Swords and Shields (Reign of the House of de Winter) by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

may.”
    “Speak.”
    Drake hesitated slightly, seemingly pained. “My mother will be the one to soothe about breaking the betrothal to Summerlin,” he said. “It is her you should appeal to when rearranging what she has done.”
    Edward shook his head. “I plan to deal with your father alone,” he said flatly. “Let the man deal with his irate wife. I want no part of it.”
    Drake smirked, an ironic gesture, as Edward quit the tent and headed out into the sheets of rain with his entourage behind him. Left in his wake was a pair of Brittany guards and de Bretagne.
    Cortez hadn’t left with the others, mostly because he wanted to remain behind to congratulate Drake on his reward. He knew about it before Edward had told Drake, so he was quite happy to congratulate the man. Knowing his views on marriage, however, and knowing that he had escaped a marriage arranged by his mother to fight in Scotland, he thought that mayhap he should remain behind to offer his condolences, too. When the tent emptied out, Cortez made his way over to Drake.
    “You have my greatest congratulations,” Cortez said, a twinkle in his dark eyes. “The Earl of East Anglia is a remarkable gift. I am very pleased for you.”
    Drake looked up at his friend, his liege, before lowering himself back down onto the pallet. He grunted and groaned as his battered body pained him.
    “God’s Bloody Bones,” he declared, disgust and surprise in his tone. “Is it true? Have I really been given such a thing?”
    Cortez sat down in the chair once occupied by the king. “Indeed you have,” he said. “I am very proud for you.”
    Drake was staring up at the darkened ceiling of the tent. “As I am,” he said. “I think. Christ, my mother will have fits when she is told I will not marry the Summerlin daughter. Now I am to marry East Anglia’s heiress.”
    Cortez grinned. “I know you have never had a keen view of marriage, but let me say that I rather like it,” he said. “Having a wife is comforting. It fills something within a man that needs filling. A man needs a wife and children.”
    “A man needs to be left alone.”
    Cortez laughed softly. “Is that truly want you want?” he asked. “To be left alone for the rest of your life? That is a foolish, selfish attitude and one you had better amend. Like it or not, you have been given East Anglia’s heiress. Even if you do not want her, she is yours and it would behoove you to, at least, treat the woman with respect.”
    Drake sighed heavily, covering his face with his hands. “Christ, why ?” he begged softly to no one in particular, not even Christ. “No man has ever wanted to be married less than I. Why must I have not one but two brides forced upon me? Why ?”
    Cortez was still laughing. “Why do you act as if you are going to your execution?” he demanded lightly. “Drake, listen to me. A wife is not such a terrible thing. You may even grow to like her and if you do not, simply come to Sherborne Castle and resume your duties for me. Leave your wife at Spexhall where she will probably be glad to be well rid of you. Take heart, mayhap she will not like you, either.”
    Drake dropped his hands and scowled at Cortez. “Be cautious with your taunts,” he said. “Someday I will outrank you and you will be sorry you were ever cruel to me.”
    “I will never be sorry, for anything.”
    Drake made a face and looked away. “Instead of taunting me, you should try to at least comfort me.”
    Cortez shook his head. “Not when you are being so ridiculous,” he said. “You have just been given an amazing gift from the king and all you can do is focus on what you consider to be the overlying negative factor. Why not focus on the positive? You will be wildly rich someday, the biggest land holder in Norfolk and Suffolk, and I will come and live with you in my old age and spend all of your money.”
    That brought a reluctant grin to Drake’s lips. “I will not let you in the gates,” he said.