Candace C. Bowen - Knight Series 03 (24 page)

Preparing for the dinner feast, footmen and servants in royal livery rushed through the passageways bearing full platters and trays of bread, fruit, and sweet delicacies. The hot courses would follow later.

Narrowly avoiding a scullery servant carrying a basketful of wood, Gervase looked up and spotted Lady Adorlee’s veiled personal attendant coming out of one of the side passageways. She was dressed in her customary coarse black woolen kirtle with long flowing sleeves. Her face hidden behind a black veil, and her hair concealed beneath a wimple. If not for her odd style of dress among the brilliant colored silks, furs, and fine linens worn by the noblewomen, he would not have noticed her. Even the palace’s domestics were dressed in finer clothing than Adorlee’s servant. Keeping close to the wall, she passed easily through the throngs crowding the hallways.       

Gervase weaved and darted around the people blocking his path to reach her. Focused on her slight back, he searched his mind for the young woman’s name. He vaguely recalled it was a name similar to a flower. Rose? Hyacinth? “Liliana,” he blurted loudly.

Several female servants seductively glanced at Gervase on his way past. Ignoring them, he simply swerved around the bolder women attempting to gain his notice. 

Liliana’s reaction to the handsome knight was something else entirely. Waiting alongside the wall, her voice barely carried over the din of the passageway. “You summoned me, Sir Gervase?”

“You know who I am?” Gervase leaned to the side in an attempt to see her lowered face through the dark linen veil.

“I know you only by reputation,” Liliana said. “It has been sometime since last you were at court.”

“Uh, right then.” Mortified, Gervase straightened. “I did not mean to distress you. I was just wondering if you knew of your mistress’s whereabouts.” 

“Lady Adorlee has requested a bath in preparation of the evening feast. She has sent me to the kitchens to summon water.” Dipping her head even lower, Liliana shifted uneasily. “If you will excuse me, I cannot keep my mistress waiting.” She disappeared into the moving flow of the crowd without waiting for a response.

Unnerved by the woman’s peculiarity, Gervase’s feelings for Adorlee grew even stronger. Raising his lady love to the level of Baroness Reina, he knew of no other noblewomen who would display such devotion to a disfigured orphan of the streets. At least he managed to get Liliana to disclose Adorlee’s present location. Since she was in residence that would mean her father would be as well. Rushing off to the barracks where he had been assigned a bed, he hoped Fulke would also be attending the feast.

†

At that moment, Fulke was drumming his fingertips on the window ledge in his palace chamber. Located in the back of the vast London property, it held an unappealing view of the royal marshalsea. Often assigned to one of the palace’s finest chambers with a view of the Thames, Henry’s intended slight had not gone unnoticed. He looked up when someone rapped hard on his door.

A footman in blue velvet livery entered without waiting for permission. Looking down his long nose at Fulke, he pompously intoned, “The king has requested your presence at this evening’s feast.” Rudely eyeing Fulke’s crumpled tunic, the man stiffened. “You are to appear presentable in the great hall at the bells of vespers.”

Narrowing his eyes, Fulke studied the arrogant footman. Of medium height with a lanky build, his sparse hair was combed over his exposed scalp. “Do we happen to be acquainted with one another?”

“The last time you were a guest at the palace you rudely slammed a door in my face.” Turning on his heel the footman snidely glanced over his shoulder. “How far the king’s favored noble has fallen.”

“Indeed,” Fulke said aloud once he was alone.

†

In a dank dungeon cell beneath the palace, Talan held out his daily ration of bread to Caine. “Share it with your brother.”

Making out Talan’s outline in the meager light from the cell’s door slit, Caine refused to accept it. “If you go another day without eating, you will make yourself ill.”

“If it were not for me, neither of you would be here,” Talan said. “Take it.”

“Remind me again how we went from being the guards to the guarded?” Frederick asked.

“I have given it a lot of thought.” Caine left the bread untouched. “I would say the justice has some grand scheme to make an example of us all.”

“Unfortunately, I would have to agree,” Talan said.  

†

Having shaved his neck and trimmed his beard, Gervase combed his freshly washed hair. Parted down the middle, it touched the base of his collar thanks to Guy’s recent trimming. With blond streaked bronze hair and piercing blue eyes, he knew women desired him for his handsome appearance and little else. Although he was loyal and an able fighter, he was often reminded that he lacked the wisdom of his fellow knights. Overcompensating for this deficiency, he hid behind his looks and extraordinary success with the fairer sex. While the countless women he had bedded meant nothing to him, he believed redemption for his lack of self-esteem lay in gaining the affection of Lady Adorlee. Only then would he feel equal to the men he considered his brothers.  

After buckling on his sword, he brushed some lint from his immaculate tunic. Refocusing his thoughts on the task assigned to him, he slipped into the passageway with the rest of the guests heading to the main hall for the feast.

The bells of vespers began to toll when he again spotted Liliana. Meekly standing with her head lowered and hands clasped, he looked past her to the object of his affection. In stark contrast to her dull servant, Lady Adorlee looked like a vision from Heaven.                  

Dressed in a costly green Byzantium silk gown patterned with gold embroidery, she scanned the growing crowd with warm brown eyes. Her high set cheekbones and narrow chin gave the impression of her having a heart-shaped face. She currently wore her long auburn hair in a thick braided plait intricately entwined with gold ribbons. 

A slight frown marred her delicate features when she could not locate who she was searching for. Emboldened that it might be he that she yearned for, Gervase weaved his way through the crowd.

Liliana stiffened at his approach, stepping further behind her mistress.

Belatedly spotting his advance, Lady Adorlee turned a winsome smile upon him. “Sir, Gervase. How long it has been since last we met.”

“Yet you remain as beautiful as ever.” Bending at the waist, Gervase bowed low before her. “If not more so.”

“I see you still have a way with pleasing words.” Demurely clasping her hands, Lady Adorlee tilted her head. “What brings you to court against the wishes of the king?”

“Why you do, of course.”

Lady Adorlee’s lilting laugh had those around them glancing over. “You have obviously forgotten how swiftly court gossip spreads. I have already heard of your recent conquest of Lady Naida. She speaks of little else.”

“Lady Naida?” Gervase ran a hand along the back of his neck. “I spent time with her to inquire after you.”

“Oh, did you really?” Adorlee did not seem at all impressed. “I suppose you were also inquiring after me when you took a stroll arm-in-arm with Lady Oletha and Lady Utta? You can do no wrong in courting Lady Utta. Her father is extremely wealthy and would be pleased to obtain a suitor for his unattractive daughter.”

Taken aback by her harsh words, Gervase’s gaze slid to Liliana.

Following his gaze, Lady Adorlee frowned. “Await me in the passageway. I shall have need of you after the feast.”

Bobbing her head, Liliana disappeared through the massive archway leading from the hall.

Lady Adorlee turned back to Gervase. “Where were we?”

“You were suggesting to me that I ply my suit on Lady Utta when all I can think about is you.”

“The court has been all atwitter since Baron Erlegh’s return,” Adorlee said. “Many of the ladies in residence have pined for you in your absence.”

“Dare I hope you to be included in that number?” Gervase moved closer to her.

“Tell me,” Adorlee said stepping further away from him. “Why has Baron Erlegh come here against the king’s command?”

“My liege has a pressing matter to discuss with the king, only he has not yet been afforded an audience.” Gervase inhaled the scent of her hair when he leaned close. “I was hoping that perhaps your father would have some influence on that account.”

“You flatter me for a favor?” Adorlee leaned away from him. “I am not a tool to be used for the intrigues of men.”

“I compliment you because I have thought of little else since leaving your side,” Gervase said. “Surely you must know that I would never ill treat you.”

“So I am to believe that you genuinely care for me?”

“I would make you my wife this very day if you would have me.” The truth of his statement blazed from Gervase’s piercing blue eyes.

“Then prove it,” Adorlee coaxed, “tell me why Baron Erlegh has violated the king’s order by returning to court.” 

For a moment Gervase’s resolve waivered.

Sensing this, Adorlee placed a hand on his sleeve. “You can trust me.”

The thought of betraying Fulke had him lowering his head. “Forgive me. I cannot break my liege’s confidence.”

“You ask for a favor, yet give nothing in return.” Lady Adorlee crossed her arms.

“I would gladly give you anything else,” Gervase swore, “anything at all.”

“Would you give me your undying devotion?”

“I am devoted to no other.”

“I can see why the ladies are so smitten with you,” Adorlee teased. “You say what they most wish to hear.”

“Where you are concerned, my words of admiration come from the heart.”

“You mean as opposed to your breeches?”

Taken off guard by her boldness, Gervase straightened. “Help me and I shall endeavor to prove my affection for you is true.”

“What you ask of me is too risky.” Adorlee said. “If I were to ask my father to put in a word on the baron’s behalf any number of things could happen. If the king is indeed angry at your master, he could very well take his anger out on my father.” Lady Adorlee reached up on tiptoe to whisper in Gervase’s ear. “And if that were to happen, it would likely affect me.”

“Despite what has happened in the past the king remains fond of my liege,” Gervase said. “I would wager much on it.”

“It appears Baron Erlegh is wagering much on it as well. Everyone knows that he is risking his life by coming here.” Adorlee reached out to brush a piece of imaginary lint from Gervase’s tunic. “What could be so important to defy the orders of the king?”

“I told you that I am not at liberty to say.”

“Then your protestations of affection for me are false.” Adorlee pouted. “You cannot love me if you will not trust me with the baron’s secret.”

“You possess my heart,” Gervase swore. “It may not be much yet everything I have is yours. Say the word and allow me to speak to your father.”

“My father would never approve of your suit,” Adorlee said, “unless you prove yourself worthy of my hand. Inform him of Baron Erlegh’s intent, and he is sure to look upon your suit favorably. Let us go now and seek him out.”

Staring helplessly into her eyes, Gervase allowed himself to be led away.

†

Fulke followed a footman into the main hall. It had not changed much in the time he had been away. Minstrels were strumming on their lutes and lyres on a raised balcony at the far end. Vaulted ceilings ran the length of the immense chamber. The ornately carved wood table on the dais at the front remained empty waiting for the king’s grand entrance. White linen covered the polished planked tables which were set with silver plates and goblets. Mingled conversations from the gathered nobility echoed into the palace’s passageways. Eyeing the king’s brocade coat-of-arms hanging behind a high-backed throne, Fulke frowned to see he was being led in the opposite direction.

In the back at a table filled with lesser retainers, the footman pulled out a chair. “The feast will begin shorty, Baron Erlegh.”

Dipping his head in acknowledgement, Fulke took his seat. Owing to the uncertainty of his status, he was largely ignored by those seated closest to him. Signaling for drink, he slid his chair to get a better view of the dais. He spied Gervase seated with other knights a few tables away from him. About to join him for a long awaited conversation, the king’s impending arrival was announced by a liveried pageboy.

Fulke solemnly stood with the rest of the hall as the king entered with his immediate family. He felt a touch of concern to notice how exhausted Henry looked. Overweight due to his slight height and bad eating habits, he was far more bloated than Fulke remembered. His curly dark hair was thinning and streaked with more gray. Even his pointed beard and mustache had turned mostly white.

Dressed in his usual gold damask embroidered tunic, Henry’s shrewd dark eyes swept the hall until they briefly rested on Fulke. Once Henry had taken his seat, he was flanked by his daughter Matilda, and wife Adeliza of Louvain. His nephew Stephen entered with Henry’s current mistress to be followed by a few lesser nobles who were currently in favor.

After drinking wine from a gold goblet, Henry flicked his hand to the assembled crowd. Reseating themselves, the tables once again came alive with chatter. Servants bearing heaping platters laden with beef, fowl, pork, and fish streamed in from the many side doors to serve the feast.