“Why was I not informed of Mortimer’s arrival?” he grabbed his brother by the arm.
Hugh had a tankard of ale in his hand. “Because you were with your wife,” he said frankly. “I knew you would come down here sooner or later. Mortimer is in no hurry.”
Davyss frowned at his brother but he could not dispute the logic; it had become well known with Davyss’ men not to interrupt him when he was with Devereux.
“Give me that,” he snatched the ale from his brother and took a heavy swallow. “Where is Roger?”
Hugh snatched the tankard back. “Over there,” he pointed near the kitchens.
Davyss continued his path through the crowd of men, settling in with their food and ale. There were so many people that it looked like a celebration. He finally caught sight of Mortimer’s dark head near the dais. As he approached, Roger’s head came up from the table and their eyes met. Davyss smiled.
“My lord,” he greeted. “I apologize that I did not greet you upon your arrival.”
Roger waved him off. “No need,” he studied him a moment. “How are things at Norwich?”
“Quiet,” Davyss sat down opposite the man. “You look well enough. Thank God your injuries healed.”
Roger had been badly wounded at Lewes. “Nothing that good food and wine has not healed with time,” he gingerly rubbed the spot on his chest where an arrow had nearly claimed him. “And de Nogaret? Is he fully recovered now?”
Davyss nodded. “He is indeed,” he replied. “His wife is expecting a child in the fall.”
Roger lifted his cup to toast Nik’s excellent fortune. “That is good news.”
“My wife is expecting, also.”
Roger looked at him. Then he broke down into laughter, snorting as he recovered. “Davyss, from what I have heard, you have not left that woman’s side for even a moment,” he sobered further. “But after what happened with de Montfort, I do not blame you. The man is vain, underhanded and ruthless but when he betrayed even you by holding your wife hostage, I believe his supporters began to realize just how untrustworthy the man was. There were a good many people who pitied you.”
Davyss watched him drain his cup. “Shall we go someplace private to speak?”
Roger nodded, grabbing the nearest serving wench with a pitcher of ale. He took it right out of her hand and stood up from the table.
“Lead the way, de Winter.”
Davyss stood up and pointed to the knight’s hall on the other side of the room. “This way, my lord.”
Roger was already on his heels. “It is not necessary to address me so formally, Davyss. You and I share the same rank, Baron Blackheath.”
Davyss lifted an eyebrow at him. “The title came through my mother,” he said. “I do not even think of it, to be truthful. I do not want the politics that are associated with baronial responsibilities. I would rather serve as a knight than lead as a noble.”
Roger slapped him on his massive shoulder. “God’s Beard, man,” he was evidently well into his ale, indicative of his happy mood. “Your mother’s family is Surrey. The de Warennes hold the entire shire, plus part of Norfolk. Your father, God rest him, came from a prestigious line of knights that ruled Radnorshire in Wales for centuries. Not only do you hold your father’s properties and titles in Wales, including four castles, but also his property in Norfolk as granted to him by Henry. Since when did you become so humble?”
Davyss smiled faintly as Roger followed him into the knight’s hall just beyond the soldier’s hall. “I am not,” he assured him. “I am well aware that my family is older and richer than yours. More handsome as well.”
Roger snorted. “Ah; much more like the Davyss I know.”
Davyss’ smile faded. “I miss my father,” he muttered. “But I do not believe he would have been very happy with what Simon is attempting to accomplish.”
Roger shrugged. “God should not have taken your father so soon.”
“It was not God that took him but disease. The man’s heart seized up when he was not much older than I am.”
The knight’s hall was nearly devoid of people; everyone was crowded into the main hall beyond. Davyss and Roger sat at the heavy table in the center of the room, listening to the loud clamor in the hall beyond. It was the perfect atmosphere to drown out any eavesdropping that might take place with what Roger was about to say; a low voice could not be heard over all of the noise out in the hall.
“So,” Davyss faced Roger expectantly. “I do not guess that you have come here simply to speak on my father and my property. I assume our plan is moving forward.”
Roger nodded. “I have been permitted to visit Edward in captivity,” he said. “As his cousin, of course, it is my right. Moreover, de Montfort is not too restrictive about visitors to Edward as he is to Henry. We have formulated a plan that I believe will work.”
Davyss lifted his eyebrows. “You will include me, of course.”
“You will lead it.”
Davyss nodded, moving closer to Roger so he could hear the man’s softly uttered plans over the happy chaos in the room beyond.
*
The feast with Mortimer’s men went well into the night. Devereux had awoken from her nap close to sunset and she could hear the noise clear up in her chamber. Rising slowly, she was careful not to step on Louie as she went to one of the long lancet windows that lined the chamber, peering outside to see if she could see what was going on in the upper bailey. There were hundreds of men and their horses, cluttering the upper bailey with their noise and smell. She could see part of the drawbridge that led to the lower bailey and she could see that the bridge was down and men were traversing it.
Although Davyss didn’t discuss military matters with her, she had heard him mention that Roger Mortimer was due to visit. Devereux tried to stay clear of in-depth political knowledge because she and her husband could never agree on the need for war versus peaceful solutions to conflict. It was something they had never agreed on, not since they day they had met, so it was best if they didn’t discuss the subject too deeply. But she knew enough that Roger Mortimer had arrived, purpose unknown, so she made haste to dress.
She’d had to have several surcoats made recently to accommodate her growing belly. One of them was a lovely pale blue garment made of brocade, and she slipped on a light shift before pulling the surcoat over her head. She still dressed alone and bathed alone, just as she always had, even in this fine massive fortress with dozens of servants running about. She was simply more comfortable alone. But she did call a maid to help her secure the ties on the garment so it draped beautifully over her shoulders and breasts, the one thing she couldn’t do for herself. The maid also pulled her hair back into a single braid, which draped elegantly over one shoulder.
Fully dressed and looking like an angel, she quit the chamber and slowly made her way down the spiral stairs. The noise grew louder as she drew near the soldier’s hall and by the time she entered, the roar of men and laughter was almost deafening. There were strange soldiers everywhere, drinking and eating.
She asked the first servant she came across where her husband was. The man offered to escort her through the masses and she gratefully accepted, following the rather large servant through the crowd and into the knight’s hall beyond. As soon as she entered, she saw her husband seated at the table with a dark-haired, slender man.
Davyss spied his wife the moment she entered the room. He bolted to his feet and went to her.
“Sweetling,” he put his arm around her shoulders. “Why did you not send for me? You should not be down here with all of these men.”
She waved him off. “I am fine, Davyss; I am not going to break.” She smiled at Roger, who rose from the bench and returned her smile. “I am Lady de Winter. Welcome to Norwich, my lord.”
Roger bowed gallantly. “My lady,” he greeted. “I am Roger Mortimer. ’Tis a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard many great things about you.”
She lifted an eyebrow at him a
s Davyss helped her to sit. “No doubt you have heard many great things about our child, to be sure,” she winked at her husband as he sat down. “His son is all he can speak of.”
Davyss kissed her on the temple. “Not all,” he said. “I speak of you also on occasion.”
Roger laughed softly as Devereux made a face at Davyss. “Do not let him fool you,” Roger said. “Davyss is so proud of you that he is close to bursting. From a man who embodies the male trait of pride, I would say that is quite a statement.”
Devereux’s twisted expression transitioned into a glowing smile at her husband. “He has much to be proud of,” she murmured, gently tweaking his chin. “He is a great man. He told me so himself.”
Roger laughed uproariously and moved to pour Devereux some ale, but someone was shouting his name from the soldier’s hall and his attention was diverted. His men were calling to him and he set the ale down.
“Excuse me, Lady de Winter,” he said as he climbed off the bench. “It seems that my men require my attention. I shall return and look forward to having a detailed conversation with you.”
Devereux merely smiled at him as he quit the hall, hearing the cheers from his men in the room beyond as he entered the hall. She turned her attention to her husband and her smile faded.
“You know that I do not ask you your business,” she said quietly. “But I would like to know why he is here.”
Davyss held her hand, rubbing it gently between his two big palms. The gentle expression on his features faded.
“He is here because we are to attend to some business together,” he said softly. “When Roger leaves on the morrow, I go with him.”
“I see,” she wasn’t particularly surprised but she was hurt that he had not told her sooner. “And just when did you plan to tell me you were leaving?”
He reached up to tuck a bit of stray hair behind her ear. “Tonight,” he muttered. “When all was quiet and still between us, I was going to tell you.”
“But you have known for some time that you were leaving.”
It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. Davyss nodded faintly. “I knew that as soon as Roger arrived, I would be leaving with him. Devereux, I simply didn’t want our last days or hours spoiled with my impending departure. You know how emotional you become.”
There wasn’t much more she could say to that, considering he was right. She averted her gaze for a moment. “How long will you be gone?”
“I have no way of knowing, sweetling.”
“You must be here for the birth of your son. That only gives you three months.”
He sighed faintly. “I will try, you know I will,” he murmured. “There is nothing on this earth more important to me than that. But I cannot promise that I will return in time.”
“Where are you going?”
“I do not want you to know for your own safety.” He shook his head firmly when she opened her mouth to dispute him. “Please, sweetling. Do not ask me any more questions. I will not answer them.”
Devereux just stared at him. She knew she shouldn’t be selfish, but she wasn’t in a very generous mood. She didn’t want her husband to leave her and she certainly didn’t want him to be absent for the birth of their child. With a sigh of exasperation, she pulled her hand from his grip and stood up, moving away from him.
Davyss watched her pace away, moving to the extremely long and thin lancet windows that allowed air and ventilation into the room. He watched her until she reached the window and hung her head.
“I do not want you to leave,” she burst into soft tears. “You are going away and doing God knows what, but I am sure it involves danger and swords and battle and there is every chance that you will never return to me. I want you to remain with me, where you belong, so you may be here for the birth of your son. This is where you belong, Davyss; not fooling around in silly wars.”
He rose from the bench, going to her. He put his enormous hands on her face, forcing her to look at him.
“I want you to listen very carefully to what I am to say because it is important,” he whispered. “Can you do this?”
She nodded hesitantly, gazing up at him with big watery eyes, and he smiled gently at her.
“You and I do not discuss political matters because we disagree on them,” he said quietly. “But you must listen to me now. I go with Mortimer because the stability of the country and the safety of my family is my priority. I would kill a thousand men if it will keep you and my son safe. But it is not merely you and my son; it is my mother as well. She is being held captive in order to ensure that I do not rise against de Montfort. I must do all I can to ensure that she is safe as well. I cannot sit idly by and hope for the best, Devereux; I must do something. I am Davyss de Winter and my reputation is second to none; I am the most powerful knight in England. What good is that power and reputation if I cannot use it to make this country a safer place for my family?”
By the time he was finished, she was no longer weeping but gazing at him with a serious expression.
“You are indeed the most powerful knight in England,” she whispered. “I knew that the moment I met you. But you are also my husband and father to my child, someone I love more than anything on this earth. Even though I understand your reasons, I still do not want you to go. I am afraid you will never come back.”
He cupped her face, kissing her cheeks tenderly. “We had this same conversation the last time I departed,” he said softly. “Do you remember? I told you that I would do everything in my power to return to you and I did.”
She nodded faintly, reaching up to touch his face. She ran her fingers through his dark hair, watching as he closed his eyes to the sweetness of her touch.
“Aye, you did,” she agreed. “But not without compromise.”
He pulled her into a smothering embrace, opening his eyes to look at her. “And I would do it again if given the same choice. Sometimes compromise means survival, and I mean that my family should survive.”
She wasn’t going to argue with him; Davyss was doing what he felt was best and Devereux trusted him. But she missed him horribly already. She threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly.
“I do not know what I shall do without you,” she hummed against his ear. “The days and nights will be horribly lonely.”
He pulled back and looked at her. “You still have Louie.”
He said it with some jealousy and she laughed. “Now, you mustn’t be bitter because he likes to lie on your side of the bed,” she told him. “He is simply a little dog. He does not know any better.”
Davyss made a face. “He would know if you disciplined him once in a while,” he pointed out. “As it is, I am nearly kicked from my own bed by a dog no bigger than my fist. I am ashamed to tell anyone.”
Devereux laughed. “You have never been removed from your own bed,” she countered. “I move Louie aside when it is time for sleep.”
Davyss pursed his lips, letting her know what he thought about both her sense of discipline and the dog. Louie had become king of the entire keep and his wife allowed it. Although he was a cute little mutt, Davyss wasn’t particularly fond of it. He just didn’t like small dogs. Not wanting to argue the point of the dog further, mostly because he knew he would lose, he began to nuzzle her cheek.
“I will leave Lollardly here with you,” he whispered. “As much as I will miss him, I feel strongly that it is more important he remain here to assist in the birth of my son.”
Devereux nodded, closing her eyes as his mouth moved along her jaw. “As you say, husband.”
“He will keep you safe.”
“I know.”
He kissed her neck. “And I will see you every night in my dreams,” he whispered. “You will take care of yourself while I am gone and you will not stray from Norwich for any reason. Not even to go back to The House of Hope because you are bored or because you feel the need to go. Is that clear?”
She nodded obediently. “It is.”
“Good.”
Devereux gazed up into his beloved hazel eyes, loving the man more than words could express. The longer she stared, the more her heart began to ache for what was to come. She didn’t want to face it but knew she had little choice.
“Wherever you go and whatever you do, please know how much I love you,” she murmured. “I will watch the road every day for your return.”
He held her close a moment longer before kissing her, so deeply that it brought tears to his eyes. Davyss didn’t want to leave her but, as with Lewes, he knew it was a matter of life and death. For the survival of England and of his family, he knew what he had to do.
Morning came far too quickly.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
August 5, 1265 A.D.
It had been a long and bloody night, following an extremely long and bloody day. The Battle of Evesham was over, the second violent battle he had attended in a little over a year, something that had to be experienced to be believed. Davyss had seen more than his share of battles in his life and had experienced some fairly brutal warfare, but none of that could compare to Evesham. Nothing could have prepared him.
The brutality had been of his own doing. Simon, not realizing that Mortimer and de Winter, among others, had stolen banners from his own son, Simon the Younger, and then rode to battle flying those banners to make the elder de Montfort think that reinforcements were coming, had been shocked to see Davyss and his armies riding with Mortimer and other Royalists. But it had been Simon’s last thought before the bloody battle ensued and Davyss, along with Mortimer, began to easily cut through de Montfort’s barons. Rather than capture the nobles and ransom them, the Battle at Evesham reeked of vengeance. Davyss and Mortimer killed rather than take captives. It was meant to be a message to all of those who still harbored thoughts of resisting the absolute rule of Henry the Third.
Overwhelmed and undermanned, Simon tried to surrender but the blood lust was too great. He had been killed and dismembered, and even now as dawn broke on the day after the battle, Mortimer, Henry and Edward were deciding what was to be done with Simon’s body parts. Davyss, having known and loved the man his entire life, buried himself in organizing the remaining royalist army for the return to London. He didn’t want to know what they did with Simon because he wasn’t sure how he felt about any of it yet. He struggled to ignore the pain, the guilt.