Chapter Fourteen #3
Bose was sick at the mere thought. “Mayhap a marital contract might distract him from Tiberius,” he said, saddened.
“Mayhap that is what I must do in order to allow Tiberius to flee back to Isenhall without d’Vant trying to kill him as a spy.
If d’Vant thinks he is going to be married to my daughter, then he will be mostly focused on that and Tiberius will fall by the wayside. At least, that is what I am hoping.”
Grayson shook his head, sorrowful. “Tiberius will not go if he finds out you intend to pledge Douglass to d’Vant.”
Bose knew that. He rubbed his brow and then his eyes, wearily. “Then he will not know.”
“How can you do that?”
Bose looked at Grayson, the greatest turmoil on his face that he had ever allowed to show through.
He couldn’t believe what he was about to say, but in order to save Tiberius from d’Vant, in order to make it so the man would be able to return home, he had to make a choice.
He had to compromise his honor. It was killing him because he knew it would kill Douglass, too.
“Lie.”
It was a dirty word that hung in the air between them but Grayson knew it was a necessary one.
It was something that had to be done in order that Tiberius should be allowed to return to the Isenhall in a complete act of treason.
Aye, it was treason. Both Bose and Grayson knew it, but family lines and loyalties were crisscrossed these days like a spider’s web.
Bose knew that he had to save Tiberius. He was obligated to.
And Grayson would not betray the man who was like another son to him.
They were both in this so deeply that they couldn’t get out.
The lies had to be done.
In silence, Bose entered the room he had so recently banished Tallis to.
When he entered, followed closely by de Winter, he found Tallis standing over by the lancet windows that overlooked Wintercroft’s crowded bailey.
The young knight turned expectantly to the older knights, without a hint of anger or distress on his face.
He trusted Bose and he trusted Grayson. It was written all over him.
That being the case, Bose thought very carefully about what he was going to say next.
“Now,” Bose began. “Obviously, there is a good deal going on at Wintercroft but you should only be focused on returning to Henry with news of Edward’s betrayal. Is that clear?”
Tallis nodded, but there was doubt in his expression. “What about Tiberius?”
Bose cocked an eyebrow. “You will let me worry about Tiberius,” he said.
“I suspect he will find himself in the vault before this day is over, which will more than likely be his permanent home for the weeks and months ahead. As for the accusations of being a spy, he is no more a spy than I am. He is not the sneaky and dishonorable type and I will not have you spreading rumors to that effect. Is that clear?”
“It is, my lord.”
“If I hear tale of Tiberius de Shera being a spy, I will come for you personally and you will not like what I have to say.”
“Aye, my lord.”
Bose critically eyed the young knight a moment before averting his gaze and moving to a chair that was lodged back against the wall.
The chair was cushioned with silk pillows and very comfortable.
There was also a footstool next to it. Bose lowered his big body onto the chair and pulled forth the stool, plopping his massive boots on it.
He was feeling his age this night, stress brought on by passionate young men and their passionate ideas.
With a grunt of satisfaction, he sighed.
“Let us move on to another subject, d’Vant,” he said. “I permitted you some time alone with my daughter. You will tell me how that went.”
Tallis was still lingering on Tiberius de Shera and his need for punishment but he forced himself away, focusing on Douglass instead. It was a much more pleasant subject, anyway. He thought back to their brief conversation earlier in the day.
“It went well enough, my lord,” he said. “We were able to converse fairly easily.”
“About what?”
Tallis shrugged. “I relayed a story from my childhood,” he said. “She told me something of hers. It was pleasant.”
“Did she relax somewhat?” Bose asked. “Or was she still unsociable?”
Tallis shook his head. “Mayhap she was at first,” he said, trying to be tactful. “But I was able to educe a smile from her, in any case. She is quite charming when she’s not trying to ignore me.”
Bose cocked an eyebrow. “Charming enough to marry?”
Tallis nodded. “Without question,” he said.
Then, he relaxed somewhat, looking at de Moray with a resigned expression.
“I am not a fool. I know she is infatuated with de Shera, but I also know she has only known the man a few days. I believe I can quite adequately erase him from her mind given the chance. I would like to be given that chance, my lord. I would make her a fine husband.”
Bose pondered the request or, at least, he pretended to. Having Tallis’ interest in Douglass was all part of his plan. A part of his lies. He pretended to be thoughtful.
“If I say yes, then there is much more to it than simply my permission to marry my daughter,” he said.
“She will inherit a great deal from her mother. Her uncles are all powerful warlords in their own right. When you marry into the House of de Moray, the House of du Bonne comes with it because her mother is a du Bonne. They are the guardians of Dorset. Are you aware of this?”
Tallis nodded. “As my family is Cornwall,” he said confidently. “Our marriage will merge two great shires.”
Bose signed heavily, mulling the situation over. Say what you must to keep his mind off Tiberius! he thought to himself. Try not to promise anything if you can help it! He wasn’t used to lying but he was used to games of skill. He considered this an utter test of his skills of persuasion.
“Her mother will want to meet you before we enter into any manner of contract,” he finally said.
“When this business of Erith Castle is finished, you will come to Ravendark Castle and meet her mother. Most men believe I am a fool in that I take my wife’s opinion into consideration in matters such as these, but the truth is that you must have Lady de Moray’s permission before anything is finalized.
Are you willing to come to Ravendark and meet with my wife? ”
Tallis nodded his head. “Aye, my lord.”
“I will give her final say over the matter.”
“I understand, but do I at least have your support?”
“You do.”
Lies! That was the biggest lie of all because Tallis did not have his support. Bose realized with horror that Tiberius did. Tiberius, I am doing this for you. Do not disappoint me, lad!
“Very well,” Bose said, standing up. “Then you will leave Wintercroft after the evening’s meal and ride for Henry and you will leave Tiberius de Shera to me. You and I will discuss a time for meeting Lady de Moray when the matter with Erith is finished.”
“Do I have your word, my lord?”
“You have my word that we will meet, aye.”
Tallis seemed satisfied and Bose was satisfied, too, that he hadn’t given the man any more than a promise that they would meet again. It was not a promise of marriage. Bose looked to Grayson before quitting the room.
“Did you have anything more to say to this, Lord de Winter?” he asked.
Grayson shook his head. “I do not,” he replied. “You and I can discuss what to do with Tiberius in private.”
Bose wriggled his eyebrows. “Something terrible, I am sure.”
“A thrashing at the very least.”
Bose nodded in agreement although it was all for show.
He had no intention of doing anything to Tiberius other than spirit him out of Wintercroft because Tiberius had been correct.
Bose owed him. Much as Bose was repaying a life-debt to the king by supporting him during this troubling time, he owed the House of de Shera the same life-debt.
It was Gallus, Maximus, and Tiberius who had saved him and his two children from de Montfort’s assassins, and Bose was in the habit of repaying his debts.
By sending d’Vant along his way and then giving Tiberius a chance to escape for Isenhall, he was doing just that.
There was no question that it needed to be done, now settled in his mind.
The idea that he was betraying Henry by letting Tiberius leave for Isenhall never entered his thoughts because he was doing what he had to do, for himself and for his family. For his honor.
As the three of them took the wide, spiral staircase down to the ground level of the manse where the great hall was, they began to hear voices.
Garran, Tiberius… and then there was Douglass.
They most definitely heard Douglass. Tallis picked up his pace because he, too, heard her voice, but by the time they reached the bottom of the steps, it was not the situation they had expected to see.
They found Garran and Davyss standing side by side while Douglass stood with Tiberius.
In fact, he seemed to be holding on to her.
The next thing anyone realized, Tallis had his mighty broadsword unsheathed and he was bolting in Tiberius’ direction.
*
Once they left the upstairs corridor, Tiberius, Garran, and Davyss ended up in the great hall of Wintercroft.
Once they came down off the stairs, Garran and Davyss herded Tiberius right into the room.
Tiberius wandered into the room, frustrated and edgy, as Garran and Davyss stood by the door, watching the man.
It was clear that they were all edgy and unsure what to say to one another.
As Davyss and Garran watched, Tiberius abruptly unsheathed his sword and turned to them.
“I can see I am going to have to fight my way out of here,” he said, his focus riveted to the two knights. “I never thought I would hear myself say those words but I fear it is true.”