Hugh had a tankard of ale in his hand. “Because you were with your wife,” he said frankly. “I knew you would come down here sooner or later. Mortimer is in no hurry.”
Davyss frowned at his brother but he could not dispute the logic; it had become well known with Davyss’ men not to interrupt him when he was with Devereux.
“Give me that,” he snatched the ale from his brother and took a heavy swallow. “Where is Roger?”
Hugh snatched the tankard back. “Over there,” he pointed near the kitchens.
Davyss continued his path through the crowd of men, settling in with their food and ale. There were so many people that it looked like a celebration. He finally caught sight of Mortimer’s dark head near the dais. As he approached, Roger’s head came up from the table and their eyes met. Davyss smiled.
“My lord,” he greeted. “I apologize that I did not greet you upon your arrival.”
Roger waved him off. “No need,” he studied him a moment. “How are things at Norwich?”
“Quiet,” Davyss sat down opposite the man. “You look well enough. Thank God your injuries healed.”
Roger had been badly wounded at Lewes. “Nothing that good food and wine has not healed with time,” he gingerly rubbed thespot on his chest where an arrow had nearly claimed him. “And de Nogaret? Is he fully recovered now?”
Davyss nodded. “He is indeed,” he replied. “His wife is expecting a child in the fall.”
Roger lifted his cup to toast Nik’s excellent fortune. “That is good news.”
“My wife is expecting, also.”
Roger looked at him. Then he broke down into laughter, snorting as he recovered. “Davyss, from what I have heard, you have not left that woman’s side for even a moment,” he sobered further. “But after what happened with de Montfort, I do not blame you. The man is vain, underhanded and ruthless but when he betrayed even you by holding your wife hostage, I believe his supporters began to realize just how untrustworthy the man was. There were a good many people who pitied you.”
Davyss watched him drain his cup. “Shall we go someplace private to speak?”
Roger nodded, grabbing the nearest serving wench with a pitcher of ale. He took it right out of her hand and stood up from the table.
“Lead the way, de Winter.”
Davyss stood up and pointed to the knight’s hall on the other side of the room. “This way, my lord.”
Roger was already on his heels. “It is not necessary to address me so formally, Davyss. You and I share the same rank, Baron Blackheath.”
Davyss lifted an eyebrow at him. “The title came through my mother,” he said. “I do not even think of it, to be truthful. I do not want the politics that are associated with baronial responsibilities. I would rather serve as a knight than lead as a noble.”
Roger slapped him on his massive shoulder. “God’s Beard, man,” he was evidently well into his ale, indicative of his happymood. “Your mother’s familyisSurrey. The de Warennes hold the entire shire, plus part of Norfolk. Your father, God rest him, came from a prestigious line of knights that ruled Radnorshire in Wales for centuries. Not only do you hold your father’s properties and titles in Wales, including four castles, but also his property in Norfolk as granted to him by Henry. Since when did you become so humble?”
Davyss smiled faintly as Roger followed him into the knight’s hall just beyond the soldier’s hall. “I am not,” he assured him. “I am well aware that my family is older and richer than yours. More handsome as well.”
Roger snorted. “Ah; much more like the Davyss I know.”
Davyss’ smile faded. “I miss my father,” he muttered. “But I do not believe he would have been very happy with what Simon is attempting to accomplish.”
Roger shrugged. “God should not have taken your father so soon.”
“It was not God that took him but disease. The man’s heart seized up when he was not much older than I am.”
The knight’s hall was nearly devoid of people; everyone was crowded into the main hall beyond. Davyss and Roger sat at the heavy table in the center of the room, listening to the loud clamor in the hall beyond. It was the perfect atmosphere to drown out any eavesdropping that might take place with what Roger was about to say; a low voice could not be heard over all of the noise out in the hall.
“So,” Davyss faced Roger expectantly. “I do not guess that you have come here simply to speak on my father and my property. I assume our plan is moving forward.”
Roger nodded. “I have been permitted to visit Edward in captivity,” he said. “As his cousin, of course, it is my right. Moreover, de Montfort is not too restrictive about visitors toEdward as he is to Henry. We have formulated a plan that I believe will work.”
Davyss lifted his eyebrows. “You will include me, of course.”
“You will lead it.”
