horses wander from the trail. Once the disappearance had been discovered, precious time had been lost retrieving the two stragglers.
In the process of rejoining the party, Sutherland’s horse had thrown a shoe. Haven sent Bergen off to find the nearest village with a smithy and get the horse reshod. Trouble followed the widow, and Haven began to believe she existed just to aggravate him.
Is it possible that the widow somehow loosened the horse’s shoe unobserved? He shook his head at the ridiculous image. She’s driving you mad, de Sessions. No doubt that’s how she sent Roger to treason. She drove him mad. Do not allow her to do the same to you.
Haven resigned himself to the necessity of traveling alone with the widow to Chester. That moment when he had seen her bruises and more, he had proven to himself that he was immune to her wiles, despite his strong physical reaction to her. It seemed he was the only one of his men to resist. Even Soames had come under the widow’s influence. Haven recalled his second-in-command’s disturbing offer of service to the widow.
Haven surveyed the grassy bank where his men waited. Some time would pass before Bergen came back and they could turn their steps again toward Chester. Perhaps he should speak to Soames about the widow. As if conjured by thought, Soames approached.
“Please you, sir, I would have private speech with you.”
Haven nodded, checking to see that they would not be overheard.
“Lindel reports finding tracks to the north.”
“What direction are they traveling?”
“The tracks parallel ours.”
"How many men?”
“Fifteen.”
“Did you have a man backtrack this trail?”
“Aye, I sent Lindel to follow the trail forward and Sutherland to backtrack.”
“Why Sutherland?”
“He needed reminding where his duty lay.”
“Good. The widow has charmed too many of my men into forgetting their duty.”
“Sir, I think the problem lies elsewhere.”
Haven paused. The last time Soames had contradicted him was before the battle where Haven and Roger had saved the day and won their spurs. But the cost had been great. Afterward, Soames, who had been his mentor to that point, had praised Haven’s prowess and fighting skill, then told him how foolish he had been. The criticism had hurt at the time, but he had never again rushed blindly into battle.
“I value your counsel, Soames. Tell me where you think the problem lies.”
Soames shifted and looked at the ground, then off into the distance, before looking squarely at Haven. “Sir, you know that nearly all Edward’s court calls you his most true and perfect knight.”
Haven felt heat rise on his neck. “Aye. It’s a silly, womanish notion that a man as unsaintly as I might be perfect.”
“You got that reputation for perfection because of your pleasing bed manner with the women. They gave it you. And the men, seeing your success with the women, agreed.”
“’Tis no less silly.”
“Lady Genvieve might agree with you. But your men hold you in high regard nonetheless. They have noticed that, with Milady Genvieve, your manner is less than gentle.”
“And this is cause for acting like fools around her?”
“They are proud of their service with a man of your repute. They think you are still overcome by grief at Dreyford’s death. They want the widow to believe about you as they do.”
“They should not. The woman led her husband to treason.”
“So you and our king believe. Have you proof of her perfidy?”
Haven gave a quiet snarl. “Look you what became of Roger Dreyford.”
“Despite your love for him, Dreyford had a passion for stories and danger. He would have come to a bad end regardless.”
“His wife should have influenced him to remain loyal to his king and satisfied his passions at home.”
“Are you so certain she did not try?”
“On the scaffold, Roger said he could not trust his wife.”
“And on the basis of Roger’s word, you treat Lady Genvieve as if she
In the process of rejoining the party, Sutherland’s horse had thrown a shoe. Haven sent Bergen off to find the nearest village with a smithy and get the horse reshod. Trouble followed the widow, and Haven began to believe she existed just to aggravate him.
Is it possible that the widow somehow loosened the horse’s shoe unobserved? He shook his head at the ridiculous image. She’s driving you mad, de Sessions. No doubt that’s how she sent Roger to treason. She drove him mad. Do not allow her to do the same to you.
Haven resigned himself to the necessity of traveling alone with the widow to Chester. That moment when he had seen her bruises and more, he had proven to himself that he was immune to her wiles, despite his strong physical reaction to her. It seemed he was the only one of his men to resist. Even Soames had come under the widow’s influence. Haven recalled his second-in-command’s disturbing offer of service to the widow.
Haven surveyed the grassy bank where his men waited. Some time would pass before Bergen came back and they could turn their steps again toward Chester. Perhaps he should speak to Soames about the widow. As if conjured by thought, Soames approached.
“Please you, sir, I would have private speech with you.”
Haven nodded, checking to see that they would not be overheard.
“Lindel reports finding tracks to the north.”
“What direction are they traveling?”
“The tracks parallel ours.”
"How many men?”
“Fifteen.”
“Did you have a man backtrack this trail?”
“Aye, I sent Lindel to follow the trail forward and Sutherland to backtrack.”
“Why Sutherland?”
“He needed reminding where his duty lay.”
“Good. The widow has charmed too many of my men into forgetting their duty.”
“Sir, I think the problem lies elsewhere.”
Haven paused. The last time Soames had contradicted him was before the battle where Haven and Roger had saved the day and won their spurs. But the cost had been great. Afterward, Soames, who had been his mentor to that point, had praised Haven’s prowess and fighting skill, then told him how foolish he had been. The criticism had hurt at the time, but he had never again rushed blindly into battle.
“I value your counsel, Soames. Tell me where you think the problem lies.”
Soames shifted and looked at the ground, then off into the distance, before looking squarely at Haven. “Sir, you know that nearly all Edward’s court calls you his most true and perfect knight.”
Haven felt heat rise on his neck. “Aye. It’s a silly, womanish notion that a man as unsaintly as I might be perfect.”
“You got that reputation for perfection because of your pleasing bed manner with the women. They gave it you. And the men, seeing your success with the women, agreed.”
“’Tis no less silly.”
“Lady Genvieve might agree with you. But your men hold you in high regard nonetheless. They have noticed that, with Milady Genvieve, your manner is less than gentle.”
“And this is cause for acting like fools around her?”
“They are proud of their service with a man of your repute. They think you are still overcome by grief at Dreyford’s death. They want the widow to believe about you as they do.”
“They should not. The woman led her husband to treason.”
“So you and our king believe. Have you proof of her perfidy?”
Haven gave a quiet snarl. “Look you what became of Roger Dreyford.”
“Despite your love for him, Dreyford had a passion for stories and danger. He would have come to a bad end regardless.”
“His wife should have influenced him to remain loyal to his king and satisfied his passions at home.”
“Are you so certain she did not try?”
“On the scaffold, Roger said he could not trust his wife.”
“And on the basis of Roger’s word, you treat Lady Genvieve as if she
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