Gavin's mouth tightened. "I nearly sent the man to his grave. My hands were thus about his skinny neck. "
"Nearly?" Henry bellowed. "Why in the blazes did you not rid me of that pestilence-and yourself of the same man who has taken so much from you?"
"I could have, my lord. . . but she begged me stay my hand, and I did. "
"Surely she does not care for his health. There was fear in her eyes when I mentioned his name. "
"She is murderously afraid of the man, and moreso now that she has felt the madness again. But she is a nun-or meant to be-my liege, and she does not believe in wanton killing. She. . . prays for the souls of men of violence. Those such as you and I. "
Henry gave him an assessing look. "You stayed your hand at the throat of your deepest enemy because a woman begged you to? You, Mal Verne-you who have been made a cuckold, a near-murderer, a laughing-stock by that man?" He scratched his wiry copper hair, shaking his head. "I would have rewarded you greatly should you have relieved my kingdom of such a pestilence. "
Gavin swallowed annoyance at the reminder of de Belgrume's sins upon himself: all of them, and, too, the damage done to his cousin Judith. "Ah, but then you-in your infinite quest for justice-would have had to throw me in the dungeon for murder," he reminded the king.
"Many in the land know de Belgrume is mad-with all of his talk of finding the secrets of the ancients and turning metals into gold. "
"Aye. The man has the flame of madness in his eyes that was not there even six moons ago. He spoke as if he was doing the Will of God, as if he had some power from the Almighty behind him," Gavin replied, his face settling into soberness. "Many might know he is mad, as you have said, but others do not believe it, and are tricked into believing his work. " He didn't need to mention Nicola or Gregory as two who had fallen to that trap.
"We know he has been the cause of deaths, and unnecessary warring in the south," Henry countered, sloshing wine into his cup. "And there is more, we suspect-but cannot prove. "
"Aye. He is a wily man, taking care to protect himself-else you would have incarcerated him long ago. With no proof, I would be labeled the murderer of an innocent man. " Gavin frowned and directed the conversation away from his own shortcomings and to the purpose which had brought him there. "Madelyne needs to be protected, or he will try to take her again. That's the reason I came back to your presence, your majesty. . . not to have my actions questioned yet again. "
Henry raised a brow at Gavin's tone, but merely replied, "Ah yes. The fair Madelyne. A source of excellent revenue for us now. . . but we will need to find her a husband sooner than I had wished. " Henry drank deeply, glancing at Gavin sidewise as he raised the cup. "It could be a possible task for you. "
Gavin froze, then forced himself to breathe again. "Nay," he said. "You know I have no wish to wed again. And in particular, no wish to wed a nun. Do-"
Henry was stroking his moustache vehemently, his eyebrows raised high. "Gavin, 'tis not like you to jump to such conclusions. I meant not for you to wed with her. I well know that Nicola's infidelity ruined you for any other woman. I meant only for you to find the best man to be her husband. One who can protect her from the madman, and one who does not mind wedding with a nun-a beautiful nun, might I remind you-in exchange for the fiefs that she will inherit when my lands are rid of Fantin de Belgrume. "
Gavin steadied himself against the heavy chair that belonged to Eleanor. "Ah. " He felt foolish at his rash words, then suffocated by the thought that in searching for a proper husband for Madelyne, he would not yet be freed of her presence. Yet, he could not naysay the king when Gavin was the one who'd brought the problem to him. "As you will, my lord. "
"So I leave you with yet another duty, Mal Verne. Two things I ask of you to take some of the weight from my burdened shoulders: find a husband for the nun, and rid me of de Belgrume. Do you not let me learn that he is still here at court! I will not have that madman slithering about my castle!"
"Aye, your majesty. "
"Tavis, you have the right of it. " Fantin's vision swam pink and damp as he dug each of his ten long fingernails-with which he used to pluck the strings of his lute-into his thighs. "I had the girl within my grasp, and Mal Verne interfered. "
The rage still threatened to erupt within him, though he'd kept it at a simmer by fasting and praying for more than a day. Yet, Rufus was not here to lead him in his pleadings to God. . . and thus far, he'd received no response, no acknowledgement from Above. Was God angry with him for failing yet again?
Nay. He could not believe that. He would not believe it. He, who had given his life for this quest in the name of the Lord, would not be forsaken by Him.
"'Twas a great chance you took, entering the king's court," Tavis continued, offering his lord a goblet of wine. His eyes, round and dark and serious, reminded Fantin of the young Gregory, who'd also served him thus.
'Twas yet another reason he hated Mal Verne. Not only had the man had Nicola before Fantin, but Mal Verne had also taken from Fantin the young man he'd thought of as a son-slaughtering him in a battle at one of his holdings.
Tavis waxed eager, but he did not have the cunning and intelligence Gregory had possessed. Had he not been the betrothed of Mal Verne's own cousin-Judith-was that her name? Fantin frowned, trying to recall. It had been so long ago. Nearly four autumns, and the details of that time remained foggy in his mind. All he knew was that Gregory had been taken from him. By Gavin of Mal Verne.
"Aye. None saw me, save Mal Verne and my daughter. . . yet, I'll not risk being seen at court again. " The king had banned him long ago because of an incident in which Fantin had tried to gather a cluster of Henry's own priests to join his holy quest-yet the king still continued to collect rents and taxes from him.
Fantin would not suffer long that indignity. Nay, he would not.
"I'll leave my man Seton de Masin here, and also his cohort James of Mangewode to spy upon the workings here," Fantin decided. "I must return to Father Rufus, for mayhap he will have the answer I cannot find. "
"If we return to Tricourten, my lord, how then will you have your revenge upon Mal Verne?" asked Tavis. "You know he will be here for some time. "
"Aye. Yet whilst he hides behind the skirts of the king, you and I shall plan his demise. And keep a watch over my beloved daughter. Mayhap. . . "
Fantin thought for a moment, his thoughts settling into something clearer. The pink had faded. "Aye, 'tis best. I will stay here for a time-and you with me, Tavis. Instead, I will send de Masin and Mangewode back to Tricourten with a message for Rufus. We'll wait here, in the town, out side of the court where we shall remain unknown. Thus, news of the king will reach us more readily, and de Masin can return with communication from Father Rufus. "
He liked that plan. It felt right. Perch