Read Online Knight's Honor by Roberta Gellis - Free Book Online

Roger with great intensity, and the maid was only a vague unease at the back of her mind.
    "I cannot understand Gloucester.” Roger’s lips twisted. “I hardly like to call him a man. I tell you, Elizabeth, he nearly flirted with me." That made Elizabeth laugh, and their eyes met briefly with understanding before Hereford, not feeling safe when their glances locked, picked up the flask on the table and poured wine. "Well, that is neither here nor there, but I swear I wish you could have seen him. He turned the rings on his fingers and looked up at me under his lashes—faugh! Yet Gaunt told me he bore himself like a man before Castle Cary and turned a very shaky thing into a decisive victory."
    "Yes, yes, Roger,” Elizabeth said impatiently. “I know William well and have seen and, indeed, borne most of his tricks and ways. But what did he say about his army? For someone who says he does not talk around a subject, you seem to be having great trouble in keeping to it."
    "That was all of a piece. Does a maid lead an army? He was not only willing, he was urgent with me to take his mercenaries under my command."
    "Then you agreed?"
    "Of course, do you think I could turn away from such an opportunity? I am not alone in this—"
    "Roger,” Elizabeth interrupted, “you cannot have thought. Even if my father were to help you and you had my revenues to add to your own, you could never support that force."
    Smiling, Hereford could not resist caressing her with his eyes. She was quick as a man—quicker than he had been—to add it up and come out with the right answer. "Do you take me for a fool, Elizabeth?" It was better just now to sound indignant; if he began to praise, he would also begin to kiss. "The matter of supporting the men was easily settled. I will give you the details of how it will work another time, but Gloucester will continue to pay them through my hands, and—"
    "Gloucester does this for what reason?” Elizabeth interrupted again. “To honor his father's memory? Nonsense, he hated Robert's guts. Because he loves you? Roger, I do not like this. William is not that kind of man."
    Hereford still smiled, but now there was a wry twist to his lips. "I do not trust him either, but it is not so bad as that. He has good reason for his generosity. He takes one half of the noble's share of the booty—when there is booty."
    "One half!" Elizabeth shrieked, starting out of the chair. "You did not agree to that! It is your blood that will be spilled while he sits safe lapped in scent and silken cloth. A tenth above his costs is ample reward for his exertion."
    "Now, now, Elizabeth, he does more than that. You know he is our ear at court. Moreover he takes no small risk in trusting his men to my leadership. What if I turn against him? What if I fail?"
    "What if the sun did not rise tomorrow?" she retorted hotly. "He risks nothing, and you know it, Roger. Your word is better than his gold. And if you did fail, what would it cost him? A year's revenues from chests already overflowing? You will belike lie dead in the field …" Her voice faltered as the sense of her words penetrated, and she pushed back her heavy hair. Hereford paused with his wine goblet halfway to his mouth, very curious as to what her reaction would be, but he was not rewarded with anything of note for she recovered at once.
    "I suppose," Elizabeth continued, a little less angrily, "that Gaunt and Radnor take the other half and you have the glory remaining."
    Hereford laughed in the middle of his drink, spluttered, and choked. "I say, Elizabeth, do not make me laugh when I am drinking. You should know the Gaunts better than that—and me too. They requested only that their costs be returned if possible, and that Henry, when he comes to the throne, should grant such favor as is consonant with their help to Radnor's wards. Gaunt insists, and in a way it is true enough, that they are doing nothing and deserve no reward."
    "Then they are as great fools as you.