How like Tulley to insist that the fields be tilled so he could claim the harvest.She folded her arms across her chest, unable to hide her disapproval of this notion.
But Quinn smiled, against all expectation.“No doubt he thought me a simple knight and crusader, one who knew little of practicalities.Already Lord de Tulley has forgotten the measure of the wife he himself granted to me.”Quinn turned his smile upon Melissande and she found herself blushing.He shook a finger.“I know that seed is not found free of charge and I doubt that fields that have been left untilled will be easy to sow.I know that it is a goodly ride to Sayerne from Annossy, too far to journey there and back each day to work the fields.I have been to Sayerne of late and seen that there is no place to abide and naught to eat.I know also that my lady wishes to defend the prosperity of Annossy, and rightly so, even against the needs of Sayerne.”
Melissande watched and listened, intrigued.
“And so I said unto Lord de Tulley that his will could not be done.”
The company gasped.
“Unless, of course, he was inclined to be of aid in the pursuit of his goal.”
The villagers laughed at this and jostled each other, their expressions expectant.
“And so I offer to you a choice.Lord de Tulley declares that he will send seed, that he will send food and materials and men to rebuild Sayerne, and that he will do all of this in exchange for one third of the harvested grain.”
Melissande blinked in surprise.The villagers murmured to each other and conversations began in the crowd.
Quinn had to raise his voice to finish.“And so I ask, for you are pledged to me and my service, and I know that many of you came to Annossy from Sayerne.If you would choose to return to Sayerne, come and tell me of your desire.We shall decide how many can be supported, sheltered and defended, and begin to rebuild Sayerne.”He took Melissande’s hand.“In the hope that my lady and I will welcome a son before the year is out and the seal of that holding will be ours as well.”
There was a cheer at this notion, and Melissande could not evade the truth of how pleased many of the villeins were.Home was home, she wagered, and she guessed that they would prefer to return to the place of their memories.
“You go too far in this, sir,” Gaultier said, stepping to Melissande’s side.“You cannot take villeins from Annossy to Sayerne, not without the approval of Lady Melissande.”
Quinn’s eyes narrowed and he held fast to Melissande’s hand.“Your understanding of the law is limited, Gaultier,” he said.
“Aye,” Melissande agreed.“It is perfectly legal for any lord to invite those pledged to his hand to move to another of his holdings.In this, I believe my lord husband fulfills the hopes and dreams of many who fled Sayerne in the past.”
“You cannot concur with him!”Gaultier said.
Melissande nodded.“But I do.They were offered shelter and have prospered here, but I know how a place can hold fast to one’s heart.”
“I still believe, my lady, that your lord husband should have asked your approval before he spoke.”
Melissande took a breath, knowing that she had to prove to Quinn and all those who listened that she accepted his authority.“My husband is Lord d’Annossy.He holds the seal.He wears my father’s garments.My approval is not required when he acts within the law.”
The air fairly crackled between the three of them, then Quinn spoke with his usual calm.“I would ask my lady’s counsel in one matter,” he said and she looked at him.His gaze was hard, and locked upon Gaultier.“What fate would you decree for a man who gained a post in your service because he lied?”
“What is this?”Melissande asked.She looked at Gaultier, for Quinn was studying him, and found his expression furious.
“Lord de Tulley did not dispatch Gaultier de Lonvaux to Annossy, nor did he recommend that this man become Annossy’s Captain of Arms.”
“That is not true!”Gaultier said.
“The sole tale that Lord de Tulley knows of Gaultier is a rumor of his unnatural relations with his aunt after the demise of the uncle who trained him for his spurs.It seemed the knight had hopes of a fortuitous marriage, which were shattered when the aunt wed another.Oddly enough, that occurred just before Gaultier appeared at Annossy’s gates.”
Gaultier’s eyes flashed.“You know naught of it,” he spat at Quinn.
“I know sufficient to dismiss you from the service of this holding,” Quinn replied with resolve and his voice rose as he made his pronouncement.“You will take your possessions.You will leave in this moment.And you will take the men-at-arms you hired to defend the mill with you.Your shadow is cast over all of them, and none of you will ever enter these gates again.”
“You cannot do this to me!”Gaultier cried.
“I most certainly can,” Quinn replied.
“My lady!”Gaultier appealed to her.
“I am no longer your lady,” she said, her hand upon Quinn’s.“You should never have deceived me, Gaultier.”
“I have served you!”he roared.“I have defended you!I have earned more of a hearing than this!”
