Page 86 of The Knight's Pledge
“And it’s right to keep it that way,”Chumley said.
“There is an inn on the west side of the city, not far from the Strand,” Lucan said. “The Red Hart. It’s expensive, but safe. Gorman and Kit Katey, you two arrive together; Chumley, you arrive after with James and Bob. Perhaps…you could insinuate you were a sheriff surrendering a criminalto the crown.”
Chumley grinned. “Why, Sir Lucan, are you suggesting we tell an untruth?”
Lucan gave him a half grin.
“No,” Gorman interjected. “I’m coming, too. It’s my boy’s life on the line here. I’ll fight to the death so that he comes out of Westminster at my side.”
“We can’t go in swinging sword, Gorman,” Effie said. “This isn’t Darlyrede. Give us a chance to—”
“To what?” Gorman demanded, and it was perhaps the first flare of temper Lucan had ever seen the man display toward Effie. “As soon as they see Tommy, he’ll be locked in a cell. They’ll not let you leave, Effie. And Sir Lucan will surely be followed if he triesto send word.”
“Ulric, my captain, is trustworthy,” Lucan said. “I can send himwith any news.”
Chumley cursed under his breath again. “No. No more goddam outsiders. Would that Gilboe had come. He can at least come and go largely undetected in his monk’s garb.”
But Gorman was shaking his head. “The three of you are most at risk and so it stands to reason they’ll not let you out of their sights. Regardless of Sir Lucan’s confidence in his captain, Chumley’s right. And I can’t sit back and wait for word that may not come or come too late. That’s not me. Effie, you know that’s not—”
“I know,” Effie insisted calmly. After a brief pause, she looked to Lucan. “Perhaps a knight’s apprenticeis called for?”
He caught her intent at once. “Indeed, I do think it’s time I took on an assistant.” Lucan looked toward the tall, resentful young man glaring at them all. He nodded. “James.”
He rolled his eyes. “They’ll never take me for it.”
“Why not?”Lucan pressed.
James met his eyes and glared at him. “You don’t know what you’reasking of me.”
“I do,” Effie responded.
“You don’t have to do it, James,” Gorman interrupted. “I’ll go myself. As George’s father, it’s my responsibility.”
“Gorman,” Kit Katey said quietly, reaching over to touch his thigh. “It is a good plan. They can succeed.”
“James will be free to come and go as is needed,” Lucan said. “He can be the messenger, without being tracked. I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think he was more than capable. And if there is trouble, I’d have no other’s ready sword at my side.”
“Just so,” Chumley agreed. “None better than James.”
James Rose’s expression was unfathomable as he looked at Lucan. But he seemed neither flatterednor impressed.
Lucan turned to the group. “What say you all?”
A moment later, Lucan was forced to look away as Effie maneuvered her horse near Gorman’s and clasped his hand firmly before leaning to meet him in a brief kiss.
The four of them rode on toward Westminster.
“I’ve never had an apprentice before,” Lucan mused, seeking to dispel the tension. “How are you at shiningboots, James?”
“Fuck you, Montague,”James muttered.
Effie and Thomas bothlaughed aloud.
And in that moment, Lucan understood that they were, at least for this night, still bound together. And it gave him courage.
Chapter 22
They were taken at once through the maze of Westminster to a large antechamber, where the king’s own secretary was entertaining. The man, blond, with a high forehead and slim beard seemed annoyed at the guard’s interruption as he leaned down to speak low near his ear. The secretary was on his feet at once, setting aside his wine goblet and striding toward them.
