Page 28 of The Tempest
Astria was well aware when he left the chamber, but she didn’t react to his departure. She simply sat in the chair, watching Margit pull back the coverlet on the bed. It wasn’t a big bed, or even well appointed, but the truth was that it was better than anything she’d slept on whilst in captivity. It was soft for the most part, a mattress stuffed with dried grass, so it had far more give than the ground or slats of a wagon or a boat deck, and far more comfort.
In she went.
She was asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Blackchurch Guild
Exmoor’s Keep
“And now yeknow,” Payne said. “Bloody Maude has no intention of sacking Blackchurch. She came purely with news for me.”
St. Denis and St. Sebastian, roused from their beds, were sitting in St. Denis’ solar and listening to what was, by all accounts, good news. There was good news in the sense that Bloody Maude and her band of marauding pirates had no intention of making war upon Blackchurch, but it was also sad news for Payne. His mother had come to tell him that his father had passed away and he was now the Earl of Lismore, which put him as the highest-ranking noble among the trainers at Blackchurch. Not only that, he was now socially on the same level as St. Denis himself.
The news had been a revelation, indeed.
“Cruz and Creston essentially told us the same thing,” St. Denis said. “That relieved my mind, of course, but please allow me to extend my condolences on the passing of your father, Payne. Losing a father is never an easy thing.”
Payne shook his head. “Nay, it is not,” he said. “Although I’d not seen my father in years, we were still close. I loved and admired him. Big Bowie Matheson was a great man, much respected by his clan. I will miss him.”
“What will you do?” St. Sebastian asked quietly. “You are an earl now, Payne. That means you have an earldom to manage. Will you go home?”
Payne shook his head. “Not right away,” he said. “I may ask for time tae return home and settle things there, but I have no intention of returning tae stay at this time.”
“But being an earl means you have responsibilities, Payne,” St. Denis said. “Of course, I do not want to lose you, but you have lands and people to administer. Who will do it if you do not?”
Payne looked at him. “My father has a former priest who served as his majordomo for years,” he said. “The man goes by Old Bones and, tae be perfectly honest, I dunna know his real name. My father affectionately called him Obie and I’m sure he’s still there, still in charge. He was loyal tae my father and therefore loyal tae me, but I would still like tae return tae ensure that loyalty is still strong. My family has ruled over our lands for more than two hundred years. I willna be the link that breaks our legacy by abandoning it.”
He seemed resolute in what he needed to do, so St. Denis didn’t argue with him, but as a man who ruled an earldom, he knew there was more to it than simply leaving the management of it to others. Perhaps they would discuss that in the days to come, but not today. Today was a day to allow Payne the time he needed to mourn the loss of his father.
“Take what time you need, then,” St. Denis said. “If you wish to leave right away for Scotland, I will understand.”
Payne shrugged. “Not immediately,” he said. “But I thank ye for yer generosity. I must still deal with a few things before I go.”
“Like what?”
There was the question. It was a perfect opening for Payne to tell St. Denis something he’d been wrestling with. He wasn’t quite sure how to tell him what else Bloody Maude had brought to the steps of Blackchurch, but here was his opportunity.
He took a deep breath.
“There’s something more ye should know,” he said. “Part of Bloody Maude’s visit tae me was tae tell me of my father, but the other part was tae bring me something.”
St. Sebastian was curious. “What did she bring you?”
“A bride.”
That brought a measure of surprise from both St. Denis and St. Sebastian, but the expression on Payne’s face suggested it wasn’t welcome.
“Are congratulations in order?” St. Sebastian said. “It does not seem so from your expression. I sense there may be something amiss with this bride.”
Payne nodded. “Ye could say that,” he said. “The truth is this… Ye both know what Bloody Maude is. Ye know what she does. Five months ago, she attacked a pair of ships off the coast of Palma. The bride was on those ships. Her name is Maria Astria Julia, Princesa Real, Princesa of Beira, Duchess of Braganza, Duchess of Barcelos, Countess of Faria, Countess of Neiva, and by marriage, Duchess of Tarragona. Her father was Sancho of Portugal and her nephew now sits upon the throne, and my mother is determined that I, as the new Earl of Lismore, should marry her. And what Bloody Maude wants, Bloody Maude gets.”
By the time he was finished, St. Denis was looking at him in horror. St. Sebastian seemed shocked.
“A Portuguese princess?” St. Denis finally said, aghast. “Bloody Maude has brought you a royal captive to wed?”
“She has.”
