Chapter Twenty-One #3
Wynter and Etienne turned to see Gage standing in the doorway, looking pale and sweaty.
Clark was with him, helping, but Gage didn’t need any help as he made his way to Wynter.
With a new round of sobs, she threw herself against him, her heart broken in a million tiny pieces of grief.
Gage held her tightly with his good arm, his face buried in the top of her head.
“I am so sorry,” he murmured. “Your father was a good man, an icon for us all to emulate. I am so sorry he was taken from you so soon.”
Wynter wept deeply, her face against the left side of his neck. “He was coming to retrieve me,” she said. “First Brian was killed and now my father. All because I came to Septentrion.”
Gage rocked her gently, as much as he was able. “It is not your fault, my dearest darling,” he said. “They made their own decisions and given the choice, I am sure they would do it again. You did not cause anything.”
“That’s what Etienne said.”
“He is right.”
Wynter drifted off on a sea of grief after that, struggling with her guilt, struggling with the loss.
Gage stood there and held her for the longest time, comforting her, until he finally took a seat and pulled her onto his lap.
He let her weep, his thoughts drifting to John de Thorington, a man Gage’s own father had liked a great deal.
Though the news of John’s demise greatly saddened him, his only concern was for Wynter.
Two deaths of people close to her in as many days was difficult for anyone to take, but most especially the death of a beloved father in a shocking and terrible accident.
“Gage?” Wynter whispered huskily.
“Aye, my love?”
Wynter lifted her head from his shoulder, looking at him with her red-rimmed eyes. “You are the new earl.”
He blinked in surprise. The thought hadn’t occurred to him until she said it. She was absolutely right – the title, the lands, the castles, the wealth – all of it belonged to Gage now. Clark, who was standing by the door with Etienne, spoke softly.
“Long live Ashington, my lord,” he said. “What shall your first command be?”
Gage looked over at the men, seeing a hint of approval on their grief-lined faces.
It was a strange situation, to be sure, because John was well-loved by his men, but now there was a new earl, a man they also liked a great deal.
Perhaps there was approval because even though they’d lost their beloved lord, they were in good hands with the new one.
But Gage was a little staggered by the realization.
“Gather the knights,” he said. “Send them to me. We must give them the news.”
Clark nodded, heading out to round up the collection of knights, including Varro and his men.
As Gage focused on Wynter, steadying her and giving her comfort, the men began to trickle in – Laurence followed by Clark, Varro, Azul, and Wyeth.
They entered the solar, having no real idea why Gage had summoned them because Clark had only told them that Gage wished to see them.
Now, they were all present and Gage gently moved Wynter off his lap, stood up, and sat her down in the chair. When she was settled and he was certain that she was calm for the moment, he turned to the men in the chamber.
“We have just received some news,” he told the group. “John de Thorington, Earl of Ashington, has been killed in an accident.”
That didn’t mean much to Varro and Azul and Wyeth, but Laurence’s eyes widened with shock.
“My God,” he gasped. “What happened?”
Gage glanced at Wynter, who was barely holding on to her composure, before faintly shaking his head at Laurence. “Suffice it to say that the man is dead,” he said. “That brings us to the next bit of news. Because I married Ashington’s heiress, I am the new Earl of Ashington.”
That announcement brought more of a reaction from Varro and the others.
They moved to congratulate him before realizing that was more than likely inappropriate with the dead earl’s daughter in the room.
She was very much grieving. So, they simply smiled and acknowledged it, thinking that perhaps even smiling might be showing too much joy, so the smiles vanished and all that was left were men bobbing their heads in approval.
“You will make a fine earl, mi hijo,” Varro said. “I mean, my lord. You will make a fine earl. How fortunate Ashington is to have you as the heir, a man of good character and skill. If such a tragedy must happen, then let us find something positive to take comfort with.”
That was a kind way of putting it. Not too offensive, not too gleeful. They all looked to Wynter, who was wiping the remains of her tears away, to see her reaction. But she didn’t do much more than look to her husband and reach out to grasp his hand.
“You will make a fine earl,” she said, her voice hoarse from weeping. “But I must go home to my mother today. She needs me.”
Gage knew that. He lifted her hand, kissing it. “We will leave as soon as I can pack my things,” he said. “But I must speak to these men now. We have plans to make.”
“Can the journey not wait until tomorrow morning?” Varro said. “You should not be riding, Gage. Your body is still weak. You should give it one more night of rest before you embark on a journey like that. It is a long way to Ashington, I’m told.”
Gage was certain he could make the journey, but it was going to take every ounce of willpower and energy to do it.
“My wife wishes to return home to her widowed mother,” he said. “I will not deny her.”
“Nay, he is right,” Wynter said, standing up from the chair. “I was not thinking. It is already late in the day, so we can sup and go to bed early and leave before dawn. It would be better for you that way.”
“I am not worried for me. I am only worried for you.”
She forced a smile. “You are sweet to worry so,” she said. “But I must take care of you, too. We will leave before dawn. I will see my mother tomorrow, one way or another.”
“If you are certain.”
“I am.”
He squeezed her hand. “As you wish,” he said. “But there is something I very much wish to do in the name of Brian and your father.”
“Why my father?”
He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Because none of this would have happened had my brother not started the trouble with Brian,” he said.
“The only reason you are here is because of my brother. The only reason your father was coming here is because of my brother. The man must be punished, once and for all. Let the dead be avenged.”
It was a strong way of putting it, but nothing he said was untrue. Wynter thought on it a moment, opened her mouth to speak, and then abruptly shut her mouth. But it was only momentary.
“I almost said that this is no time for vengeance when I must bury my father,” she said.
“But the more I think on it, the more I realize that it is the perfect time. You are correct – Boothe caused all of this. Let this situation come to a close once and for all. Let us not be left with an open wound with the knowledge that Boothe is still out there, still waiting to kill again.”
Gage was studying her face, making sure she was truly agreeable to what he was saying. “What I do, I do for Brian, your father, and everyone. I even do it for me.”
She nodded. “I know,” she said. “And I agree with you. But what do you want to do?”
Gage held her hand as he turned to the group.
“This will involve us all,” he said. “My idea is to lure Boothe to Ashleven Castle with the promise of military support to regain Septentrion. He went there after the battle to seek support from Ashington, but he was denied. I was going to go to Ashington in a few days, anyway, to not only announce my marriage to Wynter, but to ask his assistance in trapping Boothe. We’ve been going about this situation the wrong way – we’ve been looking for Boothe when we should be bringing him to us. ”
The positive reaction of the men in the room told him that he was on the right track.
“But how will we do that?” Clark said. “If it matters at all, I do believe Ashington would have gone along with this plan. I know the man and he would have been more than willing to participate in punishment for de Luci’s death, so I do not think planning something like this is disrespectful to John de Thorington.
On the contrary – I think it is most appropriate.
I, for one, will do whatever you wish to make this happen.
Lord Stagshaw has caused far too much trouble and he must be stopped. ”
Gage needed that support. He nodded in gratitude as he turned to Laurence. “As far as I know, Boothe never saw you as part of El Vibora’s army,” he said. “Are you aware that he might know who you serve?”
Laurence shrugged. “He knows I left Septentrion with you,” he said. “But being part of the army that attacked with Langley’s troops? I do not think he knows. I saw him, but we never made eye contact.”
Gage nodded. “Good,” he said. “Because I want you to go to Whiteside and leave a message there that the Earl of Ashington wants to see him. We must keep John de Thorington’s death quiet until this can happen, so it must be done quickly so Boothe does not hear of his death.”
“I will leave at dawn, when you depart for Ashleven,” Laurence said. He looked over at Azul. “You will go with me. I will need your sharp eyes.”
Azul grinned, rubbing his hands together. He was always ready for subversion and treachery.
Gage watched the pair.
“Nothing foolish, nothing heroic,” he told them sternly. “You are not going for a fight. You are only going to relay a message. Tell Boothe that Ashington has changed his mind and will lend him support, but he must go to Ashleven to discuss it. That should have him moving rather swiftly.”
“Aye, my lord,” Laurence said, his eyes glimmering with mirth as he addressed Gage with new formality. “I hear and I obey.”
Gage fought off a smirk as he turned to Varro.
“You will remain here and protect Septentrion, but I would suggest sending Wyeth to Langley to ensure that it is properly protected, as well. We sent several hundred men back there earlier, but there are only senior sergeants in charge that I know of. There should be a knight. We must have both Langley and Septentrion properly manned against anything my brother might try.”
Varro nodded. “Agreed,” he said. “Is that all you need from us?”
“For now,” Gage said. “I will leave on the morrow and head straight back to Ashleven to await my brother. Greedy bastard that he is, I am certain he will be thrilled to receive Ashington’s message.”
“Only he does not realize that Ashington is now you.”
Gage shook his head, his eyes riveted to Varro. “He does not,” he muttered. “But he soon will.”