Caius was relieved to hear that. “Have you already sent someone with a missive for him?”
Edward nodded. “While you were trying to keep Lady Emelisse from jumping out of a window, I was writing missives to William, to Christopher, and to Stephen de Lara,” he said. “I am also sending word to any other Marcher lord or local lord I can think of that is loyal to William Marshal. They must know not to answer any summons from de Wrenville until The Marshal can make a determination on how to proceed.”
“What about the Earl of Chester, Ranulf de Blondeville?” Maxton asked. “You know he is loyal to John. Rumor has it when the king takes a shite, de Blondeville is there to wipe his arse. If we deny de Wrenville aid against Hawkstone, and de Wrenville seeks it from Chester, Hawkstone will not have a chance because I can guarantee that The Marshal will not want to go to war against Chester.”
That was a sobering thought. The earldom of Chester was a large one, and a very old one, and Beeston Castle was to the north by about a day’s ride. Edward grunted softly.
“I have been trying to ignore Chester’s proximity,” he said. “I do not wish to tangle with de Blondeville, though I’ve never had a problem with him. We have been peaceful, possibly because he knows my army is larger than his– and I can call upon most of the Marches as support, so he would be a fool to tangle with me.But there is the very real possibility that de Wrenville might try if he does not get what he wants from William Marshal.”
Caius made his way over to the hearth, warming his hands just as Maxton was. The chamber was cold in spite of the bodies in it and the blazing fire. Edward had given them a good deal to think about with de Blondeville’s threat, or potential threat, but he was thinking of the lady up in the keep. That poor, battered woman he felt such pity for. He turned to Edward.
“Lady Emelisse asked me to help her escape last night,” he said. “Given the circumstances, I will admit I considered it. It would be a simple thing to do and I am certain Chadlington and Lady de Wrenville would look the other way. You know that all de Wrenville wants to use Lady Emelisse for is to force her brother into submission. If Marius marries the woman, there is no telling what he’ll do to her. Truly, she is the victim in all of this, and I say that allowing her to escape is justice served.”
Edward looked up from pouring himself more wine. “I cannot say that it is a terrible idea, because it is not,” he said. “I have thought about taking her into my custody, but I do not think de Wrenville would allow it. I would have a fight on my hands. But if she escapes…”
“If she escapes, he has lost a bargaining tool in the surrender of Hawkstone,” Caius finished for him. Then, he looked to William, who was standing over by the door that led to the outer bailey. “Did you find any other escape routes in the keep last night? Did you poke around sufficiently?”
William stepped forward. “I did, my lord,” he said. “I covered the keep from the very bottom to the very top.”
“And?”
“There is one door and one door only– the entry door.”
“Did anyone see you nosing around?”
William shook his head. “Nay,” he said. “But… well, I do not know if I should tell you what I saw and heard.”
Edward was looking at him by this time. “What did you see?” he asked. “Speak up, lad.”
William came away from the door, looking at Caius. “I saw Sir Hallam and Lady de Wrenville speaking in the entry,” he said. “They did not see me, as I had just come up the stairs from the storage vault on the ground level of the keep. They were speaking quietly before he took her into Lord de Wrenville’s solar and shut the door.”
“And?” Caius asked.
William looked around the room at the knights. They were all looking at him curiously and his cheeks began to flush as much as he tried to remain unflustered and neutral.
“And if you have any question as to whether or not their affair has been consummated, I can tell you that it has,” he said. “I heard them in Lord de Wrenville’s solar.”
Caius could see how embarrassed the lad was about it and he grinned, chuckling as he looked at Edward, who also started to laugh. Soon, the entire room was snorting at the idea of Hallam and Lady de Wrenville fornicating in her supercilious husband’s solar.
“I hope they did it right on his table,” Maxton muttered. “I hope they smeared it all over anything he touches. I hope he smells their sweat the next time he sits down in his chair and wonders what that stench is. It is the stench of Hallam Chadlington fathering the next de Wrenville child.”
The laughter grew. They were just starting to loosen up, to pour themselves more wine and take a few pieces of bread, when the door from the outer bailey flew open.
Covington had arrived.
The laughter stopped in an instant as Covington looked at the room full of powerful knights, his nostrils flaring with rage. Hallam was behind him, his expression suggesting they were all in for a verbal beating.
Covington didn’t waste any time.
“Why must I come down here?” Covington demanded, his focus moving to Edward. “I do not usually answer any summons in my own castle, de Wolfe. This had better be important.”
Edward cocked a dark eyebrow. “Yet, here you are,” he said. “And you will address me as ‘my lord’, as I am your liege. Like it or not, you are my vassal and subservient to me. Now, sit down. This will not take long.”
Properly rebuked, Covington stomped in, snow on his boots that scattered across the floor, melting. He plopped down in a chair across the small table from Edward as Hallam quietly closed the door to the knights’ quarters. He stood just inside the door, next to the young squire who had just told everyone of the man’s indiscretions, as Edward’s intense gaze focused in on Covington.
“Baron Darliston,” he said, using Covington’s formal title. “Nearly two months ago, you summoned an army from William Marshal to help you in your battle against Hawkstone Castle. That is why we have all come.”
Covington lifted his eyebrows as if Edward’s statement was the most useless thing he’d ever heard.
