THE WARLORD (34 page)

"I hereby ask that my wife's betrothal be set aside in light of these facts. Unlike an alliance with Gordon MacLeith, her marriage to me is true to God's word and He has seen fit to doubly bless our union. My wife will deliver me of a son this fall and she does now carry an heir to the baronies of Remmington and Montague."

If anything, the noise in the hall grew louder, mostly because those who could hear the latest announcement had to relate it to those who could not. A few remarked on the fact that the baron seemed certain his unborn child would be male, but others pointed out that Lady Tess would certainly do her best to produce the boy the Butcher of Wales expected. The king finally held his hand up for silence but had to wait several minutes before anyone took notice. Even then the level of noise only dropped to a low hum. Cardinal Jerome returned to his place behind the king and the four holy men put their heads together, whispering furiously. Edward's gaze bored into Gordon, the corners of his mouth turned downward as if he'd found something repulsive under his shoe. "The charges brought against you are serious, young man. Do you have an answer to these charges?"

"Aye,
Your
Highness." Gordon didn't have to work hard at affecting the stance of a man bitterly betrayed. "I know not where Baron Montague found men to tell such lies and can only wonder if they are truly who he says they are, for I have three healthy bastards residing this moment at Remmington Castle. Never,
never
in my life have I committed the atrocious acts I find myself accused of." He glanced at Tess and gave her a sickly, apologetic smile. "Forgive me for my indiscretion, sweet, but you must understand what is at stake here." He turned again toward the king. "I do not wish to embarrass my betrothed, yet it is surely my fourth babe that rests now in Lady Tess's belly, if she is indeed with child."

Fitz Alan caught Kenric's arm the instant he reached for his sword. Several of the king's guards rushed forward even as Gordon made sure everyone saw him take several cautious steps toward the safety of the king.

Kenric couldn't look at his enemy in that moment or he would kill him. He kept his attention focused on the king. "My wife was a virgin when we wed, Your Highness, and I swear by all that is
holy,
she has never known another man in her bed."

" 'Tis
time to hear from the lady herself," Edward announced, looking troubled.

He motioned to Tess and the crowd parted to let her through. She didn't hesitate but walked straight to Kenric's side, the side away from Gordon. Many heads nodded their approval at her show of support for her husband. Fitz Alan stepped away and moved to Kenric's left to stand as a buffer between the two enemies.

"We are sorry to subject you to this, Lady Tess, but
We
would hear whether or not your child could be fathered by Gordon MacLeith."

Cardinal Jerome cleared his throat and the king inclined his head, giving him permission to speak.

"Do not fret, my dear," Cardinal Jerome began, giving Tess a fatherly smile.
" 'Tis
not a serious sin in the eyes of the church to become intimate with your betrothed before the wedding. He is, after all, the man pledged to you by your king and God. You must also know that you are now under the king's and God's protection. The man who calls himself your husband does not have the power to punish you, should you speak the truth. You must tell us with complete honesty if you have ever been intimate with Gordon MacLeith."

"Nay, never," Tess answered, her voice a mere whisper. The king looked satisfied but the cardinal's expression remained doubtful. Tess took a deep breath, knowing her future depended on her courage at this moment. Her next words carried clearly, her voice firm. "I do swear the only time Gordon MacLeith touched me was with a raised fist or a whip. He beat me last because I dared to stand between him and the eight-year-old boy he was attempting to rape. I knew—"

"
Lies
!
Vicious lies," Gordon cut in, acting the outraged innocent. "Only a man such as Montague would pollute a fair lady's head with such vile slander." He turned to Tess, his arms spread in a helpless gesture.
"My Lady?
What have they done to you? Has he threatened you? Now is the time to renounce him and he will never be able to harm or threaten you again."

Tess moved closer against Kenric's side, unaware she was holding his hand until she felt him give hers an encouraging squeeze. She looked up and found the comfort she needed in his eyes. He wasn't ashamed of her or the awful horrors that were her life with the MacLeiths. Nay, she could see only pride in his eyes and it bolstered her courage.

"I knew he would beat me," she continued, as if Gordon hadn't interrupted. "But until that day I never truly feared for my life with his abuse. Even so, I knew he would kill me eventually and did make my own escape from Langston Keep to be spared MacLeith's monstrous plans. The charges my husband makes against Gordon MacLeith are true. Gordon swore never to share my bed in marriage and did promise I would die painfully after delivering an heir by one of his soldiers. Baron Montague saved me that fate and I entered freely into this marriage. Though I knew 'twas a sin to wed one man while betrothed to another, I was sure my king and church would not recognize a man
so
ungodly as Gordon MacLeith."

"He's cowed her into lying," Gordon declared. "A woman can be trained to say anything, and Baron Montague has had many months to turn her against me. You can see by the gown and jewels she wears that he has given her the finery women appreciate so she will support his claim. I am only saddened that she has forgotten the tender moments we shared and the promises made between us. Yet I will surely forgive her, for these charges are too vile to come from this sweet lady's lips. They were placed there by another. Every man here knows how savagely the Butcher deals with his enemies. I did not realize 'ere this night the depths this man would sink to. He produces a lie for every truth I speak and lays vile crimes at my door. I can defend myself only with the truth."

"The church is not convinced in this matter," Cardinal Jerome announced, inclining his head toward Gordon to show his preference. Gordon relaxed visibly.

Kenric's blood ran cold. "Your Highness, I would beg a private word with Cardinal Jerome and yourself."

"The man you accuse has the right to hear any additional charges you would bring against him," Edward warned. Cardinal Jerome nodded in agreement.

" 'Tis
my wife who needs be spared these words."

"Do you agree to this condition?" Edward asked Cardinal Jerome. Perplexed by the strange request, the cardinal nodded. Tess was just as confused and looked up at Kenric with questioning eyes. He patted her hand, a puny comfort, but the only way he knew to tell her without words that everything would be fine. He prayed he was right.

Kenric had been certain the charges against Gordon would convince the church to set aside his betrothal. He had but one weapon left in his arsenal. If that failed, he would be forced to fight for Tess, not with words, but with his sword. He almost hoped it came to that, even though it would mean excommunication and exile for them both.

Edward ordered Fitz Alan to take Tess a few paces away and motioned to Gordon to back up several paces. Kenric stepped up to the dais. The two men leaned close to listen to Kenric's whispered words, every ear in the hall also straining to hear. The crowd grew restless as the minutes dragged by. When they finally broke apart, both king and cardinal looked amused by whatever they had learned, Baron Montague appeared uncertain, while Gordon MacLeith looked downright uncomfortable.

Edward motioned Tess forward again with a wave of his hand, but stayed Kenric when he moved toward his wife. "You will stay here, Kenric, by my side, where all can see that you do not interfere with your wife's answers." To Gordon, he said, "Cardinal
Jerome,
and I have decided that Kenric's words will remain private for the time being, but you will be made aware of them before any decision is made.

"There are a few more questions you must answer, Lady Tess, in light of what your husband has just revealed," Edward told her. Tess nodded anxiously, looking to Kenric for support. He gave her an encouraging smile that didn't fool Tess for a minute. He was worried about whatever was afoot. "First, your husband has said that he was anxious to wed you from the moment you met. Did you readily agree to wed Baron Montague when you first learned of his desire to marry you?"

Tess frowned, trying to puzzle out why the king would ask such a question. She could only assume the correct answer was "yes," but could not quite bring
herself
to lie outright to her king. Her eyes shifted nervously as she sought an honest answer that would not damn her husband. "I became aware of the wisdom of such an alliance very quickly, Your Highness."

"But did you agree to the marriage from the very start, when the wedding was first suggested?"

Tess paused a moment, long enough to catch a fat strand of hair and begin twisting it in her fingers. "Aye, Your Highness, I agreed right from the start."

Cardinal Jerome looked startled by her answer, the king very pleased. Tess couldn't help but smile over the approval she saw in Kenric's eyes. But the elation she felt was short-lived and soon turned to cold dread.

"Your husband says differently. Are you telling me the full truth, Lady Tess?" Edward questioned gently.

Her hands fell from her hair and she bowed her head in shame.
"Nay."

Edward tried to give her an honorable means of excusing the lie. "Did you object at first because of your betrothal to Gordon MacLeith?"

"In part," she replied, still unable to meet her leader's eyes. She was certain she'd never be able to look another person in the eye for the rest of her days, for she would be branded a liar. A liar who lied to a king, no less! She mumbled the full reason for objecting to her marriage, yet so quietly that Edward made her repeat the excuse. Her voice was louder, yet just as pitiful. "I thought he ate little babies for his dinner and drank the blood of his enemies. I did not think he would make the best husband."

Smothered giggles came from several corners but laughter didn't erupt in the hall until Edward's face creased into a smile. But he didn't stop there. Nay, the king laughed outright at her heartfelt confession until tears ran down his cheeks.

"My first impression was quite wrong,
Your
Highness. My lord Kenric is a very fine husband." She turned to glare at several courtiers who were still laughing. "Kenric of Montague is the very
best
of husbands! He is the kindest, gentlest man I have ever known." For some reason, everyone thought this was almost as funny. Tess didn't understand that reaction until she realized she'd just called the Butcher of Wales a "kind" and "gentle" man. "Of course, he is also a warrior and can be ruthless and bloodthirsty when the occasion warrants."

This time no one waited for the king to start laughing. Courtiers who stood perfectly posed just moments before now leaned on each other for support. The staid bishops tried to cover their faces with one or both hands but everyone could see their shoulders shaking. Even Cardinal Jerome was smiling and his round belly jiggled suspiciously. Only two people other than Tess found little humor in her remarks.
Gordon and her husband.
She didn't care what Gordon thought, but she was good and worried by Kenric's glare. She bowed her head and prayed for the floor to open up and swallow her whole.

"I am relieved to learn my kind and gentle baron can be ruthless and bloodthirsty when need be," Edward said at last, though he immediately fell into another round of chuckles that took several more minutes to contain. He finally sighed long and hard, his expression growing serious again. "Now, Lady Tess, you must tell us if your husband has ever
beat
you."

"Nay, never," she said firmly, hoping the king's other questions would be so easy. She folded her hands and started to relax, answering just as truthfully when he asked the same question about Gordon. "Aye, Gordon raised his fist against me many times, Your Highness."

"She continues to lie," Gordon interrupted, waving his hand through the air as if to dismiss her answer.
" 'Tis
obvious from the lie she was just caught in that she will say anything to protect Baron Montague."

Edward ignored Gordon's outburst and kept his attention on Tess. "On the night of your escape, Lady Tess, did you meet with anyone other than your husband or his man in the forests outside Langston Keep?"

Tess's eyes flew to the king then to Kenric, frantically searching for an answer. She didn't care why the question was asked, or what sin of purgatory she would burn in for lying. Her uncle's life depended on the secret being kept. She shook her head but twisted her hair feverishly.
"Nay, no one else.
Only my husband and Roger Fitz Alan were in the woods that eve."

Gordon gaped at Tess, his mouth open in surprise. One finger pointed accusingly toward her. "She is lying! She had an accomplice."

"You will remain silent or be taken from the hall," Edward warned quietly.

Gordon scowled and lowered his head to sulk. The king asked six more questions before Gordon's head jerked up again, his startled gaze meeting Kenric's in a moment of understanding. Kenric smiled.

The king held up the document with the four signed confessions. "Are the charges made tonight against Gordon MacLeith true to your knowledge, Lady Tess?"