“What’s wrong?” I asked, looking at Rob as dread crept over my heart. We hadn’t even been married a whole day yet.
Eleanor and Winchester both looked at Margaret, and she lifted her head to show me tears tracked all over her face. Rob squeezed my hand, but we didn’t move.
Margaret held up a letter in her lap. “My father,” she whispered. “He’s ordered me to travel to London. To marry the future Earl of Hertford.”
Winchester made a low growling sound, like a wolf, and I looked to him. “De Clare?” I demanded. “She’s meant to marry de Clare?”
“Yes,” Winchester gritted out. “The man who arguably took the most pleasure in the prince’s cruel treatment of you. Yes, I’m sure he’ll be a suitable husband.”
Rob looked fast at me. “Quincy, come with me. Let’s take some air.”
“Air?” Winchester snapped. “Air? Prince John is doing this because of me!” he roared. “You think de Clare just woke up and decided to be married? No. ‘Bold words,’ he said. Prince John is ordering this and I swear to God I will see him bleed for it.”
Eleanor stiffened, and Rob pushed at Winchester’s shoulders. “Outside with you,” he ordered, and then, much quieter, “You’re scaring her, Quin.”
He glanced at Margaret, who were looking at him with wide, lost eyes, and he hung his head. He let Rob push him out of the room.
I went to them. “All is not lost,” I told her, kneeling in front of her.
“It is,” she sniffed. “My father won’t change his mind. He’s going to meet me in London within a fortnight and the marriage will happen within the month.”
“Winchester will change his mind,” I told her. “Let him ask for your hand.”
“Winchester is right,” Eleanor said soft. “I can’t imagine this happened without my son’s urging. And if my son has promised your father something, it may be difficult to match.” She looked at me, and back to Margaret. “Particularly,” she added with a sigh, “if your theory about his plans for Richard is correct.”
Margaret drew a breath and it came out with tears. I caught her hands in mine. “No,” I told her. “I won’t let this happen. I promise. The only way you’ll marry de Clare is if you damn well want to.”
She shook her head. “I don’t. But my father—”
“We’ll deal with him.”
“You must escort her down to London,” Eleanor told me.
I shook my head. “I can’t leave Nottingham. Not now.”
“You must,” Eleanor told me. “I gave you the option of a strong, protective alliance, and you chose your own path,” she said, her eyebrow arching up.
“You never thought I’d marry Essex,” I scoffed.
The eyebrow dropped. “Well. Still, you need more of the nobility at your side to quell John, Marian.”
“What, and show them how Prince John has repaid Winchester for his aid? No one will help us then.”
“Really?” she said. “They don’t have wives and daughters? People they wish to protect? People they love?”
I frowned.
“Whether it makes them bold or not, the other nobles need to see that Prince John is acting out against their way of life. And besides, if you’re in London you can protect the silver we’re sending down there.”
“No,” I told her. “I can’t leave Nottingham. Not when Prince John has already proven he can strike within these walls.”
“But that’s it exactly—he can strike within these walls. He can strike you anywhere. If you’re only concerned with your corporeal body, you will lose. The battle you are fighting now, Marian, is not one of physicality. Your knights can stay here and protect your shire, but you need to wage a much more subtle war, of diplomacy and shifting loyalty. Go to court, and perhaps you can stop him, once and for all.”
“Please,” Margaret said, squeezing my hands. “Please come with me. If you’re there—I’ll feel so much better if you’re there.”
Frowning fast at Eleanor, I looked to Margaret and nodded. “Very well. I’ll go with you. I won’t let you go alone.”
The door opened behind us, and Rob stepped inside. Winchester followed him, crossing his arms again.
I stood, turning to them, and Margaret wiped her face. “I’ll go with Margaret to London, Winchester. I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen.”
He nodded. “I’m coming with you,” he said. “If your father is headed for London, I’ll meet him there. And you can be damn sure I won’t let this marriage happen,” he promised, looking at Margaret.
Rob were looking at me, and I met his gaze. “Maybe you should stay here,” I told him.
His mouth tilted up, and he chuckled. “Not a chance, Scar,” he told me, and it sounded the same as when he said he loved me.
I nodded. “We’ll leave for London as soon as Nottingham is sorted.”