Dead Man's Secret Read Online Free

relation was not the kind of man who indulged in rebellion.
    â€˜Is he accused of treason or some such crime? This letter is one he will not want to receive?’
    Henry grimaced. ‘Why must you always think the worst of me? It is hardly seemly, and there is only so long I can be expected to tolerate your insolence.’
    â€˜I am sorry, sire,’ said Geoffrey. ‘Recent weeks have been difficult, and I am overly tired.’
    â€˜You look tired,’ conceded Henry, softening a little. ‘Dirty, too. It seems suppressing revolts has left you scant time to wash.’
    Geoffrey thought it best not to respond to such a remark.
    â€˜The letter to Gwgan is nothing to do with treason,’ Henry went on. ‘It is one he will be quite happy to receive, I assure you, loyal subject that he is. But its contents are sensitive nonetheless.’
    â€˜You mean you want it delivered with no one knowing about it?’
    â€˜Precisely! I shall write a missive to the local bishop, too – one that will involve a princely amount of money, and so warrants a knight to deliver it. And I shall include one to Abbot Mabon, for the same reason. They do not like each other, and I do not want Mabon to take offence because I wrote to Bishop Wilfred and ignored him.’
    â€˜Who is Abbot Mabon?’ asked Geoffrey, a little bewildered.
    â€˜Head of Kermerdyn’s abbey,’ explained Henry. ‘Mabon is Welsh, and Bishop Wilfred itches to replace him with a Norman. They bicker constantly and are always writing to me about it. Indeed, there is a messenger from Mabon here now.’
    â€˜Is there?’ Henry’s court was vast, and Geoffrey had not tried to work out who was who.
    â€˜A sly monk named Delwyn. Doubtless, he will want to travel with you when you go west, because it will be safer in a larger party.’
    Geoffrey did not like the sound of that. But he made no comment and brought the subject back to Kermerdyn’s religious squabbles.
    â€˜What will you do?’ he asked. ‘Back the Norman bishop who will have the support of the Church, or the Welsh abbot who will have the support of the people?’
    â€˜You see?’ asked Henry with a wry smile. ‘You do understand the politics! You show more insight by that question than my clerks have revealed in great discourses. And I, of course, want to be popular with both Church and people. So I shall resolve the matter by doing nothing.’
    â€˜I do not understand,’ said Geoffrey, intrigued despite himself.
    â€˜One of them will emerge triumphant, and I shall back whoever it is,’ explained Henry. ‘I cannot be seen to be on the losing side, but the winner will be worthy of my approbation.’
    â€˜But the winner might not be a man you wish to own as an ally,’ Geoffrey pointed out. The moment he spoke, he wished he had not, because a predatory smile suffused Henry’s face.
    â€˜Then there is something else you can do for me – send me your impressions of these two churchmen, recommending which is more deserving of my support.’
    â€˜I am not suitable for such a delicate task, sire,’ objected Geoffrey. ‘I am a soldier, not a diplomat, and may inadvertently give you poor counsel.’
    â€˜You will not,’ said Henry, making it sound more like a threat than a vote of confidence. ‘And I shall be happy to have your views regardless. Besides, I am sure you are grateful for me giving you this opportunity to prove yourself.’
    â€˜To prove myself?’ asked Geoffrey, bemused. Surely, he had done that by risking his life to prevent rebels from trying to take Henry’s throne.
    â€˜I am in the process of exiling anyone affiliated with my brother, the Duke of Normandy – and you became a knight under his tutelage. However, I am willing to overlook that in return for this small service. Refuse me, and you lose Goodrich – and I am sure your sister will