Julian was quickly approaching a shrill tone again. “You took her from Dunster!”
“How would you know that?”
“Because she is not there!”
“And what proof do you have that I am responsible for her disappearance?”
Julian began gnashing around, swinging his sword. “You tried to seduce her, you bastard!” he screamed. “I know you have her. Where is she?”
Gart’s gaze held steadily on the man, someone he hated more than he could comprehend, and eventually he broke out in a smirk. Julian was just too ridiculous to believe.
“If it is true that she is gone from Dunster, why would you seek to blame someone other than yourself?” he asked. “Perhaps she could no longer take your abuse and fled of her own accord.”
Julian screamed and charged him, only to be shoved to the ground by David. David and Gart stood over Julian, quite calmly, while Julian writhed on the ground.
“I told you to get off my property,” David growled. “If you and your men do not clear out of here immediately, I will call out my entire army to escort you off and their orders will be to do it by any means necessary, including deadly force. Is that clear?”
Julian was far gone with madness, rolling around in the dirt until he managed to get to his knees.
“You will regret this, de Lohr,” he howled. “I have the ear of the queen and she will punish you. Do you hear me?She will punish you!”
David merely lifted an eyebrow at the threat, watching as Julian spat and cursed, gathering his men and collecting their horses. De Lohr’s soldiers began to break off, allowing Buckland to pull out his men and retreat.
The dust of the road flared up, filling nostrils and coating skin as the two sides settled apart. Gart and David watched the man race off, screaming at the top of his lungs in an embarrassing display of anger. As they faded off into the distance, David turned to Gart.
“Get inside,” he rumbled. “If you are not in my solar in a half hour with all manner of explanation as to the heart of thissituation, I will have you thrown in the vault. Is this in any way unclear, Forbes?”
Gart simply nodded. David gave him a lingering glare, one of fury and disbelief and understanding, before moving off to assist in collecting the wounded. Gart’s gaze lingered on his liege a moment before he went in search of his charger.
He knew he was in trouble. He just wasn’t sure how much.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The blow fromDavid had broken two teeth off at the gum line and the surgeon had to struggle to get the roots out else they would fester. Julian screamed throughout the entire procedure, howling threats at Gart and David when his mouth wasn’t full with pliers and other metal implements that were dirty and used.
In the newly built apartments that lined the east wall of the Tower of London, Julian had been issued three luxurious rooms as a guest of the queen. The king had his own women, in some cases the wives of his allies, and didn’t give much notice to the company his wife kept. As long as she was available for him when he wanted her, he was mostly unconcerned with her associations.
Therefore, Julian stayed at the castle, living in royal luxury as the lover of the queen. But she had been disinterested in him as of late, ever since a big French mercenary arrived from Bordeaux and caught her eye. Julian could see her attraction to the man and he had worked harder than ever to please her, spending lavishly on her and treating her kindly. He heaped attention on her, telling her how beautiful she was as many times as he could get it out of his mouth. He had a good thing going and he didn’t want to lose it.
Which was why the situation with his wife had him brittle and edgy. He had hoped that Emberley’s presence at his sidewould cause Isabella jealousy. Now his wife had vanished and his plans were going awry, the loss of control completely infuriating him. He wasn’t worried for Emberley’s safety– the thought had never crossed his mind, nor did concern for the children. It was the mere fact she had left him. He knew that Forbes was responsible for Emberley’s disappearance no matter what de Lohr said. He didn’t trust de Lohr, anyway. Anyone who had been so closely allied with King Richard deserved a measure of distrust.
As the surgeon yanked pieces of broken tooth from his mouth, Julian screamed and slapped at the man. The big, burly surgeon motioned to a couple of Julian’s men to hold him while he went to dig for a last portion of broken tooth and Julian tried to fight them off but was unsuccessful. They held him fast as the surgeon probed and Julian yelled.
“Bastards!” Julian yelled, garbled. “I will make them pay, every last one of them. They will all pay!”
The soldier holding Julian’s left arm was the same soldier who had led the contingent to Dunster to escort Lady Emberley to London and the same man who had recognized Kevin de Lara. His name was Donnell and he had served Baron Buckland for six years. He was used to the man’s moods and rages but he had no particular feelings about the man one way or the other. He was paid for his loyalties and nothing more.
Julian grabbed the man’s arm, digging his fingers into his flesh. “We will punish them, will we not?” he asked him. “We will burn Bellham to the ground!”
Donnell was used to his liege’s bouts with madness, as predictable as the rising of the sun. “As you say, m’lord.”
Julian spit blood out onto his lap, the floor. “I want Forbes,” he hissed through swollen lips. “I want you to go and get Forbes.”
“He is well protected behind the gates of Bellham, m’lord,” Donnell said patiently.
“He cannot stay there forever!”
Donnell sighed faintly. “We can lay in wait for him if you wish, m’lord,” he said. “But I am sure he will be on his guard. It could be a long wait.”
