Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
Ralph stood back from the table but he didn’t leave. “I can see you are puzzled, so allow me to explain. Lady Dustin, your mother was from Nottingham, was she not?”
Dustin was seized with horror. How did he know that? By not answering, she answered him completely.
Ralph’s smile was back. “You see, my lady, your grandsire and my father are brothers. I did not know until I visited Nottingham last month. Your grandsire is most anxious to see his only granddaughter.”
Christopher slammed his big fists down on the table. “You are a liar, Fitz Walter.”
“Not at all,” Ralph insisted. “Lady Dustin’s mother, Lady Mary Fitz Walter Barringdon, is Lord Bruce Fitz Walter’s daughter. Lord Bruce’s younger brother is my father, Charles.”
Dustin went white and she thought she might literally become sick. Ralph could only beam at the two shocked people.
“We’re related, de Lohr,” he crowed happily. “Isn’t that amazing?”
Christopher was furious. He pointed a thick finger at Ralph, his manner slow and deliberate. “You will stay away from my wife, and you will stay away from me. I want nothing to do with you, you bastard. Get out of my sight.”
“Anything you say, cousin,” Ralph said flippantly, then gazed at Dustin. “Lord Bruce sends his love and regards, my lady. He hopes you will visit him soon.”
Christopher moved menacingly but William Marshal grabbed him to halt any advance. “No, Chris, not here,” he said quietly. “He is baiting you. Let him go.”
Ralph flitted away, leaving everyone at the table shocked and bewildered. Christopher, still inflamed, looked at Dustin.
“You didn’t tell me your mother was a Fitz Walter,” he said sharply.
Dustin looked horrified. “ ’Tis a common name,” she choked. “I didn’t know…Oh, Lord….”
Then it is true. Christopher regained his seat and quickly took his wife’s hand in a reassuring gesture. He fought to calm himself.
“I am sorry, sweetheart, I did not mean to snap at you,” he squeezed her hand. “Calm down. Eat your sweets.”
Much to his sorrow, she started to cry. He immediately stood up and drew her with him, conveying his apologies to the chancellor and the marshal, promising to return shortly. He would comfort his wife first.
He never received much of a chance to do so. By the time they reached their chamber, a messenger from John was waiting for them. As much as he wanted to ignore the summons, Christopher’s curiosity had the better of him.
*
“Did you tell them?” John asked from his vantage point.
“I did,” Ralph said, he was so damned pleased with himself. “Quite a bit of luck, wouldn’t you say, sire?”
“Indeed,” John gazed off across the room to the big table where Richard’s loyalists were gathered. “I see her reaction was as expected.”
“Of course it was,” Ralph replied. “ ’Twas only by chance I discovered the information myself. I know she had no idea that I was her second cousin.”
John glanced at him. “You look nothing like lovely Lady de Lohr,” he said. “She must take after her father’s family. Now tell me, sheriff, now that the entire de Lohr camp is unnerved, what shall we do about it?”
“Do, sire? What do you mean?” Ralph sat down.
“What I mean is, we planned several months ago to kidnap Lady de Lohr and spirit her off to St. Donat’s Castle,” John said shortly.
“With the most recent developments, it is more imperative than ever that de Lohr is put out of the way. My mercenary army is even now in Nottingham with your uncle preparing to strike Gloucester and it will only be a matter of time before de Lohr mobilizes the crown troops. I want Lady de Lohr taken away and hidden for safekeeping.”
“You are planning to go to Nottingham, are you not?” Ralph said. “ ’Twould be suspicious if you were both to vanish at the same time. She either goes before or after you.”
“Ralph, in light of the information we received this day, I leave for Nottingham tomorrow,” John said irritably.
“With Richard a captive of Leopold and Emperor Henry, he is completely helpless and I can rule England before the summer is out if I launch my army now to gain control of his holdings. De Lohr will do everything in his power to stop me, and I want his wife to be my secret weapon. I care not when she goes, just make sure you follow through with it.”
“I promised you I would, sire,” Ralph said softly. “But ’tis the heart of winter now, and Wales will be hellish to travel through.”
John let out an annoyed hiss. “Then take her somewhere else, Ralph, or do I have to do your thinking for you? Damnation, I shall take her to Nottingham with me and she will be in good company with her grandfather.”
Ralph shrugged. “Verily, ’twould make better sense,” he said.
John liked the idea. “De Lohr would be busy fighting your armies at Gloucester or wherever they go, never dreaming his wife was with you, holed up in Nottingham. For her to be with you would be so logical, he shall think it illogical.”
John’s gaze lingered on Ralph. “For months now we have kept a low profile, building my army with Philip’s wealth, the stupid bastard.
He thinks he controls me by it, when in fact, I may turn on him like an ungrateful son.
” He sat opposite Ralph, drawing forth his gaudy, gleaming dirk and inspecting it absently.
Suddenly, he tossed it sharply and it sailed, blade first, into the banister of the balcony.
Ralph eyed the blade, ’twas only inches from his shoulder. “I look forward to leading your armies, my lord. Sir Dennis and I will be an unbeatable team.”
John watched his blade quiver, his thin face thoughtful. “Victory is all that I ask. And de Lohr’s defeat.”
Ralph nodded slowly. “Success will be ours, my lord.”
“Send word to de Lohr,” John commanded quietly. “In fact, send word to all of my brother’s loyal men. It is time to put the last nail in my brother’s coffin, so to speak. I have need to speak with his loyalists, and especially de Lohr.”
Ralph carried out the prince’s directive without another word.