< previous page page_163 next page >

Page 163
had closed it again and said nothing until William was gone. Then he remarked, "That was masterly."
"I beg your pardon," Walter said, abashed. "It is your place to order your son, but"
"But I am his father, and he would resent it from me. Yes, I know that. Why are all boys such fools? I love my father well and always did, but I can remember feeling the same way."
"I, too," Walter admitted, "but many men are fools, also. They have forgotten what they felt and blame their sons."
Geoffrey smiled wryly. "I am not immune from that, either. If you were not by, we would have come to angry looks."
Walter smiled back with warm understanding, and then he remembered his promise to Sybelle that he would speak to Geoffrey about his intention of going to Knight's Tower. This was a good time for it. He explained the circumstances and outlined his plan to demand his dues so that he would have cause to dismiss Sir Heribert from his post.
"There is no point in going there," Geoffrey said slowly. "If Sir Heribert invites you in, you must either refuse, thereby giving him just cause for complaint against you, or take the chance of walking half-crippled into a trap. Your purpose will be better served by summoning him out to meet you. If he comes and you still feel you cannot trust him, keep him with you. Thus, you will come to know the man better."
"It would be best indeed," Walter agreed, "and I can use this silly shoulder and knee as an excuse. But summon him where? Goldcliff is far enough that he could make easy excuses to delay, and truly I would not wish to be out of Richard's reach in case I should be needed. And to summon him here or to Usk or Abergavenny would only give him an excuse to ask the king to invest him with the lands because I tried to draw him into the rebel cause."
"True," Geoffrey concurred, "and Henry is furious enough just now to do anything, no matter how foolish. Then, to make him undo it later will be near impossible, even if he regrets it. But you could safely ask your castellan to come to Clyro, which is a keep held by your betrothed wife's family, a place neutral in these troubles, and no more than a day's ride from Knight's Tower."
Walter did not have a chance to reply because William

 
< previous page page_163 next page >