CHAPTER SEVEN
Two weeks later
“A missive, my lord.” Milo held the long, yellowed tube up in front of his face. His lips enunciated each word. “From the king.”
Standing before the colossal map table in Nathanial’s well-heeled solar, Scott stared at the man as if he hadn’t really understood what he’d said. It was an odd, frozen stare. His expression remained unreadable for a few moments before turning back to the map at his fingertips.
“Read it,” he said simply.
Stewart took it from Milo and broke the seal; Scott never read his own missives. He couldn’t be bothered. As his liege returned his attention to the map of the Cumbrian region, Stewart read aloud.
“Edward informs you that he has selected a potential husband for Lady du Rennic,” he said matter-of-factly. Then, he peered at the words as if something just caught his interest. “A Lord Tynron. God’s Bones, Scott, Edward says he’s part of the Black Douglas Clan.”
Scott didn’t react and Stewart continued as if Scott didn’t know what, exactly, it all meant. “They side with The Bruce,” he said helpfully. “You know that.”
“Of course I do.”
Stewart continued with his own take of the situation. “If Edward can fracture that clan by marrying him to an English widow with great wealth, that would be a major victory.”
Scott still didn’t respond to that particular observation, as if none of it concerned him in the least. “I have never heard of Tynron,” he said, unimpressed. “Finish reading the missive.”
Stewart was rather surprised that Scott didn’t react to the news because it was fairly important information in their world. Puzzled at Scott’s response and trying not to show it, he continued, a bit more hesitantly.
“Edward will send Tynron north to Canaan unless you want to send Lady du Rennic to London at once for inspection,” he said. “He asks that you send him word of your choice.”
Scott was still gazing at the map. “She cannot travel. She has just delivered a child.”
“Then you will send word to Edward that Tynron is welcome at Canaan?”
“He must come here if he wishes to see her.”
Stewart’s gaze lingered on Scott a moment, very curious as to the man’s casual reaction. This was not what he would have expected with such news but he didn’t say so. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure what more he could say. After a moment, he looked to Milo. “Is the messenger still here?”
“Aye,” Milo replied. “He’s in the kitchens being fed.”
“Have him wait.” Stewart eyed Scott, setting the missive down on the map table. “De Wolfe will send a reply.”
Scott had his eyes on the Kendal region to the south, pretending to be disinterested in the king’s summons but, in truth, he was very interested. He knew that Stewart was watching him, wondering why he hadn’t reacted to the king’s missive. The reason wasn’t so clear; although his entire purpose in coming to Castle Canaan had been to secure the castle and keep the situation calm when Edward pledged Lady du Rennic to a political partner of his choice, Scott found that he wasn’t at peace with that destiny in the least. The missive from Edward was not unexpected but, still, he didn’t want to hear it.
Somewhere over the past two weeks, something had happened to him.
It started the day he’d delivered Lady du Rennic’s squealing girl-child. The day before that, he had held the woman and her children in the garden as they’d wept their grief. He understood their sorrow all too well and, in that moment, he felt a kindred spirit with them. A family missing a father, a father missing most of his family… he felt akin to them and he shouldn’t have. Something inside of him, something long buried, had awakened in the darkness and was now struggling to claw its way out.
For two long weeks, Scott had been fighting against his reawakened soul and he’d been fighting it as harshly as it had been fighting him. He didn’t want to give in to those weak feelings of compassion and gentleness and humor that had cost him so much when Athena and the children had died. He blamed the human part of him for all of the pain he’d suffered at that time.
Because of it, he had hardened up so much that he’d virtually shut out his entire family for the past four years. The close and loving de Wolfe family had been kept on the outside for the most part. He would hardly see any of them because they only reminded him of what he’d lost. When he should have used them as his strength, he’d kept them at arm’s length, thinking that it was the only way to survive. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
He wasn’t sure about anything anymore.
“I have already given my reply,” he said to Stewart after a moment. “Lady du Rennic has just given birth to a child. She is in no condition to travel to London so that Edward may parade her before a potential husband. If Edward wants the woman to be seen, then Lord Tynron must come to Canaan.”
Stewart watched him closely as he spoke. He was trying to make the reply sound casual, but there was nothing casual about it. There was something there that Stewart hadn’t seen before, or at least, he hadn’t seen it in a very long time. A hint of emotion that Scott was trying desperately to contain.
Ever since that day Stewart discovered Scott with Lady du Rennic in the trees, the day the woman had unexpectedly given birth, something had come over Scott that was difficult to determine. Something in his manner, in his actions… something that Stewart couldn’t quite put his finger on. Having known Scott before the death of his wife and children, he knew what Scott had once been – a man of great humor, of life. His father had always described him as “gregarious”.
But the man since that day… there was no soul left. The life had gone. But over the past couple of weeks, Stewart had seen a flicker of something… emotion, aye, but perhaps it was that life returning to the man somehow. Whatever it was, something told Stewart that Lady du Rennic had a hand in whatever spark had been kindled and, if that was the case, then this situation could get very bad, very quickly. Certainly, if the lady sparked emotion in Scott, he would be unwilling to turn her over to another man.
It was madness to even entertain such a thought, but Stewart knew Scott well enough to know that something was happening inside of him.
It worried him.
“Is that what you want me to tell Edward?” he asked quietly. “Should I wait until the morrow to draft a response in case you wish to add anything?”
“If you wish.”
“When are you going to inform the Huntley men that their mistress is about to be awarded to Edward’s choice in husbands?”
Scott looked at him, then, and Stewart could see that emotion he’d been concerned with reflecting in the man’s expression. “When it is appropriate to tell them, I shall.”
Stewart went to the table, standing closer to Scott so Milo, who was still over by the door, couldn’t hear their conversation. “Forgive me, Scott, but the sooner you tell them, the better for everyone,” he said quietly. “That was the entire purpose in coming to Castle Canaan. Withholding information like this could do more damage than good in the end. And Lady du Rennic; she needs to know her destiny. Do you believe you are somehow protecting her by not telling her?”
Scott stood up, eyeing Stewart and torn between displeasure that the man was questioning him and the thought that, perhaps, he had a point. He had to admit that the past two weeks, it had been difficult for him to focus, although he’d put on a fairly good show of it.
Still, Stewart knew him. The man knew his moods, his thoughts. If Stewart was showing confusion in his decision to withhold information from the du Rennic knights, then there was a good chance that Scott’s men were also catching on to the same confusion.
In truth, Scott was confused himself.
“I am not protecting anyone, at least not as you are suggesting it,” he said evenly. “I have told you before that it is my sense it is too soon after Nathaniel’s death to speak of marrying Lady du Rennic to anyone, much less a political marriage. I do not withhold the information to protect them; I do it out of respect to Nathaniel and for no other reason than that. Let them grieve the man who gave his life to save me. It is the least I can do before his memory is erased and another man takes his place.”
Stewart backed down a bit, understanding Scott’s perspective. At least, he had no reason not to believe it. “I see,” he said. “You did not mention this before when we discussed Edward’s intention to select a husband for Lady du Rennic.”
“I did not think I had to.”
Stewart was coming to feel embarrassed. “Forgive me. I did not mean to insinuate you had other reasons behind your reluctance.”
Scott did have other reasons but they were reasons he couldn’t verbalize, so he simply shrugged his shoulders.
“At some point, I must tell them,” he said. “Frankly, I am surprised that Edward’s selection of a husband has been so soon. It is indicative of his eagerness to secure Canaan, now with a Scottish lord, evidently. Even now, we are still dealing with Jeremy’s bitterness, Gordon’s silence, and the other three du Rennic knights just seem to lurk about like wraiths. I can feel their eyes shooting daggers at me every time I walk by them. Having dealt with grief myself, I know it takes time to heal. Sometimes it never does. But I would have them grieve Nathaniel as long as they can until another lord takes over Canaan. Once that happens, Nathaniel’s memory will be all but wiped clean of this place.”
It was as close as Scott had ever come to speaking on his grief since that terrible day. Stewart understood his reasons. Indeed, he did, but he felt foolish for thinking that Lady du Rennic might have been the catalyst to a torrent of emotion with de Wolfe. Perhaps it was nothing of the kind; perhaps it was only respect for Nathaniel’s widow. In any case, Stewart wasn’t any less confused than he had been before. He was starting to feel a little foolish.
“Then we will wait to send the reply to Edward,” he said. “A week or two, mayhap. The longer we delay, the longer it will be before that Scottish bastard shows up at Canaan to inspect the mother of Nathaniel’s children.”
Scott glanced at him before returning his gaze to the map again. “She only now seems to be coming out of the madness she had suffered. I wonder if news such as this will throw her back into the world of insanity.”
“It is possible, but for her own sake, you really should tell the woman of her destiny as soon as you can. At least give her time to prepare.”
Scott started to nod when there was a knock on the open solar door. Both he and Stewart turned to see Gordon standing there, politely rapping. Surprised to see him, Scott wondered how much the man had heard of their conversation, if anything, as he motioned Gordon into the chamber.
“Huntley,” he said steadily. “Come in. It seems odd to be admitting you entrance to the solar considering this is your castle more than it is mine.”
Gordon smiled, but it was a forced gesture, as if he genuinely wasn’t sure he was welcome. Given the relationship between de Wolfe’s men and the du Rennic men as of late, he had every reason to be uncertain. Men once allies, now at odds. He took a few steps into the solar, his gaze moving somewhat nervously between Milo, Stewart and, finally, Scott.
“I have come on behalf of the du Rennic knights, my lord,” he said. “All of the tasks assigned to us after the last battle have been completed. The cleanup of the bailey, the repair of the drawbridge.”
“The stable roof has been repaired?”
Gordon nodded. “Aye, my lord. And every weapon at Canaan has been inventoried and accounted for, and repaired if necessary. Your knights can attest to that. They have supervised the work every step of the way.”
Scott knew that. Raymond, Stanley, and Jean-Pierre had been tasked with overseeing the punishment of the du Rennic knights after their treacherous turn two weeks ago. Locking Scott’s army out of Canaan had resulted in thirty wounded and three dead of Scott’s army and, much as he’d told Avrielle, he could not let such treachery go unpunished.
But his punishment hadn’t been nearly as bad as it could have been.
The first part of the punishment had been to strip all of the weapons from the du Rennic knights – swords, crossbows, daggers – everything had been confiscated. The second part of the punishment had taken the form of repairing whatever had been damaged in the battle, including the drawbridge and the stable roof, which had been burned by a Pendragon projectile. The knights had then been relegated to the labor force, alongside the Canaan army, and they’d worked very hard in spite of their humiliation. Scott had only supervised from afar, leaving the details to Stewart, who, in turn, instructed the junior knights as to the tasks that needed to be accomplished.
It had been an embarrassing and strenuous lesson for Jeremy and his men, but it was better than being thrown in the vault, so no one had complained. They knew that de Wolfe was being more than fair considering what they’d done, but now Gordon, who Scott had shown the most respect towards, had come to inform him of the completion of their punishment.
And hoping for an end to it.
Scott knew that. Looking into Gordon’s eyes, he could see both apprehension and hope – apprehension that this was not the end of the punishment and hope that it was. Fortunately for him, Scott seemed to be in a forgiving mood.
“That is excellent news,” Scott said. “Jeremy and your knights have done good work, I have been told. I am pleased to hear they were honorable, even in their punishment.”
Gordon nodded, wondering if he could be a bit more informal with Scott now that the punishment had been completed. He’d known Scott for a few years now and had never known him to be anything other than fair. He took a chance.
“In spite of their behavior as of late, they are not dishonorable men, my lord,” he said. “They are young, passionate, and fiercely loyal to Nathaniel. They loved him like a father. Nat’s passing has been very difficult for all of us.”
Scott’s gaze lingered on the man as the conversation became more relaxed. “It has been difficult on everyone,” he said. “Nathaniel was much respected and much loved by many. Had you and your men given me the chance, I would have apologized for what had happened to Nathaniel but you never gave me the opportunity. After it happened, you took his body away so quickly that I was not told you had departed until well after the fact. And when I arrived two weeks ago, all I was met with was hostility.”
Gordon tried not to look too contrite. “I know,” he said, somewhat quietly. “If it makes any difference, I spoke to my son and the others about being fair to you. I did not agree with their stance against you and I still do not agree with it.”
“Are they still against me?”
Gordon shrugged. “Mayhap not,” he said. “To be truthful, it is Jeremy I worry over. He is very protective over his sister and he liked Nathaniel a great deal. He blames you for Nat’s death but, as with all anger, it eventually will fade. He will come to understand that you did not cause the death. We have all only known you in times of battle but now that you are here, mayhap we will come to know the man behind the warrior more and, in time, Jeremy will come to understand that you had nothing to do with Nat’s death. I am sure Nathaniel himself would agree that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Scott listened to Gordon’s assessment of a situation that Scott felt was more volatile than the old man let on. “That is exactly what happened,” he said. “Anyone who was there would tell you the same thing. The angle of the archer was such that when Nathaniel moved to my side, he was caught by an arrow that would have struck me had Nathaniel not moved.”
Gordon nodded, subdued by the subject of Nathaniel’s death. “I am sure, in time, they will all come to understand that. ’Tis simply that events are fresh in their minds now. Mayhap when the situation settles some, and you have spent some time around them, you can explain what happened. I believe it will help the situation tremendously.”
Scott was coming think that he didn’t have all the time in the world to hang around and soothe the tantrums of the grief-stricken du Rennic knights. In fact, at some point, Edward would send the Scottish lord to Canaan to inspect Lady du Rennic as a potential bride and the situation might explode all over again as far as Jeremy and the younger knights were concerned. Gordon seemed reasonable, but the rest of du Rennic’s stable were hotheaded and rash. Scott had seen that firsthand.
The sooner you tell them of their destiny, the better.
That had been Stewart’s advice from the onset. Perhaps it was sage advice, indeed, and he was coming to see that he was going to have to tell them of the king’s intention. All talk of allowing them time to grieve properly for Nathaniel aside, the very real fact was that there would be little time to show Nathaniel the proper respect he deserved. The politics of a new king would come first and the new king would not wait.
“I will take your advice and I will speak of Nathaniel’s death to them when the time is right,” he said. “But since we are speaking on your young and brash knights, I am afraid I have more news that could worsen the situation with them.”
Gordon cocked his head curiously. “What is it, my lord?”
Reluctant as he was, Scott had to speak up. He glanced at Stewart before he did, seeing approval in the man’s eyes. Scott sighed heavily as he faced Gordon.
“I will relay this information to all of your knights but, before I do, I will tell you because I must seek your advice on how to deliver such news to them,” he said. “As you know, I was sent here by King Edward to secure Canaan and the road she protects between Carlisle and Kendal. With Nathaniel gone, the king is concerned that Canaan remains loyal to the crown and the road remains in crown control. I have already told you this.”
Gordon nodded. “You have, my lord.”
Scott continued. “That was only part of the truth,” he said. “It is also true that with Nathaniel’s death, Canaan has become a valuable property. Not only does she control a major road, but she is also quite wealthy.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“And that makes Lady du Rennic a highly valuable widow.”
Gordon refrained from agreeing because it was clear by his expression that he was suddenly coming to understand what Scott might be leading up to. “Edward… he intends to find a husband for her?”
“He already has.”
Gordon paled; they could all see it. He seemed to lose some of his careful composure. “But… but Nat has only been gone these few short months,” he said. “With the birth of the child, my daughter is only now coming out of the madness that mourning her dead husband has brought upon her.”
Scott nodded patiently. “I know,” he said. “Huntley, be aware that none of this is my doing. I am simply following orders from Edward. Still, out of respect to Nathaniel, I thought not to tell you any of this until it was absolutely necessary. It was my sense that Nathaniel deserved to be mourned in earnest, which seems to be what your knights are doing and it is certainly what Lady du Rennic was doing. It was my intention to allow you to mourn him for as long as possible until Edward decided to bring about another husband for Lady du Rennic. But it seems that has happened sooner that I had anticipated.”
Gordon stared at him, stunned. “God’s Bones,” he finally breathed. “When is this all to happen?”
Scott watched the old man struggle. “Now,” he said. “Edward has given me the choice of sending Lady du Rennic to London so her future husband can inspect her or having the man come directly to Canaan. It is my intention to tell Edward that Lady du Rennic is in no condition to travel or receive visitors. I will ask for as much of a delay as I can.”
Gordon was clearly shaken by the news but, true to form, he was a wise man and even tempered, so he struggled with his protests. They came to mind but he did not speak them. In fact, he was coming to see that de Wolfe was more or less on their side.
“You would delay the king?” he asked.
“Aye.”
“But why?”
Scott shrugged, averting his gaze as he moved back to the table with the map on it. “Because Nathaniel du Rennic gave his life for me,” he said simply. “The man was loved by all. If I can give his wife, his family, more time to grieve for him before another man steps in to disrupt their lives, then I shall do it.”
Gordon watched him as he turned his attention back to the map in front of him. After a moment, he shook his head. “Forgive me, my lord, but this is not the Scott de Wolfe I have come to know,” he said. “We have only been in your service since you became Lord Bretherdale four years ago. Since then, I have never seen much mercy from you, in any situation. I am deeply touched that you would show some during this particularly difficult time.”
Scott didn’t look at him; he was feeling rather embarrassed that the man was praising him for being merciful. “You have only seen me in battle situations, Huntley,” he said. “That is the only time we have been acquainted. In battle, I have no mercy. But in this situation… it is different.”
Gordon was more than curious about this side of Scott de Wolfe, something he’d never seen before. He’d heard Nathaniel speak of de Wolfe, how the man was from the great House of de Wolfe and how he had once been a kind, compassionate man who was well-loved. But that kind, compassionate man had evidently died when his wife had died for, since then, men had only seen the cold professional that Scott had become. Therefore, this glimpse of mercy was both unexpected and welcome.
“Your kindness towards my daughter is most appreciated, my lord,” the old man finally said. “Does she know any of this?”
Scott shook his head. “She is dealing with quite enough as of late. I have not told her.”
“Do you know who her new husband is to be?”
Scott nodded, looking at the missive that Stewart had put on the table. “Aye,” he said. “A Scottish lord. Edward is trying to make his own political alliances.”
Gordon didn’t like the sounds of that. Although he knew that, at some point, his daughter would have to remarry, he hoped it wouldn’t be for a very long time.
“Pity,” he said. “Avrielle and Nathaniel were quite fond of each other. It had always been a marriage of love for him and, eventually, she came to love him as well. She is a sweet and kind woman, and to end up in a marriage of convenience… alas, I am thinking like a father. Forgive me.”
Scott simply shook his head. “There is nothing to forgive,” he said. “You want her to be happy. I am sure Nathaniel would want the same. Meanwhile, I suppose I must tell her of her destiny but I have hesitated since she has much happening in her life with the death of her husband and new baby. I will therefore ask you, Huntley – will she be strong enough to hear this?”
Gordon gave him a look that suggested he didn’t envy Scott the position he was in. “One cannot choose but to wonder,” he said quietly. “I always thought she was the strongest woman I ever knew, like her mother. But after Nat’s death, she let it crush her. You saw her when you first came to Canaan; you saw how she was. The birth of the baby has lifted her from despair and she seems normal enough these days, so the question you ask – one cannot choose but to wonder. I suppose we shall know soon enough.”
“Then you believe I should tell her?”
“I believe she must know. It is her right.”
That settled the matter as far as Scott was concerned. To hear it from Stewart was one thing, but to hear it from the woman’s father was another. The decision was made.
“Then I shall seek her out and deliver the news,” he said, sounding hesitant even as he said it. “As for the du Rennic knights, say nothing. I shall tell them myself after I tell Lady du Rennic.”
“As you wish, my lord.”
Sensing the conversation was over, Gordon turned for the solar door but Scott stopped him. “Thank you for your wise counsel, Huntley,” he said. “I hope it would not be too much imposition to seek it again from time to time while I am here.”
Gordon turned to look at him, surprised that the all-powerful Scott de Wolfe should seek his wisdom. “I am happy to do what I can, my lord.”
Scott’s gaze lingered on him before nodding and Gordon continued on, out of the solar. Stewart, who had been over near the door, took a few silent steps to the portal and stuck his head outside, noting that Gordon had headed out into the bailey. When the man was out of earshot, Stewart turned to Scott.
“He took the news more calmly than I expected,” he said. “Certainly, he is not as temperamental as his son.”
Scott was looking at the missive on the table but not really seeing it; his mind was already ahead to telling Lady du Rennic of her destiny. “Nathaniel always spoke highly of Gordon Huntley,” he said. “The House of Huntley used to be wealthy landowners in this area but bad fortune saw them lose their money over the years, which is why Nathaniel married Huntley’s daughter. They were friends for years and when Nathaniel’s first wife died, he offered for Lady Avrielle’s hand. It kept the family from starving to death.”
Stewart shrugged. “It sounds as if it was more than that. Gordon said that Nathaniel was in love with the woman.”
What’s not to love? Scott had to catch himself from saying that. Stewart was already suspicious enough about his opinion of the lady and he didn’t want to add any fuel to the fire.
Truth be told, however, he realized now that he was actually eager to see Lady du Rennic, even if it was to deliver bad news. Now, he had an excuse to see her that wouldn’t have Stewart thinking that he was interested in the woman. But his delight in realizing he had an excuse to see her told him that, indeed, there was some interest there no matter how hard he’d tried to ignore it. How hard he’d tried to fight it. Maybe that something in him, long buried, was going to claw its way out, after all.
“I suppose I should find her and tell her,” he said, ignoring Stewart’s statement about Nathaniel loving Lady du Rennic because he realized he very well agreed with the man. Glancing out one of the lancet windows, he could see that the sun was beginning to set. “Gather the du Rennic knights in here before supper. Once I tell Lady du Rennic, I must tell them as well. It would not do for only a few to know what will soon be the fate of Castle Canaan and Lady du Rennic.”
Stewart watched him as he moved away from the table, heading for the solar door. “At least they no longer have their weapons,” he said, half in jest. “We do not have to worry about them swinging swords in a rage once they discover they are soon to have a Scottish overlord.”
Scott simply cocked an eyebrow. “I am prepared for a rage, nonetheless, for they have already proven themselves capable of tantrums,” he said, glancing at Milo as he reached the door, as the man had been standing back in the shadows watching the entire situation. “I would say you should be in the room when I speak with the du Rennic knights, but I am not sure your groin wound can take another fight so soon.”
Milo smiled thinly. “It is healing nicely, thank you,” he said. “I can handle a fight.”
“Are you certain?”
“I am.”
Scott gave him a half-grin as he headed out the door. “You may have to prove it.”
Milo looked at Stewart, who looked as if he held much the same sentiment. Tonight might see the outraged du Rennic knights facing punishment once again for another ridiculous outburst.
Time would tell.