Otto stood up and donned his cloak. ‘I’ll be over at Walter Manny’s tent if you need me,’ he said with a knowing look, and departed, holding the tent flap open on the way out for the Earl.
‘This is an unlooked-for pleasure, sire.’ Thomas set his armour aside. ‘Shall I send my squire for wine?’ He wondered what Montagu wanted – it must either be concerned with the forthcoming tourney where they were both taking part as royal champions, or something to do with Jeanette. On so many occasions during their campaign in Granada last year he had almost spoken to him but at the last moment held back, knowing there was nothing to be done at that point, and indeed that such engagement might endanger his life even if the Earl was an honourable soldier.
Montagu grunted irritably. ‘It is no pleasure, and I am not here to drink with you,’ he said curtly. ‘I have come on a seriousmatter pertaining to my family’s honour and I want to clear up certain matters between us.’
Thomas’s gaze sharpened. There were no doubts now. ‘What certain matters would they be, my lord?’
The Earl curled his lip. ‘Do not act the innocent with me, Holland, you know very well what I mean.’ He folded his arms and scowled at Thomas. ‘My son’s wife is making preposterous claims that you and she were married at Saint Bavo while you were a household knight protecting the Queen. I can understand how an impressionable young girl might attach herself to a handsome young chevalier, but this fantasy of hers has gone too far and is threatening my family’s honour.’
‘It is no fantasy, sire,’ Thomas replied. ‘I can summon my brother and he will tell you precisely what happened, for he was a witness to the event, as was my man John de la Salle, my knight Henry de la Haye, also my wife’s chamber lady Hawise. And in the presence of a Franciscan friar.’
The Earl’s face brightened with anger and the veins bulged in his neck. Thomas surreptitiously glanced around for his sword in case he needed to defend himself.
‘I have no doubt that you employed some kind of trickery to win a vulnerable young woman’s affections – trickery that, whatever you say, would not stand up in any English ecclesiastical court.’
‘I did no such thing, my lord,’ Thomas said with quiet vehemence. ‘Jeanette is my beloved wife – in every way.’
The Earl’s complexion darkened further. ‘If I were you, I would not cast such words abroad. I can assure you that the King will not want to hear any of this and it will be your downfall if you go to him with your preposterous claim.’
‘Are you so sure of that? I have the proof and witnesses.’
‘I am very sure,’ Montagu ground out. ‘Look, this is ridiculous. Let us stop this nonsense now. How much do youwant to walk away? How much will it take for you to leave us alone, including that poor, deluded young woman?’
Thomas rubbed his chin as if considering, but in truth he had been pole-axed by astonishment. Clearly the Earl thought him the kind of man who could be bought off with a bribe. The kind of man who would resort to bribery in the first place. Someone dishonourable. And by making such an approach, Salisbury was smirching his own honour.
After a moment he pulled himself together. He had no intention of letting this go, but he had to ponder how to cast his own dice. ‘You are generous indeed to think of bartering funds for my silence, but you are mistaken if you believe I would sell my mortal soul for coin or privilege. If I did agree to your suggestion – and I am sure your terms would be most generous – I would be endangering my eternal soul. In God’s eyes I am a married man, my lord, and it is your son who has wed the lady under false pretences.’ He paused to steady his voice. ‘I have it on good authority that the lady was persuaded into the match because her mother told her I was dead, and that the marriage was conducted under misapprehension and not truly of the lady’s free will, for she was not in her right mind at the time.’
Montagu unfolded his arms. Thomas could see his heart beating hard in his throat and the Earl’s eyes were glassy with rage. He was not accustomed to being gainsaid. ‘You could lose everything over this,’ he snarled. ‘You have no money to fight your case and the King will not listen, for it is not in his interests to do so. Take stock of what I have said and reconsider. There is nothing in this for you.’
‘There is nothing for you either,’ Thomas retorted. ‘How secure do you think your heirs will be with a claim of bastardy hanging over them because their parents’ marriage was invalid?’
‘You would not dare!’ Montagu spluttered. ‘I will see you dead first.’
‘Is that why you sent everyone away? So you could threaten me?’ Thomas curled his lip. ‘Do you think if I die, that Jeanette will hold her peace? Do you think Otto will, or the other witnesses? Yes, I lack the funds to pursue this through the English courts, but I will find the wherewithal – whatever it takes.’
‘You are as deluded as she is.’
‘Well then, we are matched in our convictions, and we clearly deserve each other,’ Thomas retorted.
Montagu straightened and puffed out his chest. ‘I have tried to be reasonable with you, but I warn you now: take this further, and your career will perish and your family will suffer – I will make sure of it. If you have any sense, you will accept my offer and walk away. There are plenty of other heiresses in the world without stealing what belongs to my son. It is up to you.’ Turning on his heel, he shouldered his way out of the tent like a thunderstorm.
Thomas exhaled on a hard sigh. The cool ice that sustained him in battle situations retreated and he only held himself together by keeping every muscle tight, and bunching his fists.
Otto slipped back into the tent a moment later. ‘What was that about?’ he asked.
Thomas shuddered and rubbed the back of his neck. ‘He offered me money and advantages to walk away from my marriage with Jeanette and pretend it never happened – and threatened to make it difficult if I did not.’
‘Judging by the look on his face when he came out, you refused him.’
‘I did – and in no uncertain terms.’
‘Perhaps he has a point, for how are you going to prove this against such opposition, even with witnesses? You say you will not give her up, but you do not have her now. How will Jeanettefight when they have her as their hostage? And how will you when you cannot and will not be heard?’
‘So you think I should accept his offer and walk away, instead of striving to regain my right?’ Thomas glared at his brother, feeling as if he had been kicked in the teeth twice.
Otto opened his hands. ‘You should consider it. I know you probably won’t, but if not, then you know what you are setting on yourself. I will support you whatever you do because we are flesh and blood, but if you ask my advice, I would say you should look at the practicalities.’
‘I have looked at them, and believe me, I have considered walking away, but in the end I cannot. I admit Montagu’s offer might be tempting, depending on what he puts on the table, but Jeanette trusts me to get her out of this sham of a marriage, and I have sworn I will do so. You know me, Otto. If I go into battle, I mean it.’
