Chapter Seventeen #2
The tension and suspicion was now acknowledged.
Edward nodded faintly, looking across the table at Gallus de Shera and knowing the man was formidable.
The Thunder Lord, they called him. Aye, he knew of the man and his brothers.
Everyone in England did. The man was known to bring down the thunder with him in a battle, unleashing hell, and Edward knew this personally because he had attended battles where the de Shera presence had been heavily felt.
At this moment, he was having difficulty seeing the man as an ally and he knew Gallus was having the same issue.
It was obvious in everything about him. More than that, the very big and very mean Maximus de Shera was seated next to his brother, glaring, even if he didn’t realize he was doing it.
Edward braced himself for what was to come.
“Loyalty is a complex issue,” he finally said. “Loyalty can be a hindrance or it can be an asset.”
“Depending on how it suits one’s purpose,” Gallus supplied. “What is your purpose, Your Grace? I am interested to know.”
Simon cleared his throat softly. “Gallus,” he admonished. “He has declared allegiance to me. That is all you need know for now.”
Gallus turned to de Montfort. “Then why did you bring him here if I am not allowed to question him?” he asked. “As with all of your allies, if we are to support the prince as we support you, then I would know why we are doing it. That is only fair.”
Simon didn’t like Gallus’ attitude because, in a sense, the man was questioning him as well. He opened his mouth to reply but Edward cut him off.
“It is all right,” he said, holding up a hand to Simon.
His eyes, however, never left Gallus’ face.
“My reasons are many fold, de Shera. My father has all but handed over England to his Savoyard relatives. The English barons are resistant to that and the resistance grows. I fear that when it is time for me to assume my father’s place, England will be a province of France. That is one of the reasons.”
Gallus wasn’t convinced. “What else?” he asked. “You have wars raging in France yourself. I have heard you are running out of manpower to supply them. Have you come to de Montfort seeking some of his allies to fight your wars for you?”
Simon was becoming increasingly upset over Gallus’ blunt questioning but Edward didn’t seem to mind. “It is possible,” he said. “That has not come up in conversation yet. But I also bring a good deal to de Montfort’s cause.”
“Like what?”
“Manpower.”
Gallus cocked his head, confused. “How much manpower?” he asked. “Most of your assets are in France.”
Edward shook his head. “I bring men and material with me,” he replied. “I have relations that are eager to support de Montfort against my father.”
Now Gallus looked at Maximus, his bewilderment growing, before returning his attention to Edward. “What relations?”
“Lusignan support.”
Gallus’ jaw dropped. “Lusignan?” he repeated. “You bring your French relatives to fight for de Montfort when it is the French faction we are trying to remove from England? That is utter madness.”
Simon had to speak. He could no longer remain silent. “Gallus, the Lusignans hate Henry’s Savoyard contingent deeply,” he said. “Lest you forget that the Savoyards are deeply entrenched in Henry’s court. They have all but taken it over.”
Gallus was growing more outraged by the moment.
“I know that all too well,” he said, his gaze moving back and forth between Edward and Simon.
“But the Lusignans are the queen’s relatives and that is most certainly not an element we need or want in England.
This will only make matters worse if the de Montfort cause takes on French support.
Simon, you will have your barons leaving you in droves. ”
Simon’s jaw ticked faintly. “Including you?”
Gallus backed off a bit, but not enough. He had always been a truthful man. “Including me,” he said quietly. “Unless you give me a reason as to why taking on Lusignan support is a good idea, I will leave and I will take the de Shera allies with me.”
The threat hung heavily in the air, a brittle point of contention that was simply waiting to be shattered with the anger that was sure to follow. But no anger came as Edward spoke softly.
“You have the queen’s support as well,” he said. “My mother wants my father’s faction out of England as well. Eleanor gives her full support over to me and over to Simon.”
Gallus went from outraged to stunned. His mouth actually popped open. “The queen supports a rebellion against her husband?”
“She does indeed.”
That fact would change the tides of the war. Gallus looked at Maximus, who seemed equally stunned. A glance to Scott and Troy showed their surprised reaction as well. As Gallus gathered his wits to form a reply, they were distracted with Jeniver and Courtly entering the room.
Beautiful women in beautiful clothing filled the solar with their light and grace, pushing aside the tension that had been so heavy only seconds before. Happy to have the distraction, Gallus stood up and held his hand out to his wife as Maximus rose to collect his.
“Your Grace,” Gallus said to Edward. “Please meet my wife, the Lady Jeniver ferch Gaerwen de Shera. Jeniver is the hereditary princess of Anglesey. Jeni, we are honored to welcome Prince Edward to Isenhall.”
Edward rose to his feet. “Lady de Shera,” he greeted. “It is an honor. Your family is an old and prestigious one.”
Jeniver smiled thinly at the man who was a great enemy of all Welsh people. “Your Grace,” she greeted evenly, although there was instant hatred in her heart. “Welcome to Isenhall.”
Edward bowed politely, sensing something cold from the woman. But he didn’t much care, to be truthful. Women were inferior and he gave them little regard, even hereditary princesses. He looked to Maximus and the lovely blond woman on the big knight’s arm.
“My wife, Lady Courtly de Shera,” Maximus introduced her.
Edward nodded in acknowledgement. “Lady de Shera.”
Quickly, Edward reclaimed his seat and his wine chalice, no longer interested in the wives of the de Shera brothers, as Simon rose and made his way around the table to Jeniver, who was heavily pregnant. He smiled at the woman.
“Lady de Shera,” he said, indicating her big belly. “When is Gallus’ son to be born and how long will it be before I can count on his sword?”
It was meant as a joke, to lighten the mood, and Jeniver politely smiled. “Give him at least a year or two, my lord,” she said. “At least until he can walk.”
Simon grunted. “If he is a de Shera, then he will be born with a sword already in his hand.”
Jeniver rubbed her belly. “I thought I felt such a thing,” she said, teasing. “Rather poking me, but I could not be sure.”
Simon laughed politely, turning his attention to Courtly. “And you, Lady de Shera?” he asked. “When can I expect a son from you?”
Courtly appeared thoughtful. “In April, my lord,” she said. “At least, I believe so. I am sure it will be a boy.”
Standing next to her, Maximus’ eyes widened. “What is this?” he demanded. “What did you just….?”
Courtly turned to him, grinning. “I was trying to find the right moment to tell you,” she said, making a face as if she had just said something quite shocking. “Lord de Montfort asked and… well, it just came out. I am sorry I did not tell you in private.”
Maximus just stared at her as Gallus and Simon started laughing. “It just came out?” Maximus repeated, stunned. “How can such a thing just come out?”
Courtly could see that he was torn between outrage and glee. “I just told you… he asked.”
That didn’t help Maximus’ sense of shock. “We… we are to have a son?”
“Hopefully.”
“You are certain?”
“I am.”
Maximus didn’t know what else to say or do.
All he could think to do was wrap his arms around his wife, which he did, while Gallus clapped him on the back and Simon laughed with delight at Maximus’ shock.
It wasn’t often that the great Thunder Warrior was rattled, but he was rattled now. Simon clapped his hands together.
“We must celebrate this joyful news,” he said, moving over to the pitcher of fine wine and pouring more for himself and Edward. “I congratulate Baron and Lady Allesley for the coming addition to their family. It is a happy event!”
Simon and Edward drank as Gallus hugged Maximus, and then Courtly, and Jeniver hugged them both as well.
It was truly wonderful news although, in truth, Jeniver already knew, as Courtly had confided in her about the pregnancy days earlier.
It would seem that Courtly’s only symptom had been missed menses and she was eating like a horse, feeling fine and energetic in contrast to Jeniver’s very delicate pregnancy.
Therefore, there was truly no way Maximus could have known any differently about his wife’s condition unless she told him, and now she finally had.
Maximus had never been happier about anything in his life but the mention of a baby brought about thoughts of Cassius.
Another son. As Maximus reluctantly sent Courtly and Jeniver out of the solar so they could continue with their meeting, he brought up the subject of the reason behind their delay in answering de Montfort’s summons.
“So now you know my good news when I do,” Maximus quipped softly. “Truly, she could have picked a better time.”
Gallus laughed at him. “It does not matter in the grand scheme of things,” he said. “I am wildly happy for you, brother. A new generation of de Sheras are to be born.”
“Indeed,” Maximus said, still rather stunned by the news.
As he reclaimed his seat, he looked to Simon, who was halfway through another cup of fine wine.
“In fact, a new generation of de Sheras is the reason we were delayed in answering your summons, my lord. As Gallus told you, our delay had to do with a relative of mine. A son, in fact. It would seem that I fathered a child fifteen years ago and he has only just come to Isenhall to claim his de Shera birthright.”