“I see. How serious?”
Gaston took a deep breath, forming his thoughts. “I remember after Stoke, my lord, you told me that whatever I wished would be mine. Anything. You offered me two dukedoms and an earldom to compensate me for my loyalties, but I refused. Do you recall why I refused?”
“Because you have no ambition,” Henry said flatly. “You angered me, Gaston. I wanted to reward you properly, yet you would not allow me.”
Gaston fixed his king in the eye. “You may reward me properly now, my lord. I would have a request of you.”
Henry’s eyebrows rose. “Is this so? Tell me.”
Gaston set his helm down on an ornate cherry wood table. The gauntlets slowly came off. “A woman, my lord. I want a woman.”
Henry was astonished. “A woman? By God, de Russe! You want awoman? Be so kind as to inform me of this woman whom you would accept above a dukedom?”
“Guy Stoneley’s wife.”
Henry stared at Gaston as if he had not heard correctly. Or, mayhap, he was waiting for more of an explanation. None was forthcoming. After a moment, he settled himself into an overstuffed chair with a weary, long sigh.
Gaston watched his king closely; from his expression, he knew he was not pleased.
“Gaston…,” he shook his head mournfully, resting his forehead on his hand and rubbing at the building pressure. “Not you. This cannot happen to you. Why would you want Stoneley’s wife?”
“Because I love her,” Gaston said truthfully. “Mari-Elle is dead, and I plan to marry the woman. What I would ask ofyou, my lord, is to grant me permission, and then help me seek the needed annulments. I need Stoneley’s cooperation in this matter, as you know. As I need the church’s and they will not give it freely.”
Henry looked as if a rock had just struck him right between the eyes; he grimaced. “You love her? Dear God, Gaston, since when does love have to do with anything? I do not love my wife.”
Gaston felt as if he was being reprimanded, but he would not lose control of the conversation. He meant to have what he wanted. “I did not go to Mt. Holyoak for any other reason than to serve you, my lord. Have I not served you with complete devotion? Have I not suffered personal costs for your loyalty?”
Henry shook his head sharply. “Yes, yes, of course you have. No one is disputing your loyalty, and certainly not me,” he looked up at Gaston, scrutinizing the man closely. “Are you sure? Is this what you truly want? Because, I can assure you, it will be most difficult. The papal legate and I are not agreeing these days, and for me to petition the church for an annulment will only irritate them further.”
“This is what I want,” Gaston did not hesitate. “As badly as you wanted England, I wantthis. I want her, and I shall have her if I have to kill Guy Stoneley and every man who refuses me until I receive the answer I seek.”
Henry was stunned and his appetite was waning. He did not want to deny Gaston the only request the man had ever made of him. And he could see, clearly, that Gaston meant what he said. He suddenly felt very tired.
“Lord God, de Russe, when you make a request, it is certainly a ripe one,” he sagged in his chair, scratching at his scalp. “Because I value you so, and because you have been my devoted servant, I will do what I can. But it may not be enough; not even I can order the church to issue you an annulment.”
Gaston let out a long sigh; he had not realized he had been holding his breath. “I would make one more. Donate the dukedom of Warminster to the church in exchange for their cooperation. Warminster is rich land and they will be most grateful for the grant.”
“Donate Warminster,” Henry echoed with disbelief. “Gaston, do you realize what you are asking? The church will rule an entire dukedom. By God, man, they already vie with me for power. To grant them a dukedom will be to give them a larger foothold in England.MyEngland.”
“And I will give them Clearwell and Mt. Holyoak as well,” Gaston said steadily, his voice low. “I will give them everything I have if it will buy two annulments.”
Henry stood up, pacing the floor with nervous steps. Gaston watched his king’s stiff back, waiting for a refusal. Henry did not like the church, and donating the dukedom did not sit well. Henry scratched and paced for several long moments.
“I am in your debt, de Russe,” he said after a moment. “Had it not been for you at Milburn Haven, we would have never made headway onto land. Had you not been at Bosworth, Richard might have very well routed me. And at Stoke, you were brilliant. You are the greatest military machine I have ever had the fortune to see, and you are worth more than your weight in gold. I feel as if I cannot deny you your request in good conscience,” he looked at Gaston. “I consider you quite possibly my most valuable military asset and I would not alienate you for the anything. But tell me this; this woman is not a passing fancy, is she? Is she worth the trouble she will cause?”
Gaston’s jaw ticked. “I would do anything for her, my lord. Anything! I want to make her my wife through legal means, but if that is not possible, it will not stop me. I will have her anyway it takes!”
Henry stared at Gaston a moment longer before shaking his head ironically. “I would meet this woman who has branded you, Gaston. I am having difficulty grasping all of this.”
“She is in a safe place, my lord, until this situation is resolved,” he replied steadily. “She does not go near Guy Stoneley.”
Henry looked at him, a bit coldly. “I granted the man’s request and I will not go back on my word.”
“You are not going back on your word. If you cannot find her, the situation is out of your grasp.”
“You brought her to London, did you not? With a papal escort?”
“She is in London.”
