“You are being kind because you know it is not true,” John said. “They are here because Old Daveigh asked it of them. But that does not matter; that is not why I summoned you.”
“How may I be of service, your grace?”
“Christin de Lohr.”
“What about her?”
“You will take her north today.”
Sean was greatly surprised. After the fiasco last night, that was the last thing he expected to hear. “If that is your wish, your grace.”
“It is,” John said. He wagged a finger at Sean as he moved to collect his cup of watered wine. “Last night was a disgrace. I would have believed the woman to have terrible manners for the fact that everything she did was exaggerated. Her manners were too terrible, if you know what I mean. Clearly, she was trying to dissuade me, but I am not easily deterred. I still want her for Robert and you will take her to him.”
Sean’s heart sank. “As you wish, your grace,” Sean said. “But what about Christopher de Lohr? We have discussed how badly this could go for you if you abduct his daughter. Does this not concern you?”
John nodded. “It should, I know,” he said. “But I do not believe Christopher will be a problem for one very good reason – he wants his daughter safe and whole. Control the daughter, you control the father. I know you are trying to protect me, Sean, but do not worry so. Christin de Lohr is the key to controlling the entire de Lohr war machine.”
Sean had heard that before. He still couldn’t believe that John was being so reckless, but the man seemed resolute. He’d already said what he needed to say when the idea was first brought about and he was afraid that any more conjecture on his part would cause John to be suspicious somehow, so he shut his mouth.
He had little choice.
The Lord of the Shadows was obedient in all things.
“As you say, your grace,” he said. “When shall I go?”
“Quickly,” John said, swilling the liquid in the cup. “Today, if you can. I am not sure who will be in attendance today but it is guaranteed that de Lohr allies will be here. Old Daveigh is a de Lohr ally, so whatever you do must not alert him. In fact… I believe I will send Gerard to take her north. You will remain here with me because I will need you to deter Old Daveigh if he becomes suspicious of what I have done. You are a much better persuader than Gerard is.”
Sean nodded. “As you wish, your grace.”
John stroked his chin. “I was tempted to taste her last night in spite of her behavior, but I decided to leave her a maiden,” he said. “That will be my wedding gift to Robert.”
“Does Robert know of your plans or should we send word ahead?”
“Gerard will tell him when he delivers her.”
“Aye, your grace.”
John turned back towards the window, wine in hand. “She thought she was quite clever last night,” he said. “What Lady Christin does not know is that even if she looked like the hind end of a goat, I would still marry her to Robert. Nothing she can do will change my mind. Now, send Gerard to me. There is no time to waste.”
Sean was already heading for the door. He quit the chamber, leaving the king to watch the arrival of the guests and drink his wine, but all the while he was thinking that he needed to find Christin and tell her to get the hell out of Norwich.
Their plan had not succeeded.
Worse still, he needed to find Alexander. The man had to know that Christin was in grave danger. He hadn’t taken ten steps, however, when the chamber door opened again and John was calling for him.
“Sean!” he said. “Return to me. Send a soldier for Gerard. There is something more I need to discuss with you.”
Sean sighed heavily, but he didn’t let John see it. As one of the royal soldiers ran past him, going to find Gerard, Sean returned to the king’s chamber, wondering when he was going to have the opportunity to tell Christin and Alexander of the king’s directive. He was in a bind and he knew it, but nothing on earth was going to force him to show any measure of disloyalty to the king and his wants. He’d worked too hard to get here. For all John knew, Sean was the perfect knight, the perfect bodyguard, and the perfect killing machine.
As the minutes passed and Gerard eventually joined them, Sean could see that this was going to turn out to be a very big problem. He needed to break free of the king and couldn’t seem to do it. When Gerard left with his orders, the king kept Sean with him, discussing a future journey to Nottingham.
But Sean could only think of one thing.
Run, Christin, run!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Well?” Christopher said steadily. “Does anyone want to tell me what I have just seen?”
Alexander’s heart sank. This wasn’t how he’d planned to approach de Lohr about his daughter and, in truth, he was quite shocked to see Christopher in their midst. Releasing Christin’s hands, he stood up to face the man.
In truth, it was all he could do.
“My lord,” he said evenly. “It is good to see you. I was unaware you were attending today’s festivities.”
Christopher was focused on Alexander as if there were no one else around them. Not even Christin. But she saw the way her father was looking at Alexander and she hastened to break his concentration.
“Papa,” she said, putting herself between Alexander and her father. “You did not tell me that you were coming to Norwich for the king’s celebration.”
Christopher’s intense gaze shifted, now looking at his eldest daughter. “I will speak to you later,” he said. “Go to your chamber and wait for me.”
Christin could hear the tone of his voice and it wasn’t a friendly one. She’d heard that tone before and it always struck terror into her. She’d never been one to disobey her father but, in this case, she was going to.
She was afraid of what would happen if she left.
“Papa, please,” she said, trying to stay on an even keel. “What you saw… it was not what you think.”
“How do you know what I think?”
Christin lifted her eyebrows in a gesture that looked very much like her mother. “You think we are out here being foolish and clandestine,” she said. “You think that this is something meaningless and reckless. I tell you that it is not true; it is anything but meaningless and reckless. Sherry and I… he was going to speak to you but he did not know you would be here. If he had, he would have met you at the gate.”
Christopher’s gaze lingered on her before returning to Alexander. “I told you to leave us, Christin,” he said. “Go to your chamber, please.”
“Papa, I…”
“It’s all right,” Alexander interrupted her. “Go ahead.”
Christin looked at Alexander, who was focused in on Christopher with the same intensity that Christopher was focused on him. Knowing she should obey at this point, since her father had every reason to be upset, she nodded in resignation. She was going to have to let Alexander address this since Christopher’s anger was directed at him. But not before she spoke parting words to her father.
“Papa,” she said. “I am going, but know this – I was a willing participant. He did not force himself on me. And… and I adore him. He makes me happier than you can imagine. Please do not ruin this for me.”