Page 163 of Historical Hotties
Creed cast him a long look. “Do you want the truth, my lord?”
“Of course.”
Creed sighed heavily and sat back against the chair. “The night we delivered Isabella to the king, he took her into his chamber and we could clearly hear the sounds of lovemaking. It was brutal and loud and she screamed the entire way through it. So, in answer to your question, I strongly disagree with the king’s statement. It is simply not true.”
Massimo cocked a thoughtful eyebrow. “Your fellow escort party told me the same.”
Creed just shook his head and looked to his hands again. “The king’s word is law,” he muttered. “They can blame this on me all they wish. It simply isn’t true.”
Massimo watched him a moment before pulling up a chair beside him. He watched Creed’s lowered face carefully, feeling some empathy for the man. It was a vicious circumstance he found himself a part of.
“The king has a long and bitter history with the church,” Massimo muttered. “One more offense from him will not matter overly. But you, however, are in a bad position.”
Creed looked at the man. “Do you believe any of what I have told you?”
Massimo nodded slowly. “I believe all of it.”
Creed sighed slowly, wiping a weary hand over his face. It was the first time since entering the room that his guard went down.
“So now what?” he asked a question he had been dreading for six months. “What do I do?”
The priest sat back in his chair, his eyes moving to the fire gently crackling in the hearth. “The king wants you imprisoned.”
“I know.”
“He does not, as far as I can deduce, know where you are, but that will not hold true forever. He will eventually find out.”
“How did you find out where I was?”
“Your loyal friends told me, those who have staunchly defended your honor.”
Creed looked at the man, hating that he must face the realities that were intent on following him. He simply could not believe the nightmare was deepening.
“So I will ask you again,” he said. “What do I do? More specifically, what do you intend to do with me?”
Massimo scratched his unshaven chin. “I must report back to the papal legate in London,” he replied. “I will tell him the truth; that I believe these allegations are untrue. In spite of what you may or may not think of the church, we do hold true to truth and justice. We reject tyranny. And we have indeed heard the rumors of Queen Isabella’s infidelity. The rumors have run rampant since the day she arrived in England and we are quite certain she has had more lovers than you can count on your fingers and toes.”
Creed could only shake his head in disgust. “Then why me?” he asked. “Why must she seek to destroy me if she has had so many lovers?”
Massimo smiled at him, displaying dingy teeth. “Because you were not a lover. You stood virtuous against her debaucheryand she hates you for it. Had you caved into her demands, she probably would have forgotten all about you.”
“I was not going to cave into her demands.”
Massimo cracked a lop-sided smile. “I understand,” he stood up and moved back to the desk where he had laid his things. “And in answer to your question as to what to do, I would say do nothing at the moment. I will return to London to discuss this with the papal legate and we will decide a course of action.”
For the first time in almost six months, Creed felt some relief from the situation. He rose on his thick legs, facing the priest. “Is the king actively looking for me? Someone is bound to know where I am.”
Massimo shook his head. “He is not as far as I am aware,” he replied. “He makes a good game of threatening talk but as far as I know, he has not sent out a search party. You will continue your service here in the wilds until such time as I contact you again.”
Creed’s jaw ticked faintly. “Understood, my lord.”
“Do not lose faith. Good always triumphs over evil.”
“Aye, my lord.”
The priest picked up his satchel from the desk. “Oh, I nearly forgot,” he moved towards Creed with his bag in his hand. “I understand that you have been assigned to protect a hostage of Prudhoe.”
Creed nodded. “A daughter of Kerr, our bitter enemy. I am her protection.”
