“Yes? Can the duke enforce this?”

“Oh, yes. But you see what it means? If the count is to move, it must be tonight.”

“Move? To do what?”

But he knew, even before Jeshua said: “Have you ever heard of the Young Celts?”

“Ah,” said Alexander softly. “Yes, indeed. And they – she – whoever it is – really are depending on him somehow to take possession of Castle Rose?”

“I think so. He was the obvious choice, the heir, with an easy way in by marriage. I don’t know much about your country, my lord, but I understand that this would be a good place to hold, perhaps commanding the road north, or the port to the west where we landed?”

“I don’t know that either, but – surely it’s not very likely that he’ll try anything now? Even if I were out of the way, the duke must have made it clear when they talked, that he knew of the count’s links with the faction, and that he’d have no hope of the Lady Alice? What better reason could he give the man for passing over his claim, such as it was, to her hand, and bestowing it on me? What are you afraid of? What else have you heard?”

“Nothing definite. But I was there when the message came in that the duke was on his way back from St Martin’s, and I was watching the count when the duke presented you as the Lady Alice’s husband. Afterwards – when everyone was busy preparing for the feast – I followed Count Madoc to see what he would do. I know murder when I see it, my lord. He went to talk with his captain, and though I heard nothing of what was said, I saw their looks. Then I tried to warn Beltrane, but he was full of the marriage, and too cumbered with the coming feast – and besides, he would not believe me. He’s a simple man, and to him this place, after a lifetime of peace, is peace itself. There may have been difficulties recently, but now that the duke is home, he cannot see that anyone can make trouble. More, he would not believe that a kinsman would harm the duke or the Lady Alice. Nor –” there was no change in the even, faintly accented voice – “would he readily believe anything that I, a foreigner and a Jew, would say about his master’s kin. So I came to you.”

“And what would you have me do?”

“Sir –” the voice did change now; relief and urgency. “Sir, if you would go to the duke’s room. He and Count Madoc have not long finished their talk, and gone to their beds. I waited to see my lord safely to his chamber, and at present all is well, but there’s only one man there to attend him, a servant who usually sleeps within call in the antechamber. I thought there would be guards set, but there has never been any need, and no one has thought of it. So, sir, if you would go there now, just for the time it takes for me to rouse some of the duke’s men and set them on watch? I need your authority for that, too. I’ve already been down to the east tower and turned the key on the count’s men. If it turns out that there’s nothing planned, they’ll never know. I’ll open it when it’s daylight.”