Page 10 of Feathers in the Wind
He crossed to her and hunkered down to her level, lifting her chin with his fingers so she looked into his eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Joan, but I had to choose one side or another.’
Joan raised her head. ‘I don’t doubt your choice, Adam. It would not have been a decision made lightly.’
Adam laughed without humour. ‘Like Robin, it will mean that I will be close by at Warwick, Joan.’
Joan shook her head. ‘So with a nephew in both camps I should be kept quite safe.’ Her voice dripped with irony. ‘But it may have been better if you were as far away from here as possible. If the king is at Oxford, it will mean a dangerous proximity to Denzil.’
‘I think Denzil is the least of my worries.’ Adam sighed and rose to his feet. He looked around the pleasant room, his gaze resting momentarily on Perdita before turning back to his aunt.
‘I will not abuse Simon’s hospitality any longer. It is time for me to leave.’
‘The war has not begun yet,’ Joan said. ‘You are welcome to stay as long as you wish.’
‘No. I will seek out Simon on his return and tell him of my decision and then I’ll be gone,’ he said. ‘I cannot in all good conscience remain here.’
As he passed her, Perdita caught at his sleeve. He looked down at her hand resting on his arm.
‘Mistress Gray?’
She wanted to tell him that he was making a mistake and neutrality could be a possibility. What was there to prevent him continuing with his plans and taking up the property in Shropshire? If this conflict were to come to pass, it would happen with or without his involvement.
Their eyes met and she saw in the set of his jaw and the grey eyes that ran the colour of a stream in winter, that any form of remonstrance would be in vain.
‘Nothing.’ She released his arm and looked away as he strode out of the room.
* * *
Adam waiteduntil Simon returned and went in search of his host. He found him standing at a table in the room Simon called the library, a sheaf of papers in his hand and a frown creasing his forehead.
‘Am I interrupting?’
Simon looked up and laid the papers down. ‘No. Not at all. Just looking at the cost of properly equipping my men.’ He waved a hand at a tray with a flagon and glasses. ‘Pour us both a glass of wine, Coulter. It’s been a long day.’
Adam obliged, handing Simon a glass.
Simon sank down in his chair and raised his glass. ‘Good news, I’ve had word from Northampton today. We ride to his muster in two days.’
‘We?’ Adam raised an eyebrow at the use of the plural.
‘I’m being presumptuous, Coulter. I like you, my men like you, will you...will you join me?’ Simon asked.
Adam swallowed. ‘You’ve offered me friendship,’ he paused, ‘but my first loyalty must be to my conscience and I cannot support the King in this venture.’
Simon frowned. ‘I don’t understand.’
Adam took a deep breath. ‘I’ve seen with my own eyes the evil the King has wrought on this land and I cannot share your faith in the rightness of his cause. I believe he alone has brought this country to the brink of war.’
Simon blinked. ‘You’re espousing Parliament?’
Adam inclined his head. ‘Lord Brooke offered me a commission. I will leave tomorrow morning to accept it.’
Simon sat back in his chair. ‘Oh,’ he said. The confusion in his eyes made Adam realise that Simon had assumed that friendship would be enough. ‘Is there nothing I can say that will dissuade you?’
Adam shook his head. ‘No.’
‘I cannot deny any man the right to his own conscience but I’m sorry that it has come to this.’
‘So am I.’
