Page 16

“M agnus? Are you awake?”

Magnus was, though barely. He’d been awake all night and into the morning, making sure the guests from the feast made it to their carriages safely. What happened once they left Westminster was none of his concern, but making sure they left in one piece was.

So far, everyone had.

“I am,” he said, sitting up on his bed as Denys pushed the door open. He wiped a weary hand over his face, looking at the sunlight in the chamber and squinting. “How long did I sleep?”

“A few hours,” Denys said. “I just rose myself.”

Magnus yawned. “What time is it?”

“Midafternoon,” Denys said. He came into the chamber and shut the door behind him. “I came to tell you that Despenser has summoned you.”

Magnus stopped yawning and looked at him. “When?”

“Just now.”

“After last night, he’s awake?”

Denys shrugged. “Evidently,” he said. “But I would wager to say that Edward isn’t.”

Magnus stood up, still exhausted, and staggered over to a basin of cold water. He splashed it vigorously on his face. “The man won’t be awake for two days after last night’s orgy,” he said. “That means Despenser thinks he is in command.”

Denys sighed. “Of course he does,” he muttered. “He thinks he is in command every time Edward sleeps or gets drunk. Whenever he’s not in his right mind, there is Hugh, trying to gain control of a kingdom.”

“Did he say what he wanted with me?”

“Nay.”

Magnus paused a moment before turning to look at Denys with a degree of suspicion on his face. “I would wager to say I know.”

“What?”

“He wants to know about Lady Delaina.”

Denys frowned in confusion. “Why should he want to know about her?”

Now Hugh’s summons was starting to make some sense, and Magnus picked up a towel to dry his face and hands.

“When I went to tell him about Daventry’s death, her name entered the conversation,” he said.

“I did not tell you this, but Despenser wanted me to bring Lady Delaina to him. I did not, and I am certain he wants to know where she is.”

Denys was still frowning. “Why should he want her?” he asked. “He does not need a woman.”

“Not for himself,” Magnus said, looking at Denys as he wiped off his chin.

“To use her as Longshanks used her. She is a powerful prize for the right man. Lady Delaina told me that Longshanks gathered the most beautiful women he could and turned them into courtesans to suit his politics. I am certain that is what Despenser wishes, also.”

The light of recognition went on in Denys’ eyes. “Ah,” he said. “What are you going to tell him?”

Magnus headed for his trunk where he kept his clean clothing.

“I do not know,” he said, pulling forth a clean tunic.

“I spoke with her at length last night, and she has quite a story to tell. It seems that she has been used as a pawn ever since her father sold her off in payment of a gambling debt.”

Denys grunted softly. “Humiliating,” he muttered. “I never did agree with men who view women as property. I’ve seen it too many times.”

“As have we all,” Magnus said. “My grandfather always treated my mother as if she were the most important thing in the world, the most precious treasure, but he never treated her like property. My father never treated my mother that way, nor any of my sisters. We do not view women that way in my family, so I take issue with men who do.”

“But many men do,” Denys said. “Like Despenser. Whatever he wants her for cannot be good.”

With his tunic pulled over his head, Magnus began to pull on his mail coat and other things that comprised his usual attire as lord commander. “Not him,” he said. “You are the only other person who knows where she is, so do not tell anyone. Do not divulge it, no matter what.”

“I won’t,” Denys said. “But I’m serious, Magnus—what are you going to tell him when he asks? If, in fact, that is why he wishes to see you?”

Magnus shook the mail coat down on his body, moving it into place.

“Firstly, she is nothing to him,” he said.

“She does not belong to him. She does not belong to the Crown. She belongs to Daventry, who is dead, so in truth she would belong to Daventry’s heir, his son, whom she detests. Despenser has no claim over her.”

“Is that what you’re going to tell him?”

Magnus thought on that a moment. “I am going to tell him that she went to Haydon Square,” he said. “She did. She went there. He does not need to know that she fled. If he wants her, he can summon those at Haydon Square and ask them. They will report that she has disappeared.”

Denys nodded. “That is best,” he said. “It is not as if you are lying to the man, for she did go there.”

Magnus went for his boots. “She did,” he said, grabbing the leather shoes. But then he paused, looking at Denys with a puzzled expression. “Why am I doing this? Why am I protecting a woman I do not even know? I’ve never done this before, Denys. Is it because I feel such pity for her?”

Denys’ jaw twitched faintly. “It is because you are a man who knows right from wrong,” he said.

“You have sisters. I have a sister. But Lady Delaina has no one to protect her. You are a chivalrous man, Magnus. You feel pity for her, but you also know that she has been wronged. To tell Despenser where she is would only add to the wrongs committed against her, only this time, you would be complicit.”

Magnus gazed at him for a moment before nodding. “Exactly,” he said quietly. “I needed to hear you say it. I needed to understand it myself.”

Denys slapped him on the shoulder. “What you did not hear me say is that you are doing this because you are attracted to her,” he said softly. “And you must be very, very careful if that is truly the case, Magnus. That kind of attraction will cloud your judgment.”

Magnus knew that. At least, he knew it in theory. He began to put his boots on.

“My mother will murder me if I take up with her,” he muttered, almost under his breath.

“But she is a d’Vant. Did she tell you that?

Her mother was a d’Vant, one of the oldest families in Cornwall.

Some say they descend from a tribe of warlocks who used to populate Cornwall, men bred from incubi and mortal women.

Merlinus Ambrosius was one of these warlocks, you know. King Arthur’s trusted prophet.”

Denys shook his head. “I did not speak with her long enough to know she was a d’Vant,” he said.

“As for being magical… one only has to look at her to see that she is unearthly in her beauty. But if she has magic, I would be very careful, Magnus. Mayhap she has bewitched you. Mayhap that is why you feel as you do.”

Magnus actually considered that for a brief moment before breaking down in a weak grin. “If I were not a man of logic, I might believe that,” he said. “As it is, keep your female hysteria away from me.”

Denys chuckled softly as he headed for the door. “I’ll be at the gatehouse should you need me,” he said. “Otherwise, I wish you well with Despenser. He usually gets what he wants.”

The smile faded from Magnus’ face.

“Not this time.”