"The king believes you have Livia," Lionel blurted out. He braced himself expecting anger. It did not come. Lionel wished he had been shouted at.
"Why would he think that?" Richard asked at last. "I hadn't even heard the name until today."
It wasn't a lie and yet it made Richard hate himself. He should have felt only guilt. He should have confessed. He should have told Lionel that Livia had been under his roof.
But instead, the first thing that rose in him was offence. Henry had ordered Kingsmere to be searched.
His home. His estate.
"I think the king is merely suspicious of everyone at this point," Lionel said carefully.
"Even me?" Richard asked.
Lionel sighed. "Like I said, please do not take offence."
"That is very easy to request when you are not the one whose household is lined up like thieves outside his own door."
Lionel held his gaze. "If I had any choice, I would not be here."
Richard looked away first, jaw tight.
