It would gain him nothing to point out that he could not have been very successful at leaving since he was here in the king’s court. Instead, he tightened his grip on Edward’s hands and began to recite what he could remember of his oath. “I bear faith and allegiance to the king and his heirs, of life and limb and earthly honor. Faith and truth I bear—”

“Enough.” Edward dropped his hands and gestured him to stand before walking to the statue of the Blessed Mother. He studied it for a moment, then turned slowly on his heel and began to stroll around the small but elegant little chapel. Ranulf stood still, listening to the king’s footfalls in the silence.

“My father had this chapel put in when I was just a boy. He never ceased his fussing with this or any other palace.” He ran his hand along the stone that framed a narrow window. “Is not my nature, to tend to a nest while the tree is being chopped from beneath me.”

This was familiar ground. Many was the time he’d heard Edward complain that his father’s short-sightedness had caused a wholly unnecessary civil war that had weakened the throne. “None may doubt that your rule makes England strong again, sire.”

“Aye, and my crown secure, and yet my most faithful subject does not come when I call for him. Haps I am not so secure as I think, Lord Morency?”

Ranulf willed himself to breathe evenly. “Before God, I do not conspire against you, Edward. Nor would I. I would cut my throat first, I swear it.”

The king looked at him long then, an unbroken gaze that seemed to last an eternity. Ranulf considered saying more, further protestations of innocence and loyalty, but he knew words would make no difference now. Edward was ever a decisive man, and any more words would only annoy him. “You swear it, do you. You would cut a throat – or even stab a heart?”

Aymer. Yes, he had killed Aymer, who had conspired against the old king. They had never spoken of it except obliquely, long ago, and Ranulf had never said plainly that he had killed the old man out of loyalty to the crown. He had never said it because it would have been a lie.

He opened his mouth and drew breath to speak, not even knowing what he was going to say, but Edward waved a hand dismissively in interruption. “Nay, let us have no talk of murder in this holy place. Let us speak only truth. Say where you have been, and why you are brought back by a party out of Ruardean.”