Page 39 of The Earl

“My lord, ’tis madness. He is as like to murder you as to offer the support you seek. Your father will rise from his grave to kill you himself.”

It was a true enough statement. If his father had been alive, he would indeed have forbidden the action Conrad was about to take. And it wouldn’t matter if Conrad reminded him of the petty nature of the fight that lasted for decades. Or if he explained that Lord Lindemere’s support was necessary for the success of their rebellion. And to ensure he and the others did not face the king’s wrath for having defied him.

But Conrad agreed with Ansel about one thing.

None of that would have mattered to his father. He would have preferred to lose the war than treat with the man who had been responsible for his nephew’s near brush with death. It was Lord Lindemere’s complaint, and his cousin’s subsequent tangle with the king, that had caused him to bring two hundred lanced men to court. That had nearly resulted in his father being expelled.

But Conrad was not his father.

“Choose no more than four men to accompany me. Tell Terric and the others we should not be delayed by more than a sennight.”

Ansel glared at him in response.

“We have no choice.” Conrad stood.

“And Lady Cait?”

Would she still be awake? Likely not at this hour, but he would soon find out.

“She comes with me.”