Tulley had not made his intention clear.
No doubt on purpose.
He was to be lord of both estates?Quinn was astounded.For the first time, he wondered whether he was adequately trained to administer a manor.Surely such a fact as the merging of the estates would have been obvious to him otherwise?
“Merged?”Melissande repeated.“I never agreed for Annossy to merge with any other estate.My father would have forbidden as much...”
“Your father is dead,” Tulley said, interrupting her.“And the choice is mine to make.”
“Had that always been your intent, you should have made the matter clear from the outset,” Melissande dared to say.
Tulley’s lips thinned.“The seal of Annossy has never been granted to you, Melissande.It is yet mine.”Indeed, he produced the seal in that moment, and Quinn realized the lord had been holding it in his hand.“Annossy is mine to rule and its seal is mine to grant.”
Melissande, with a pride that Quinn could only admire, extended her hand in obvious expectation.She might have been a queen, or even a goddess.
But Tulley shook his head.“Throughout all of Christendom, a woman cedes her property to her spouse upon her nuptials and you should not imagine that Annossy or you would be treated differently.”Tulley offered the seal to Quinn.“Annossy will be your sole holding for the time being,” he said when Quinn had accepted its slight burden.
Melissande gasped and Quinn frowned.
“I beg your pardon, my lord?”he asked.“I returned at your summons to govern Sayerne.”
“You returned at my summons that your father had died,” Tulley corrected.“I do not intend to grant Sayerne to you as of yet.”He turned to leave the chamber.“I expect you both at the board shortly.”
“What is this?”Quinn demanded, following his liege lord.“The entire point of this match was to bring Sayerne to my hand!I journeyed from Palestine at your summons!”
“You cannot do this!”Melissande charged and Quinn was glad to see that she took his cause.“You gave Quinn this expectation, whether you declared it outright or not.”
“I can do whatsoever I see fit to do,” Tulley replied, pivoting in the doorway to survey them.“And I will see this match made in truth before I grant Sayerne to anyone.”His gaze narrowed as he eyed them.“I would strongly suggest that you never challenge me thus again.”
Quinn’s heart sank.He had been used by this wily lord, tricked into taking a wife who would drive him mad, and all for naught.Melissande had been compelled to break her vow, only to have Annossy surrendered to him.And now, Tulley was insulted, as well.The future could bode no darker fate for him than this.
Sayerne was not to be his, ever if at all.
Perhaps it would have been better if he had gone to his grave with Bayard at that fateful battle at Acre.He would have been spared the burden of this disappointment.
Of course, then he would never have spent the night just past with a bride more fetching and passionate than he had ever expected to take to his side.Surely that match was worth a battle or two, even some sacrifice?
If only Melissande would meet him halfway.
“But mercifully for the two of you, I am not without compassion.”Tulley held up a finger.“You have one year to produce a legitimate heir and when you do—” he nodded to Quinn “—Sayerne will be yours.”
Melissande’s lips twisted, her doubt clear, but she held her tongue.
“But, my lord...”Quinn began to protest, only to have Tulley interrupt.
“But naught!”the older man said with force.“This matter is serious beyond all.My holdings are at risk due to the vulnerability of Annossy.I will not tolerate such a risk!”
“But...”Melissande began, but Tulley glared at her until she fell silent again.
“Understand this,” he said to Quinn.“It is beyond gracious of me to hold your estate in trust for an entire year and considerably more than your due.You should thank me for the opportunity to prove yourself.See that you do not disappoint me again.”With that, Tulley spun on his heel and left the room.
“If naught else, he ensures that we know what is at stake,” Melissande said.
“Is he always so irksome?”
She smiled with obvious reluctance.“He is a warrior and a man who knows his desire.I would wager you have known many of his ilk.”
“Aye, but I have not had the misfortune to be required to please many of them.”
