Chapter Nine #3
Morgen was trying to piece this tale together because Magnus wasn’t doing a very good job. He could see, almost instantly, that there was something more here than met the eye. Magnus was withholding something, and Morgen suspected it centered on the Jewel herself.
“Magnus,” he said after a moment. “I will ask you a question, and you will be perfectly honest with me.”
“Of course I will, my lord.”
“What is this Jewel to you that you should risk your career so?”
A ripple of vulnerability crossed Magnus’ features.
“I do not know,” he said, sounding weakened.
“That is the truth, my lord. I do not know. All I know is that I spent a good deal of time with her, speaking to her, hearing her story, and I realized that she has been grossly mistreated most of her adult life. She is bright, educated, and blindingly beautiful. She does not deserve what has happened to her, and if Despenser gets his hands on her, she will go back to the life she is trying desperately to run away from.”
“And you want to bring her here in the course of her running away from that life?”
Magnus nodded. “You should also be aware that I think I may have feelings for her,” he said, stumbling over the words.
“If that is not clear, I will make it so. I do not want there to be any misunderstandings. I do not know how it happened, only that it has. I have offered to marry her and take her north to live with my family.”
Morgen’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A courtesan?” he said. “Married to a de Wolfe?”
Magnus knew how it sounded. “I am well aware of the unsuitability, my lord,” he said.
“Believe me, I am. The only way this will work is if we change her name and give her a proper background so that my family is unaware of who she really is. That is why I have sworn you to secrecy. You know what only Delaina and I know. You must not betray me.”
Morgen knew a man in love when he saw one.
Or, at least, a man who thought he was in love.
He could hear it in his voice, see it in his body language.
Magnus de Wolfe was a serious, career-minded knight, a man who had risen to the top of the royal troops to become lord commander of the king’s knights.
He had worked hard for it. He had an impeccable pedigree.
But he also, evidently, had an Achilles’ heel.
“I would never betray you, Magnus,” Morgen said seriously. “But you are certain about this?”
“Without a doubt, my lord.”
Morgen thought on it a moment longer before nodding. “I told you that I would help you, and I will,” he said. “Bring her here, but do not tell anyone who she is when she arrives. You’d better create her new name and background before you come here.”
Magnus was so relieved that he nearly slithered to the floor with it. “Thank you,” he muttered. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“Where is she in London?”
“The Pox, my lord.”
Morgen scowled. “In that horrible place?”
Magnus grinned weakly. “Hugh, most certainly, will not think to look for her there.”
Morgen grunted in agreement. “That is the truth,” he said. “But remove her from that place and bring her here immediately.”
“I will, my lord.”
“Do you require help? I can send Marcellus with you.”
“The same knight who cannot fend off small children?”
Morgen laughed softly. “He is a de Shera,” he said. “I trust him with my life. You may take him if you wish.”
Magnus hesitated a moment before nodding. “I am grateful,” he said. “The less I involve my own men in this, the better.”
“Who else knows about this?”
“Denys de Winter.”
Morgen nodded in recognition. “You do not want to jeopardize his position,” he said.
“Send Marcellus in here, and I will tell him that he is to go with you to retrieve the lady. I will have to tell him that we are protecting her from an enemy intent on doing her harm so he will not know the truth of who, and what, she is. He does not need to know.”
The warmth in Magnus’ eyes faded. “Nay, he does not.”
Morgen sat back in his chair, mulling over the situation. “What happens if Despenser gets his hands on her?” he asked quietly. “What then?”
“Then I will do what I must to retrieve her,” Magnus said, a deadly gleam in his eye. “Make no mistake, my lord. She will go with me or I will kill whoever tries to stop me.”
Morgen knew he was serious. “I know,” he said. “But before you drag your father and me into a war against Edward and Despenser—because, clearly, we will have to defend you—let us see if we cannot move the lady to Lonsdale without incident, shall we?”
Magnus stood up. “I will not forget this, my lord,” he said. “I will repay this kindness, I swear it.”
Morgen stood up as well. “There are no debts between de Wolfe and de Lohr,” he said. “Families such as ours do not keep track of such things. Your father would do it for my sons, I am certain. And I will do it for his.”
A smile crossed Magnus’ lips, one of gratitude. With a dip of his head, acknowledging the earl’s great generosity toward him in this situation, he quit the solar and went in search of Marcellus. He was not attacked by the de Lohr wolf pack as he left the manse, but he couldn’t even think on that.
All he could think about was getting to Delaina…
Before Hugh does.