There was a long pause. “Why would you be ordered to do this?”
Sean sighed harshly, disgusted with the turn of events, though strangely he did not regret the actions that led up to it. “Because I stopped the king from raping Alys St. James. The king suspects my loyalties now and will ask me to raze Lansdown to prove that my fealty is to him and not to the House of St. James. All plans of the attack on London aside, this is a very real problem in addition to so many others.”
“What will you do?”
“I am not sure. Much depends on the move against London.”
“It is imminent.”
“How soon?”
“Two days at the most. The majority of nobles are clearing out tonight.”
“This is fact?”
“I just left a meeting with Jocelin, Rochester and Coventry. Arundel and de Warenne are already gone and gathering with their troops outside the city limits. The rest will move out by dawn.”
Sean’s thoughts immediately moved to Sheridan. “If the king intends on sending me to the Marches, it will take a few days to prepare the army. The siege of London will prevent me from leaving.”
“Then the king must not know the nobles are leaving to join their troops. Their flight will spook him.”
“Agreed.”
“And you must do what you can to make sure the Tower is vulnerable once the siege has begun.”
“I will undoubtedly lead the battle against the allies. ’Tis a pity that I will be seen as the loser in all of this.”
“The truth will be told when this is all over. Just make sure you live to see it.”
“I’ll live to see it,” Sean assured him. “And I will live to claim my prize.”
The voice on the other side was silent. “Lady Sheridan?”
“Of course.”
The voice grunted, as if in pain. “Sean,” he spoke haltingly. “There is something you should know.”
“I fear to ask.”
“You should. Jocelin intends to marry Lady Sheridan to Guy de Braose before the week is out.”
He wasn’t surprised. He realized that he had almost been expecting it. But it took all of Sean’s self-control not to burst through the panel and grab the voice around the neck. As it was, his big hands worked furiously and sweat popped out on his forehead, indicative of his level of emotion.
“Did he tell you this?” he asked through clenched teeth.
“Aye,” the voice said. “He feels that you are a danger to her.”
“He mentioned me by name?”
“He did. It seems that Neely de Moreville is aware that you and Sheridan have been, shall we say, meeting surreptitiously. Jocelin fears for Lady Sheridan’s life.”
Sean stood up; he couldn’t help it. He braced his hands on either side of the confession window, a gesture that was as powerful as it was pitiful. His fingers dug into the walls, angst in every move, every gesture.
“Tell him who I am,” his voice was a harsh whisper. “Tell him who I am and what I want. I’ll not allow her to marry another. She is meant for me and only me.”
The voice was laced with sorrow. He could feel the man’s pain. “I cannot.”
“You must or I will.”
