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“Come!” he ordered.
Two tarts had lain with him the night before and he shooed them off as Tristan entered.
“You sent for me?”
“I think it’s time to rescue my wife from the forest,” he said.
“If that’s your wish. She’s been well worked by the young gentlemen. They’ve learned a great deal making sure that she has suffered for her impudence. You were wise to see her so humbled.”
“Indeed,” he sounded less than interested. “But I do have other plans for her.”
“How so?”
“I have promised her to Sir Guy of Baudaire. You’ll take her to the province where she’ll serve him until he is ready to return her to me.”
“Such a rash move, sir?” Tristan let the information settle with him, knowing what this meant.
“Not true. I have thought on this some weeks. After Sir Guy’s imploring, I found it to my liking.”
“Then I’ll prepare for the trip.”
“As speedily as possible.”
“Would you have her returned here first?”
“No, you can explain the move as you like. Make certain that she does this in a spirit of surrender. I assume her re-training will stick more than an hour or two.”
“I trust that it will last.”
“Good. And you can take your two men with you. The journey is a short one, a few weeks at best.”
“Perhaps sooner, milord.”
“I’ll expect a handsome token from them for my generosity.”
“I’ll make sure you have it.”
Mountbane was satisfied; and with his lieutenant gone, he moved on to more lascivious deeds.
d
“The plan’s afoot, milady,” Sir Tristan exclaimed in a whisper as he approached the Lady Charlotte. His pupils had been sent back to the castle to bring the supplies he’d ordered.
“In truth?” she looked up from where she squatted on the floor.
“Mountbane’s given us easy passage. He intends to have you serve Sir Guy of Baudaire. I’m to take you there straightaway.”
“And the two young bucks?”
“I’ll find a way to throw them off when we’re well away from the province and out of Mountbane’s immediate reach. Come, let’s get you dressed. We’ll leave before nightfall.”
“And ride at night?”
“Some of the best plans are begun in the shadow hours of twilight.”
d
Mountbane moved briskly through the castle toward the baths, looking for the tart, Jontile. The little slave had been coy with him lately, something he found as charming as it was annoying. However, he wanted her now, she’d been due in his room an hour ago, and she’d make her pay for forgetting their appointment.
