Chapter Six #2
James came around the table so she wouldn’t have to crane her neck.
There was a hint of a grin on his face. “It is rather complicated, but it goes something like this,” he said.
“Sherborne Castle belongs to the Bishop of Salisbury, who is Simon of Ghent. The man is also the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and the Archdeacon of Oxford, and spends most of his time there. Being that he is allied with our king, he has allowed Edward to station Cortez here as a garrison commander. We are stocked with a mixture of the bishop’s men and crown troops.
In the bishop’s absence, Cortez is also the law for both the king and the church.
He hears cases every month and dispenses justice. ”
Diamantha hadn’t known that. It was rather impressive if she thought about it. “What is Cortez to Edward, then? Has he been granted special powers by the king?”
James nodded. “He is acting Sheriff of the Shire, my lady,” the knight replied. “In reward for his exemplary service at Falkirk, Edward has bestowed much wealth and power on Sir Cortez.”
Diamantha’s interested expression faded.
Exemplary service at Falkirk, she thought bitterly.
He left my husband to die at Falkirk. It wasn’t exactly the truth and she knew it, but it didn’t stop her resentful thoughts.
Not wanting to speak her mind, however, because such a thing could only cause confusion and bitterness, she shifted the subject.
“And you, Sir James?” she glanced at him as she began to untie the little cap from Sophie’s head. “Where are you from?”
James was very polite and professional in his answer. “I was born at Lioncross Abbey on the Welsh Marches,” he replied. “I have been in the service of Sir Cortez for two years come September.”
Diamantha looked at him curiously. “Lioncross Abbey?” she repeated. “The seat of the House of de Lohr?”
James nodded. “Aye,” he said. “My name is de Lohr.”
Diamantha smiled faintly. “My grandmother was a daughter of the great Christopher de Lohr,” she said. “How are you related to him?”
James seemed surprised at her declaration at first, then pleased. “Christopher de Lohr is my great-grandfather,” he said, warming to the conversation as he shifted out of professional mode. “My father was a son of Christopher’s eldest son, Curtis. Who is your grandmother?”
“Brielle,” Diamantha replied. “She was Christopher de Lohr’s second daughter.”
James smiled brightly. “She was only three years older than my grandfather,” he said. “They are brother and sister. I met her, once, when I was very small. She is still alive, is she not?”
Diamantha was thrilled to find a relative here amongst strangers. “Indeed she is,” she replied. “She lives far to the north with my grandfather, who is still alive also. He is a son of the great warlord, Ajax de Velt.”
James, in his comfort, sat down on the bench that was situated next to Diamantha’s stool. He, too, was very happy to discover a new relative.
“Ah, yes, de Velt,” he said, pondering that information. “A great warlord, indeed. Ruthless and savage in his younger years.”
Diamantha nodded. “You know of him, do you?” she asked. “Well, I suppose most people in England do. His legends are quite frightening but he eventually settled down, thankfully.”
James lifted his eyebrows to agree. “Thankfully, indeed,” he agreed.
“I heard tale that the man used to… well, I suppose that is not a story for female company. Suffice it to say that I am honored to know that I am related to Sir Cortez’s new wife.
I must write my grandfather to tell him of this happenstance. He will be quite thrilled by it.”
Diamantha grinned, pulling the cap off of Sophie’s head and allowing the little girl to slip from her lap. She held on to the back of her dress, however, so the child couldn’t wander too near the flames of the hearth.
“What a small world this is,” she said, studying James and seeing that he had the very blond de Lohr hair and sky-blue eyes.
He was perhaps five or more years older than she was; not too terribly old.
“Since our great-grandfather had seven children, I knew there were many cousins that I have not met yet. Imagine finding one here at Sherborne.”
James nodded. “Indeed,” he agreed. “I remember my father telling me that there were at least a hundred of us descended from Christopher, possibly more. And, of course, Christopher’s brother, David, had many children as well.
There is an entire branch of the de Lohr family in Canterbury that I’ve not yet met, although I did come across a cousin at Falkirk by the name of Macsen du Bois.
His mother is descended from David de Lohr, but Macsen must look like his father’s side of the family because he was an enormous man with black hair. He looked like a big, shaggy bear.”
Diamantha giggled. “Mayhap someday we will be able to visit our family in Canterbury,” she said.
“Honestly, I have spent most of my life in Northumberland. Only when I married did I move south to Dorset. Robert kept me at Corfe Castle most of the time. He said there was not much worth seeing outside of the beauty of Dorset.”
James’ smile faded at the mention of Robert Edlington. “I knew your first husband,” he said softly. “Rob was a good man. His was a great loss.”
Diamantha sobered quickly. She thought perhaps that she could see something in James’ expression, something more than just general sympathy. There was grief there, too.
“You knew him well?” she ventured softly. “Was he a friend?”
James nodded. “He was,” he said. “We slept in the same shelter the night before the battle at Falkirk. He sat up all night… well, it was only soldier’s talk. He was unable to sleep and kept us all awake because of it.”
Diamantha was very interested. “What talk?” she wanted to know. “What did he say?”
James wasn’t sure he should say any more, but he was cornered.
He’d already broached the subject and could not refuse her question.
“He spoke of you and he spoke of his mother a great deal,” he said quietly.
“He said that his daughter looked just like his mother. He said that he missed her very much. But you… he said the longing for you was unfathomable.”
Tears sprang to Diamantha’s eyes and she lowered her head, unwilling to let the man see her agony.
She was trying so very desperately to be strong through all of this but other than Cortez’s story about Robert’s death, this was the first she’d heard about him in those final hours.
The tears popped out onto her cheeks and she wiped them away quickly.
“I miss him,” she whispered. “Thank you for telling me that.”
James watched her lowered head. “I am sorry to have upset you,” he said quietly. “That was not my intention.”
She nodded quickly and patted his hand to let him know that she wasn’t angry with him. “I very much appreciate that you told me,” she said, struggling to be brave. “Mayhap someday you will tell me a little more about your night with him before the battle.”
James nodded, although he wasn’t sure that was such a good idea.
He had been at Corfe Castle when Cortez had gone to collect his bride so he knew there was some animosity between them.
Certainly it was no love match and rumor had it that it was because Lady Edlington, or now Lady de Bretagne, was still in mourning for her husband.
He felt very badly for the situation in general, but he knew something Diamantha did not – he knew Cortez.
He knew the man and his character. As he watched her lowered head, he thought to reassure her somehow.
“My lady,” he said softly. “Forgive me for speaking on a subject that is none of my affair, but I would like to say… I would like to tell you that although I am very saddened for your loss of Robert, please know that Cortez is a very fine man also. I realize he can be… abrupt. And quick to temper. But no finer knight has ever walked this earth, and he has a true and solid sense of honor. He is also generous and emotional to a fault. I have seen it myself. Do not… what I mean to say is that he will be good to you and to your daughter. You must not despair. He will be kind to you if you will let him.”
By the time he was finished speaking, Diamantha was looking at him with an expression between hope and doubt. It was rather strange, but very powerful. It was clear that she wasn’t quite sure what to say to him.
“I am not in despair,” she assured him, although it was a lie. “But I am grateful for your concern.”
James opened his mouth to reply when boot falls suddenly filled the chamber.
They were harsh and loud against the dusty wood floor, creaking the joists with their power.
James stood up from the bench, swiftly, to see that Cortez had entered the room.
He was soaking wet from head to toe, his black hair plastered against his head, but he had a basket in his hand that was somewhat dry.
It was covered by a cloth and the man’s gaze seemed to be on Sophie as he approached.
He didn’t look at Diamantha and he barely looked at James.
“My lord,” James greeted. “Your lady wife and her daughter are settled in and tended. They were just drying out.”
Cortez’s gaze was mostly on Sophie. “Very well,” he acknowledged. “You may see to your other duties, de Lohr. I will send for you if I need you.”