En Route to the de Montfort Residence
Paris, Kingdom of France
“I noticed you didn’t mention the German coins we found.”
Marcus glanced over at Simon, riding beside him on his borrowed horse. “No, I think we should keep that to ourselves. He might repeat our suspicions to someone else, and word could spread. We don’t want whoever is behind this to disappear before we can have them arrested.”
Simon nodded, a frown spreading. “And what if the King is behind this?”
Marcus sighed, the thought having occurred to him as well. He didn’t trust the man at all, not after his experiences of a few weeks ago, and not with his open hostility toward the Order Marcus had dedicated his life to. “Then I fear there is little we can do, though in this case, I still think that he isn’t. If he wanted to end the truce, he would simply do it.”
Simon grunted. “True. Do you think Denys could be the one?”
Marcus chuckled. “Well, Lord Charles certainly seemed eager to let us know he was opposed to the truce, though if he were, how does carrying on an affair with someone help him? He too is committing a crime in so doing, not just Lady Joanne.”
“Do you think they have arrested him?”
Marcus urged his horse forward a little quicker with the suggestion. “The men with whom the wives were accused of having the affairs weren’t named when the charges were read in the Court, which I found odd. It was as if they were only concerned with one side of the crime.”
“To discredit their husbands?”
“That’s my thinking. If a man can’t control his wife, he can’t be relied upon in matters of true importance.” He stared at Sir Denys’ estate as they rounded a bend in the road. “Can you ever imagine living in such a place?”
Simon laughed. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I think I’d be ashamed. To have so much, when so many have so little?”
Marcus agreed. “I wonder if these men have any idea how easy their lives are compared to the masses that surround them.”
Simon tossed his head back, laughing even harder. “They probably think they’re doing good by the poor, in having such large staffs.”
Marcus smiled. “True, and I guess in a way they are. Gainful employment in a safe environment is charitable in a way, I suppose, but seeing this”—he waved his hand at the large estate—“makes me thankful I took a vow of poverty when joining the Templars. Because of it, I’ll never have to face such choices.”
“Or worry about your wife committing adultery.”
Marcus laughed. “Nor that!”
They approached the open gate and the guard waved them through, their Templar surcoats all that was needed. They approached the large home and dismounted, their horses taken by a stable boy.
“When will you be needing them back, sir?”
“In short order. We won’t be here very long.”
“Okay, sir, I’ll tend to them quickly.”
“Thank you, son.”
Sir Denys appeared on the steps, waving at them, a broad smile greeting them. “Ahh, Sir Marcus, so good to see you. Do you have news?”
Marcus bowed. “Little, though I do have questions, if you have the time.”
Denys motioned toward the entrance. “I do, though even if I didn’t, one must make the time for events such as these. How may I help you?”
Marcus and Simon followed him inside. “I have a list I would like you to look at for me.” He pulled out the pages, handing them to Denys. “It is a list of guests at the jousting tournament, on August ninth.”
Denys shook his head, glancing through the pages as he led them to his office. “Now that was a day! I nearly broke my neck!” He pointed at some of Charles’ notes. “What are these?”
“Notes from Lord Charles. I’d like you to go through the list and indicate any of the men you remember being injured, who might have required a cane, and if they had any associations with foreign governments.”
Denys took a seat behind his desk, grabbing a quill and dipping it in ink. “Why? What does that have to do with anything?”
“We think the man involved required a cane after the accident, but no longer does.”
“Huh. Give me a moment.” He quickly scanned the list, adding only two checks, and no notes. “It looks like Lord Charles’ was very thorough. I agree with everything he indicated, and I think he only missed a few, though I too could have missed some. It was a tragedy of immense proportions, I tell you. So many injured, and so many badly. I was lucky to escape with my life, what with being relegated to the back row with the highest possible drop. As soon as I felt it begin to collapse, I leaped to the ground and was able to roll out of the way. I still landed on my hip, bruising it horribly. I don’t think I walked properly for weeks.” He handed the pages back. “Was that all you required?”
Marcus stuffed the pages out of sight, and retrieved the letter he had procured from Charles. “One more thing, if you would. Can you please read this, and tell me if you notice anything?” He handed Denys the letter, the man’s eyes widening as he read the contents. “So, this is what would have me condemned.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Nothing seems unusual, though you will have noticed the writer is left-handed.”
Marcus leaned forward, examining the letter. “Why, I suppose he is. Perhaps, though, he is trying to make us think he is.”
Denys shook his head, pointing at the writing. “This is a practiced hand. It is difficult to fake writing with the other hand. I myself am left-handed, but my parents were fastidious about making sure I was cured of that ailment. Now, after much practice, I can write equally well with both hands.”
Simon grunted. “Then perhaps you wrote this.”
Denys laughed, holding out his arms, his wrists pressed together as if awaiting irons. “Yes, arrest me now! I revealed myself to the husband of my lover, who in fact wasn’t her husband at all!” Gloom replaced the laughter. “I’m sorry, but I still can’t believe what is happening. I just received word that the women have all confessed to their affairs, which means their situations are different than mine, since we all now agree that Lady Joanne is innocent, despite being named in the same breath as the others. Why should she alone be innocent, while none of the others were?”
“Perhaps they were tortured into false confessions,” suggested Marcus.
Denys paled slightly. “Unfortunately, a contact of mine has confirmed they were tortured. Thank God you were able to hide Lady Joanne, otherwise she too would have been.”
Marcus nodded. “Do we know yet who their partners were in their adultery?”
Denys leaped from his chair, tossing the letter back on his desk. “Yes, as a matter of fact!” He shook his head, pacing back and forth behind his desk. “And this is the most troubling thing! This morning, three young men, quite dashing and eloquent, if what I have been told is correct, presented themselves to the Court, claiming they had been paid by the husbands to seduce their wives, in the hopes they may produce male heirs! Can you believe such a thing!”
Marcus had to admit he didn’t. It was a fantastic idea, though under French law, if a man died without a male heir, the consequences could be horrific for what remained of his family. “I must admit, Sir Denys, that this comes as quite the shock.”
Denys’ head bobbed vigorously. “To me as well! It hadn’t occurred to me until I heard it, that these three men had no male heirs, only daughters, or no children at all! According to the message I received, their husbands had discussed it among themselves, after a friend had died at the stage collapse, leaving no male heir. His wife and daughters now have had to rely upon the charity of others since, much of their estate seized to pay debts, and with her husband’s title lost, so were his taxable estates. These men decided they didn’t want their wives to face such a fate, so embarked upon this unholy exercise in the hopes of avoiding any future horrors.”
Denys dropped back into his chair, and Marcus took up the pacing in front of the desk, his jaw clenched, absorbing everything said. Could they have been wrong about everything? Was there no conspiracy involving the German King to force France and Flanders into war, but instead, this was all an exercise in dealing with the lack of male heirs to inherit the titles of their fathers?
Though why just these three men? And why were they all in favor of the treaty? Was that just a coincidence?
No, perhaps not. It would make sense that like-minded men would associate, and would be friends. They could discuss their shared problems, and the tragedy of the stage collapse could indeed have triggered such discussions. Yet to take it to the extreme of soliciting young men to bed their wives?
He knew nothing of women, of marriage, or of love. Perhaps these things were possible, though he thought it preposterous. He looked at Denys. “Do you believe their story?”
Denys shrugged. “I can see no reason for them to lie. These men are going to die horrible deaths should the King order it. They have committed a crime, and a sin. In fact, the husbands too could be punished. I think it is safe to say that their days as members of the Court are numbered. The very notion that one would engage in such an undertaking boggles the mind.”
“I’m glad to see I’m not the only one shocked about this.” Marcus paused. “Does Lord Charles have a son?”
Denys thought for a moment. “Not that I’m aware of, but if they wanted to implicate him in the same affair, why wouldn’t they just have a fourth man confess? Why employ an imposter and involve me?” He shook his head. “It makes no sense.”
Marcus frowned. “I agree, it does make no sense, unless they are lying, which again, has dire consequences for them.”
Denys shifted in his chair. “I can’t see why they would. They face certain death. And even if they are, why drag Lord Charles into it?” He paused, raising a finger. “Wait. We’re forgetting that I met my Lady Joanne two months ago, and the stage collapse was only three months ago. Is it even possible for someone to have caught wind of this plan, and moved that quickly to try and implicate Lord Charles? The timing doesn’t seem to make sense to me.”
Simon cleared his throat. “That’s true, sir. And Mrs. Thibault said that she had been hired to train Miss Girard three months ago. They can’t be related. There’s just not enough time.”
Marcus agreed with his sergeant’s assessment. “Yes, though perhaps someone caught wind of what these men were up to, and decided to take advantage of it after the fact.” He looked at Denys. “Have the husbands responded yet to these accusations?”
“Not that I’m aware of, however, I suspect they’ll be arrested soon.”
“Do you know them well enough that they might take a meeting with you?”
Denys tapped his chin for a moment. “On any other day, I would say yes, but today? With all that is happening? I’d be surprised.” He eyed Marcus, a smile spreading. “But with you at my side, I hardly think any would say no.”
Marcus headed for the door. “Then with all due haste, we must meet with at least one of these men before they are arrested, and perhaps silenced permanently.”