Chapter Fourteen
“It was a lovely wedding, William,” Paris said. “I’m surprised I was invited to witness it, given the fact that I nearly had my head cut off earlier by de Royans when I tried to flirt with his intended.”
William was fighting off a smile, glancing at an equally smirking Kieran.
“That is not what was nearly cut off, if you get my meaning,” he said, watching Paris grin.
“All is forgiven, I am sure. But if I were you, I would stay clear of Lady de Royans from now on. De Royans is quite protective over her, and you do not want to end up on his wrong side.”
“True,” Paris said, gazing up at the stars, which seemed unusually bright on this cold evening.
“But it seems to me that there is quite a bit going on here in the short time since we arrived. We put two seasoned knights in the vault earlier today, and all I was told is it was because they were conspiring.”
“They are.”
“What is really going on, William?”
The three of them were walking in the bailey, heading to the gatehouse to take over the night watch, something Dermot usually did.
With the wedding of Tristan and Andromeda complete, the happy couple was celebrating with Addax in the great hall, while William and Paris and Kieran had charge of the castle for the night.
But the day had been odd, to say the least, and Paris and Kieran wanted answers.
William didn’t blame them.
It was time for total truth.
“Lady de Royans is the last of her family,” William said quietly.
“She is the granddaughter of the last King of Dublin, a man who was murdered by a faction who tried to abduct the lady about a year ago. That’s why she’s here.
She was raised by Liam de Courcy, who sent her here when it was no longer safe for her to remain in Ireland. ”
They came to a halt in the torchlit bailey, facing one another, as Paris spoke. “But why is her father in the vault?” he said. “And what part does Dermot play in this?”
William lifted his shoulders. “I do not know about Dermot, only to say that we believe he is allied with Carr mac Murda, the lady’s father,” he said.
“Carr has never made any secret out of not wanting his daughter here. He’s been most resistant about it to the point of being violent about it.
Today, he confronted his daughter, whom he has barely spoken to since her arrival, and told her that he had arranged for a marriage to one of Dermot’s cousins.
He intended to send her back to Ireland, a place she just fled for her own safety. ”
“So de Royans married her to keep her safe and out of Ireland?” Kieran asked.
“Partially,” William said. “But he married her because he loves her. He has from the start of their association, so it is a love match. Carr and Dermot are in the vault because de Royans doesn’t trust them.
Carr wants her back in Ireland, and Dermot has supplied the man for her to marry, so draw your own conclusions.
Something very strange is going on with those two. ”
Kieran was looking off toward the gatehouse with the door that led down into the vault as Paris frowned.
“Strange, indeed,” he said. “But they’re Irish. I would expect nothing less.”
William shrugged. “I do not want to agree with you, but given the evidence, I will not argue,” he said.
“But there is more to the situation that you should be aware of. De Royans has speculated that the faction that tried to abduct Lady de Royans from her home in Ireland would not give up so easily. He has speculated that they might have suspected she would come to England and that they may have followed her here.”
Paris and Kieran were listening intently. “But how would they know where she had gone?” Paris asked.
“Because they know her father serves the Marshal,” William said. “It is not a secret. They know he would be at Pembroke, so logic suggests they would go to Pembroke looking for her. It’s quite possible that someone at Pembroke told them that Carr mac Murda is now serving at Wrexham, so…”
“So they would come to Wrexham,” Paris finished for him. His eyes were alight with the mystery afoot. “Then it is equally possible those two Irish knights know that.”
“Know it and are in on the plot,” Kieran added. “If mac Murda does not want her here, then he would have the perfect opportunity to send her back with the group that wants her.”
William nodded. “It may be that Carr was planning to take her straight to these Irish rebels,” he said.
“To be quite honest, I have served with Carr and Dermot for about a year, ever since de Royans took command of Wrexham, and during that time they have been trustworthy. But the moment Carr’s daughter arrived, the situation with them became very different. ”
“Has anyone thought to ask them?” Kieran said quietly.
Both William and Paris looked at him. “Not that I am aware of,” William said. “De Royans and al-Kort are the senior knights in this command. If they wanted to know something, I assume they would ask.”
“De Royans has been busy with a woman,” Paris pointed out. “And al-Kort has been busy with all of Wrexham. I suspect he has been stepping in where de Royans has been distracted.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Let’s go and ask the Irish what they’re involved in,” Kieran said in a low voice.
William looked at Paris, who nodded. “My sentiments exactly,” Paris said.
William could see what they were driving at, and, quite frankly, this was what he’d hoped for, because he and Addax and Tristan were too close to the problem.
There was too much going on. A situation like this needed the fresh eyes of outsiders, and he trusted Paris and Kieran with his life.
At the moment, there was a powerful dynamic going on at Wrexham, and it had the potential to turn deadly if they didn’t figure out what was happening.
After a moment, William nodded.
“Let’s go,” he muttered.
*
“Well… here we are.”
“Aye, here we are.”
Tristan grinned at Andromeda because she’d replied to his obvious statement so casually. As if the fact that they were married meant nothing to her, but he knew that wasn’t the truth.
It meant a great deal to them both.
They’d just entered her chamber in the keep, the one she’d been sleeping in since her arrival, because her room was much nicer—and cleaner—than his.
Tristan hadn’t wanted to consummate their marriage on linens he hadn’t washed in a year, so they’d come to her chamber, which already had a fire in the hearth and wine and food on the table.
Flora and Aldis must have anticipated where they’d spend their wedding night, so the chamber was clean, warm, and fragrant.
It was a perfect place for romance.
“I must say, I think this chamber is the cleanest in all of Wrexham,” he said, looking around. “And all of these things came out of that storage chamber?”
Andromeda nodded. “Everything,” she said. “But it all had to be repaired. There was actually quite a bit of furniture in the chamber, but it was in pieces. I put the servants and the wheelwright to repairing it all.”
“Excellent work.”
“If you recall, I offered you chairs and tables and other things we found, but you refused.”
He shrugged. “That chamber is simply a place to lay my head,” he said. “There is no comfort there. I wouldn’t get any use out of chairs or tables.”
Andromeda went over to the large dressing table they’d found in that treasure room, one that had been missing legs that the wheelwright had replaced.
It even had a bronze mirror, polished so that the reflection was true.
She began pulling the iron pins out of her hair, releasing the careful style that Flora had created for her wedding.
“Where do you find comfort, Pat?” she asked.
He watched her as she pulled one pin out after another. “I don’t really know,” he said. “Someone in my profession doesn’t make a habit out of seeking creature comforts.”
“Everyone should have something that brings them comfort and respite,” she said, turning to look at him. “What about something to do in your leisure time? Hunting, mayhap?”
He shook his head. “I don’t find any pleasure in killing a frightened animal,” he said. “I do like horses, however. A good horse brings me pleasure.”
“What about fishing?”
He smiled. “I used to fish with my father when I was young,” he said. “I have not done it in years, mostly because I cannot stand the taste or smell of fish.”
Her mouth popped open in horror. “But I served baked fish in the hall last week,” she said. “A fishmonger brought his catch to the castle, and it was so fresh that I purchased it. You never said a word!”
He laughed softly. “I know,” he said. “I did not want to hurt your feelings. You seemed so proud of the dish.”
She sighed sharply as she pulled the last pin out. “You will never again withhold the truth from me like that,” she said. “Especially now. We’re married, are we not?”
“That is what the priest says.”
“Then, as I am your wife, you will tell me everything,” she said. “And I will tell you everything also. I think it only fair.”
The smile was still on his face as he moved over to the chair next to the bed and sat down.
“Agreed,” he said. “But we cannot know every little thing about one another in just the few weeks we’ve known each other.
Still, we’ve been acquainted longer than some married couples I’ve known.
I cannot imagine marrying someone I’ve only just met. ”
She began unbraiding the big plait that had been coiled on the back of her head. “God’s Bones, nor can I,” she said. “But I am curious about something.”
“What?”
“How old are you?”
“I’ve seen forty summers,” he said. “And before you tell me what an old man I am, it is too late. We are married, and you cannot leave me for a younger man.”