“What was his name?”Tulley asked when they were all eating.
“Gaultier.”
“Gaultier,” Tulley repeated, then shook his head.“Has he no holding of origin or town or family name?”
Quinn shook his head.“If so, I do not know it.”
“Lonvaux,” Heloise said and both men turned to look at her.She flushed a little.“His name is Gaultier de Lonvaux.I remember him.”
“Remember him?”Tulley repeated, his tone cross.“How could you remember him?And when did you see him?”
“Last year, in the autumn.It must have been just before he went to Annossy.He was here, at Tulley, lodged in the inn in the town.”
Quinn saw Tulley’s brows rise and was surprised that the older man had missed this detail.
Heloise continued.“I saw him when I arrived, for he stood outside the inn, on the road, as my party passed.He spoke to me.”She blushed a little.
“Audacity,” Tulley muttered.
“Nay, Uncle.We had met before my parents died.There was a notion that we might become betrothed, but I was glad that my father was much against it.”
“Why was he?”Tulley demanded.
“He said that Gaultier had no hope of inheritance, not since his aunt had wed again.”
“Marie,” Quinn said almost to himself, recalling the inscription on the blade in Melissande’s possession.
“Indeed!”Heloise agreed with pleasure.“Marie de Perricault is his aunt and her former husband trained Gaultier for his spurs.She was said to be fond of him and sponsored him even after her husband’s death.People said the most wicked things.”She shook her head and her expression turned prim.
“What wicked things?”Tulley asked.
“Uncle!”
“Tell me.We seek news of this man and even rumor may hold a germ of truth.”
Heloise blushed crimson.“That Marie would have wed him if he had not been her own kin.They said, they said, that their relations were most improper.”She looked disapproving after confessing this much.
Tulley sipped his wine, then nodded slowly.“I remember this,” he said.“It was most scandalous, but I did not know the young man’s name.”He snapped his fingers.“And then Marie did wed again, so the rumors fell silent.I suppose that might have been when Gaultier had to leave Perricault to find his fortune.”He nodded, well content with this version of events and returned to his meal.“It is most fine, is it not?I tell the gamekeeper to take a boar whenever he can.It is by far the finest meat.”
“Where is Perricault?”Quinn asked for he did not know of it.
“To the north,” Tulley said.“En route to Paris.It lies on the other side of the mountains that mark the north side of this valley.”He lowered his voice.“Not quite so well favored by the sun and so less prosperous as a result, but still fine territory.They make a passable wine.”
Quinn leaned forward so that he could see Heloise.“Why were you glad that your father had objections to Gaultier, if I might be so bold as to ask?”
Tulley looked at his niece as if also interested in her reply.
She blushed again.“He was called Gaultier le Beau by some, because he was handsome to look upon.But I neither liked nor trusted him.There was something in his gaze that made me shiver.”
Quinn nodded understanding.“I do not like him either, my demoiselle, though I cannot say precisely why.”
“That is why you came to ask Uncle about him, for you knew that Uncle would not recommend a man who was untrustworthy.”
“Indeed,” Quinn agreed, though he was not so certain as that.He was convinced only that Tulley would not make a choice that might adversely affect his own situation, which was not the same matter at all.He frowned and cleared his throat.“My lord, my lady has mentioned that she was betrothed to another before our vows were exchanged...”
“Arnaud de Privas,” Tulley said with disdain.“Another wastrel, I am sad to say.She is well rid of him, to be sure.”
“But surely their betrothal has weight as an earlier bond...”
