Chapter Seventeen
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Coventry
“It is at least an hour or two before dawn,” Chad muttered. “Are you sure he will be here?’
A group of men were gathered inside of St. Mary’s Cathedral, back near the entry door.
Bose and Curtis were standing together, listening to Chad stir around, seemingly restless, while Chris and William stood back in the shadows, watching.
It was a tense and weary gathering, lingering in the dead of night.
“He shall be here,” Curtis said steadily. “Arthur went to fetch him and you know that your cousin is very persuasive. Henry will come.”
Chad was wringing his hands through his big leather gloves, pacing around on the packed earth floor.
It was very dark and still at this hour, with only a few acolytes moving around near the front of the church to prepare for Matins.
Chad could see the skinny, ill-dressed boys setting up for the priests.
“I wonder what happened with Gallus and his wife,” Chad turned about and continued pacing. “When we left, she was begging him to surrender. I wonder if she has convinced him to do it.”
Curtis shrugged as Bose spoke. “I have spent the better part of eight years trying to convince them to see reason,” he said.
“Ty, for a time, did serve me under Henry but that ended long ago. Ty seems to be the one most pliable to the suggestion of swearing fealty to Henry but it is Gallus who rules that family. He is passionate in his beliefs.”
Chad looked at the big, dark knight. “What of Max?”
“He seems to be more inclined to side with Ty.”
Next to Bose, Curtis sighed faintly. “It may not matter in the end,” he said. “I received the distinct impression that Max and Ty were coming to see my point but Gallus was simply being stubborn. If the brothers turn against him, he may not have a choice.”
Chad kicked at the earth. “Gallus is very proud,” he said. “It will hurt him deeply if his brothers go against him.”
“It may force him to see reason,” Chris said, standing back in the shadows along with his brother, William. “We cannot all be wrong in our conviction that Gallus should at least pretend to swear fealty to Henry.”
Chad looked over his shoulder at his cousin. “I hope you are right.”
Chris simply nodded, glancing at big William, who was standing in the shadows with his muscular arms folded across his chest. When William caught his brother’s expression, he grunted unhappily.
“That so many honorable and reasonable men should swear fealty to a fool is beyond me,” he muttered. “If I had half of Gallus’ courage, I would stand with him.”
“Quiet,” Curtis hissed at his son. “You will not speak so foolishly. We must all do as we must to maintain our lands and money and legacy. Sometimes those duties are unsavory, but they are necessary.”
William simply rolled his eyes at his father’s assessment. Then, he watched Chad pace around, pulling and grinding at his hands. “What are you so nervous about?” he asked the man. “Could it be because your wedding did not happen as planned?”
Chad came to a halt, turning to see William grinning at him. Chris was grinning, too, but trying not to. “Who told you that?” Chad demanded.
Chris spoke. “Ty mentioned something about marrying Lady Alessandria,” he said. “Is it true? Have you finally fallen for a woman, Chadwick?”
No one called him Chadwick unless they wanted a black eye. He hated that name with a passion. Chad advanced on his cousin but Curtis threw out an arm, preventing him from throwing a punch as Chris and William giggled like children.
“No violence,” Curtis said, frowning at his snorting sons. “We are simply very happy for you, ’tis all. Ty made it sound as if you love the girl. Is this true?”
Chad’s initial reaction was to be embarrassed, to deny it, but he found that he couldn’t. It wasn’t as if the entire de Shera household didn’t already know it and they would surely tell the truth, so Chad did the only thing he could do. He admitted it.
“I am not sure how it happened, but it did,” he confirmed. “We were hoping to be wed last evening but your unexpected appearance postponed those plans. Now I am not sure when I will be able to wed her.”
Curtis grinned, patting Chad on the cheek. “Sooner than you think, I hope,” he said. “If we can convince Henry to leave Isenhall intact, then mayhap you can marry your lady later today. I will make sure of it.”
Chad reluctantly returned Curtis’ smile, pleased that the man was in full support of his actions. “My father does not know yet,” he said. “But he knows Aless and I am sure he will approve of her. Our marriage will be one more link to bind the houses of de Lohr and de Shera together.”
“I hope that is not the only reason you are marrying her.”
“Of course not. I am marrying her because I love her.”
Curtis’ smile faded. “Then this coming confrontation with Henry means a great deal to you,” he said. “It was Henry who wanted to take your intended as a hostage.”
Chad nodded. “Either a hostage or, according to Torran de Serreaux, to marry her off. Either way, I have a personal stake in all of this.”
Curtis understood but the conversation immediately was cut off when movement was heard near the entry to the cathedral.
The arched Norman doorway was suddenly full of men with weapons, spilling into the darkness of the cathedral, spreading out.
Chad and the other men knew instantly that Henry had made his arrival and he had come with several armed men as escort, as befitting the king.
Still, the armed incursion didn’t sit well with Curtis or with Bose for that matter; they were armed, of course, as were Chad and Chris and William, but it was only the five of them against at least twenty of Henry’s men.
Struggling not to sound unhappy about it, Curtis moved towards the entry just as Henry and Arthur came forth.
“I see this is going to be an intimate little discussion, Your Grace,” Curtis said wryly. “Had I known you were bringing half of your army, I would have brought half of mine. The odds would have been somewhat even.”
Henry, dressed in mail and a pristine crimson tunic, headed straight for Curtis, a half-smile on his face. He liked the fact that he had caught the man off-guard; that gave him the upper hand. He noticed Bose standing next the earl and his focus moved between the two men.
“Worcester,” he greeted Curtis. Then he looked at Bose. “I am glad to see you here, de Moray. I had hoped you would come.”
Bose stepped forward. “Your Grace,” he greeted formally. “I trust your travel has been pleasant.”
Henry nodded. “Pleasant enough,” he said. “I had great company in the de Winter brothers.”
Davyss and Hugh were somewhere behind Henry, coming forward when they heard their names mentioned.
De Serreaux and the other Six were spread out around Henry as bodyguards.
As Henry faced Curtis and Bose, Chad, standing far back behind the men, happened to notice Torran as the man stood somewhat in the shadows.
It was the man who had sent them the warning of Henry’s arrival but Chad still wondered whose side Torran was really on.
He served Henry, after all, but his message to Chad had been contrary to that loyalty.
At least, Chad thought so. When their eyes met, Chad didn’t acknowledge him, fearful that Henry might pick up on some kind of subliminal gratitude.
For all Henry knew, they were still enemies after what had happened at Canterbury and Chad thought it should remain that way.
But he did silently acknowledge Davyss and Hugh.
It was an odd standoff already and the tension in the cathedral was brittle. Men were facing each other across a divisive line, men who were supposed to be allies. Henry saw it, and felt it, and it displeased him greatly.
“Look at us,” he said. “We stand here as if we are on opposing sides. Since when did this happen, Curtis? Why do you not embrace me?”
Curtis did. Henry clapped him on the back and shoulders, trying to pretend as if they weren’t here for something terribly critical.
“That is much better,” he said. “Now I feel as if we are family again. So, do tell me – why have you called me here? I would presume you wish to speak about those rebels.”
It was the first volley of words in what would hopefully not become a battle. Already, Henry was establishing his position but Curtis maintained his even manner. It would not do to become frustrated this early on.
“I have asked you here to discuss the de Shera brothers,” he said steadily.
“I spent a good deal of last night speaking to them about their loyalties, Your Grace. You know that I do not want to see them harmed; they are good and true men. They are the Lords of Thunder, men to be admired and feared. I asked you to meet me here this morning because I want you to understand something – they did not support de Montfort out of a hatred of you. They supported de Montfort because they agreed with the man’s ideals.
They, too, want a fair and just England for their children. There is nothing wrong with that.”
Henry wasn’t keen on accepting Curtis’ gentle explanation of the de Shera brothers.
“Hmpf,” he grunted. “They have been a thorn in my side for nine years, Curtis. Nine years of their subversion and rebellion. Call it what you will, but that is what it boils down to – they are rebels and now their rebel leader is dead. I will have their fealty or I will wipe them from this earth.”
He was very plain about his position, without any kindness or tact leading up to his statement. He presented it clearly, for all to hear. There was no doubt he meant what he said and Curtis was careful in his reply.
“It is difficult to change a man’s ideals overnight, Your Grace,” he said. “Gallus and his brothers still believe in de Montfort’s principles. You cannot erase that with a wave of your hand. It will take time.”