“If de Moyon cannot be convinced to divorce his wife, then what?” Jonas asked.
Gart held Emberley against his chest, his enormous hand on her blond head as he cradled it against his sternum. His intense gaze was even more powerful than usual.
“I will take her and the children and we will flee,” he said in a low voice. “We will go someplace safe where no one can find us, least of all Buckland. I will never let her go back to him, not ever.”
In the darkness, David and Christopher passed long glances. Gart served David and was essentially telling the man that he would recant his oath and run, with or without his liege’s approval. David had known that from the beginning, however, and wasn’t particularly upset by it. But he was silently begging his brother for his wisdom in the matter. Christopher knew this, avoiding his brother’s pleading gaze until he could avoid it no longer. He sighed heavily, putting his thoughts into words. These thoughts were coming from the heart more than his head.
“When I was in The Levant with Richard, I took a different route home than our king,” his voice was barely above a whisper. “My army passed through many different countries and kingdoms and when we were in a particular area called Burgenland, we happened upon a castle under siege. At first we attempted to give the siege a wide berth, but a panicked priest begged for our aid so I complied. It would seem that we aided the Lord of Lockenhaus Castle,or Burg Lockenhausas they called it, and the lord was so grateful that upon his death, he willed the castle to me. It is still mine, with a contingent of soldiers to man it because it sits at the head of a well-traveled valley with mountains as tall as the sky.”
By this time, Emberley had stopped weeping and was listening to the earl intently. Christopher held her gaze as he moved away from the door and into the heart of the room, his focus serious.
“I have no doubt that what you have told us is true, my lady,” he said quietly. “Your young son told me essentially the same story. I cannot imagine the hell you have endured at the hands of the man who is supposed to protect you. Because I have awife I adore, I can understand Gart’s feelings for you, right or wrong, and will therefore make you this pledge– if Buckland cannot be convinced to divorce you by proper means, then I will send you and Gart to Lockenhaus Castle where you may live your lives free of Buckland’s horror. He will never find you there. But the caveat is that Gart will continue to serve me, as my garrison commander. Will this be acceptable?”
Emberley stared at the man in shock. “Ac… acceptable, my lord? Are you serious?”
“Or course.”
After a moment of stunned silence, Emberley pulled herself free of Gart’s embrace and went to the earl, gently grasping one of his enormous hands. The look in her eye was beyond the scope of words. It was thanks beyond measure.
“My husband often spoke of you with ill-favor, my lord, stating that he believed you were Richard’s trained dog, now forced to do tricks for a new master because John sat upon the throne,” she said softly. “It was all I knew of you until yesterday. Now I see that you are a kind and generous man beyond compare, with compassion and understanding that most men do not have. Even as I stand here, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have met you. My thanks is not sufficient for what you have proposed, but please know that you have my undying gratitude.”
Christopher smiled at the woman, seeing why Gart loved her so. She was sweet, gentle and gracious. It made him that much more protective over her and her son, more determined than ever to see them to safety with Gart.
Finally, the tides had turned and he was no longer resistant to their quest. Now he was on their side. Christopher squeezed her hand gently before turning to the priest.
“You will seek out Buckland and offer a proposal,” he told him. “If he will divorce his wife, I will provide compensation often thousand gold marks and Ryton Castle in Worcestershire. Tell him that this offer is non-negotiable and if he does not comply, I will make his life hell until the day he dies. Is this in any way unclear?”
Wide-eyed, Jonas rose from his chair. “It is clear, my lord,” he replied. “You will pay the man to divorce his wife?”
“I will compensate him for his loss.”
“On what grounds will he base the divorce?”
Christopher looked at the stunned Emberley and the equally stunned Gart. “Adultery,” he said softly. Then he shrugged. “The Church would not contest such a thing.”
After a long and tense moment, Jonas nodded his head sharply in agreement. With nothing more to be said, David moved out of the shadows, hastily taking the priest by the arm and escorting the man to the door. Jonas passed by Emberley on his way out and his dark eyes fixed on her.
“I will do my best, my lady,” he assured her softly. “Have faith that God understands your plight. He will not fail you.”
Emberley nodded to his statement, watching the man quit the room with David on his heels. As she stood there with tears in her eyes, saying a thousand silent prayers of thanks to a God that had never particularly listened to her, Gart went over to Christopher.
His handsome face was soft with humility and gratitude. “My lord,” he began quietly. “What you have offered for the lady’s divorce… I do not have the means to compensate you, but rest assured that I will. I will pay you back every pence.”
Christopher was feeling exhausted, satisfied, pleased that he could assist. He clapped Gart on the shoulder.
“The day you saved my brother’s life was the day I became indebted to you,” he said softly. “No price is too high to pay, Gart, and certainly not ten thousand marks and a broken downcastle. You have proved your worth a thousand times over and I am happy to pay you back in any way I can.”
Gart smiled modestly. “I am proud to serve the House of de Lohr,” he said, eyeing Christopher after a moment. “Will I like Lockenhaus Castle or is my outpost to be in the snowy wilds of the East?”
Christopher snorted. “You will like it fine if you are a mountain goat,” he told him. “This castle sits so high on the mountain that God will be your neighbor.”
Gart laughed softly, turning to look at Emberley as she moved away from the door to join them. He reached out, stroking her blond head.
“I will have my angel with me,” he said softly, his eyes shining with adoration for the woman. “That is all that matters.”
Emberley smiled. “And the children as well,” she reminded him. “Did you tell Lord Christopher that my boys will ensure that anyone entering his keep will be forced to give tribute? He should be a very rich man in little time.”
Christopher looked questioningly at Gart as the man shook his head in resignation.
