Clearly, it was a mistake to ask about the powerful family that had twice conspired to remove the king. Why could she not be quiet?
“I am curious, that is all,” she murmured. “There are so many stories about them, especially Hotspur.”
“Hotspur was as brave and reckless as they say,” he said in a flat tone. He paused so long she thought he meant to close the subject. Before she could think of something to say to fill the awkward silence, he spoke again.
“When Hotspur was sixteen, he was in such a rage after a skirmish with the MacDonald clan that he chased after them alone into the hills.” His tone held a note of disapproval. “Northumberland and King Richard had to pay a fortune in ransom for his return. Hotspur was always rash and hotheaded; he did not change as he grew older.”
Encouraged by this lengthy response, she risked asking another question, one that had long plagued her. “Why do you suppose the Percys turned against King Henry?”
It was well known that Henry Bolingbroke would not have been crowned in the first place without Northumberland’s support. Catherine had never understood why the Percys later became so intent on removing him.
“The Percys resented Henry for not rewarding them more for their support,” FitzAlan explained. “King Henry, on the other hand, believed they already held too much power and wealth.”
He glanced at her, as if checking to be sure she was truly interested, before continuing.
“Relations went from bad to worse when they argued over who should collect the ransom for some Scots Hotspur captured in battle. The king insisted the ransom go to the Crown.”
“Was that the usual custom?” she asked before realizing the awkwardness of her question.
“ ’Twas customary for the man who made the capture to collect the ransom, but the king had the right,” he answered carefully. “I will tell you, Hotspur had strong feelings about making these particular hostages pay him. They were men from the MacDonald clan—the ones who took him hostage as a youth.”
Catherine leaned forward in her saddle. “Hotspur must have waited years to make them pay for that humiliation.”
He nodded. “Eventually, Hotspur joined forces with Glyndwr in open rebellion and called on his father, North umberland, to do the same.”
Fascinated, she asked more questions. He answered, though somewhat reluctantly. When she pressed for details about battles he fought in, he pulled his horse up and turned to look at her.
“Wasit you who sent the messages to Prince Harry?” His voice held surprise and a touch of uncertainty. “You truly did serve as the prince’s spy?”
“Did you think a woman not capable of seeing what was under her nose?” she asked, narrowing her eyes at him. “Or did you think that, though seeing it, a woman would lack the courage to do what ought to be done?” She knew she should not be belligerent with him but could not seem to help herself.
“I had not made up my mind what you did.” Oddly enough, he was smiling. It did nothing to dampen her temper.
An even more insulting possibility occurred to her.
“Did you believe I was a traitor?” Her voice was high-pitched, even to her own ears. When he did not deny it, she demanded, “You could marry me believing I might have supported Rayburn in his treason against the king?”
What made her dare speak with such insolence to FitzAlan? Rayburn would have pulled her from her horse and beat her to within an inch of her life for less.
“I should apologize for upsetting you,” he said, though he did not look sorry.
Behind the laughter in his eyes, there was a fire that burned right through her and made her throat go dry. She heard his words from the night before in her head:I will not wait long.
She kicked her horse and rode ahead.
After a time, he eased his horse beside hers. In a mild tone, he asked, “How did you obtain your information for the prince?”
She took a deep breath. He had answered her questions; in fairness, she should do the same.
“Whenever my husband discussed rebel plans with his men, he would send the servants away and have me wait on them.”
She refrained from telling FitzAlan of her other sources of information.
“Your husband trusted you.”
She shook her head. “ ’Twas more that he never considered I would act against him.”
“How soon after your marriage did you begin spying for the prince?”
