Noble Hearts 03 - The Courageous Heart (15 page)

“Sir Crispin and Lord John. You stand accused of treason. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

Ethan took a breath and faced his old rivals. “King Richard says that you’ve been accused of treason. He wants to know what you have to
say in your defense.”

“We didn’t do bloody anything and you know it, mate!” Jack snapped at Ethan.

“Jack,” Crispin warned him. He met Ethan’s eyes with all the ferocity of a wolf that knew it was cornered. “Tell his majesty that Lord John and I are true and loyal subjects. Our positions may have been bestowed by Prince John, but it is England we are loyal to.”

Ethan’s glance drifted past Crispin’s shoulder to Joanna. Her eyes were wide and round and her mouth was pressed in a tight line, as though she held in a scream. His heart hammered against his ribs. He turned to the king.

“Sir Crispin avows that he is loyal to you, my liege, even though it was your brother who appointed him and Lord John to their current positions.” He shouldn’t be doing this. He shouldn’t lift a finger to help the man who killed his father
and stole his land
.

Joanna was still watching him, her desperation glowing in her face.
His chest constricted.

“Your majesty, the earl is lying.”

Ethan straightened and turned to
Matlock
. The man wore a bitter frown and clutched
his hands in fists at his sides
.

“Oh?” Richard asked him.
“And what gives you the authority to say that, Sir Stephen?”

Matlock colored.
“Isn’t it obvious
, your majesty
? I mean, the earl and his peasant would say anything to escape the block, wouldn’t they?”

Richard turned
to Ethan. “What do you think?”

Ethan’s itching back made him squirm and shift his weight. “I don’t know, my liege.” He fought not to look at Joanna. “Treason is serious matter.” It was the bla
ndest comment he could muster.

“I have proof, your majesty!” Matlock pressed on.

Pennington arched an eyebrow and turned to stare at his friend as though it was news to him.

“What kind of proof do you have?”
the king asked.

“
I … I
have letters, your majesty,” Matlock revealed.
“
Letters sent by the earl and Lord John to your brother detailing a plot to have you assassinated.”

A gasp went through the room.
Pennington frowned
,
then covered the expression with a benign smile.
Ethan dropped his shoulders, mouth parting in surprise. He stole a glance to Joanna. She had failed to mention that Crispin and Jack were actually guilty of the crimes they had been accused of.

“What is he saying?” Crispin was bold enough to ask in spite of the swords all around him ready to strike him down.

Ethan scowled and answered, “He says he has letters written by you and Jack to Prince John that show you are part of an assassination plot?”

“Lies!” Crispin shouted as Jack barked, “Oy!” and Aubrey growled in protest.

It was Joanna’s voice saying, “It’s not true,” that Ethan heard above the rest.

Et
han rubbed a hand over his face.
The
itching down his back
grew
unbearable
, like nerves before a siege
. He owed nothing to Crispin or Jack or even Aubrey.
The vengeful looks they shot him proved just what they thought of him.
The more he got involved the worse it would be for him.
But Toby would have told him it was his duty t
o stand up for what was right.

Joanna’s steadfast eyes held him
. It had felt like home to kiss
her
again
, to hold her in his arms
.
Like things had been between them.
Like Windale was just over the horizon.
He sucked in a breath.

“They say that there are no such letters, my liege, that they are innocent.” Damn Joanna for putting him in this spot, for making him care.

“Now who’s lying?”
Matlock
snorted.

“Who
is
lying?” King Richard asked.

“They are, obviously.”

“Alright.” Richard nodded. “Show me the letters.”

Matlock
dissolved into a nervous laugh. “The thing is, your majesty, they’re not exactly … here.”

A spark of odd hope rushed through Ethan
. He turned to study Crispin and Jack again. They watched the interplay on the dais with anxious confusion.

“Bring them to me then,” Richard went on.

“I will
, your majesty.”
Matlock
bowed low. “
But it may take some time
.”

“You don’t have any letters.” Ethan went out on a limb and challenged
Matlock
in English
.
He was rewarded by a faint smile of hope lighting Joanna’s face. To the king he said, “
My liege, s
hould the
se men be held without evidence?
”

“I tell you, we have evidence!” Matlock insisted
, forgetting to speak French
.
“That jumped-up peasant is a murderous conspirator!” He pointed straight to Jack. Jack bristled, looking as much like an offended nobleman as Ethan had ever seen.

“That man is your son-in-law.” Ethan threw the truth out there
in French
to see what Richard would make of it.

“Is he?”
Richard grinned at the gossip.
“How exciting!”

“He is a pretentious peasant who fornicated with my rebellious daughter, your majesty,” Matlock seethed.

Richard wasn’t moved. “
Is your daughter a traitor as well?
Your whole family?
”

Matlock’s jaw dropped open but he had no reply.

The king shifted impatiently. “Bring her here so that we can question her about her husband’s treason.”

Matlock’s eyes shot straight to Ethan. “I don’t know
where she is
, your majesty. Perhaps Sir Ethan can tell us.”

Ethan did his level best to look surprised. “I don’t know where
the lady
Madeline is.” He shrugged for effect. Matlock didn’t buy it for one minute.
Judging by his narrowed eyes, neither did Pennington.
The man had been silent for far too much of the exchange. It couldn’t be a good sign.

“Why would Sir Ethan know your daughter’s whereabouts?” Richard asked.

“Because he
’s hiding her
.” Matlock put the pieces together with a scowl. He ground his fist into his palm.

“Ethan?” Richard questioned him.

Ethan shrugged. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

H
e checked on Joanna
across the room of nobles
. Her hope had disappeared into fearful confusion as the conversation had gone on in French without her.

“Pennington, you’re right,” Richard went on.

“Your majesty?”
Pennington perked up. Ethan straightened and frowned.

“This is far too confusing to solve today.” Richard cleared his throat. “Take the prisoners back to the dungeon. We will set a date for a formal trial
to take place in one month
. That should give you time to produce your letters of evidence,” he said to Matlock. “Take them away.”

The soldiers closed in on Crispin and Jack grabbing them and dragging them off. Aubrey was hoisted over the shoulder of her
soldier
again, shouting in protest. Joanna panicked, frozen to her spot, pleading silently with Ethan
to do something
.

“Could we leave the L
ady Aubrey here, your majesty?” Pennington rushed to ask before Aubrey was carried off.

“You there, bring the lady back,” Richard ordered then turned to Pennington to ask, “What is this about, Arthur?” as the guard carried her to the dais.

“No! No!” Aubrey reached for Crispin until the soldiers disappeared around the corner with
him
and Jack. Then she twisted to face Pennington, chest heaving, eyes fierce. “I will
never
submit to you!
Never!
”

Pennington laughed as if Aubrey was joking. Cold fingers of dread added to the itching down Ethan’s back. There was a level of interplay between Aubrey and Pennington that went far deeper than the fiasco
they had all just witnessed
. The idea made Ethan sick.

“Your majesty,” Pennington
smiled
at Aubrey as he spoke to the king in French. “The Lady Aubrey and I are old friends. She isn’t involved in this treason mess at all. Why don’t we save the crown the cost of keeping her locked up and have her released into my custody, eh?” He rolled the chess piece he still carried between his fingers.

“I don’t see why not.” Richard shrugged.

“My liege,” Ethan
spoke
before Richard could issue any orders. His heart pounded
at the height the stakes had risen to
. “Lady Aubrey is an old childhood friend of mine. She’s Geoffrey’s sister. If she’s released to anyone it should be to me.
Let me take care of her.
”

Pennington’s oily grin dropped. He glared at Ethan, dull patches of red growing on his face. “I
f I may
, your majesty
,
I have a vast and comfortable estate right here in London.
The countess would be my pampered guest. Judging by the state of Sir Ethan’s dress he doesn’t have two marks to rub together let alone the means to host a woman like the countess. And I have it on good authority that he’d been dispossessed.
In fact, Windale manor is now in the hands of Lady Aubrey’s husband. I’m concerned he could do the fair maiden harm in revenge.
”
H
e
darted a smug grin at Ethan as though he’d outmaneuvered him
.

Ethan wouldn’t fall for the ploy.
“To be honest, m
y liege, I’ve been hearing rumors about Pennington’s character that concern me.
I don’t believe that
his
intentions towards the lady are honorable.
His appetites are notorious.
”

The room full of nobles ate the scene up
with giddy whispers
. Joanna watched with panic in her eyes.

“How dare you?” Pennington shouted in mock offense. The bitter flash in his eyes told Ethan he was playing a game more dangerous than any crusade battle. “I can assure you, your majesty, that my intentions are the purest of pure.”

“As are mine, my liege. Lady Aubrey is a dear friend. I wouldn’t harm a hair on her head.”

Both men turned to the king.

Richard stroked his goatee. “Well this is interesting.” He studied Aubrey. “She’s beautiful, I’ll give you that, but really, lads, there are much more attractive and well-mannered ladies
and gentlemen
here at court.” He punctuated his comment with a laugh.

“There are, my liege,” Ethan rushed to agree with him. His eyes automatically flew to Joanna. “But as I said, Lady Aubrey is Geoffrey’s sister, and since his death a few years ago she has no one without her husband.”

Richard’s face fell. “I’m sorry to hear about Geoffrey.”

“She does have friends, your majesty.” Pennington hadn’t given up yet. “I’ve been her friend for years, ever since the death of her brother.
I’ve visited Derby several times.
”

Richard held up his hand. “Translate for me, Sir Ethan.” To Aubrey he said, “Both of these men have offered to be your champion, to have you released into their care. Which would you prefer to go with?”

Pennington’s face fell. Ethan grinned in victory.

“The king says he’ll release you to one of us,” he told Aubrey. “Who would you like to come home with?”

Still panting, Aubrey
glanced between the two of them. Her lips twisted in a grimace. “Tell the king that I would rather stay locked in the Tower,” she sneered.

Ethan lost his grin. The nobles closest to the dais who had heard the exchange lau
ghed.

Swallowing his pride, Ethan turned to the king and was forced to admit, “The lady says she w
ould rather stay locked in the T
ower.” Richard bubbled into a laugh to match his courtiers. “I’m sure she just wants to be near her husband is all.”

“I’m sure that’s it.” King Richard
chuckled
and slapped Ethan on the back. “Enough of this. Take the charming Lady Aubrey back to her cell,” he ordered her guard, but stopped him when the man tried to lift her over his shoulder with, “Gently! Untie her. She will be our guest at court. Find her something nicer to wear and get her cleaned up.”