Page 17 of Historical Hotties
“There’s more?”
“More stroking, flattery, and sickening sweetness.”
The duke started to laugh. “Must I sit for all of it, de Wolfe?”
“I must do my job, your grace. I will be ashamed to tell the king that I was unable to spew every last bit of his adulation to you.”
Grinning, the duke sat forward to pour himself more wine. “I will tell him that you did,” he said. “Just tell me what he wants.”
Cassius paused a moment before leaning towards the duke and lowering his voice. “What I am to tell you is in the strictest confidence, your grace,” he said quietly. “May I rely upon your discretion?”
The duke may have been tipsy, but he was still sharp. He nodded. “Of course, de Wolfe,” he said. “What is it?”
“Edward is taking a delegation to France,” Cassius said. “He intends to create a treaty with the French, thereby breaking the alliance they have with the Scots. Then, he intends to move into Scotland and finally bring the country into submission. If they lose the support of the French, that will seriously cripple them.”
Doncaster raised his eyebrows. “The French, is it?” he said, surprised. “They may lose the support, but that will not break them. The Scots are stronger than that.”
“Robert Bruce has pledged to side with Edward.”
That brought a strong reaction from Doncaster. “The Bruce himself?”
“Indeed, your grace.”
Doncaster stared at him a moment before shaking his head. “It seems impossible that the wars with Scotland will finally be over and England will be the victor,” he said. “But if Robert Bruce has pledged to side with England, that means something.”
“It does, your grace.”
“It means that Edward will put The Bruce on the throne and his enemies will be forced to contend with a Scottish ruler backed by England.”
Cassius simply nodded. The old duke was sharp and understood the implications of the situation. He’d spent seven decades being entrenched in England and her politics, so he was well aware of the magnitude of what Cassius was suggesting.
It was considerable.
“I see,” he said after a moment, looking far more sober than he had only seconds earlier. “And he feels his overture to the French will succeed?”
“He has every confidence, your grace.”
“With enough money and gifts.”
“Exactly, your grace.”
Doncaster was satisfied that he had the truth of it. He was willing to go along with Edward’s request with the hope that it would end his expensive wars once and for all, wars that rich barons like Doncaster were paying for.
“Very well,” he said. “Then of course I shall pledge money and men for Edward to accomplish this. What does he need?”
“Money, your grace. He is taking an army with him to France.”
“Then I shall pledge one hundred pounds in gold and five hundred men.”
Cassius smiled. “He will be quite pleased, your grace,” he said. “That is very generous.”
Doncaster returned to his drink. “It is,” he said. “But he had better end these wars once and for all this time. I do not intend to give him another cent for his foolish wars against people who we should let alone. As long as the Scots stay in Scotland, let them be, I say.”
Cassius snorted. “The problem is that they do not stay there, your grace,” he said. “My mother and grandmother are Scottish.I have aunts who are Scottish. Being that my grandfather’s properties protect most of the Scots borders and my father is the Earl of Berwick, we have seen our share of Scots. We know how they think. Too many feudal clans make it difficult to unite Scotland, but Edward believes it is possible. Still… the Scots can be an unruly and unhappy bunch. I speak from experience.”
Doncaster nodded reluctantly. “True enough,” he said. “I suppose it is just one of those things we must accept. In any case, I will send the men and the money with you when you leave. When do you intend to go?”
But Cassius shook his head. “I depart tomorrow, but I am not returning to London,” he said. “I have not been home in three years and the king has graciously granted me the time to return home for a short while. I would suggest you send your men and money to London directly.”
