Chapter Eighteen #4
Margot merely smiled, a sly gesture. “An inebriated man usually cannot remember what has occurred during the course of his drunken state, can he?”
Jolted from his sluggish ignorance, Edward turned to the smug woman. “Make sense, Lady Margot. My memory has never failed me, wine or no.”
Reaching out frail, boney fingers, Margot touched Edward’s sallow hand. “It is about to, my lord,” she whispered confidently. “It is about to.”
*
The peach-colored silk reflected the sun’s rays beautifully as Summer and her brothers emerged into the dust-filled bailey en route to the vault.
Her urgency and excitement growing by the moment, Summer kept a rapid pace toward the entrance to the underground dungeon just as a rider bearing du Bonne colors passed beneath the raised portcullis and thundered into the courtyard.
Stephan caught sight of the man, pausing in his pursuit of his eager sister.
Ian paused too, causing Summer to rein her excitement for a moment as both brothers seemed focused on the red and white messenger.
As the man was met by a few servants intent on collecting his frothing steed, he dismounted the weary beast and immediately made haste for his liege’s eldest son.
Stephan waited with growing apprehension as the young rider approached, greeting him formally.
“My lord Stephan,” the youthful soldier was clearly out of breath.
“I have ridden from Poole this day with a message from Lord Bruce Eggardon. Shall I deliver it to you now or within the presence of your father?”
Summer and Ian were suddenly beside their eldest sibling, their faces wide with anxiety. Stephan did not keep them waiting. “Tell me now.”
The soldier nodded swiftly, attempting to catch his breath before he delved into his missive.
“Lord Bruce has been feeling poorly as of late and will be unable to travel for several days. Expect him in six days, no less, and be prepared to begin the hearings immediately. He shall not have time to waste.”
Stephan nodded faintly, dismissing the soldier as he turned to his brother and teary-eyed sister. When he saw Summer’s composure crumbling at the thought of her husband languishing within the vault for the next week, he grasped her hands firmly and held them against his chest.
“No tears, sweetheart,” he pleaded softly. “’Tis wonderful news, truly, and I will tell you why.”
But Summer refused to allow him to continue, sobbing softly as Ian put a comforting arm about her shoulders. “Six d-days in the v-vault is n-not wonderful, Stephan,” she wept. “He shall d-die in that place!”
“He will not,” Stephan said firmly, lowering his voice so that his explanation would not be overheard.
“I refrained from telling you about my hopeful prospects for Bose’s freedom simply because you were entirely overwhelmed by the situation and I had no desire to baffle you further.
But you must know now of the hope I have for Bose’s release.
And six days’ postponement is the best possible news we could have hoped for. ”
She looked to him, sad and dubious. “W-Why do you say this?”
Stephan’s expression seemed to glow with the knowledge of his clever scheme.
“Before we rode in pursuit of Breck’s trail yesterday morn, I sent a messenger to King Henry pleading for the king’s Divine Grace in absolving Bose of the thievery charges.
And my messenger was none other than Duncan Kerry himself.
If anyone can convince the king of Breck’s evil intentions, Duncan can.
But it will take time, time that has apparently come as a gift from God in the form of six days’ delay.
Do you understand what I am saying, sweetheart?
Eggardon’s lag is very good news indeed. ”
She understood. Miraculously, the tears seemed to vanish and her expression took on the same warm glow that colored Stephan’s features.
“D-Duncan went to s-seek the king’s intervention?” she repeated with awe. “Good Lord, Stephan… d-do you suppose Henry will actually dissolve the charges?”
Stephan’s lazy smile was nothing short of smug. “Breck and Father and Lady Margot believe they have the advantage. But they do not suspect that I would send Duncan to plead for Henry’s intercession. We have the advantage, I say.”
Summer’s mouth was open in surprise. “Then Breck does not know of his brother’s defection to aid our cause?”
Stephan shook his head. “He has apparently assumed Duncan to have returned to Crestwood. He’s not made mention of the man nor asked for him.”
A soft, warm body suddenly flew at him, all silk and hair. Summer giggled happily, hugging her brother tightly enough to strangle him. “Oh, Stephan!” she gasped, kissing his cheek loudly. “Y-You are wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!”
He hugged her tightly, his cheeks mottled with a tender blush. “I realize that, of course,” he said with feigned arrogance, snorting with humor when she slapped him playfully. “Now, let’s go and see your husband. I’ll wager he can use a bit of good news, too.”