Lion Heart (35 page)

We returned to our chambers to dress for dinner, and Rob smiled, coming to me. “We did well today,” he told me, putting
his arms round my waist and kissing my neck.

I smiled, twisting to meet his lips instead. He kissed me full, catching my back with his full strength and pulling me off the ground. I broke the kiss, then thought better of it, kissing the corner of his mouth. “We did,” I agreed. “But I think you should go to dinner alone.”

He put me down. “And where exactly will you be?”

“London,” I told him. “Allan has a friend there—she helped us once. She'll have access to a ship, and she'll know people we can trust to steal the ransom for us.”

He sighed. “I don't know about this plan, Scarlet.”

My shoulders lifted. “We have to get the money away from him. If Prince John controls the ransom, my father will never return, Prince John will be unstoppable, and you and I won't survive. Nottingham won't survive. All this courting favor and being a good little noble—it won't matter. If we can't get the money away from him, we don't have a chance.”

He nodded. “I know. I just cannot believe we are planning to steal from our country. And that somehow, that may make us patriots instead of traitors.” He kissed my forehead. “I don't know if you should go to London alone.”

“Allan and David will come with me,” I told him. “You have to stay here and make excuses.”

His throat bobbed, and he looked at me, still holding me close. “Scar . . . you have to be careful, all right?” he
murmured to me.

My eyebrows pulled together, but I nodded.

“I've only just married you,” he said. “I can't lose you now.” His eyes shut, and his forehead pressed to mine. “You know there's a chance you're already with child, don't you? So just . . . just think about that before you run into danger, yes?”

I shut my eyes too. “All the more reason to do this now,” I told him.

He nodded against me. “All right. Go. Be back as soon as you can.”

I let go of him, digging through his things and finding a black tunic and pants, tugging on my leather boots and a heavy cloak. When I opened my door, Allan were smiling and David were slapping his hand away.

“My lady,” David said, bowing to me.

“My lady,” Allan said, mocking a curtsy.

“Let's go see Kate,” I told them.

“No,” Kate said, striding down the dock and away from us. “Absolutely not.”

“Kate!” Allan protested.

She stopped, spinning on her heel to push her finger at his chest. “Are you
mad
?” she demanded. “Steal from the royal treasury? Steal from the king's ransom?”

“Not steal it as such,” I said, peering round Allan on the narrow dock. “More like hold it until he shows his true colors.”

“Until
Prince John
, the man who cut off the fingers of his own niece shortly before trying to murder her, figures it out, you mean?” She shook her head and stomped up the gangplank of the ship. There were children on board her boat, some older, most younger.

I started up the plank, but Allan put his arm out across my chest to stop me.

David pushed him off. “Don't touch her, Allan,” he snapped.

“It's very bad form to board a ship without permission, lady thief,” Allan told me.

Kate stood on the deck of her ship, her arms crossed. “Permission not granted,” she told me. “You want all of us to risk our lives? You'd kill us all.”

“You're awful cavalier with their lives already, doing what you do,” I told her. “Don't pretend you lot shrink from danger.”

She scowled. “I don't make decisions for them. We'll discuss it, and I'll let you know.”

“We don't have long.”

“There is always enough time to let people make their own choice,” she said. “Or we're not doing it.”

I sucked in a breath. “Fine. Let me know as soon as you can.” I looked to Allan, and he nodded once. “Allan will come back for your decision.”

She nodded, and didn't move from her ship as we left, darkness falling on our heels.

CHAPTER

The next morning, Rob and I were bare dressed when Margaret sent us word that her father were meant to arrive within the hour. We went to her chambers together, and found Winchester stalking the halls before her room like a lion.

“Quincy,” Rob said.

Winchester stopped. He looked like he hadn't slept.

“What are you doing?” Rob asked.

“Her father will arrive soon,” Winchester said. “I'm just . . . thinking. What to say. How to convince him. What Prince John could have possibly offered him.”

“Winchester,” I said. “You must offer him a show of strength. He won't respond to your feelings for her—you know that. Or he would never have agreed to such a match in the first place.”

Winchester drew a breath, his whole chest heaving up.

Rob glanced at me and stepped closer to Winchester, talking to him quiet with his hand on his shoulder, and I knocked at Margaret's door. A servant answered, but Margaret emerged a moment later.

She saw Winchester, and Rob stepped aside as she walked toward him. He bent to her, kissing her.

I heard the servant make a noise of surprise, but I glared at her and she ducked back into the room.

Rob took my hand as Margaret let go of Winchester, and he wiped a tear off her cheek, staring at her. “I won't let this happen,” he murmured to her.

She nodded, kissing him quick once more. “You shouldn't be here when he arrives.”

“I don't care. I will be anyway,” he told her.

She smiled at him.

“As will we,” Rob told her.

She looked at us like she hadn't noticed us before, and she nodded. “He'll be here any moment,” she said.

I nodded, and Winchester offered her his arm.

We were all quiet as we walked through the palace to the courtyard where we had been received. To my surprise, Isabel were there, standing tall with her flock behind her as the gates opened and riders came through.

The Earl of Leicester rode up to us, taking a moment to look over the assembled people before dismounting. He weren't caked with dust from the road, so I rather thought he cleaned himself—or changed his clothes—before entering the palace.

He gave his horse to one of the servants that ran up to help him, and turned his eyes to Isabel. He gave her a deep bow.

“My lady Princess,” he greeted.

She bobbed her head. “Your Grace,” she said.

Margaret stepped forward and he embraced her, kissing her cheek. “Margaret, you look well,” he told her.

“Thank you, Father,” she said soft.

She stayed to the side of him, and he looked at Rob, but his gaze settled on Winchester. Leicester bowed his head, but didn't bow, and Winchester did the same. “My lord Leicester,” he said.

“Winchester. Surprised to see you out here.”

“I escorted your daughter from the queen mother's side to London,” he said. “A happy task.”

Leicester's eyes settled on Rob, and then on me. He looked at my scar, and I saw his eyes run down my arm to where my hand were hidden in my skirts. “You must be the Earl and Lady of Huntingdon,” he said, his voice careful and even.

I curtsied to him, and Rob bowed. “My lord,” Rob greeted.

He glanced about, though we were in a very open space and were the only ones there. “Where is young de Clare? He did not come to greet me?”

“Lord de Clare has little in the way of graces to recommend him,” Isabel said.

Margaret looked down, and the earl took this in as well. “Hm,” he said.

“My lord, my servants will lead you to a room to refresh yourself,” Isabel said. “Or, if you would prefer, we would be
honored for you to join us in the gardens. My ladies and I were just going for a walk.”

“I would prefer to walk,” he said, patting his legs. “Far too long in the saddle.” He turned to Margaret. “But I will need a few moments alone with my daughter,” he said.

Isabel gave a gracious nod and swept off toward the gardens. Her ladies followed behind her, and Isabel shot a glare over her shoulder at me.

“Come along, Quincy,” Rob said. “We can't wait here for her.”

Winchester's eyes were hard, watching Leicester. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “No, this cannot go on a moment longer.”

Rob reached for his arm, but Winchester shook him off, striding forward. “My lord, before you speak with your daughter, I must insist on a private audience with you.”

Leicester looked at Winchester and paused a long moment. “Margaret, go with Huntingdon. I will meet you in the gardens.”

I drew a long breath as Margaret came toward us. She raised her chin, walked forward, and though I couldn't say the same, she never turned round once as we walked out of the courtyard and into the gardens.

When Leicester came out, Winchester weren't with him. Leicester nodded to Margaret, flicking his fingers at her like a dog, and at his command, she went.

The first few words of their exchange were too quiet to hear, but she cried, “Father, please!” and everyone in the garden went silent.

“No,” he said sharp. “You will obey me. You will marry de Clare. You will listen to your betters and do as I say!”

“But Winchester is a better man! An earl in his own right already.”

“And you
care
for him,” Leicester snarled. “Do you not think I've heard of your wanton ways? The prince himself came to me, telling me of your behavior. The queen has written to me to say she wishes to attend the wedding, and if that were not so, you would marry de Clare tomorrow, my girl. No more of your protestations.”

“Father, please—” she begged.

He slapped her.

I ran forward, stepping in front of Margaret. She curled herself, sobbing free, against my back. “Lady Huntingdon—” Leicester started.

“Scarlet,” Rob said, coming to me. “Take Margaret inside. Now.”

I met Rob's eyes, and his blue oceans were hot with anger. I nodded once, glaring at Leicester.