Gabriel sat back and crossed his legs. “I told him,” he said simply.

Ghause paused. She looked at her son for a long time, and then said slowly, “You told him—what?”

“I told him that I was your son. By him.” He put his hands behind his head and looked at the ceiling.

Ghause rose slowly. “You what?”

Gabriel sighed. “I told him. I felt he needed to know.”

Ghause’s mouth moved, but no words came out.

Gabriel watched her. “I could go to court and present myself as the king’s bastard by his sister,” he said. “I suspect that would have an effect. I might even prevent the civil war. Perhaps he’d make me his heir!”

“You wouldn’t dare! I don’t want anything given by that bastard! I want him brought low!” Ghause was on her feet, her voice rising.

“You know, Mother, those may be things you want, but they are not things I want. If you want to destroy the king, you need to affect that on your own. I will not be your tool. And in the meantime, if you would like to please me, sign this agreement as the king’s vassal. In my turn, I’ll promise you—and your mate—my support as Duke of Thrake.”

Ghause pursed her lips. “No. I don’t give a fuck if you want to lie naked at his feet. Go—lick his arse for all I care.” She put a hand on the treaty, written out fine. “I will sign it, though. I’ll be a lickspittle and sign it as a vassal. I can repudiate it any time I like. Only make me one promise, and I’ll comply.”

Gabriel braced himself. “Does it involve murder?”

“No, marriage.” She sat again. “Marry the girl of my choice. I promise she’ll be handsome and have a good dowry and power. Give your word to marry her at my whim and I’ll sign your paper.”

Gabriel drew breath.

Ghause leaned towards him. “Forget your little nun. Or tumble her to your heart’s content when you’ve got your bride in kindle. I admit, for all her low birth, I like the nun. I think I could fancy her for myself.” She licked her lips. “What was wrong with the princess Irene?”

“You are the second person to ask me that today,” Gabriel said, a little wildly.

“Well?” his mother insisted.

“She tried to kill her father?” Gabriel said. “She poisons people?”

Ghause shrugged.

Gabriel sat back and laughed. “I confess, you’d like her, and you two would have so much to talk about over your sewing.”

Ghause met his eye. “You think I’m crude and vicious,” she said. “But yon princess is what she is. She is what her court has made her, and if you were a good knight and a good husband, she’d ha’ no need to poison you, would she?”