Free Silverhawk by Barbara Bettis Page A

the Scots to make certain that doesn’t happen,” Garley added. His attitude bordered on swagger. Giles didn’t like it. His opinion of the man dropped another few notches, if possible.
    Garley was mighty confident of himself. It was obvious he coveted power, and as Langley’s brother-in-law, he would have it. Why the man’s ambition rankled so, Giles couldn’t say, but he’d enjoy quashing it.
    Henry leaned back on the bench and crossed his arms. “It doesn’t make sense. Scotland’s been friendly for years. Even if the marriage won’t take place, why would William want to attack?”
    Osbert opened his mouth to reply, but Garley cut him off. “Hah! Don’t you remember the problem when King Richard came home after he was ransomed? William wanted rights to the border land, but Richard refused him.”
    Giles looked up and surprised Osbert’s stare. It jerked away when Henry posed the very question Giles wanted answered.
    “This king’s man you say is Sir Paxton. Are you sure of him?”
    “It’s Lord Paxton now. Done the king’s bidding for years. Says he was there when King Richard cleaned up the foolishness at Nottingham Castle three years ago. Don’t know, myself. I wasn’t at the Council.”
    Henry’s jaw clenched. A look of pure hatred flared in his eyes before his face calmed into a mask.
    “You were there,” Osbert said. Conversation died as the men focused on Henry. “It was your brother-in-law stood accused of treason.”
    “I was there.” Henry’s voice was hard. “A man who called himself Sir Paxton named my brother-in-law, Sir Roark, a traitor. Wrongly, or he wouldn’t be Lord of Windom today. Sir Paxton. He was John’s man.”
    Osbert stood, hand on hips. “Well, now, he told us all about those days. Admitted he served the wrong brother. But the king took Lord Paxton’s oath of allegiance later, just like he took from Prince John. And John’s fought by Richard’s side faithfully, hasn’t he?”
    Had he? Giles, himself, often wondered.
    “The past don’t matter,” Osbert insisted. “Lord Paxton had the king’s own seal. I don’t doubt his words, and so I told him. Now I put it to all of you. We need to gather our men. I’ve already started.”
    That might explain the added soldiers at Langley; it didn’t explain how Osbert amassed fighters so quickly.
    Something else didn’t make sense. “This isn’t border land,” Giles spoke at last. “Wouldn’t lords to the north be the logical line of defense?”
    Osbert answered, not meeting Giles’ eyes. “Lord Paxton will take the matter to them as he goes, but he needs reinforcements. He stopped here first because my dear wife—my first wife—was his mother’s cousin. He knew he could count on family support.”
    “You are related to this king’s envoy?” Giles asked.
    “Not that it makes a particle of difference to you. Good family, my wife’s. I was lucky to have her. Damned shame she couldn’t give me an heir.” Osbert seemed oblivious that his current bride’s brother stood beside him.
    Garley ignored the slight. He slapped his hand on the table. “Well, I don’t see a problem. Who among us will refuse a direct order from the king?”
    Lips pursed, Giles eased back and waited. The murmured assents settled it.
    “Good.” Osbert had regained his bluffness. “I’ll send a message, let him know we’ll be ready for trouble when it comes.”
    He didn’t say “if,” but “when.” Somebody seemed damned sure of Scotland’s bad intentions in the face of a supposed peace offer.
    Henry remained seated, his eyes fixed on the table, as the others rose. Servants moved about to set up for the newcomers’ meal. Giles waited.
    Finally, Henry lifted his gaze, eyes shuttered. He nodded and rose. “Time to check on my sister. Will you see if the horses are settled in?”
    Giles recognized the order to meet in the stables. From what he’d observed during the meeting, Lord Henry and this king’s man had a history.