I rolled my eyes.
“And yes, I did as you asked. Since I’m certain it will all be for nothing, I prepared the chests for you.”
Drawing a breath, I nodded. “Thank you.”
“So you’re going to steal this money?” she asked.
“Move it. To force his hand.”
“Because there are French guards.”
“He claims they’re from Aquitaine, that he called them to protect the treasury so he could protect you with his knights,” I told her.
“That is a very sensible reason for them to be there,” she insisted.
“But the timeline doesn’t work out—and consider the alternative, Eleanor. You yourself said he would need to buy armies. You said France would be the first place he turned.”
“But these are not armies,” she said. “If they’re knights, you can’t buy them, they’re dedicated to someone. And if they’re not Aquitanian, they belong to someone else. So they must be Aquitanian, because who else would offer him men?”
“Then there will be nothing to worry about,” I told her.
She shook her head. “Of course there will. You are striking a hornet’s nest, and I’m holding the ladder to let you do it.” She frowned. “How is Margaret?”
“Miserable,” I told her.
An eyebrow lifted. “And still here?”
“Yes,” I said, confused.
“Oh, for Heaven’s sake. That fine earl of hers needs to toss her out a window and run off with her. Why are they still here?”
“She wants to obey her father.”
Eleanor drew a breath, and raised her stone chin. “Take me to her.”
She rapped her jeweled walking stick on the ground, and I nodded, leading her quick out of the room to where Margaret were. I knocked on the door and announced Eleanor, and when the maid answered, she looked frightened. “My lady Queen,” she greeted, curtsying. “My lady Margaret is not quite here.”
“Not quite?” I questioned.
“Has she gone to the meal?” Eleanor asked. “Is she walking? It’s after dark.”
The maid shook her head. “Your Highness, she’s not . . . here.”
Eleanor’s eyebrows rose sharp. “She left. The palace. Of her own free will?” Eleanor asked.
“Yes,” the maid said quiet. “With . . . someone.”
“With Winchester?” I asked, worried sudden. What if de Clare—or the prince—
“Yes,” the maid said. “I’m not meant to say anything.”
“Oh,” said Eleanor, raising her chin again. “Next time someone asks you, you silly girl, tell people she fainted and needs her rest. Tell them she will be well by morning, yes?”
“Yes, my lady,” the girl said, dipping and bowing her head, then retreating into the room.
Eleanor looked at me. “Good. That was easier than I thought. Now go do whatever it is you must do—the less I know the better, I imagine.”
I brought David and Allan into the room with me. Rob were already there, and he stood as I came in.
“Well?” he asked.
“Winchester and Margaret ran off,” I told him.
His face broke into a grin. “What? Really?”
I nodded. “And we need to do this tonight. Eleanor put the chests in place, just as I asked. Her carriage is full of them and waiting in the courtyard.”
He drew a breath. “Very well. David, Allan, get horses and meet us by the carriage.”
David glanced at me, ever loyal, and I nodded once.
They had just bare left when a knock came to the door.
Our maid opened it and announced Essex. Rob bristled as Essex came into the room, coming straight for me. His cheeks were filled with color and bright, and he looked wild.
“Is it true?” he asked. “Everything you hinted at—is Prince John a traitor?” he demanded.
“I don’t know,” I told him. “We’ll find out soon enough. Why? What’s the matter?”
“He struck her,” he growled, and Rob came closer to me. “He struck her and he’s going to annul their marriage.”
“What?” Rob said.
“Isabel?” I asked.
“You’d think pain would count more than children,” he said. “But it doesn’t. He tortures her and she has yet to give him a child, so he will annul their marriage and marry Isabelle of Angouleme.”
My breath caught. “Good Lord. The knights—they’re her men.”
“What knights?”
“The prince put the ransom in the White Tower. The men guarding it are French knights—he claims they’re from Aquitaine, but they can’t be.”
He nodded. “That must have been what Isabel meant.” He looked at me. “Please tell me you have some scheme to stop this, Marian. John Lackland will purchase a crown with his new wife’s money. Isabel said he told her himself he’s planning on sending the money to France to make sure Richard never returns.”