Chapter Eleven #3
Garret scratched his chin as he contemplated his answer.
“Walter may have more of an answer for you when he arrives, but I will tell you what I can,” he said.
“As we are all aware, John has been supporting his brother in Normandy. That is beyond dispute. In fact, it was John who led forces in Normandy last year to capture Eveux Castle, a major holding. Earlier this year, he captured the town of Beauvais on behalf of his brother. He and Richard have been allies as of late, which is odd in and of itself. I’m not sure anyone knows quite how to behave with this brotherhood Richard and John are presenting to the public because those two have been at odds for so many years.
But I will tell you this… it is no secret that I do not trust John.
I would not be surprised if the loyalty he is showing towards his brother is an act. ”
Christopher nodded in a most fervent manner.
“Praise God that someone has had the courage to say what I have been saying all along,” he muttered.
His focus was on Garret. “I do not trust him, either. I know that he and Richard have a rare brotherhood bond these days, but it does not ring true to me, either. I can see that there is still a clear line between John’s supporters and Richard’s supporters in England, even if Richard does not see it. ”
Garret folded his big arms across his chest. “I feel as if I must be on my guard, still,” he said. “The night of John’s party was hell for old knights like me. We remember the battles between the brothers. In my mind, there will never be peace between them.”
Christopher heartily agreed. “But do you have any proof that John may be undermining his brother here at home? As I said, you are closer to this than I am. Is there anything that may give you pause?”
Garret lifted his eyebrows in a pensive gesture.
“I have no definitive proof beyond my own experience in the matter,” he said.
“But my brother serves the Duke of Colchester and the duke was a guest at John’s party.
Walter suspects what we do, Chris – he suspects that John is publicly supporting his brother yet planning something subversive.
Colchester, as we know, has always supported Richard.
It is the king who has given the man his wealth and properties.
Based on the fact that Colchester was a guest at John’s party, I asked my brother if Colchester’s loyalties had changed.
My brother did not have the opportunity to answer me, for we were interrupted, but the expression on his face told me that my question may have been close to the truth. ”
Christopher sighed faintly, going to refill his cup with watered wine. As he did so, a soldier entered the solar, stopping right at the door because the soldiers knew they were not permitted in the chamber of the elite knights. His young, pale face focused on Garret.
“My lord,” he said, his voice cracking because of his youth. “Hubert Walter is at the White Tower today. His messenger arrived to say that he will make all due haste back to Westminster at your summons.”
Garret nodded, flicking his wrist at the soldier, who took it as a command to flee. When he was gone, the chamber door slamming behind him, Garret turned to Christopher.
“Will you have time to wait for him?” he asked. “I cannot imagine that he will be too long, but I realize you have a schedule to keep.”
Christopher smacked his lips of the tart wine.
“It will take time to secure provisions and rest the horses,” he said.
“I can wait for a few hours. In fact, I may take the time to catch an hour or two of sleep. I did not sleep at all last night. Max had a loud game of dice going on and I could not sleep for all of the yelling that was going on.”
On a stool near the hearth, Max sat up straight, wide-eyed. “My lord, all you needed to do was tell us to be silent.”
“I did.”
Max simply wriggled his dark eyebrows in a sheepish gesture. “I must not have heard you, my lord.”
“That is because you were being too loud, you dolt.”
As Max hung his head, rebuked, Garret grinned. “You can use my apartment if you wish, Chris,” he said. “You are more than welcome to my bed. It will be quiet there.”
It seemed as if the group was going to break from serious conversation at that point.
Gavin and Gart converged on Max and their soft laughter filled the air while Rhys went to admire Darren’s new broadsword, the one the young knight had saved his money for.
Knox ended up over by the tray of leftover food, picking at crusts and remains of cheese, because that was something he usually did. He was the scavenger of the group.
Seeing that the serious conversation had been satisfied, Garret made his way over to Christopher because there was still more he wanted to discuss with the man, only he didn’t want to do it in front of an audience.
The personal discussion he’d made mention of earlier was about to come forth because he knew Christopher’s time here was limited and he didn’t want to miss his chance.
His future, and Lyssa’s future, depended on it.
Truthfully, he was embarrassed. This was the first time in his life he’d had to bring forth a subject of a personal nature and he was in unfamiliar territory.
Speaking on a woman he was interested in, a woman he’d only known a couple of days, had him feeling like a fool but he forced that chagrin aside.
It was a subject he had to raise. He was about to open his mouth when Zayin joined them and he eyed his friend, knowing he was about to say something that Zayin already knew.
Somehow, there was mute support in Zayin’s presence. It fortified him.
“Chris,” he said, clearing his throat somewhat nervously, “before you go to rest, there is something more I must speak with you about. It is the personal subject I’d mentioned earlier.”
Christopher turned to him, mirth glittering in his eyes. “Ah, yes,” he said. “The subject that had me intrigued. Well? Are you indeed a man with a secret, Garret?”
Garret scratched his head, trying to figure out how to tactfully phrase what he was about to say but he realized there was nothing else to do but simply come out with it.
“In a sense,” he said. “I… I have met a woman and….”
Christopher didn’t let him continue. His eyebrows flew up and he grabbed him on the shoulder. “You?” he repeated, shocked. “A woman? I do not believe it!”
Garret was trying not to let his embarrassment overcome him but it was difficult when he saw Christopher’s grin. Half-taunting, half-joyful it was, and he couldn’t help but grin in return.
“Other than Zayin, my men do not know so please keep it to yourself,” he said quietly, turning to look at the men in the chamber, making sure no one had heard him.
Satisfied, he returned his focus to Christopher.
“She is a lady-in-waiting to the Duchess of Colchester. I met her quite by chance but I will spare you the details. Suffice it to say that she is someone I wish to… court.”
Christopher’s grin broadened. “Court? Or marry?”
“Mayhap both.”
“Then I am delighted for you, Garret, truly. Who is she? What is her name?”
“Lyssa du Bose,” Garret replied. “Her family is not wealthy or prestigious, but she was able to secure a position serving the duchess because her aunt serves the woman. I am not one to speak of women, Chris, you know that, but… well, Lady Lyssa has all of my attention. I have never had this happen before so it is both frightening and thrilling.”
Christopher laughed softly. “Well do I know how you feel, my friend,” he said. “I felt the same way for my wife when we were first married, although it took some time. We did not have the advantage of a courtship. We hardly knew each other when we married.”
Garret was back to scratching his head nervously.
“And I am not sure we will have a conventional one, either,” he said.
“There is some trouble with Colchester and I must remove Lyssa from his household. I would like to send her to Lioncross Abbey to serve your wife for the time being. As a favor to me, will you permit this?”
Christopher grew serious. “You need not even ask,” he said. “Permission is already given. I will write a brief message that your Lady Lyssa may take to my wife as an introduction. I am sure my wife will be happy to have her. But what, may I ask, is the trouble with Colchester?”
Garret was on to a part of the subject that made him sweat with rage. Even now, he was still so angry about it that he could hardly stand it and his palms began to sweat.
“You know as well as I do that Jago de Nantes is a vulgar creature,” he muttered. “You and I spent enough time with him in The Levant to know that.”
Christopher thought on a man he had a genuine dislike for. “Indeed,” he agreed quietly. “Christ, please don’t tell me that he somehow hurt her.”
Garret shook his head faintly. “I wish I could,” he said. “He attacked her yesterday and touched her most inappropriately. She will recover, but there is an understandable urgency to remove her from his household.”
Christopher closed his eyes briefly, as if warding off the horror of what Garret was telling him. “And Colchester is not dead by your hand?”
“It was not my choice, believe me.”
At this point, Zayin spoke up. He’d been watching the exchange but when they came to the subject of Colchester’s attack, he didn’t want de Lohr to think that Garret had been weak. Quite the opposite, in fact.
“My friend showed great restraint, my lord,” Zayin insisted softly. “In fact, I did not even know about the attack, for I was with the smithy and did not see what Garret saw. He saw an injured woman and instead of seeking revenge, he tended her. He saw that she needed his attention, not his anger.”