There was something sinister at play here, and Hugh had a sudden urge to bundle his wife away to safety.
‘While we’re at it, I would welcome a way to crush the Rebel Barons who are against us as well,’ the King continued, smiling at Eleanor. ‘No matter. I will find a way,’ he said, as though he were talking about an irksome courtier.
John moved close to Eleanor and held out his hands, licking his lips. ‘Come, my dear. Will you not grace your King with a welcoming kiss?’
Hugh was appalled at the way John was behaving. His eyes darted across the chamber and registered the shock on Will’s face, the amusement on Balvoire’s, the vile bastard, and Eleanor... Oh, Lord, Eleanor had a look of horror on her face.
She caught Hugh’s gaze, silently pleading, and then took a deep breath, turning back to face the King, trembling.
King John smiled, seemingly enjoying her reaction.
Hellfire and damnation! What was John playing at?
Just as the King bent his head to kiss her Hugh stepped in. ‘No, sire.’ He kept his steady gaze on the King as he gently pulled Eleanor behind him.
‘No?’ John cocked an eyebrow.
Hugh’s heart hammered against his chest. ‘No.’
‘I don’t believe that word is much to our liking.’
‘I’m sorry for that, my liege, but Lady Eleanor is not accustomed to court. She does not understand its ways.’
Hugh knew he was on very dangerous ground here, but he would rather die than have Eleanor dishonoured and accosted.
It was outrageous for John to take out on her all his grievances and frustration at Hugh’s failure to secure his silver and catch the outlaws. It was clearly his way of warning him that all that he had bestowed upon him could easily be taken away. And God only knew what he would have done if he’d been aware of Eleanor’s treachery. But to get to Hugh by intimidating Eleanor, a woman who’d already had her fair share of that, was unforgivable.
A slow smile spread on the King’s thin lips. ‘You’re right—and I must say I think it quite gallant, the way you want to protect your young wife from the evils of court.’ He smirked, making Balvoire and a few of his retainers join in with his mocking laughter.
Hugh bowed, never taking his eyes off the King. ‘I hope I can protect anyone under my care and anyone I’m duty-bound to...as you will know, sire.’
He hoped that John would understand his meaning. Hugh didn’t want to remind the King, but hell’s teeth, he had to. Without him John would have been ransomed heavily, or dead in some muddy battlefield in Bouvines.
By God, that should mean something. Something more than constantly questioning his fealty. Something more than this power-play. Hugh had been prepared to lay down his life for his Sovereign, and not for the riches that might come his way, no. It had been his duty...just as it was his duty to protect his wife.
‘I demand your loyalty, Hugh. Do you understand?’ the King hissed.
‘You have it, my liege.’
He met John’s hard gaze, and neither man looked away until the King blinked and nodded at him.
‘Very well.’ John sipped his wine. ‘Very well. We shall see how you do. Now, I have a mission for you to act as emissary with the Scots on your return, Hugh.’
‘Sire.’
‘And when you take your beautiful lady back to your northern territories remember how very fortunate you have been because of my good opinion. I do hope you will value the treasures I have given you.’ King John kept his eyes firmly on Eleanor. ‘And once there make them secure. Do you understand me? Let us hope that there are no more insurrections of any kind.’
‘Yes, sire.’
Hugh glared at his Sovereign, trying hard to conceal his outrage. He wanted to leave this dangerous place immediately. He needed to take Eleanor back to safety and away from all of this.
One thing was for certain. Despite every contrary feeling Hugh had for Eleanor, and how she had wronged him, he would never, ever allow anyone to hurt her—be they outlaw or king.
Chapter Nineteen
After almost ten days of continuous riding on horseback Eleanor was fatigued, saddle-sore and emotionally exhausted. She felt empty, bereft, and couldn’t wait to get back home...home to Tallany, where she could finally breathe again.
Over the last week and more she had relived everything that had happened in Winchester over and over again in her head. That terrible confrontation with her husband that had broken her heart into a thousand pieces. And then what had happened the following morning, when she’d been presented to King John, and his shocking behaviour.
No wonder the Rebel Barons had risen up against him. She now understood more powerfully the reasons why they wanted to pin the King to his words so that he could no longer break his promises. That was the one hopeful thing to have emerged whilst she had been on this horrendous journey. And she hoped for the sake of all their futures that the Rebels were successful.
Everything she had heard about the King had been confirmed in his behaviour towards Hugh, punishing him for his failure to secure the silver from the outlaws. From Le Renard.
From her.
And, despite knowing of her involvement with the outlaws, Hugh had still stepped in to protect her from the King in that horrible chamber. He’d acted selflessly, without considering the possible danger he’d put himself in.
But that didn’t mean Hugh had forgiven her...
Whenever Eleanor considered what she had lost her eyes would suddenly fill with tears, blurring her vision. She had sacrificed her own happiness with Hugh, the man she realised she loved, with her involvement with the outlaws, and even though she knew that she would never regret it...
No, she would never regret her actions as The Fox. Not only had it been a necessity to do what she had done, but her achievements were something she was immensely proud
