eyes narrowed. 'John gave me this land, because I am one of the few men he trusts, so the question is, Raoul, what does John think to gain by sending you here?'
Raoul flinched. So that was it. Osborn wasn't stupid, far from it, and he'd been long enough in the service of kings to know that when a monarch invites you to take one of his courtiers into your service, it isn't to teach him table manners.
There was little to be gained by lying to Osborn, not that Raoul wasn't a master of fabrication. You didn't claw your way up to becoming one of the king's favourites without learning a few useful skills. But he suspected Osborn had already half guessed the truth and he couldn't afford to alienate him by letting him think he was being treated as a fool.
Raoul wandered back to the long table and sat down on one of the benches opposite Osborn.
'You know that ever since the Interdict was pronounced the Pope has made no secret of the fact that he was backing the cause of Philip of France against John?'
'The Pope has no right to try to impose his cardinal on an English Church!' Osborn snapped. 'Now he thinks to plot with England's enemies.'
Yes, yes.' Raoul waved a long, elegant hand. 'But the Pope argues that John is Philip's vassal and John did wage war against Philip in Aquitaine.'
'Aquitaine belongs to John; it was his mother's land. We fought to take back what was stolen from England.' Osborn swung forward in his chair and glared at Raoul. But Raoul had faced worst tempers than Osborn's.
'No one doubts your loyalty, my lord,' he said calmly. 'But every day John is receiving reports that England is swarming with Philip's spies who are reporting back on where and how he might best land his army. Now John has learned Philip is planning to send agents provocateurs to stir up the population to fight for him when he does land, as well as envoys who will try to persuade the rebel English barons to side with France.'
'Does John think I would side with France, after all I did for him in Aquitaine?' Osborn burst out furiously. He leapt from his chair and paced up and down the room. 'It was my skill and experience that helped him capture the castle at Montauban. It was me who ordered the escaping rebels to be hunted down before they could join forces with Philip's men.'
'I can swear to that,' Hugh said, turning back from the window, having at last been distracted from the rain. 'I served with my brother and I can assure you there was not a rebel left alive when we were done. We even rooted out those who'd gone to ground in the monastery, and then burned the monastery to ashes as a lesson to teach all of Aquitaine what happens to men who rebel against their lord. It was my brother who gave the orders and taught John's subjects the duty they owed to their king. There's not a man more loyal to John than Osborn.'
'Which is exactly why John put this manor in his hands,' Raoul said, trying to keep the note of exasperation from his voice. Hugh praised his brother more often than a love-sick maid extols her swain, but then Hugh didn't have a thought in his head that Osborn hadn't put there.
Raoul turned back to Osborn. 'This is the part of England he fears for the most. The sea voyage from France to Norfolk is many days longer and more dangerous than the voyage across to the southern ports, and for that very reason most of John's advisers believe that Philip will try to land the bulk of his troops in the south. But there are some who believe that the spies are not being landed through the southern ports; they are too closely guarded. Anyone being put ashore in these parts could dissolve into the marshland mists in the blink of an eye, but they would have to have a contact here. No stranger could find their way through the marshes alone and they'd need someone who could help them find the people they want to meet. John believes . . .' Raoul hesitated, then decided he might as well tell all. 'John believes that there Is a traitor in these parts, perhaps even in this manor. He sent me to root him out.'
Hugh's hand jerked so violently that it sent Raoul's