Free Bond of Blood by Roberta Gellis Page A

was separated from Leah by the seating arrangements of the table, he watched her with a look of avidity that did not, to Edwina's limited knowledge, augur satisfaction.
    "Lord Radnor," Pembroke called across Edwina to him, "you go to the summoning of the barons this summertide. What do you think Stephen wants?"
    "What does he always want but money and men? What he hopes to achieve when he knows that he has let all power slip from him is more my question. He has probably heard the rumor of Henry's coming and, I can but believe, seeks to gauge the support he will have or seeks by bribes and intimidation to gather more."
    "So I think too. But why, when you believe this and you know he cannot compel you, do you go? I do not."
    "He goes," growled Gaunt, "because I say so."
    "Yes, I suppose he would not if you bid him nay, but why do you say so?"
    "Because I have done homage to Stephen. I am his man, damn his eyes, and I will not be forsworn. We are sworn to provide him with men and arms for the holding of our lands and each time we must prove anew to the council that those forces are honestly expended in defence of the realm against the Welsh. It is a waste of time for Cain to go so far, and it puts me to great labor for which I am growing too old in taking his place on the field, but I would not have it said of us that we did not obey our overlord's summons honestly."
    "My father speaks the truth, but there is more in it than that alone. God only knows what imprudences the king may be beguiled into committing—or paid to commit. It is most needful to be there to oversee what occurs and, if necessary, to counter against what is intended. I should think the head sitting a little loose on my shoulders if I were not there when the wolves gathered."
    "Your head may sit a little loose on your shoulders through being there."
    "Mayhap. But I may be able to ward the blow that will overset it completely if I can see it coming."
    "Ah, well, you know best the state of these matters. I would not run when Stephen called unless it suited my purpose." Pembroke's eyes held an odd, calculating expression. "But in these times, would it not be better to leave your wife behind?"
    "Oh no!" The protest was startled out of Leah who had been listening intently. She covered her lips with her hand immediately and drew back, but not quickly enough to escape the backhand blow her father dealt her.
    Almost before the smack had landed, Radnor was on his feet, his hand fumbling for the sword that was unaccustomedly missing from his side.
    "How dare you!" His voice was choked with rage. "My wife! How dare you strike my wife!" Radnor would have launched himself bodily at his prospective father-by-marriage, but Edwina stood before him, clinging to his arms, and Gaunt had interposed his own body in front of Pembroke.
    Leah cried out in agony, "Oh, my lord, I pray you—" and the men at the long tables in the hall began to growl and rise.
    Pembroke, yellow-pale, forced himself to laugh heartily. "Such a to-do over a slap to a girl." And then as Cain snarled like an animal and threatened to break from Edwina's grasp, "Nay, nay—I beg your pardon, Lord Radnor, but think you, she has been my daughter longer than she has been betrothed to you, and it is not my custom to be said nay in my own household."
    Slowly the alarming red of Lord Radnor's scars faded to their normal white. "No doubt that is true, and I beg pardon in my turn for offering you violence in your own home. But her behavior is my problem now. While I am here, I pray you, let me attend to it." They all resumed their seats; Leah could eat no more, however, and although Cain went on with his meal he had little enough appetite and his lips were set in grim lines.
    Pembroke shook his head, wondering what had caused Lord Radnor's excitement. He could only decide that his future son-by-marriage had a tremendous sense of possession. What he failed to see, never having experienced anything similar himself, was