“What do you mean?”
“Just that. With Mari-Elle gone, you have one problem solved,” Arik went on casually. “But what are you going to do about Remington’s husband?”
Gaston did not say anything for a moment. He stood unemotional, massive arms folded, watching his outer bailey being cleared. “Petition the church for an annulment. I have the power to obtain one, Arik. Do not doubt it.”
Arik looked at him, surprise written on his face. “An annulment? My God, you mean to marry her? Honestly?”
“I do,” Gaston replied, meeting Arik’s gaze. “For the first time in my life, I know what I want. All of this time I have always felt…oh, hell, incomplete, I suppose. It’s as if there was a void inside me I was constantly trying to fill by fighting and soldiering. That’s why I am the best at what I do, Arik; I have been striving to satisfy myself since I was young, always trying to be better than I was the day before.” He let out a heavy sigh, showing emotion for the first time as he leaned against the parapet. His gaze wandered up to the second floor of the castle above him. “Ialways thought I would be content when I was the best warrior in the realm, but even that failed to satisfy this gap in my soul. But now I have found what I was looking for, and I intend to have her.”
Arik looked at him, astonished. “I have known you since we were both seven years old, Gaston, and I have never seen you this impassioned about anything. God be with you if that is what you truly desire, then. Most men fail to achieve even a part of that within their lives.”
Gaston looked down over the bailey, watching the great gates opening and watching Patrick and Nicolas directing an entire company of men in the preparation efforts. “I’d give this all up, Arik. All of it just to be able to call her wife.”
Arik found it difficult to believe what he was hearing; yet he was pleased all the same. In fact, he was more than pleased; mayhap the cold, stiff man he had known all of these years had finally found the key of happiness.
From experience, he knew Gaston was emotionally attached to no one, save his distant son. He had no friends, only loyal vassals, and Arik had never seen him respond to a woman in any way. Except this woman. It was astounding to say the very least.
He smiled at his lord. “Hopefully that will not be necessary. If anyone can procure an annulment, you can.”
Gaston did not respond, lingering on his confession and his future. He felt strangely vulnerable; yet, his heart was lighter than he could ever remember. In fact, he had never felt this good about anything in his life.
“Not a word to anyone,” he finally said. “This will not become public knowledge until I myself inform my vassals.”
“Of course,” Arik replied, deciding to see to the preparations below first-hand. But before he left, he slapped Gaston on the shoulder. “But I have a feeling your mightiest battle yet lies ahead.”
Gaston raised an eyebrow in resignation. “And Pope Innocent will prove to be a powerful adversary should he not see things as he should.”
Arik snorted a chuckle and moved for the ladder. Gaston paused only a moment longer before following, his mind moving from Remington to the tasks at hand, still amazed at the course his life was taking. The unexpected twist of the past few weeks left him wondering if he might wake up at any moment and discover it all to have been a dream.
*
Henry’s new recruitsarrived in droves. Gaston stood back, scrutinizing every man as Arik, Antonius, Patrick and Nicolas directed and sectioned off groups of men, settling some, lecturing others. Mass, organized chaos at its very best and Gaston watched with satisfaction at all he was master over. Aye, he would train them well, as Henry expected him to, reinforcing the north so that there would never again be any threat of rebellion from Yorkist loyalists.
The noise level was incredible. One thousand men filled the double baileys of Mt. Holyoak like water filling a lake, covering the grounds completely as Gaston’s knights worked with feverish, precise organization to place them.
Divided up into companies, each of Gaston’s thirty-five knights was in charge of a company of 30 men, more or less. These new soldiers had a company leader, a comrade of their choosing with whom they were allowed to communicate with regarding commands or questions. This company leader would then in turn act as liaison between the knights and the troops. Never were the soldiers allowed to speak directly to the knights unless permission was given, and under no circumstances werethey to speak to Gaston. He was their liege, their trainer, and their god.
It was a very exacting hierarchy that they were sworn to adhere to under penalty of severe punishment.
It had always been thus in Gaston’s theatre of training. That was why his men were considered the very best in the realm. As with everything else in Gaston’s life, it was either black or white. You obeyed or you were punished; there was no in between, no excuses, and no failures.
The afternoon drug on in the oppressive heat as the new recruits were settled and given food. Gaston would not work them this day because they had been traveling since the night before, but he would demand them to an early sleep. He would order them up well before dawn to begin their regimens.
He immersed himself in his duties, although he had not forgotten about Remington. He would like to be there when she awoke, but item upon item pressed itself until he lost track of time. Well, mayhap if he could not be there when she awoke, then he would absolutely see her for before supper.
Remington slept a good deal of the afternoon, especially in the heat. Dane was in the company of his aunts, leaving Eudora free to tend to Remington exclusively. Even after she awoke, not a word was said about the night’s events, nor Mari-Elle’s sudden death. Eudora had heard all of the rumors, of course, but she would not repeat them to her mistress. The lady had had enough sorrow and woes in her short life, and if she had indeed found a man that cared for her enough to kill for her, then Eudora was happy for her.
Jasmine wandered in toward the waning hours of the afternoon and dismissed the old servant. She seemed pensive and distant and Remington lay on her side, watching her sister’s wispy form as she gazed out over the bailey.
“They say he killed his wife because of what she did to you,” Jasmine finally said.
“She died without his help, Jassy,” Remington replied softly. “It was purely coincidental.”
Jasmine shook her head. “He’s so big, Remi. Does not he scare you?”
Remington smiled faintly. “Nay. He’s as gentle as a kitten. You mustn’t fear him, either.”
Jasmine shrugged, her blue eyes watching the activity below. “I have never seen so many soldiers in my life. There must be thousands, at least.”
