Page 24

Westminster Palace

“N o one had seen Magnus all night.” A man in a royal tunic, heavily armed, stood in front of Hugh as the sun began to rise over the Thames. “You told us to follow him, but we couldn’t find him, so I sent a few men into London to look for him.”

Hugh was seated upon a cushioned chair while a servant combed his hair with a gilded comb. He had a cup of warmed, watered wine in his hand, and eyed the soldier who had come to report on the movements of Magnus de Wolfe. Oddly enough, the man had been gone all night from his post.

That was damn curious.

“So he wasn’t at Westminster last night,” Hugh said thoughtfully. “Odd for a man sworn to command the royal knights, don’t you think? Where could he have gone?”

The soldier, a big, shaggy man missing his front teeth, shook his head. “His knights are loyal to him,” he said. “I had one of my men ask a knight who nearly punched him in the face for asking.”

“Which knight?”

“De Winter.”

Hugh snorted softly. “De Winter and de Wolfe are thick as thieves,” he said. “He’ll not tell you anything. What about St. Aldwyn?”

“He did punch one of my men.”

Hugh knew he would get nowhere with the royal knights, but he had to try. Ever since he and Magnus had indulged in their contentious discussion, Hugh had grown increasingly obsessed with not only the missing Jewel, but Magnus’ role in the entire situation.

Something just seemed off to him.

It was quite possible that Magnus had no role in Daventry or the missing Jewel, but it was equally possible that something was going on.

Magnus didn’t seem the least bit inclined to look for the missing Jewel, which didn’t make much sense because he was a man known for his chivalry.

He was one of those fools that was kind and gentle with women, and everyone knew it.

Therefore, the fact that he seemed so removed from any concern involving a missing lady simply didn’t make sense.

Hugh was increasingly convinced that Magnus knew more than he let on.

Therefore, Hugh had gathered several royal soldiers, men that he paid directly to do his bidding, to follow Magnus and see what the man was up to.

Unfortunately, they had been unable to find him, and, according to the soldier standing in front of Hugh now, had been out all night looking for him.

That only increased Hugh’s suspicion. He may be ambitious and ruthless, but he wasn’t stupid.

Something told him that when he found Magnus, he would find the missing Jewel.

Not that he blamed Magnus, of course. Hugh had seen the Jewels, at least a few of them, and they were all women of uncanny beauty.

He’d seen the Ruby years ago, and, as he’d told Magnus, she was the most spectacular Jewel of them all.

With Longshanks using them as prizes to men he wanted to reward or men he wanted to bribe, their beauty was legendary.

Perhaps Magnus and all of that softness he displayed toward women had finally been his undoing with a professional courtesan.

Hugh found it rather interesting that a de Wolfe knight would actually succumb to the charms of a professional whore. It only proved one thing:

That Magnus was as mortal as the rest of them.

“So you could not find Magnus all night,” he finally said, mulling over the situation.

“He must come back to Westminster at some point. When he does, make sure you have men follow him. He is clever, so they must be cleverer to stay out of his sight. I suspect that if he thinks he is being followed, I will never know the truth of his activities.”

“But we already know the truth, my lord,” the man said. “You didn’t let me tell you that we discovered where he went because one of my men saw him leaving The Pox at dawn.”

Hugh looked at him in astonishment. “The Pox?” he repeated. “He spent the night at that horrible place? God’s Bones, only the dregs of the earth go into that place.”

The soldier shrugged. “I’ve been there,” he said. “I like it.”

Hugh eyed him. “You have only proven my point,” he said. “Be that as it may, was he alone when he left The Pox?”

The soldier nodded. “He was.”

“There was no woman with him?”

“Not that we saw.”

Hugh sighed sharply. “But this would not be an ordinary woman,” he said. “She would be the most beautiful woman in England. Red hair and blue eyes, the face of an angel. Your man did not see anyone like that?”

The soldier shrugged. “I can ask him.”

“Then ask,” Hugh commanded. Then an idea occurred to him, and he stood up as his servant followed him, heading over to the windows that overlooked the bend in the Thames.

The Pox was along that bend, though too far away from him to really see anything.

“In fact… send your men to The Pox. Tell them to look for a woman of unearthly beauty, with red hair and blue eyes. She is a courtesan, after all. Mayhap she has gone to The Pox because it is her natural setting. A whore looking for more customers. Mayhap Magnus was a customer.”

The soldier was listening carefully. “You want us to find all of the whores at The Pox and bring them to you?”

Hugh nodded. “All of the ones with red hair.”

“It will be done, my lord.”

As the man quit the chamber, all Hugh could do was gaze upon the bend of the River Thames and smile.

Magnus de Wolfe wasn’t going to beat him in this.

Hugh would have the last laugh.

*

“Where have you been?” Denys demanded quietly. “Hugh is looking for you, Magnus.”

Magnus had just returned from Lonsdale, and was barely into the knights’ quarters when Denys was nearly on top of him. There was concern all over the man’s face.

“I went to see the Earl of Hereford and Worcester,” Magnus said, eyeing Denys. “Marcellus de Shera has come back to Westminster with me.”

“De Lohr’s knight?”

“You know the man.”

“Why did he come with you?”

Denys seemed terribly agitated, and Magnus frowned at him. “What is wrong with you, Denys?” he said. “You are as nervous as a cat.”

Denys watched him move from the front door and into his own chamber, the large one off the entry.

The door wasn’t locked because no one in their right mind would enter Magnus’ chambers without being invited, so he pushed the panel open and headed to the table that held a basin, a bucket half-filled with cold water, and other grooming devices.

The first thing he did was dunk his head into the bucket, then he picked up a bar of soap to scrub his hair and face.

All the while, Denys stood there and watched him closely.

“Where did you go last night?” he finally asked.

Magnus rinsed the soap off and grabbed around for a towel before answering. “I was at The Pox,” he said, wiping water from his eyes. He turned to Denys and looked the man in the eye. “Before you ask another question, I was with the lady.”

“All night?”

“All night.”

Denys grunted unhappily and moved to the nearest chair. “I suppose I know what that means,” he said. “But I will tell you that I am surprised. I never thought you were capable of such things.”

Magnus ran the towel over his head and neck slowly. “Of what things?” he said. “Denys, before this goes any further, I should tell you that the situation has changed dramatically.”

“How?”

Magnus paused before answering, trying to be careful in his reply. “Because I have discovered my feelings for her,” he said quietly. “I do not know if this makes the situation better or worse, but somehow… somehow , I am attracted to her. I’ve never felt this way in my life.”

Denys was looking at him with horror. “Are you mad?” he said. “A woman like that is not meant for you.”

Magnus couldn’t look at him. “I know,” he said. “But I cannot help what I feel.”

Denys slumped in the chair, running a weary hand over his face. “Then hiding her wasn’t to save her,” he said. “It was because you wanted her for yourself?”

Magnus shook his head and tossed the towel aside. “Nay, it was to save her at first,” he said. “But somehow, it turned into something else. Something that fills my heart, that makes me feel giddy when I look at her. Something that overwhelms me, and I cannot explain it any better than that.”

“But what of Despenser?”

“Hugh will not take her. I’ll kill him if he tries.”

Denys shook his head slowly. “So you would turn her into a point of contention between you two?” he said.

“Magnus, you may not like the man—hell, I do not like the man—but he is the king’s advisor.

Edward will side with him in any conflict.

You know that. Do not turn this into a battle of wills, because you will lose.

You will lose everything over a woman who has been passed around by lascivious old lords. ”

Magnus looked at him. “Do not speak that way about her,” he said. “She does not deserve the life she has been given. She is as powerless in this as a leaf in the wind.”

“Mayhap so, but your mother will be furious if you marry a whore.”

Magnus stiffened, his jaw twitching dangerously. “I told you not to speak that way about her,” he growled. “I will not tell you again.”

Denys knew he had pushed him a little too far, but he’d done it out of fear. “I am sorry,” he said. “I did not mean to offend, but I am terrified for you, Magnus. Genuinely terrified. You have entered into a dangerous game over a woman you just met.”

“I realize that.”

“Did she seduce you? Is that what happened?” Denys asked, as if there had to be an explanation to Magnus’ behavior. “Because you know she was taught how to do that. It is quite possible she is manipulating you to get what she wants.”

Magnus was close to striking the man. As close as he’d ever been in his life.

Fighting the urge, he turned his back on Denys.

“You do not know what you speak of,” he said.

“Delaina is a woman of grace and brilliance. She is a woman above women. I know I sound as if she has bewitched me, but that is not the case. My eyes are wide open. She is the most magnificent woman I have ever known.”

Denys sighed heavily. “And you’re certain she did not manipulate you into this in order to gain your help?”

“I am certain.”

“But you bedded her. Did she use her courtesan tricks on you in bed?”

There was judgment in that question, and Magnus’ annoyance bloomed. “I had hoped for better from you,” he said. “All you see is what she was, what she was forced to be. She is a woman with a heart and soul, you know. She’s better than you allow.”

“I am not saying she isn’t, but I do not think you are seeing this clearly, Magnus,” Denys said beseechingly. “If I was in this situation, what would you tell me?”

Magnus thought seriously on that. “I would think what you are thinking,” he said. “I would think that you had gone mad. But I would also listen to what you are saying. Do I not get that same courtesy from you?”

“I hear you,” Denys said. “But I think you have let the woman overwhelm you with her sorrows.”

“That is not true.”

“She wants to be free, and she is using you for her own benefit.”

Magnus was finished with the conversation at that point. Disappointed and finished. “If you cannot understand the situation any more than that, then get out,” he said. “I will not discuss this any further with you.”

Denys stood up, looking at Magnus with great sadness. “I am only thinking of you, my friend,” he said softly. “Surely you know that. I do not want to see you ruin everything you have worked for.”

“I am not ruining everything I have worked for,” Magnus said steadily. “That is why I went to see Worcester. That is why I have Marcellus with me. They are going to help me, and I no longer require your services.”

Denys looked at him with bewilderment. “But I am your second-in-command,” he said. “I am your best friend. What do you mean they are helping you? And what do you mean that you no longer require my services?”

Magnus pointed at the door in response, and Denys took the hint. Leaving the chamber, he closed the door quietly behind him.

Magnus lifted his head, tears in his eyes. He knew Denys only had his best interests in mind, but he’d banished him for a reason. Although what Denys had said about Delaina was upsetting, there was more to his reaction than simple offense.

He needed to get rid of Denys.

Magnus was going to go to The Pox, and he didn’t want Denys involved.

He had decided that back at Lonsdale. He wanted the man as far removed from the situation as possible so, if he were ever confronted, he could have plausible deniability.

Denys was right: this was a dangerous game, and Magnus needed to protect him.

Even if Denys didn’t understand that.

After wiping his face one last time with the towel, Magnus began to strip off his clothes, going in search of fresh ones.

He intended to dress quickly in something that wasn’t as identifiable as his royal standard tunic was and head over to The Pox with Marcellus.

If Despenser had men out looking for Delaina, then Magnus was going to have to be very careful from this point forward.

Since Hugh was already looking for him, perhaps his men were too.

The last thing he wanted to do was lead them straight to Delaina.

The situation was becoming more complex by the moment.