Chapter Forty-Four
Dustin and Christin had sat with Richard and the knights for most of the evening, listening to the fighting men tell tales of battle upon the sands of the Holy Land and stories of valor involving Christopher.
Even though Christin couldn’t understand the stories.
Still, Dustin wanted the baby there, basking in the aura of her father’s memory.
It was as if he were holding her once again, so strong and vivid the tales. He was there, in spirit if not in body.
It had been evident since the meal commenced, however, that David and Marcus were deeply at odds. Edward sided with David and Marcus seemed to be on his own island of righteousness, defensive when it came to Edward and David, yet warm and accommodating when it came to Dustin.
He told his own stories of Christopher. Some involved Christopher, David, himself, and Christopher’s cousin on his mother’s side, a knight by the name of Kieran Hage.
Another great knight on the quest, he had been killed by assassins before the quest had been complete.
Christopher and David had grieved long for the man who had been like a brother to them.
When Marcus brought up his name, even Richard grew saddened.
“War is the widowmaker and kings the executioner,” he muttered philosophically. “I have seen many good men fall, all in the name of religion or conquest. I do not believe that Christopher had gotten over the death of Kieran.”
David reflected on his massive and intelligent cousin. “Nor I,” he said softly. “To lose him as we did, to assassins no less, was tragic.”
“We never recovered his body, did we?” Richard said before he could think. “The last I was told, he was tracked to Nahariya, but after that, he all but vanished.”
David and Marcus, rather anxious, passed glances at Dustin, who was sitting next to Richard, with the baby sitting on the table in front of her. Richard realized they were on to a very bad subject and quickly shifted focus.
“My lady, I understand your mother is a Fitz Walter,” he said the first thing that popped to mind, watching David wince. Another bad subject. “I… I never met your mother. Arthur spoke very fondly of her.”
Dustin looked up from the baby, whom she was playing patty-cake with.
The subject of Christopher’s cousin’s missing body did not escape her; much like her own husband, they had nothing to bury.
That was all she could seem to focus on.
She was struggling not to linger on those morose thoughts as Richard attempted to engage her in other conversation.
She smiled weakly at the king. “My mother and father were married for over twenty years,” she said. “They were quite fond of each other.”
“No brothers or sisters?”
She shook her head. “Only me,” she said. “If my father wanted a son, he never said so. He was very attentive to my mother and me.”
Richard was growing worried; there didn’t seem to be many safe subjects with Lady de Lohr except for the baby. That one seemed safe enough. When Christin squealed happily as her mother played with her, Richard was glad for the diversion.
“The child is good natured,” he said. “You are very blessed.”
Dustin smiled at her daughter as the little girl slapped at her hands. “She is a happy lass.”
The baby was animated, finding a used spoon from her mother’s trencher and putting it in her mouth.
Marcus, across the table, made little clucking noises and Christin turned to look at him.
He smiled at the baby and she grinned back, broadly.
Marcus set down his cup and reached across the table, pulling her into his arms.
He tickled the baby and made loud kissing noises on her fat little hands.
Christin was delighted, but seated next to Marcus, David was clearly unhappy.
He continued to watch as Marcus played with Christin until the baby grew fussy and Dustin called for Griselda.
The old woman whisked the baby from the hall and they could hear her crying upstairs, unwilling to settle down for sleep.
As the sounds of her sleepy and unhappy daughter faded away, Dustin sat next to the king and sipped on her wine, thinking back to the stories of her husband’s valor and trying not to miss him too much. It was a difficult struggle.
And it was not a struggle missed by David or Marcus.
They were watching her as Richard was watching them.
Now that the baby was gone, the tension at the table was increasing.
They had behaved for the sake of the baby but now that she was gone, there was no longer any reason for good behavior.
They ended up glaring at each other over the rim of their cups. Finally, Richard reached his limit.
“Enough of this,” he snapped quietly. “This behavior will end. Am I clear?”
Marcus averted his gaze but David continued to stare the man down. Richard slammed his cup on the tabletop to get David’s attention.
“David,” he hissed. “Do you hear me?”
“I hear you, sire.”
“What is your issue with Marcus? Tell me now and let us get this out in the open.”
David took his eyes off Marcus, then. He looked at the king, seeing the man’s extreme displeasure.
“It is not a simple thing, sire,” he said, realizing it was difficult to explain. “I do not think that….”
Richard cut him off. “Marcus,” he addressed him. “You will tell me why you and David are at each other’s throats.”
Marcus was considerably less hostile when facing his king. “He is angry with me.”
“Why?”
“Because… because I have come to Lioncross to take Lady Dustin away from here and marry her.”
Richard wasn’t surprised. It all but confirmed the rumors of Burton’s attraction to lady de Lohr. “Is this so?” he said. “Do you intend to take her and the baby back to Somerhill?”
“I do.”
Richard pondered that as he looked back to David. “And you disagree?”
David nodded his head, his eyes on Marcus. “Aye, sire, I do. Lady de Lohr belongs here at Lioncross.”
“Alone? Or with you?” Richard demanded. “David, you are betrothed yourself, are you not? Do you intend to break your betrothal to Emilie Hampton and marry your dead brother’s wife?”
David faltered. “Nay, my lord, I still intend to marry Emilie,” he said. “But Lady Dustin’s home is here, within these walls. And Chris would want his child to be raised in his own keep.”
“So you would have her stay here, alone, simply to raise a child who will not even remember her true father?” Richard shook his head. “If that is truly Chris’ desire, then it seems most selfish to me. Or is it that you object to Marcus personally, David? I am curious.”
David looked at Richard. “Marcus is the best knight in the realm now that my brother is gone, but….”
Richard interrupted him. “That was not my question. Why do you object to Marcus marrying your brother’s wife?”
David lowered his gaze, toying with his goblet.
“Because she is Chris’ wife, sire,” he said softly.
“She is his legacy. If she marries Marcus, she will cease to become Chris’ wife.
She will be Lady Burton, and it will almost be as if Chris was never married or never had children.
Lioncross will be empty of his family and his legacy will die. ”
Dustin fought off the tears and lowered her head so no one could see her pain. But Richard saw her pain and he placed his palm over her soft, white hand.
“Christopher is a legend, David,” he said quietly. “So long as there are a thousand knights to remember him and pass on his story, his legacy continues endlessly. And that beautiful babe in the nursery is the fruit of his loins, his legacy in the flesh. Marcus Burton would never change that.”
David’s head shot up sharply to Marcus and then focused on Richard once more and the king could see the doubt and grief.
“David, Christopher will live forever in our hearts,” he said.
“What Marcus is doing is offering to wed Lady Dustin and provide her with a stable, safe life. He is offering his companionship to her and I, for one, think he is being quite selfless. I should think you would appreciate knowing Chris’ wife would be well taken care of. ”
David lowered his gaze.
Down the table was the tall figure of Philip de Lohr. He had been listening closely to everything. He drew his nephew’s sullen glance and the attention of everyone else at the table when he cleared his throat quietly.
“Every time I look at you, David, I see my brother,” Philip said softly.
“I know what it is like to lose a brother, someone I admired above anyone else. When Myles passed away, I felt toward Val much as you do toward Dustin. She was Myles’ wife and I felt that she was my personal responsibility.
” He sat forward on the table, his handsome face weary.
“But Val followed Myles shortly after in death. I honestly believe she could not live without him and allowed whatever ailment that claimed him to claim her. But if that had not been the case, I would have wished for someone to offer her a new life, someone I knew and respected, and someone who would treat her as my brother had treated her. I think Lady Dustin is very lucky to have Marcus as her savior.”
“Savior is a strong word, Philip,” Marcus replied softly.
David’s hard facade was faltering and Philip faced him. “I suppose what I am saying, David, is I know how you feel. I lost my older brother, too. Had Val lived, I know he would have wanted her to be happy. Allow Dustin her happiness, lad. If it is with Marcus, then be happy for them both.”
David’s handsome face was tired and uncertain. Dustin’s head was bowed, trying so hard to fight the tears that were nonetheless spilling onto her lap. Time ticked by as David mulled over his uncle’s words.
Finally, David shook his head. “Uncle Philip, Chris loved her more than anything on this earth. I just cannot believe that he would want her to leave Lioncross and take Christin away.” His eyes flicked up to Marcus. “I cannot in good conscience, let her go with Marcus. I just cannot.”