Lion Heart by A. C. Gaughen Page A

Our people seem to have gone rather mad,” he said.
    â€œThey aren’t mad,” I said. “They’re starving. They’reconfused. And the nobles will not help them; Winchester’s behavior seems strange and out of place, and it is—but that is what the noble class is pledged to do. Nobles must protect their people and use their power, wealth, and influence to do so.”
    â€œAnd unfortunately, much of this pain cannot be avoided if we are to bring Richard home,” Eleanor said.
    â€œWe will,” I told her.
    â€œHow should we proceed?” Winchester asked, drinking his wine. “With so many able lords at your disposal?”
    I glanced at him. “I’ll head north at first light for Nottingham,” I said.
    Winchester nodded once, understanding. “My lady, would you allow me to escort the silver you’ve already collected down to London?” he asked. “I will take half my men and see it locked safely in the treasury.”
    â€œHas the court returned to Westminster Palace?” I asked.
    Eleanor nodded. “The riots have stopped, and Windsor isn’t nearly as fashionable.”
    â€œBigod and I can stay with you, my lady Queen, and repeat the task as you amass more contributions,” Essex offered. “With our companies, of course.”
    â€œVery well,” Eleanor said. “And Winchester, you will return and report back to me.”
    â€œAs you wish, my lady Queen,” Winchester said, dipping his head to her. When he raised it back up, he looked at Margaret.
    It made me burn for Rob.
    â€œPerhaps you shouldn’t travel alone, Lady Marian,” Margaret said soft.
    I looked to her.
    She were looking at her lap. “If the queen isn’t safe, for certain it won’t be safe for you to travel, and not with the prince . . .” She trailed off, looking round. Bigod didn’t know the prince had tried to kill me.
    â€œI have two men who will protect me better than a company of knights can,” I assured her. “Speed and the ability to keep our heads down will serve me well enough.”
    â€œWhat route will you take?” Eleanor asked. “And I wish to be informed the moment you arrive in Nottingham.”
    â€œMost likely west to Oxford, up through Northampton and Leicester. I imagine we’ll stay out of cities as best we can.”
    She glanced round the table, but she nodded thoughtful to me.

    After dinner were finished, Eleanor brought everyone to sit by a fire in the abbot’s quarters. On the way there, Margarettugged me back.
    She drew a breath. “I don’t want you to leave your grandmother because of what I said. Forgive me if I was more frank than is appropriate. I had hoped we could be friends, and more than that—I wish you would ride with us. I don’t—I don’t want to go—”
    Her chest were heaving hard and she wouldn’t look at me, and my heart snapped. I tugged her to the side, pulling her to me and putting my arms around her, awkward one moment and fierce the next. “That’s what the new knights are for. You’ll be well protected on the road, especially with Winchester’s knights looking out for you. I was fair shocked he will leave you to go to London at all. You’ll be lucky to go anywhere alone again,” I teased her.
    She shook in my arms. “I didn’t tell him,” she whispered. “I haven’t had a moment alone, and the words—I don’t know how to say such words.”
    My heart sank. I should have known that, that she needed to talk to him in private. I could arrange such a thing, and I hadn’t thought to. “Come,” I said. “I will find a way for you to be alone with him.”
    She shook her head. “No. Not now—he’s right, he needs to take the silver to London. But he’ll come back, and I’ll tell him then.”
    I nodded. I pulled back from her, and