“This is the evidence!” Lucan said slapping the leather bag on the table. “Everything inside, put down by my sister’s own hand! Iris entrusted it to me when I last departed your court, and it was stolen on the journey to return Thomas Annesley to you!”
Henry raised one eyebrow, and his expression was neither amusednor intrigued.
“How did…who gave it to you, my liege?” Lucan stuttered, seeming to have lost all ability ofproper speech.
“Well, it wasn’t you, was it?” the king quipped. “Although you had ample opportunity to do so. You didn’t trust me then, and you don’ttrust me now.”
“Because if you’ve read what’s inside that portfolio,” Lucan said, “you know that everything Caris Hargrave said in your court today was a lie.”
“And as I told Miss Hargrave,” Henry warned, “any nitwit can write down a tale that pleases them. It does notmake it true.”
Lucan stared for a moment, the bottom falling out of his stomach. “Are you saying that none of the testimony matters?”
“Between titled nobility and common criminals?” Henry clarified, his eyes widened. “Parliament would have my head. At the very least, I would lose every shred of support from any landowner worth more thantwo shillings.”
“You’re just going to let them get away with it,” Lucan said. “You’re going to hang an innocent man tomorrow, to protectyour coffers.”
Henry’s face darkened. “Take care how you speak to me, Sir Lucan.” Then the king sighed wearily. “You must look at it from my position. I had to make thelegaldecision. And thefactsas you claim them are nothing more than rumor! Hearsay! Every titled person in the court today spokeagainstMiss Hargrave. No one of any standing whatsoever can vouch for her—her contemporaries are all lawbreakers! What was I to do? Had I given her an inch, every prisoner awaiting the gallows would concoct such outrageous tales of their innocence, I’d never have any peace!”
“I am titled. My sister is of a noble family. That testimony was put down in her own hand,” Lucan insisted. “Vaughn Hargrave caused the fire that destroyed Castle Dare and killed my parents the very night Euphemia Hargrave escaped Darlyrede House. I know it.”
Henry’s gaze bore into Lucan’s. “Where. Is. Your. Proof?”
Lucan threw up his hands and collapsed back into a chair.
The king smirked. “By all means, do sit down.” He sighed again. “Lucan, listen to me. If there was a single witness of repute to a dastardly character—not simply distasteful, mind you—or to any of the crimes that have been levied against the Hargraves, I could perhaps entertain a broadening inquiry. But even though Lady Towsey thought this bag—”
“Lady Margaretgave the satchel to you?”
The king pressed his lips together a moment, realizing his misstep. “She’s not a stupidwoman, Lucan.”
“This is unjust,” he said. “I took you for a kingof the people.”
“Careful,” Henry warned. “You go too far.”
“No,” Lucan argued. “I didn’t go far enough when I had the opportunity.” He paused. “Only one more thing before I go.”
“Oh, what is it? Castle Dare, I suppose.”
“No,” he said. “Give me leave to take Effie Annesley as my wife.”
Henry’s eyes widened—Lucan had at last been able to surprise the king. “Come again? You wish to marry the daughter of Thomas Annesley?”
Lucan nodded. “And take her son as my ward.”
Henry rubbed his chin. “Surely you realize that would only cause conflict with Caris Hargrave. I’ve already exiled Euphemia from Northumberland.”
“Which is why I will willingly forfeit my father’s lands and ask your permission to take them both to my extended family in France. I will resign my rankin the Order.”
“You would give up your entire birthright forFrance?”
“Not for France,” Lucan clarified pointedly.
Henry was still for a moment, his long face held in his chin as he contemplated. “But what of your sister? Do you also askfor her leave?”
“I beg Your Grace to show Iris mercy by allowing her to return to Caedmaray with her husband,” Lucan said. “Or wherever he chooses to go. Padraig Boyd never meant to deceive you, my liege. His greatest wish was to become a soldier under your command. Let them go. Let us all go and try to build something of a life.” Lucan felt his throat tightening and had to stop and swallow and take a breath. “Try to build a life afterlosing Thomas.”
“Gah.France.What a waste. An utterwaste,” Henry muttered with a frown. The king sighed and Lucan thought he saw a shadow of great sadness flit across the king’s already solemn face. “Very well.”
