“Of course.”
“How much do you know about the politics of Richard and Henry?”
Her confusion did not ease. It only grew. “I know that they are bitter enemies and that both lay claim to the throne, and that this war between York and Lancaster has been going on since the days of my grandfather.”
His smile broadened. “Very simply, and very well, put. Whom does your uncle support?”
“Richard, as you do.”
There was no hesitation in her answer. Gazing into her eyes, he sensed total truth, or at least, what she believed to be the truth. John said that the maid had mentioned that Alixandrea had no knowledge of the subversion going on. It was the one thing that truly vindicated her. He’d seen some smooth liars in his time. Had the maid not unknowingly supported Alixandrea’s lack of knowledge of the situation, he could have had a devastating circumstance on his hands. He was very glad he did not.
He began to caress the fingers in his warm palm. “I want you to listen very carefully to me. But know this before I begin; I do not lie, and I would certainly never lie to you. What I am about to tell you is total truth and you will accept it as such.”
“Without question.”
He took a deep breath, wondering where to begin. “I did not mean anything I said tonight. We are indeed going to be married, as planned. But I had to do what I did for a very good reason.”
She visibly relaxed. But there was bewilderment coupled with the relief. “I do not understand. Why would you…?”
He put up a hand so silence her. “It would seem that somewhere in the past few years, your uncle has become loyal to Henry Tudor. I do not know how, when or why, but my brother was witness to a very interesting exchange between your manservant and your maid this afternoon. Many things were said. Many treacherous things.”
Her eyes widened. “Jezebel? And Strode? Whatkindsof things?”
“Evidently, your maid is spying on you,” he told her. “She reports back to your manservant about what is going on between you and me. She reported to your manservant this afternoon that you and I were to be married at Vespers, whereupon your manservant told her that he must give the information to the Whitewell army so that they would know to attack when the church bells rang.”
Alixandrea was beyond surprised. “Attack whom?”
“Wellesbourne, I would assume.”
She stared at him. Then, she slowly shook her head. “Your brother must be mistaken,” she said softly. “I have known Strode and Jezebel for many years. They are faithful and loyal servants.”
“Aye, but to whom? To you? Or to your uncle? Alixandrea, if your uncle has influenced them, it is no reflection upon you. But it is clear that he is using you for some seditious purpose. What was originally proposed as an alliance now appears to be meant for infiltration. If what my brother heard is correct, and I have no reason to mistrust him, then your uncle means to destroy Wellesbourne.”
Her mouth was hanging open in shock. She was staring at him so intensely that he wasn’t even sure if she understood him. But after a small eternity, she closed her mouth and her eyes. It was almost as if she could not bear to look at him any longer.
“You are certain of this?” she whispered.
“As certain as I can be without discussing it with your servants first-hand.”
“What are you going to do?”
He sighed. Most fighting men were able to remove their emotion from decisions. Matthew had never been able to do that. Although he had perfect judgment and always went with his instincts, still, there were times when his emotions could cause doubt. He’d lived all of his life with the fact that he was an emotional man.
“I will do nothing.”
She looked at him. “Nothing?”
He shook his head slowly. “For the moment. I will get to the heart of this subversion in my own time and in my own way. A perfect example was tonight; I told you the things I did so that your maid would go running back to your manservant and report to him. And that’s exactly what she did.”
“How do you know?”
“She left your room very shortly after I did, did she not?”
“She said she was going to get me ale.”
“I can say with a great degree of certainty that she is not in the kitchens right now.”
Alixandrea suddenly understood. She was sickened “She is with Strode?”
