s
mouth curved into a sinister leer. Wharton might pretend loyalty to the king, but he was known as one who would carry any banner under which there lay a pot of money.
“
Even if Henry does not know?
”

“
What do your propose, Boltof? Whatever, it comes from a black heart.
”

“
The best you can do, Wharton, is to lie in the brush and await Royce
’
s back, for he
’
ll not let you within eyesight of his bride. I, too, have heard of your friendships with the Leightons. But I...
”
He paused, smiling more.
“
If I act the part of a forgiving friend, seeking only compensation for my spoiled sister and the brotherhood of knights, I can get within his house. Forsooth, within his trust.
”

Wharton
’
s eyes darkened and he turned abruptly to spit on the floor.
“
Then do your worst, Boltof. Why do you trouble me with your plans?
”

“
Because I lack the strength of arms to see it through or a comrade to cover my back. On my own I can offer Royce a fair match, but his men are more skilled than mine and they
guard him well. Aye, getting into his house is no problem, but I am without the means to go further.
”
He shrugged.
“
I have no desire to anger the king, but I don
’
t think it will be too difficult, if we
’
re careful, to wrest Felise away from the rogue. The Leightons are all mad, you know. Her family would regard her rescue as an act of charity.
”

“
Do you mean to bring some accusation against Royce that will free the woman and the lands from his control?
”

“
It should not be hard. Few need to be convinced of the horror that Segeland is. Since the days of William the Conqueror, the family has stood apart from the crown and levied war on its neighbors. Until Royce,
”
he added.
“
A plot here and there would see it done.
”
He leaned closer.
“
What part of the prize do you claim for your assist?
”

“
You are certain you can get inside his house?
”

Boltof nodded sharply, confident of Royce
’
s trust and his own ability to deceive.

“
And the woman will not fight your rescue?
”

“
I think not,
”
he said with a shrug.
“
She is fond of her father
’
s favor, and Harlan prefers any but Royce. And Royce is an ugly bastard. If
Felise
does not perish on first sight of Segelan
d, she will be driven mad
by her new husband
’
s rights in bed. The devil himself has marked the man.
”

Wharton thought for a moment of the plan, failing to give any thought to this so-called devil
’
s mark. He assumed Boltof referred to the poor reputation that followed the family; he knew of no other deformity.
“
I would have the woman and Aquitaine,
”
he finally said.

Boltof smiled with confidence.
“
So be it. Though you may get her with Royce
’
s brat in her. I will take what is left
--
and I must trust you to divide the prize if you are to be victor over the woman and her dowry.
”

Wharton
’
s eyes began to gleam in anticipation. He thought of her lively eyes and full breasts, and wild nights of passion. He was good with the women; they had swooned for him before. It would not take him long, he perceived, to tickle the same response from her. And the land in France would put him in a clever position with the crown. Henry could not live forever. Richard would be king
.

“
You will be satisfied with her English soil, that which Harlan supplies as his part of the dowry?
”

“
Aye, the English land Har
lan has made his dower gift …
and Segeland.
”

“
Segeland?
”
Wharton repeated, confused.

“
You don
’
t think we
’
ll get her while Royce is alive, do you?
”

“
But I thought a rumor of crime
--
”

“
Aye, rumors and death. He is more clever than his father and brothers were. If he has breath in his body, he will find a way to convince the king he is not guilty. When all con
cerned know that he is guilty, he will die.
”

“
I don
’
t know, Boltof,
”
Wharton began. But he had already licked his lips in contemplation of his booty.
“
You are certain this will work?
”

“
There are many possible ways, Wharton. I know more of Royce than you. And what I don
’
t know, Celeste will supply.
”

“
She will help you?
”

“
I have long known the path to that passionate heart. Yea, she will help me ... but I doubt if she
’
ll know it.
”

“
When do you go?
”
Wharton asked, becoming eager.

“
I think patience is the best weapon of the day. I will let Royce enjoy his victory for the moment before I seek to make amends. And as for you, you would do well to scatter about your good intentions. Let the king and those around you believe that you are content to move on to other conquests and have already forgotten the proposition. There are others here that let their scorn show ... and they were not so near the victory as you and I.
”

“
When do we begin, Boltof? I don
’
t think it wise to wait,
”
he said, for in his mind he was thinking more of getting the woman in his possession before she was burdened with some Leighton offspring.

“
Don
’
t be a fool, Wharton. We are thought to be enemies. It wouldn
’
t do for all who see us to take us for friends. Then when something happens to Royce and you are found with the woman, there will be too much guessing. In fact,
”
he said slyly,
“
I shall be certain to warn Sir Royce of your ill-concealed disappointment.
”

Wharton looked at Boltof carefully. He had never much liked the knight, but he had not given him credit for being so clever.
“
I warrant you
’
ve not slept a night since she was taken. Such a plan takes time to prepare.
”

“
It is not an easy thing for me to fall second,
”
Boltof said, his eyes hard and angry.
“
Especially to someone like Royce. It bites me deep that one so deformed and of such knavish family lines should win such favor, while I ... I have an old man who will possess my estate until he dies and a spinster sister who will do no better than the veil, for which I will be forced to provide a dowry for her keeping.
”
He laughed cynically.
“
If I were to leave it up to them, I would be lucky to inherit my own demesne when I am a grandfather. It does not please me that my portions are cut so much to my disadvantage. It is time to change that.
”

“
I wish you luck, Boltof. And I give you fair warning: you may be able to betray Royce easily, but I am a long time in plans of my own, and if you work against me, you will die.
”