He had never felt so close to a woman before, but he was not sure how to tell her that. Or whether he should. Instead, he asked, “Why do you think it false?”
“Because you do not trust me at all.”
There was a long silence between them. When he did not take the opportunity she gave him to confess, she laid out her complaint in full.
“You have told me nothing. Nothing. Nothing of your family, your life. Imagine my surprise at finding a boy at our gate claiming to be your brother, when the only brother you mentioned to me is dead.”
Once she started, she was going to say it all.
“I have to learn from a twelve-year-old boy that Northumberland is your father! That Hotspur was your brother!” She was sputtering now, her anger gaining ground. “I am your wife, and everyone knows this but me.
“You distrusted me because I fought my husband’s treachery. Yet, I did not go against my own blood as you did.” She gestured wildly as she spoke, pressing her hand to her chest each time she referred to herself.
“You fought on the king’s side when it was your own father and brother who led the Northern rebels.” She shook her finger at him. “Do not tell me your brother and father did not expect you to join them or that they did not feel betrayed when you did not.”
William let her talk until she ran out of words. His reasons for not telling her no longer seemed important. He had hurt her, and he did not want to do that anymore.
“Where would you like me to start?”
Catherine listened as William told her his story.
“My mother played a high-stakes game and lost,” he began. “Northumberland took his time looking for a second wife after the death of his first wife, Margaret Neville Percy. He had three sons by Margaret, so he could bide his time.
“My mother was Margaret’s niece and visited often.” In an indifferent tone, he added, “She is quite beautiful.
“She was married to an elderly man named FitzAlan. She might have looked forward to life as a wealthy widow if FitzAlan had not crossed King Richard. When most of FitzAlan’s lands were seized, she anticipated the need for a second husband. She set her sights high.
“She toyed with Northumberland, putting him off until FitzAlan was on his deathbed,” he continued. “When she found herself with child a few weeks after the funeral, she expected Northumberland to marry her.
“What my mother could not anticipate was that Robert Umfraville, Earl of Angus, would die at just that time, leaving his titles and vast wealth to his widow, Maud. Maud was a widow but two weeks before Northumberland wed her. My mother was left to make the pretense that FitzAlan miraculously conceived a child on his deathbed. That is how I came to bear his name.
“Northumberland arranged for her to be married to one of his knights. Everyone knew I was the result of Northumberland’s dalliance with my mother—most especially her new husband.”
Catherine understood from this that, even as a very young child, William was aware of his stepfather’s resentment.
“She sent me to live in Northumberland’s household when I was six.”
He spoke with little emotion, but Catherine sensed the great bitterness he harbored against his mother.
She ventured to ask, “How old was your mother when she had her affair with Northumberland?”
He shrugged. “She was married to FitzAlan at fifteen, so I suppose she was about sixteen.”
“And yet you believe it was she who seduced him?” she asked. “Northumberland must have been, what, forty? And he was a very powerful man. It may have been difficult for her to refuse him.”
When he did not respond, she said in a soft voice, “I cannot help thinking you judge her harshly.”
William folded his arms. “You do not know her.”
“You as much as called her deceitful and manipulative at table today,” she said as gently as she could. “You should consider the effect of your words on Stephen. He is just a boy.”
“Stephen seems to have her measure.” After a moment, he took a deep breath and said, “Perhaps I should take more care with him. He looks so much like her that it is difficult for me to remember he is an innocent.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a furious knocking at the door.
“Who is it?” William demanded in a booming voice.
The words were indistinguishable, but the high-pitched voice on the other side of the door was Jamie’s.
