He’d start thinking along the lines of Father and Zacharie even if he didn’t use such harsh words. He’d question every damn thing Aleric had just said.
“So he touches you?” asked Jaime. “To fuck with you?”
“Yes. He’s been doing that for a while, and I had a feeling once he got with Zacharie and started the sly touches, he was plotting. It was a gut feeling that wouldn’t go away. I told Father he’d snagged himself a fresh ass and a way to being a lord again. He didn’t believe me and said I was being nasty. If Gautier can’t have his old position, he’ll take a new one by force. As you saw recently, I’m right. He took things up a notch a few days ago and made himself appear entirely innocent.”
“Why can’t you tell your Father what happened, lay out the facts, and explain it all like you just did for me?”
Because when he’d tried before, it had all gone wrong. Aleric had kept certain things a secret before, and they’d returned to bite him in the ass. He’d had no evidence of another event, and he’d sounded like a bitter man who’d thought of a terrible tale and tried to use it to discredit someone out of jealousy.
“I told him about the drink, and I tried to get him to see that he’s with Zacharie to manipulate him. He doesn't believe me, and nothing I say now will change it. I don’t think he’s hugely thrilled that his youngest son got with a man who’s so much older, but they're both consenting adults, and he’s gotten used to it. Zacharie’s head over heels because Gautier practically seems like a god to him, and he’s too stupid to look beyond that. He’s spoiled, no one’s ever truly hurt him, and he’s never had any real responsibility or the prospect of it, so he thinks nothing will ever really happen to him. He’s also jealous that he has to share me with Father.”
Even though it was more the other way around. Aleric had to share Father. Zacharie had been planned, and the idea was that he would go back and forth between Father, and his other Dad, Honoré, who’d lived in Côte. Honoré had died in childbirth, and of course, there hadn’t been any other option in Father’s mind besides bringing his new son to live at the Castle.
Seven-year-old Aleric hadn’t been particularly happy with the squalling new addition that would never leave. He’d thought he’d get a little brother who could be sent to his other home once he grew too annoying, not one who cried all day and took up so much of Father’s attention. It wasn’t like when the twins had been born. Aleric had been enthralled with them, and they’d been a sort of comfort with Mother sick and after she’d died.
“How long has he been with Zacharie?” asked Jaime. “Two years, right?”
“Almost two years, yes.”
“When did you grow suspicious?”
“Right away.” That was true.
“But why right away? Even with a gut feeling…It seems like Lord Gautier waited a long time to do anything. Even if he touched you, why didn’t you think perhaps he was sexually interested in you or…I don’t know. Why didn’t you think he was simply a pervert?”
“Of course, he waited. You don’t get with your goal and immediately try to remove the obstacles. He needed to look trustworthy, and since they’re both so happy nearly two years later despite the age difference…After losing his last hold, especially before the King's court, he had to wait before eyeing another. If you move too fast, you can fuck yourself over. He’s also careful to never touch me sexually because that would be too much. If anyone noticed, they might say something. He needs to appear devoted to Zacharie, but he can do things to make me feel uncomfortable and unsafe. If I said anything, hecan claim he bumped me by mistake, or the touch was innocent, and I’ll look like I’m overreacting and complaining about nothing.”
Jaime tilted his head. “Okay. Lord Gautier can’t get rid of your Father first because you’d take the Earldom, kick him out, get rid of Olivier too, risk your brother never speaking to you again, and deal with the court thinking you’re a cruel asshole. You could send the whole court away too, only hire people you trust, and protect yourself. For the most part, your Father is safe for now.”
“You’ve got some brains.”
“Wow, thanks.”
“That’s quite a leap from your earlier suggestion.”
“Because if someone is a rapist, they deserve to die, and a victim shouldn’t have their abuser living in their home. I focused on that and getting you away from him first. I’m sorry, I didn’t look at the whole picture. I came in and saw him touching you, and you looked miserable, so…”
For several moments, Aleric ached to spill the rest and unload what actually had happened. He pressed his lips together and straightened a few strands of Mighty’s beautiful black mane.
“What’s your plan?” asked Jaime.
“Mm?”
“What’s your plan?” Jaime pushed himself away from the stall door and spread his arms. “To stay alive?”
“I don’t have one.”
Jaime blinked at him. “You have nothing? Not even a half-cooked plan you could refine?”
“Not really. I thought that was clear.”
“You’re honestly just coasting along? You don’t even have a rough idea or something secret? If you don’t want to spill every last detail right this second, that’s fine-”
“I think it’s obvious I’m stuck. You believe me, but that means little in the long run. I can’t kill him and Olivier. Not easily andwithout possibly implicating myself. Yes, I’ve thought of poison and accidents, but I can’t figure a way to work it out, especially if there’s anybody else in the court who knows and is simply staying back to avoid suspicion. Even if there isn’t, it’s not that easy to work out a plot. Especially when you’ve got no real friends. Gautier has the advantage since he’s spent years here and likely started planning as soon as Father let him move in. Besides Olivier, I have no idea who else he’s spoken to, what he’s said and done, or what he’s done ahead of time because I didn’t suspect him until a couple of years ago. He’s far ahead of me. He had a stableboy on his side too. If I tried plotting with others, I might pick someone who’s already working with him, and they’ll tattle. For all I know, there could be a half dozen others in the Castle right now who are simply biding their time until they’re told what to do. It’d be easy to fuck myself over.”
Jaime glanced at the doors to make sure no one was coming. “Do you want to run?”
“No!”