Chapter 10
Melissande did not have to seek out Gaultier.
He was at her elbow before Quinn and his party had even passed through the gates.
She felt a twinge of guilt when Quinn glanced back, but reminded herself that she had done no improper deed.
She had shown her husband the respect due to him as Lord d’Annossy.
He could not know the doubts in her heart.
Gaultier indicated that the gates should be secured, just as Quinn had decreed, then bent to murmur to her. “My lady, I would confer with you in private, at your leisure.”
“In private?” Melissande echoed, turning to consider the knight.
He frowned, his gaze flicking over the bailey. “I would not have my meaning misconstrued, my lady, but I am concerned.” He met her gaze steadily and she nodded.
“I wished to speak with you, as well, Gaultier.” She indicated the hall.
“Perhaps in my father’s favored chamber, by the hall.
” Louis met her as soon as she entered the hall, a question in his eyes.
“My lord husband has been told of the larder,” she told him, for they had discussed the details that morning.
“He insists that no one shall leave Annossy in his absence.” She did not add that Quinn meant to try to solve the lack of meat, for she could not imagine how he would have the time to hunt.
She also did not know of his skill in the pursuit of game.
The hunt was somewhat different than war.
She smiled for Louis when he looked skeptical.
“He has told me, Louis, that his companions will be grateful of whatever is offered, for they have shared times of shortage together.”
“Of course, my lady,” Louis said with a bow, his skepticism remaining. “Perhaps a fortifying soup with each meal?”
“A most excellent suggestion, Louis.” She gestured to the small room adjacent to the hall. “Gaultier and I will confer for a moment. Please see that we are not disturbed.”
Louis, to her surprise, flicked a glance at the Captain of the Guard that was not filled with approval. Perhaps there was another soul whose counsel she should seek.
“I thank you, my lady, for your trust,” Gaultier said when they were closeted together. Though Melissande retreated around the large table that nigh filled that chamber, she felt keenly aware that Gaultier was both larger than she and armed.
Quinn’s suggestion that the other knight had harbored ambitions could not be pushed from her thoughts.
She remained standing herself, not wanting the further disadvantage of taking a seat. “I had the impression, Gaultier, that you might know something of my lord husband or his reputation when he arrived yesterday. If so, I would invite you to share it with me.”
“In confidence?”
“Aye.”
“I would not have the man made Lord d’Annossy think me disloyal,” he said, some bitterness in his tone.
“He will not know of it. I give you my word.”
Gaultier nodded. “I know naught of Quinn de Sayerne himself, my lady, though I found his arrival as your lord husband most astonishing.”
“Aye?”
“Aye. Have you not always advised me that Jerome de Sayerne meant to unite Annossy with Sayerne? Annossy has been plagued by brigands upon her borders both before and after Jerome’s death, which implies that Jerome himself was not the villain responsible—or not the sole one.”
Melissande waited, for this thinking was much like her own.
“And who should be better allied with Jerome than his son and heir?” Gaultier raised a hand. “Here he is, returned. The timing cannot be a coincidence...”
“Tulley summoned him from the Holy Land,” Melissande supplied.
Gaultier’s eyes widened. “Then perhaps Jerome’s ally was Tulley!”
“Nay!”
“Think of it, my lady. Your family has held Annossy for generations and are much respected in the region. And since your father’s demise, Tulley has held Annossy’s seal.
Should Tulley wish to grant the holding to another, there would have been a hue and cry of the injustice of his choice.
He could not so deny tradition, not without protest within his demesne.
” He tapped a fingertip upon the table. “So, he saw you wed to his choice to govern both Annossy and Sayerne. I fear this to be a scheme, my lady, one which will not end well for you or Annossy.”
“Nay!” Melissande protested. “Tulley would not so betray me.”
But would he not? She was not so certain of her overlord’s support as she would like to be.
“Tulley will see his own advantage defended at any price,” Gaultier insisted.
“He said as much to me when he dispatched me here.” He fell silent and took a deep breath.
“To be sure, my lady, I feared that he had a scheme even then. Tulley would not share the details, but told me that my tenure at Annossy would not be a long one.”
Melissande sat down then, recalling that Tulley had sent word to Quinn in the East. That must have been around the same time that Gaultier had been sent to her. That could only mean that the Captain of the Guard had been sent to protect the prize intended for Quinn upon his return.
“I see that you are startled, my lady, and I apologize for any responsibility for that on my part. Tulley bade me pledge not to tell you as much, and truly, it was simple to make such a vow when I had never met you or been to Annossy.” He bowed his head.
“But in my time here, I have come to respect you greatly as Lady d’Annossy and to feel great fondness for this holding.
” He lifted his gaze to hers and the heat in his gaze made Melissande swallow.
“I would pledge my blade to you and you alone, my lady, and remain your loyal knight regardless of what Lord de Tulley—or even your lord husband—commands.”
Although Melissande was touched by his words, she shook her head.
“You must not so betray your own word, Gaultier,” she said.
“You have vowed to serve Tulley and my lord husband. Do not make a pledge that might compel you to break word with either of them.” She managed to smile. “I, too, serve my lord husband.”
“But should you, my lady?” Gaultier whispered. “Or does your passion for duty only lead you along the path that will serve them both best?”
“I must do my duty, Gaultier, as must you.”
He shook his head, discontent. “You did not see them last night,” he whispered.
“His companions separated and went through all the keep, as if by design. Do you think it a coincidence that they all should arrive at the same time? It is as if they had a scheme. That dark-haired one, Amaury, was in the inventory and the stores, counting and assessing. If he could have gained access to the treasury, he would have tallied it all. I would wager that he could put a value upon all within these walls within a denier or two. He spoke to Louis as if to make an alliance with him. The other one, the closer companion, he was in the kitchens, talking to all the servants. He made friends with cook and saucier, and with your maid, my lady.”
“Bayard,” she whispered.
“He would either turn her against you or use her as his spy. No doubt she had tales to share with you this morn as a result of that conversation.”
Melissande thought of Berthe’s confession of admiration for Bayard—and her questions about them living at Sayerne. Her heart chilled.
“They are men of war, my lady, and they seek to learn your every weakness, so that when they attack, you have no chance to defend yourself.”
“But why would my lord husband attack me?”
“To gain your prize. The foreign one—Niall, I think is his name—was in the armory. He reviewed the guard and their weapons, and spoke with the smith for a long time. The tall one, Lothair, walked the perimeter of the walls. He spoke to those in the village, apparently befriending them and advising them about the pledge of fealty, but he gathered tidings as well. And I thought it was all for naught, for the lord had retired to the solar with you.” Gaultier’s eyes narrowed and his voice dropped to a hiss.
“But then he returned to the hall alone, my lady, and dismissed all but his comrades. They conferred together for long hours, whispering around the board, surrendering all they had learned to him that he might best create his plan.”
It was true. Melissande had not expected Quinn to leave the solar.
Her mouth went dry that he had come to their bed so late that she had not heard him. She suspected that if she had not been so willing, she might have been seduced all the same. Tulley had set a price upon Sayerne of an heir, after all.
Gaultier pushed his hand through his hair.
“And then this morning, he and all his fellows ride out to the mill, while we are forbidden to depart for any reason. I cannot even lead a hunt to ensure that there is meat at the board this night!” He stepped toward her, eyes blazing.
“Why does he so fear your departure from your own abode, my lady? You are as good as a captive here, and I would know why. Does he fear you will deny him?”
“I cannot. We are wed and Tulley ensured the match was consummated.” Melissande shook her head. “But the worst I might do is flee to Tulley, and you already say they are in league.”
“He is Jerome’s son, my lady. What if he means to cheat Tulley?”
“How?”
“I cannot say. Perhaps he has ambitions for all of Tulley.” Gaultier wagged a finger at her.
“And if there is any soul in this realm sufficiently clever to see the truth of his ambition, it would be you, my lady. Were I such a villain, I would see you confined as well.” He took a deep breath as Melissande struggled with these assertions.
As much as she might have expected otherwise, she was inclined to take Quinn’s side.
Was she a fool to trust him? Or were her instincts correct?
“I should watch my surroundings in your place, my lady,” Gaultier said grimly. “I shall guard your person when I can, but in the solar, you must defend yourself.”
“What is this?” Melissande asked in confusion.