Bernard demanded when Hugh did not immediately continue.
Hugh’s eyes were level and unreadable. “He announced that he was going to marry his daughter to the heir of the de Leons.”
For a long moment, Bernard stared at Hugh. Then he said incredulously, “Are you saying that you have a motive?”
Hugh smiled. “Not me, Bernard. William of Roumare.”
“Roumare!”
“Aye. For years William of Roumare and his half brother, the Earl of Chester, have planned to bring Lincolnshire within the circle of their control. Roumare owns vast estates in the shire and he fully expected to be named Earl of Lincoln. Stephen infuriated him when he named Gilbert de Beauté over him.”
“He named Roumare Earl of Cambridge,” Bernard pointed out.
“He tried to placate Roumare by giving him Cambridge, but Roumare has no lands in Cambridgeshire. His power is in Lincolnshire, and it is Lincolnshire that he wants. His half brother Ranulf commands all of Chester, as well as controlling a string of estates and castles that run along the line of the Trent right into Lincolnshire.” Hugh’s eyes narrowed slightly. “The aim of the brothers has always been to seize dominion over this entire part of the kingdom.”
Bernard blinked twice, trying to assimilate what Hugh was telling him.
Hugh thrust his fingers through his hair, which had fallen across his dirt-streaked forehead. He went on, “Then my uncle stepped in and won for the de Leons the power that Roumare and Chester had hoped to win for themselves.”
“Your marriage to the de Beauté heiress,” Bernard said slowly.
“Aye,” Hugh agreed. “My marriage to the de Beauté heiress. With that accomplished, Guy would have Wiltshire, and I would be in position to inherit Lincolnshire. The de Leons, not the brothers Chester and Roumare, would be the ones to control the crucial heart of England.” Hugh’s voice became very dry. “Idoubt that this prospect made either Ranulf or William very happy.”
Bernard’s brow was deeply furrowed. “Do you think that Roumare and Chester might be involved in de Beauté’s death?”
“I think it is extremely likely,” Hugh replied. “The time frame certainly fits. Less than two weeks after de Beauté revealed the marriage arrangement, he was murdered. The result of his death is that the earldom is empty, the wardship of the Lady Elizabeth passes to the king, and the de Leons are cut out of Lincolnshire.”
“Why shouldn’t the marriage go forward?” Bernard protested. “After all, the king approved the match between you and the Lady Elizabeth.”
“He approved it when her father was alive and the king wanted to keep him happy. With de Beauté dead and his daughter unmarried, Stephen is free to name anyone he wants to be the new Earl of Lincoln. He can still honor his word to Guy and give me the lady in marriage, but the earldom does not have to go along with her. Stephen might very well decide that it would be wisest to give it to William of Roumare after all.”
“Jesu,” Bernard said slowly. “I never thought of that.”
Hugh nodded. “It would not have been difficult for Roumare to find someone to kill de Beauté for him. As I said before, he has vast estates in Lincolnshire. There are many men who would find it profitable to do him a service.”
“It would have to be someone whose presence inside the castle walls would not be questioned,” Bernard said. “I have thought about this, and no stranger would have been allowed to remain after the gates were closed. Nor would the guards admit anyone who could not demonstrate legitimate business within.”
Hugh nodded.
“I simply cannot believe that it could be one of the castle guards,” Bernard said stubbornly. “I have served with all of them for years and I would swear that they are honest.”
“Perhaps that is true of the regular garrison,” Hugh said. “But what about the men who are serving out their knight’s fee?”
Hugh was referring to the fact
Hugh’s eyes were level and unreadable. “He announced that he was going to marry his daughter to the heir of the de Leons.”
For a long moment, Bernard stared at Hugh. Then he said incredulously, “Are you saying that you have a motive?”
Hugh smiled. “Not me, Bernard. William of Roumare.”
“Roumare!”
“Aye. For years William of Roumare and his half brother, the Earl of Chester, have planned to bring Lincolnshire within the circle of their control. Roumare owns vast estates in the shire and he fully expected to be named Earl of Lincoln. Stephen infuriated him when he named Gilbert de Beauté over him.”
“He named Roumare Earl of Cambridge,” Bernard pointed out.
“He tried to placate Roumare by giving him Cambridge, but Roumare has no lands in Cambridgeshire. His power is in Lincolnshire, and it is Lincolnshire that he wants. His half brother Ranulf commands all of Chester, as well as controlling a string of estates and castles that run along the line of the Trent right into Lincolnshire.” Hugh’s eyes narrowed slightly. “The aim of the brothers has always been to seize dominion over this entire part of the kingdom.”
Bernard blinked twice, trying to assimilate what Hugh was telling him.
Hugh thrust his fingers through his hair, which had fallen across his dirt-streaked forehead. He went on, “Then my uncle stepped in and won for the de Leons the power that Roumare and Chester had hoped to win for themselves.”
“Your marriage to the de Beauté heiress,” Bernard said slowly.
“Aye,” Hugh agreed. “My marriage to the de Beauté heiress. With that accomplished, Guy would have Wiltshire, and I would be in position to inherit Lincolnshire. The de Leons, not the brothers Chester and Roumare, would be the ones to control the crucial heart of England.” Hugh’s voice became very dry. “Idoubt that this prospect made either Ranulf or William very happy.”
Bernard’s brow was deeply furrowed. “Do you think that Roumare and Chester might be involved in de Beauté’s death?”
“I think it is extremely likely,” Hugh replied. “The time frame certainly fits. Less than two weeks after de Beauté revealed the marriage arrangement, he was murdered. The result of his death is that the earldom is empty, the wardship of the Lady Elizabeth passes to the king, and the de Leons are cut out of Lincolnshire.”
“Why shouldn’t the marriage go forward?” Bernard protested. “After all, the king approved the match between you and the Lady Elizabeth.”
“He approved it when her father was alive and the king wanted to keep him happy. With de Beauté dead and his daughter unmarried, Stephen is free to name anyone he wants to be the new Earl of Lincoln. He can still honor his word to Guy and give me the lady in marriage, but the earldom does not have to go along with her. Stephen might very well decide that it would be wisest to give it to William of Roumare after all.”
“Jesu,” Bernard said slowly. “I never thought of that.”
Hugh nodded. “It would not have been difficult for Roumare to find someone to kill de Beauté for him. As I said before, he has vast estates in Lincolnshire. There are many men who would find it profitable to do him a service.”
“It would have to be someone whose presence inside the castle walls would not be questioned,” Bernard said. “I have thought about this, and no stranger would have been allowed to remain after the gates were closed. Nor would the guards admit anyone who could not demonstrate legitimate business within.”
Hugh nodded.
“I simply cannot believe that it could be one of the castle guards,” Bernard said stubbornly. “I have served with all of them for years and I would swear that they are honest.”
“Perhaps that is true of the regular garrison,” Hugh said. “But what about the men who are serving out their knight’s fee?”
Hugh was referring to the fact
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