She will bring to her husband vast lands, as well as the earldom of Lincoln.”
Guy’s smile became sharklike. “Gilbert and I spoke extensively while I was at Salisbury. He knew your foster father and said he was very highly regarded in the shire. The foster son of Ralf Corbaille would be a popular choice for the next earl of Lincoln. The added fact that by birth you are not an insignificant Corbaille, but a de Leon, makes your attraction irresistible.”
Hugh’s complexion had gone very white. “What are you saying?”
“Gilbert de Beauté has agreed to a match between you and his daughter,” Guy said triumphantly. “Just think, Hugh! The de Leons will control all of Lincoln and Wiltshire. And those two lordships will also giveus command of a string of manors and castles that form almost a solid line between the two shires. We will accomplish what Chester and Roumare could not. It is the de Leons who will sit astride the kingdom, not Chester and his half brother!”
“And that is precisely the reason why the king will never agree to such a match,” Hugh said tersely.
“He has already agreed,” Guy said jubilantly. “Now that you and I have reconciled, Stephen knows that he must offer me something else to keep me attached to him. And so he will buy our loyalty with the Lincoln heiress.”
A white line formed down the center of Hugh’s nose as he said, “The reason I came to see you, my lord, was to ask for your permission to marry Lady Cristen of Somerford.”
Guy stared at him in amazement. “You can’t be serious. Where is the gain for us in a marriage to Lady Cristen? I already control Somerford!”
Hugh said steadily, “I love her.”
“Great men do not marry for love,” Guy snapped. “I did not think I would have to tell you that. You were born to one of the highest positions in all of England. You have a chance to make your family even more powerful than it already is. Love does not enter into the marriage of an earl. You will marry where your duty lies, as the rest of us have done.”
Slowly Hugh rose to his feet. “I see,” he said.
“Don’t be a fool, Hugh,” Guy said. He, too, got to his feet. “You must consider your own self-interest in the matter of a marriage.”
“I will, my lord,” Hugh said. There was a white line around his mouth as well. “I promise you that I will make my self-interest a matter of the utmost priority.”
Guy looked at him warily.
“And my self-interest dictates that I marry the Lady Cristen,” Hugh said.
There was a tense silence.
“Have you gotten her with child?” Guy demanded.
Hugh flushed. “Nay.”
Guy took a step toward his nephew. “Then forget her, Hugh. I will never give my permission for such a marriage. It is ludicrous for you even to contemplate it! You will marry Lady Elizabeth and bring honor to your family.”
Hugh said, “If Cristen was with child, then would you agree to our marriage?”
“I will never agree to such a marriage,” Guy said firmly. “All such an unfortunate situation would mean is that I would be forced to find Lady Cristen a husband quickly.”
Hugh said calmly, “I will never marry Elizabeth de Beauté.”
Guy set his mouth in a grim line as he regarded his nephew. “I made you my heir; I can just as easily unmake you.”
“And I can go to Robert of Gloucester and declare for the empress,” Hugh returned. “I am quite certain that he will promise to back my claim to my father’s earldom.”
There was something strangely compelling about Hugh’s slim figure, his glittering gray eyes. Watching him, it was easy to believe that his father had been the greatest soldier of his time.
“Don’t be a fool, Hugh,” Guy repeated. “You can make Lady Cristen one of your wife’s ladies. You won’t have to give her up.”
Hugh looked at Guy, and involuntarily, Guy took a step back.
Then Hugh turned and strode out of the room.
2
L INCOLN
January 1140
G ilbert de Beauté was coming to visit