He frowned, his gaze flicking over the bailey.“I would not have my meaning misconstrued, my lady, but I am concerned.”He met her gaze steadily and she nodded.
“I wished to speak with you, as well, Gaultier.”She indicated the hall.“Perhaps in my father’s favored chamber, by the hall.”Louis met her as soon as she entered the hall, a question in his eyes.“My lord husband has been told of the larder,” she told him, for they had discussed the details that morning.“He insists that no one shall leave Annossy in his absence.”She did not add that Quinn meant to try to solve the lack of meat, for she could not imagine how he would have the time to hunt.She also did not know of his skill in the pursuit of game.The hunt was somewhat different than war.She smiled for Louis when he looked skeptical.“He has told me, Louis, that his companions will be grateful of whatever is offered, for they have shared times of shortage together.”
“Of course, my lady,” Louis said with a bow, his skepticism remaining.“Perhaps a fortifying soup with each meal?”
“A most excellent suggestion, Louis.”She gestured to the small room adjacent to the hall.“Gaultier and I will confer for a moment.Please see that we are not disturbed.”
Louis, to her surprise, flicked a glance at the Captain of the Guard that was not filled with approval.Perhaps there was another soul whose counsel she should seek.
“I thank you, my lady, for your trust,” Gaultier said when they were closeted together.Though Melissande retreated around the large table that nigh filled that chamber, she felt keenly aware that Gaultier was both larger than she and armed.
Quinn’s suggestion that the other knight had harbored ambitions could not be pushed from her thoughts.
She remained standing herself, not wanting the further disadvantage of taking a seat.“I had the impression, Gaultier, that you might know something of my lord husband or his reputation when he arrived yesterday.If so, I would invite you to share it with me.”
“In confidence?”
“Aye.”
“I would not have the man made Lord d’Annossy think me disloyal,” he said, some bitterness in his tone.
“He will not know of it.I give you my word.”
Gaultier nodded.“I know naught of Quinn de Sayerne himself, my lady, though I found his arrival as your lord husband most astonishing.”
“Aye?”
“Aye.Have you not always advised me that Jerome de Sayerne meant to unite Annossy with Sayerne?Annossy has been plagued by brigands upon her borders both before and after Jerome’s death, which implies that Jerome himself was not the villain responsible—or not the sole one.”
Melissande waited, for this thinking was much like her own.
“And who should be better allied with Jerome than his son and heir?”Gaultier raised a hand.“Here he is, returned.The timing cannot be a coincidence...”
“Tulley summoned him from the Holy Land,” Melissande supplied.
Gaultier’s eyes widened.“Then perhaps Jerome’s ally was Tulley!”
“Nay!”
“Think of it, my lady.Your family has held Annossy for generations and are much respected in the region.And since your father’s demise, Tulley has held Annossy’s seal.Should Tulley wish to grant the holding to another, there would have been a hue and cry of the injustice of his choice.He could not so deny tradition, not without protest within his demesne.”He tapped a fingertip upon the table.“So, he saw you wed to his choice to govern both Annossy and Sayerne.I fear this to be a scheme, my lady, one which will not end well for you or Annossy.”
“Nay!”Melissande protested.“Tulley would not so betray me.”
But would he not?She was not so certain of her overlord’s support as she would like to be.
“Tulley will see his own advantage defended at any price,” Gaultier insisted.“He said as much to me when he dispatched me here.”He fell silent and took a deep breath.“To be sure, my lady, I feared that he had a scheme even then.Tulley would not share the details, but told me that my tenure at Annossy would not be a long one.”
Melissande sat down then, recalling that Tulley had sent word to Quinn in the East.That must have been around the same time that Gaultier had been sent to her.That could only mean that the Captain of the Guard had been sent to protect the prize intended for Quinn upon his return.
“I see that you are startled, my lady, and I apologize for any responsibility for that on my part.Tulley bade me pledge not to tell you as much, and truly, it was simple to make such a vow when I had never met you or been to Annossy.”He bowed his head.“But in my time here, I have come to respect you greatly as Lady d’Annossy and to feel great fondness for this holding.”He lifted his gaze to hers and the heat in his gaze made Melissande swallow.“I would pledge my blade to you and you alone, my lady, and remain your loyal knight regardless of what Lord de Tulley—or even your lord husband—commands.”
Although Melissande was touched by his words, she shook her head.“You must not so betray your own word, Gaultier,” she said.“You have vowed to serve Tulley and my lord husband.Do not make a pledge that might compel you to break word with either of them.”She managed to smile.“I, too, serve my lord husband.”
“But should you, my lady?”Gaultier whispered.“Or does your passion for duty only lead you along the path that will serve them both best?”
“I must do my duty, Gaultier, as must you.”
He shook his head, discontent.“You did not see them last night,” he whispered.“His companions separated and went through all the keep, as if by design.Do you think it a coincidence that they all should arrive at the same time?It is as if they had a scheme.That dark-haired one, Amaury, was in the inventory and the stores, counting and assessing.If he could have gained access to the treasury, he would have tallied it all.I would wager that he could put a value upon all within these walls within adenieror two.He spoke to Louis as if to make an alliance with him.The other one, the closer companion, he was in the kitchens, talking to all the servants.He made friends with cook and saucier, and with your maid, my lady.”
