“But he needs be told!”
“Not by us!”
Chapter Forty-one
Reina thought about it. She really did. And she came that close to defying Ranulf and doing as she thought best. But then she remembered how deadly serious had been his order not to interfere, and she decided it would behoove her to obey her husband in this instance. She had to begin trusting in his judgment at some time anyway, and now seemed a likely time to start. As it happened, she had reason to be thankful for that decision, for the matter resolved itself, and right quickly.
When Hugh could not catch up with Richard in time to speak with him, he determined to follow him to Warhurst, sending a message up to Ranulf that he would return later. ’Twas much later when he did. The hall was quiet, so he was taken straight up to the chamber prepared for him. Reina had food warming at the hearth, where a small fire had been laid to also heat water for a bath. The man was tired, but not only from fatigue. One look at him was enough for her to realize he had learned the truth about Richard for himself. The townspeople had, in fact, converged on him with their complaints, laments, and charges of tyranny as soon as he passed through the gates.
“This is Ella’s doing,” Hugh said after he had repeated some of the outlandish things he had been told. “She would not wed me, thank God, but she would not let me have the boy either. She wanted him raised at court, as she had been.”
Reina had intended to just sit by and listen, to let Ranulf and his father work this out between themselves, but when Ranulf made no comment to this, her curiosity could not stand it. “I thought you said Richard was raised by his mother’s family, my lord.”
“He was. Ah, I see your confusion. Did I neglect to mention Ella is a Plantagenet? From the wrong side of the blanket, of course.”
Reina’s mouth dropped open. Ranulf did not even blink. He obviously had known this from the time he first learned of his half brother.
“One of Henry’s?” she asked when she found her voice.
“Just so. And now you know why my father was so pleased by the association. But the uncle Richard mentioned is not his namesake. King Richard barely knows him. ’Twas Prince John who took an interest in the boy, more’s the pity. And you can see wherethatinfluence has led him.”
“But what if he speaks to John as he said?”
Hugh gave a derisive snort. “John is too busy with his machinations to wrest the crown from Richard. It has been his obsession since their father died. Think you be would really care about some harmless insult to a bastard sister? Nay, lady, my younger son likes to think he has influence at court, but in truth, he does not, nor does his mother any longer. The man she wed might once have held power, but he lost it when Richard Lion-Heart became king. What my son has, he has from me.”
“What will you—whatcanyou do, then? Warhurst is his by your own generosity.”
“Nay, not quite. Unlike Farring Cross, which was given outright, Warhurst still belongs to Lyonsford, and will until my death. My mistake was in allocating control of it to Richard, with the hope that the responsibility would help develop a more honorable character, or at least some integrity. Instead he corrupts the steward I sent to guide him, and emulates his all-powerful relations to the worst extent.”
“But what of the castellan, Chaucer? We have dealt with him.”
Hugh shook his head. “Chaucer was my steward, Lady Reina.Richardwas castellan.”
“Why, that liar!” Reina said indignantly. “He had everyone in the area believing him Lord of Warhurst.”
Ranulf chuckled at her rancor. “Come now, lady, you were befooled by an expert who learned from the best deceivers in the land. ’Tis no fault of your own that you could not see through his duplicity.”
“That is easy for you to say,” she retorted. “Youdid not almost marry him!”
Ranulf grinned. “I should hope not.”
“At any rate,” Hugh was quick to intervene, “you will have no more trouble from my younger son, lady.” And then he could not help a grin of his own. “I cannot guarantee the same of this one, however. Richard is even now being escorted to a cousin of mine in Ireland who has no tolerance for dishonesty. A few years there should turn him about, or so I can only hope.”
“He actually agreed to go?”
“I did not ask,” Hugh replied baldly.
“Oh—well, that settles that, except for—”
“That settles everything. Reina,” Ranulf cut in sharply. “Get you to bed now. I will join you anon.”
Her lips tightened. She was ready for battle at being summarily dismissed. The man really must learn some manners. But suddenly she remembered what she had just barely escaped that morning and thought better of provoking him anymore today.
Still, she had had a tiny devil inside her the entire day, and ’twas that wicked creature that prompted her to retort as she crossed to the door: “You need not hurry on my account, my lord. I am like to be fast asleep.”
“Nay, you will not be, for we still have unfinished business, if you will recall.”
Her mouth opened, then abruptly shut. Nay, he could not mean that. Notthat.
