“I can still hear you, sister. The ale has not rendered me deaf.” Jonah leaned forward, his eyes glittering. “Do you not want to hear my news?”
All Adam wanted was to be alone with Esme once again, but he could hardly demand this.
“Go on then, brother, furnish us with your news.” Esme sounded weary as she sipped at her wine.
Jonah’s blue eyes fixed on Adam. “Perchance this story affects you more than us,” he ruminated.
Despite all that had passed, Adam was intrigued. “How so?”
Jonah’s goblet completed another sweeping arc, but miraculously the liquid remained inside. “Roger Mortimer has been arrested.”
His words fell into silence. Adam could not, at first, make sense of them.
Esme frowned. “Who could arrest a man with so much power?”
Jonah crossed his legs, looking very pleased with himself. “Only the King himself.”
Adam breathed slowly, beginning to realize the import. But quick-thinking Esme got there before him.
“So, the young King is once again leading a united England.” She put down her goblet and clasped her hands together. “Roger Mortimer, the usurper, is captured. This is good news indeed.”
“As I said.” Jonah was languid. “’Tis better news still for the prospects of lasting peace with Scotland.”
“Aye.” Adam readily agreed. It seemed as though half his body had a fever; he was burning up with heat from the roaring fire. He raked a hand through his hair, forcing himself to concentrate. “There was no telling where Mortimer’s greed would lead him.”
“He dined with us once at Wolvesley.” Esme tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair. “Father said afterwards that he was not a man he was willing to trust.”
“Amen to that.” Jonah took another large mouthful of wine. “Better a young King than an imposter.”
Adam nodded. Rory Baine had once been in correspondence with Queen Isabella’s lover. Adam had worried no good would come of it. He was glad naught had come of it at all, as far as he could see.
“The King is not so very young these days.” Esme shook back her hair, unaware of the beauty of youth. “How did it happen?”
“’Tis a marvelous tale.” Jonah beamed at them both. “The King crept into Nottingham Castle by secret passage and arrested Roger Mortimer in front of the Queen herself.” He pressed his lips together, briefly regretful. “How I wish I had been there.”
Esme leaned forward, excitedly. “Do you think Tristan was there?”
A shadow passed over Jonah’s face. “Our brother is always at the forefront of any excitement. Most likely he was the one to discover the secret passage.” He drained his goblet and clumsily placed it down on the table.
Esme touched his arm in a rare show of sibling compassion. “Tristan is tucked up at home with Mirrie, awaiting the birth of their first child. Fear not, Jonah. On consideration, I do not believe he was at the forefront of this particular excitement.”
Jonah was not to be dissuaded. “Then most likely he was the one to build the passage.”
Esme’s response was a peal of laughter. Adam wondered if they were at all aware of their good fortune in hailing from a large, loving family.
He rubbed at his temples and felt the pressing of his years upon him.
“Are you not pleased Adam?” Jonah rose to his feet, unsteadily, and clapped him on the shoulder. “I should think that Callum will be pleased.”
“Aye.” He nodded firmly and summoned a smile. “I am pleased with any step that takes us closer to a lasting peace.”
“Peace and prosperity for all.” Jonah swayed, grasping the back of the chair for support. “England and Scotland united.” He yawned widely. “I am going to sleep in the solar.”
Without further ado, he began stumbling in that direction. Adam hurriedly went after him.
“Allow me to help you.”
Jonah surprised him by grasping his forearm; almost as if they were kin. “Adam Hawker. You are a good man, I think.”
