Beast: Great Bloodlines Converge (26 page)

Bastian stood up, patting Gisella on the shoulder, before following Gloucester away from the table and into a corner of the hall. It was darker in the corners, away from the brightly burning torches.

Before Gloucester even opened his mouth, Bastian knew the topic of conversation.
Gloucester knows
, he had told his father. There was no doubt in his mind the subject that was going to be presented, which gave Bastian a few moments of preparation time before engaging.
Deny it
, Braxton had said. Now that the moment of truth was upon him, Bastian wondered if he would. He was a truthful man and not one given to lies, but in this case....

“Did you receive my missive at West Court?” Gloucester asked as they settled into a darkened corner. “I sent it two days ago. You should have received it.”

Bastian folded his big arms across his chest. “I received it.”

Gloucester was looking for more of an answer than that. He lifted his eyebrows expectantly. “And?”

Bastian fixed the man in the eye. “And?” he repeated. “Did you want to know just how deeply you have offended me with such a question?”

Gloucester’s expression wavered somewhat. “Why should such a thing offend you?” he wanted to know. “I came into possession of a missive from a priest at Westminster who said that one of my brother’s soldiers had come to him for confession and stated that he saw you take a relic from the Maid’s funeral pyre.”

Bastian now understood how Gloucester came into such information but he was also very suspicious about it. “
Who
was the missive addressed to?”

Gloucester was unapologetic. “There was an envelope addressed to me that contained two items,” he said. “There was a note to me asking me to forward the enclosed missive to you. I thought it might be something important so I opened it. It was indeed important,
very
important.”

Bastian was displeased. “So you opened a private missive addressed to me?”

Gloucester had to accept responsibility for his actions but he wasn’t beyond defending himself. “I told you that I thought it might be important,” he said. “What is the truth of this, Bastian? Did you truly take a relic?”

Bastian considered his answer carefully. “What I fail to comprehend is how you could even expect me to dignify such a rumor,” he said. “You and your brother have trusted me with your lives, on numerous occasions, and you have also trusted me in planning battles against the French. This entire situation with the Maid has turned everyone into suspicious old women. Have I ever caused you to question your faith in me? Have I ever given you any reason to doubt that I am loyal to England until my death?”

Gloucester was struggling with his guilt because everything Bastian said was both reasonable and true. He shook his head. “You have never given me any reason to mistrust you,” he assured the man. “But let us be honest – there have been rumors involving you and the Maid for months.”

“Rumors, aye,” Bastian spat. “But there was never an ounce of truth in them. I am shocked and insulted that you would question me over rumors.”

Gloucester’s sense of guilt began to take on a life of its own, but still he struggled to defend his questions. “Then tell me the truth now and I shall believe you,” he begged. “Tell me what really happened between you and that girl.”

Bastian shook his head firmly. “Nothing happened,” he said. “I swear upon my oath as a knight and my fealty to England that there was nothing between me and the Maid. I was her jailor and nothing more.”

“But... but you were sympathetic to her.”

“Aye, I was,” Bastian fired back softly. “I felt pity for her. You were not there during the trials, my lord. You did not see how they manipulated her, twisted her, until they had their answers, right or wrong. It was a reprehensible display of justice and I was truly ashamed to have been a part of it, but at no time did my dedication to duty waver. I did what I was told to do, as I have always done.”

Gloucester’s gaze was intense upon Bastian as he pondered his words. After a moment, he sighed heavily. “You are loyal to the bone, de Russe,” he agreed, sounding defeated and submissive. “I have never doubted you, not ever.”

“Then do not ask me again if I took a relic from the Maid’s pyre. I will not answer you because it is beneath my dignity to do so.”

“Then I apologize.”

Bastian’s gaze lingered on the man, knowing he didn’t mean it. This was not the end of the subject. Of that, he was certain. “I accept your apology,” he said. “But I want you to make sure everyone else understands the truth as well. I did not bed the Maid. I was not in coercion with her. I was her jailor and I felt sorry for the way she was treated, and that is all. I realize that I am not allowed to have feelings towards the enemy but, in this case, I did. It will not happen again.”

Gloucester was now the one feeling as if he was getting a scolding, as if he had done something wrong. He put up his hands in supplication. “I believe you,” he said. “I will put an end to the rumors, I promise.”

Bastian was sure that wasn’t true but he didn’t dispute the man. Gloucester had his own agenda and never put the priorities of another man before his own.

“Then you have my thanks,” Bastian said, his gratitude as hollow as Gloucester’s promises. “Now, shall we discuss Henry? I spent the afternoon with him but I intend to sleep at Braidwood tonight. I do not like staying in the Tower.”

Gloucester’s brow furrowed. “But you are his protector,” he said. “You should sleep where he sleeps. Otherwise, your protection is for naught. Assassins can strike at night as well as the day.”

Bastian sighed heavily. He didn’t want a fight on his hands but he was truly opposed to sleeping at the Tower. “Then let me take him back with me to Braidwood every night,” he said, lowering his voice. “If there are truly assassins about and you truly fear for his safety as you say you do, then put a decoy in his bed and let me take Henry with me. He will be safer at Braidwood than he would be anywhere.”

As much as Gloucester didn’t want to agree, Bastian made sense. As he stood there, popping his knuckles and deep in thought, Bastian leaned in to the man.

“Is there something more you are not telling me about his situation?” he asked quietly. “Has there been a specific threat against him?”

Gloucester shrugged. “He is the king and there are always threats against him,” he replied. “In answer to your question, there have been no specific threats that I am aware of but since the Maid was put to death, there is a faction that believes Henry is responsible for it. We have heard rumblings, of course, but nothing substantial.”

Bastian stared at the man. “So you put me in charge of his safety?” he asked, incredulous. “Me, who has a target on my head from every Frenchman who supported the Maid?”

Gloucester shook his head firmly. “You were the best choice, Bas,” he said. “In spite of the fact that the French blame you for the Maid’s death even more than they blame my brother, no one will challenge you. Everyone knows your skill with a sword. You are the Beast, after all, with generations of breeding behind you. Even if men hate you, they still respect you for it.”

Bastian’s head wagged back and forth, slowly. “You should not have me here and you know it,” he said. “Send me back to France. That is where I belong. Let me at least finish what I started.”

Gloucester cast him a long look. “I cannot, at least not now,” he said, watching the frustrated expression on Bastian’s features. “Haven’t you figured out yet that you are being punished for your compassion towards the Maid? Bedford believes you made him look foolish. He believes you were bewitched by her. He wants to give you time to get that woman out of your system. Why do you think we provided you with a wife, a wife of royal blood no less? So that you would be assimilated back into the English fold with an Englishwoman to focus on. Have you done that yet, Bas? Have you focused on your wife and forgotten the Maid?”

So the truth came out. Bastian already knew all that Gloucester had said, but still, hearing the words spoken aloud was something of a blow. Fury ignited in his belly and it was a struggle to keep that, and the disappointment he felt, at bay.

“My wife is a wonderful woman,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. “And I told you the truth when I said I never felt anything for the Maid other than compassion. It would seem that all that we discussed a few moments ago about you having faith in me is not the truth. If you do not send me back to France right away, then no matter what you say, you and your brother still have your doubts in my fealty, and that is a definite problem.”

Gloucester was both contrite and thoughtful. “I have faith in you,” he insisted. “But my brother… he is emotional, Bas. He took your compassion towards the Maid as slander. Let me send him a missive discussing the issue and insist that you must be sent back to Rouen. He will listen to me.”

Bastian was disillusioned and disgusted by the entire conversation. He was angry enough to be a bully about it.

“See that he does,” he growled. “As for my time spent with the king, I will be taking him back with me to Braidwood tonight where he will sleep in a chamber next to mine. My cousins Brant and Martin are in residence as well as my other two knights, le Bec and de Lara. Henry could not be better protected. Until this madness with Bedford subsides and I am allowed to return to France, I will make the decisions on Henry’s safety and it is my decision that he will return to Braidwood with me.”

Gloucester appeared a bit startled by the hard line Bastian was taking. “But we must follow certain protocols with the king, Bas,” he said. “He has physicians and….”

Bastian interrupted him. “No physicians and no nurses,” he snapped softly. “They have kept that boy so closed off and so protected that he cannot make a decision for himself. I realize he is the king but he is also a young boy. Do you remember when you were a young boy? For Pity’s Sake, let the king be a boy for once. Let him know what it is like to chase dogs or fish in a pond. Braidwood will be a good place for him, at least for the time being, away from this madness that saps his will and turns him into a pawn of the regents.”

Gloucester stiffened. “I am a regent.”

Bastian didn’t back down, his gaze as hard as granite. “I know.”

Gloucester stared the man down, knowing he had just been insulted but also admitting that Bastian might have a point. It was a tense moment but, surprisingly, he backed down somewhat.

“In spite of the fact that you have just slandered me, I understand you are only thinking of the king,” he said stiffly. “I also understand that you are more than likely speaking from his father’s point of view since you and Henry were friends. Given those factors, I will allow you to take him to Braidwood and away from the Tower in the evenings, as I believe you are correct – he could not be better protected with five seasoned knights around him.”

Bastian was rather surprised that Gloucester hadn’t arrested him for insubordination, but he was pleased the man was seeing reason. He was also rather relieved. With that realization, he eased his angry stance.

“I will only take him at night,” he assured Gloucester. “I think the change will be good for him. But you understand this is only temporary. I fully expect to return to France very soon.”

Gloucester nodded. “I have a feeling you will make my life miserable if you do not.”

“That would be a fair assumption, my lord.”

Gloucester grunted, eyeing him with some displeasure. “My lord, is it?” he said. “You only address me now formally because you have gotten your way. You are a bully, Bas. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Bastian cracked a grin. “Constantly,” he said. “But if I wasn’t a bully, our success in France wouldn’t be nearly what it is today, as slow as that progress has been.”

“True enough,” Gloucester replied. “I know my brother needs you there and he knows it as well. I will send him a missive tomorrow.”

Bastian nodded. “My thanks,” he said. “But while I am here, the king will be my priority. In fact, I would like to take him with me when I visit Etonbury. The travel will do him good. I will take my father with us as well. Henry could learn much from my father.”

Gloucester almost denied him but he caught himself. For the young king to travel with de Russe and his father was an experience the young monarch could only benefit from. He wasn’t so resistant that he didn’t realize that. After a moment of deliberation, he finally nodded.

“It would be an excellent experience for him, I am sure,” he agreed. “When will you go?”

Bastian cocked his head thoughtfully. “Mayhap in a few days,” he said. “I should like to get my bearings here in London and establish my presence first. I will keep you apprised of my plans.”

“Good enough,” Gloucester said, noting that a mummer was now dancing around in front of the dais, entertaining the king. His gaze inevitably fell on Gisella, her dark hair gleaming in the torchlight. “Will you take your wife?”

A surge of jealousy and protectiveness bolted through Bastian, an odd sensation that was difficult to keep in check. He could hear the desire in Gloucester’s tone and it nearly drove him mad.

“She will,” he said steadily. “I am glad you forced me into marrying her, truly. You have my eternal thanks.”

Gloucester merely nodded, hearing great interest in Bastian’s tone, which concerned him. He was hoping for indifference and given Bastian’s initial resistance to the marriage, it was what he had expected. But hearing the pitch of the man’s voice when speaking of Gisella, somehow, something more had developed between them. Not that Gloucester blamed the man, for Gisella was a spectacular example of a woman.