Candace C. Bowen - A Knight Series 01 (17 page)

Mindful of where they were, Albin spoke low, “Be at
ease Fulke. The king’s passion of late extends no further than the table.” He
scowled at Talan. “I overheard the men-at-arms speaking amongst themselves on
our journey. I would have discovered more had Talan not silenced them with his
temper.”

“What reason would Talan have to come to blows with the
king’s men?” Fulke asked.

Talan glowered at Albin as he replied, “It was naught
so much what the men did. It was more a matter of thrashing out amongst
themselves what they would like to have done. They were a bit too descriptive
in discussing our lady's finer points.”

Fulke glanced over at Talan. “I owe you a tally at the
tavern, lad. You did no less than I would in your stead.”

“Thank you, my liege.
 
If you will excuse me, I have a need of some fresh air.”
 

Frustrated, Fulke crossed to the window.
  
Leaning on the sill, he stared at the crowds
in the courtyard below.

“No harm shall befall her, Fulke,” Albin said
softly.
  

“I do not fear her physical well-being,” he scoffed,
turning to face Albin with a bleak stare.
  
“What does it say about me, that I cannot stand the thought of her in
another man’s arms?”

“Do you think Lady Reina would willingly turn to
Henry?” Albin asked incredulously.

“I all but abandoned her,” Fulke replied
bitterly.
 
“I cannot very well lay blame
at her feet were she to do so.”

Narrowing his eyes, Albin called,
 
“Lads, take a walk.”

Hearing the click of the latch, he snapped, “You are a
fool to even suggest such a thing, Fulke.”

He shrugged, causing Albin to seize the front of his
tunic.
 
“I am weary of you trying to find
reasons to turn from the lady.”

“Turn from her?” he asked in surprise. “I can no more
turn from her than I could live without breathing.”

Releasing his grip, Albin looked confused.
 
“What mean you?”
 

“I have caused Reina nothing but heartache,” he
replied softly.
 
“Given the chance, what
woman would not seize on a king’s attention?”
   

Furious, Albin ground out, “If you believe for one
moment she is capable of such, you do not deserve her.”
 

Striding across the room, he slammed the door on his
way out.

* * * *

Reina gazed out her window to the churning river
below, her thoughts matching the bleak winter landscape. Her shoulder suddenly
seized in a firm grip, she flinched away in fear.
 
Whirling around, her eyes widened at the
group of solemn women staring at her.

Her arms crossed in front of her ample chest, the
plump elder woman, rudely assessed Reina.
 
Thin lips pursed in a tight line of disapproval, she motioned to a wood
stool.
 

Reina scanned the faces of the young women staring at
her in silence.
 
Greeted with cold
indifference, she grasped her skirts to step up on the stool.
 
As the head seamstress snapped curt
instructions, she found herself being measured, poked and prodded by the
younger women.
 

Casting furtive glances at her flushed face, they began
to murmur amongst themselves.
 
Following
their words, she shifted on the stool, drawing a frown of disapproval from the
elder woman.
 
Word had spread that Henry
had a new favorite, an addle pate who could not hear or speak.
 

A single tear tracked down Reina’s face as the women
finished their tasks.
 
Motioning for
Reina to step down, the elder woman barked a command.
 
Retrieving the stool, the group departed as
quickly as they had come.

Before Reina could sag in relief at their departure,
more servants swept in carrying a large wooden tub to set before the fire along
with steaming buckets of water to fill it.
 

Pouring rose scented oil into the water, two young
girls remained behind.
 
Without a word,
they assisted her to undress.
  
Guiding
her into the high-backed tub, the girls motioned for her to lean forward.
 
Piling her hair on the top of her head, they
scrubbed it clean with rose-scented soap, before rinsing it with warm
water.
 
About to relax in the soothing
water, they motioned for her stand.

One girl gestured for her to stand by the fire, before
combing her hair dry. The other patted her down with a fine linen cloth.
 
Discarding the cloth, she held up a silk
damask dressing gown of dark gold for Reina to slip into.

The girls dropped into quick curtsies as they
departed, leaving her breathless at the speed in which they had accomplished
their task.

Pausing to see if any more interruptions were
forthcoming, she wearily made her way to the window-niche.
 
Drawing her legs up, she wrapped her arms around
them, resting her cheek on her knees. The cold wind from the river caused her
to shiver as she peered up at the darkening sky.
 
Her heart aching for Fulke, tears tracked
down her cheeks as she envisioned his reaction to the latest court gossip.
    

In a few short hours, she would be dining with the
king in her new capacity, and she was terrified.

Just replaying her meeting with the most powerful man
in England had her heart racing in fear.
 

Her trembling had been so evident on the way to the
meeting, Talan had reached out to soothe her by touching her sleeve. The
unspoken display of support allowed her to gain some semblance of control as
they approached the massive oak doors.
 

A score of solemn men-at-arms lined the narrow passage
outside the king’s meeting chamber.
 
Holding long pikes with sharp iron tips, they stood motionless as the
trio moved past.
 

In silence, the guards on either side of the doors
stepped forward to open them.

After what seemed like an eternity to Reina, the
king’s herald appeared. “The king awaits.”
 
Moving aside, he motioned for them to precede him.

Glancing at Reina with a reassuring smile, Talan
extended a hand towards the door.
   

She dipped her head, willing her legs to move forward.

Flanked by Albin and Talan, she entered with her head
held high.
 
The long narrow hall’s
vaulted ceilings led to a raised dais at the back. Focusing her gaze on the
brocade coat of arms hanging behind the dais, she avoided the pointed stares
directed at her.

Curious to get a glimpse of her, groups of nobles
craned their necks to get a better view.
 

Seated at the center of a long ornately carved wood
table, sat King Henry.
 
Terrified, Reina
sought the resolve to approach the most powerful man in England.
 
Son of the great conqueror, Henry looked
nothing like the dashing warrior she had long imagined. Two years short of
three score, the king was of stout stature. Parted down the center, his dark
curly brown hair reached below the collar of his gold damask tunic. Sporting a
pointed beard and mustache, his long nose stood prominent beneath dark, shrewd
eyes.

Henry studied her slow approach, even as he leaned
forward to sample from one of the heaping platters set before him.

Reina’s nervous stomach lurched in protest as she
caught a glimpse of the king’s preferred fare. Covered in a rich cream sauce,
resided an elongated sea creature akin to an eel.

Scooping up a piece of the offending fare, he stuffed
it in his mouth as she reached him.

Dropping into a low curtsy, she kept her frightened
gaze focused on him.

“Rise, Baroness Erlegh.”

Before Reina finished complying, Henry’s cold gaze
swept across the hall. “Leave us,” he bellowed.

The crowd of nobles, courtiers and servants scrambled
to obey as Talan and Albin stood firm behind her. Narrowing his eyes at their
insolence, the king waited for an explanation.

Talan dipped his head. “Sire, her ladyship has need of
my assistance to communicate.”

“Sir Albin?” he questioned coolly.
 

“I shall await in the passage, Sire.”
 
Dipping his head, he braved a slight nod to
Reina as he turned.
 

The king gestured for Reina to take a seat beside him.

Making her way to the steps of the dais, she gripped
her skirts with trembling hands.
 
Seating
herself in the chair beside the king, she returned her frightened gaze to him.

 
“Might I tempt
you with a plate of lamprey, your ladyship?” Gesturing to the platter set
before him. “They really are quite delicious.”

 
Shaking her
head nervously, she jumped back in alarm when the king’s manner abruptly
changed.
 
“Tell me how you can understand
me, if you cannot hear me,” he commanded.

Glancing towards Talan, she waited for him to move to
the base of the dais.
 

Talan nodded slightly in encouragement. “What would
you like to convey, my lady?”

“Please inform the king,"
she paused. Unable to continue, she stared at Talan in helpless appeal.

"Take a deep breath to calm yourself, my
lady."

Avoiding the king's disapproving gaze, Reina struggled
for control. Clasping her hands, she tried again.
"Warin
spent the better part of his childhood showing me how to communicate by reading
lips.”

Her bottom lip trembling, she returned her gaze to the
king.

The king turned his gaze on her after Talan finished
speaking. “How very intriguing, your ladyship. I should have known Fulke would
have found a way to be matchless in his selection of a bride.” He stared hard
at her. “You can perceive what I say without the knight’s assistance?”

At her reluctant nod, he turned a cold eye to Talan.
“Leave us.”

Talan bravely stood his ground. “Sire, if you wish the
lady to respond to you, I must remain by her side.”

“She only has to listen, knight. Do not make me repeat
myself.”
 

Seeing Talan hesitate, she leaned forward to get his
attention.
“Please Talan, you must go.”

“What did she say to you, knight?” the king demanded.

With a last glance at Reina, Talan turned to face the
king. “She gave thanks to me, Sire. I shall remain in the passage, should you
have need of me.”

“I should not waste your time, knight.”
 
He waved a hand in dismissal.

The king waited for the doors to close, before turning
back to Reina with a calculating look. “I am not one to trifle with flattery,
so we shall get to the gist. You are a woman with an extraordinary gift, your
ladyship. During these difficult times with France, the realm has need of your
service.”

She tilted her head, confused.

“Since you are a woman, I will speak plainly. You will
observe and report back to me conversations I feel would be of import to the
crown.
 
There will no doubt be talk of
your infirmity.
 
Yet no one would suspect
a beautiful woman of duplicity, especially if she were presented to the court
as my favorite.”

Reina gasped at the implication.

The king stiffened. “It is obvious the idea is
repugnant to you, my lady.
 
Tell me, does
your affection fall elsewhere?
 
Perhaps
to your husband?”

At Reina’s anxious nod, he visibly relaxed. “Verily, I
am pleased to know it.
 
Fulke’s path has
not always been an easy one.”
 
Spearing
an apple, he held it up.
 
“It would be
most unfortunate indeed if I were forced to punish him.”