Page 37 of Retribution

A voice came from the shadows, back from the same servants’ corridor he’d used to slip into the building, and he turned to see Gerard coming into the light. Interrupted from his thoughts, Aidric wasn’t quite sure what to say. When he didn’t answer right away, Gerard continued.

“I saw the lady depart the hall and then your departure shortly thereafter,” he said. “I followed you here and could hear you two speaking, but I did not hear what was said. What did she say?”

Aidric simply lifted his shoulders. “Baffling things,” he said honestly. “To be truthful, I am trying very hard not to be a fool for this woman, but at this moment, she seemed so genuine.”

“How so?”

He struggled to describe what he’d just experienced. “I have been around more women in the royal court than I can count,” he said. “I’ve seen the manipulators, the ambitious women and how they endeavor to gain their wants. I’ve seen them control men with a smile or a word. The truth is that long ago, I, too, was involved with a woman like that. She was from a family who were allied with mine. I could not see her manipulation of me, but others did. By the time I realized what was happening, it was almost too late. The point is that I’ve spent the last eighteen years being suspicious of every woman I ever come into contact with and I am telling you, from my hardened opinion, that Lady Cleodora is not trying to manipulate or coerce me in any way.”

Gerard was listening intently. “What did she say to you?”

“That the king’s life was in danger,” Aidric said. “She told me to meet her at Adelie’s tomorrow and that she would tell me everything. Now, does that sound like a woman who is trying to get close to me in order to gain access to the king?”

Gerard shook his head. “I do not know,” he said. “I was not there. But we can go to Adelie’s tomorrow and hear what the woman has to say. We can make our judgment based on that conversation.”

Aidric nodded. “Agreed,” he said. “She seemed genuinely frightened of… something. I am well aware that we have a spy close to Cambridge, but he may not know everything. There may be something else going on.”

“That is very true,” Gerard said. “But he is trustworthy, so I believe what he has told us. It will be interesting to see if the lady tells a different story.”

“That does not mean she is lying,” Aidric said, hating that he sounded like he was defending her. “It could simply mean that she was told something different out of the presence of our informant.”

“I would agree with that.”

Aidric eyed him a moment, hesitating before continuing. “Gerard, I realize we do not know one another, but I assure you that I am not a man given to whims,” he said, his voice lowered. “I have historically been resistant to a woman’s charms for the reason I mentioned. But something about Lady Cleodora intrigues me and I fear there may be a point where I will not be strong enough to resist. Since you and I will be involved in this situation, together, I ask you to be truthful with me with anything you hear or see or suspect. It will not disappoint or hurt me. But there may be a point when I am not objective because of my attraction to her. I want to be honest about it. I would not insult you by pretending it did not exist when you can probably see that it does.”

Gerard’s gaze lingered on him. The man had the inherent de Velt trait of two-colored eyes, as almost all of the males in his family line had, but in his case, it was less pronounced than most. He had pale green eyes with a thick, dark brown ring around them, giving him the appearance of a wolf in the wild. His gaze was very piercing, almost feral in nature.

That stare had served him well over the years.

“She is a beautiful woman,” he finally said, a simple statement. “I do not blame you for your attraction to her. But remember who, and what, she is.”

Aidric was nodding even before Gerard finished. “I know,” he said. “She is one of the Seven Jewels of London. She is a highly trained courtesan.”

“She is,” Gerard said. “But she is more than that. The Jewels are trained by Margit Barkwith, a known purveyor of whores, and it is said that she trained the Jewels well in the bedchamber. They are also trained in languages and art, food and culture. She knows more than you could possibly know about such things and that means she is highly educated, highly intelligent.”

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying that even though you believe her to be genuine, she has been trained in every art that is important to our society, including politics,” Gerard said. “She has been trained to coerce and deceive men, Aidric. You must consider the possibility that she wants you to think she is genuine.”

Aidric didn’t like to admit that he had conceivably underestimated her, but Gerard had a point. “As I said,” he muttered, “I will need you to point such things out. You will not disappoint or offend me. But I am man who knows my limitations when it comes to women. I will not pretend that I do not.”

“And I admire that,” Gerard said. “A man who knows his limitations is not a fool.”

“Most of the time, anyway.”

Gerard flashed a grin in the darkness. The two of them were establishing more of a relationship now, a working relationship, and trust was part of that. Gerard already knew, from Orion, that Aidric was a no-nonsense, capable commander. If he’d been an idiot, Orion would have been the first one to say so, but he hadn’t, so that gave Gerard faith that Aidric was competent in any serious matter. The fact that he was admitting his shortcomings was a good sign.

The man had the capacity to listen and learn.

Sometimes, in a dangerous situation, that was the best attribute of all.

“Come,” Gerard said after a moment. “Let us return to the hall. Edward is missing two of his guard and we do not want him thinking we have abandoned him.”

Aidric simply nodded and headed back the way they’d both come, down a dim passageway and narrow stairwell that led them to a servants’ door. From there, it was a simple trek back to Westminster Hall where the music had grown loud and dancing was now proceeding, and a certain young woman had resumed her seat beside the man who wanted to not only control his world, but the world of others.

And he was willing to go to great lengths to do it.

CHAPTER TWELVE