“Then it must be a great, great love,” Gavan murmured. The familiar impish smile made a weak comeback as he gazed at his friend. “I am not sure if I should stand by your side or run for my life.”
Richmond cracked a faint smile. “If I were you, I would plead complete ignorance of the entire situation. But for you, that will not be a difficult stretch.”
Gavan laughed softly, his demeanor returning. “I shall disregard that remark, my lord. You cannot afford to insult those who would support your cause.”
Richmond’s smile faded. “You are a favorite of our king, Gavan. That could change should the situation grow ugly,” he paused a pensive moment, scratching his head in a nervous gesture as he struggled to compose riotous thoughts. After a brief lull, blue eyes focused upon those of deep, earnest brown. “Now that you are completely aware of my situation, my friend, I would hear your advice on the matter. And do not think to spare me.”
Gavan gazed at Richmond for a long moment, his mirth fading as well. “Will you actually listen to my reasoning or ignore me as you always do?”
“I shall listen.”
Gavan could read the desperation in Richmond’s expression and he pondered the predicament as evenly as he was able. After a moment, he spoke with gentle urgency.
“When you reach London, I would suggest that you present your petition for Arissa before any other business can be conducted. Bargain if you must in order to gain Henry’s cooperation; your service in return for her hand, for example. Anything to gain an edge. You have got to show the king that you are well aware of your worth; with Hotspur bordering on rebellion, Henry needs you as much as you need him. Do not underplay your value to the man. Use it.”
It was a passionate, entirely insightful statement. Richmond had calmed somewhat, cocking an eyebrow at his friend. “How astute, Gavan. And how political.”
Gavan met his gaze steadily. “I know that Henry relies on you tremendously. He will not deny you if you play the game, Richmond. You have always been good at games.”
“Arissa is not a game.”
“Aye, she’s. She’s a part of the most powerful game in the world. It’s called Politics.”
“And you are suggesting that I blackmail Henry with the threat of withdrawing my service if he does not grant my demand?”
“Exactly.”
“But I am sworn to him. I have pledged my loyalty. I cannot simply retract my vow as one would break a simple promise.”
Gavan crossed his thick arms, his rich brown eyes glittering. “Think for a moment, Richmond. What would happen if you threatened to leave his service? If he threw you in the vault, he would be depriving himself of your service at his own hand and that, my friend, would weaken his stand against the Welsh tremendously. If, in fact, Hotspur’s offense at Henry’s lack of faith forces him to side with Glendower, the king needs you desperately and you must be prepared to use that to your advantage.”
Richmond sighed weakly, glancing to the smoldering embers of parchment. Gavan could sense his indecision, his pain, and he sought to accomplish the final reasoning that would propel Richmond from the realm of indecision.
“All of your life you have bowed to the man. You have been his greatest strength, his most obedient knight, willing to do anything for his cause. You obviously proved that the day you accepted Arissa’s guardianship. Now it is time for Henry to pay you your due. Demand that he show you as much loyalty as you have shown him.”
Richmond stared at the distant flames, his pensive expression unreadable. Gavan continued to watch him, riveted to his face, waiting for an indication alluding to his inner thoughts. After a moment, Richmond’s eyes came away from the crackling fire, the news of the day consuming his thoughts.The Welsh, Hotspur, his betrothal, Gavan’s advice…. God’s Teeth, it was almost too much to bear.
He had no choice but to accept the world in which he had chosen to exist. But foremost above the swirling depths of his disturbing reflections, one idea reigned supreme and he found himself calming with the mere memory of her face. How he needed that calm.
“She’s furious with me, you know,” he muttered.
“Who?”
“Arissa.”
Gavan’s brow furrowed. “What did you do this time?”
With a heavy sigh, Richmond spilled out the entire story and then some.
*
Arissa could hearthe sounds of laughter and music wafting on the chill night air. Clouds were beginning to gather in the midnight blue sky, indicative of an approaching storm. The bailey below her window was filled with soldiers on their rounds, men on horseback and still others with large wolfhounds. As the party was in full swing in the cavernous expanse of Lambourn’s gallery, the guest of honor was nowhere to be seen.
Lady Maude had pleaded for twenty minutes for Arissa to come downstairs and take her rightful place. Arissa had stubbornly refused, insisting that her stomach was terribly upset and she would not embarrass herself by becoming ill in front of her guests. Actually, it was not far from the truth; her stomach was twisting with more emotion than she ever thought possible and it was difficult to refrain from asking of Regine’s fate.
Knowing her mother to be the consummate worrier, however, she suspected that if the woman had any knowledge of Regine’s trouble, she would not have been pleading with Arissa to join her own party in lieu of shielding her baby from the coming wrath.
Since Maude was obviously ignorant to her youngest daughter’s problems, Arissa was led to believe that her father was shouldering the shame entirely. But she refrained from asking about her father, too. She simply wanted to be left alone to wallow in her misery.
