The Troubadour's Romance (10 page)

Edrea worried only slightly about who might be thrust on Felise and thereby forced into their family. It was indeed possible that many adjustments for all of them lay in the future. But a few things were certain if a man were approved by either King Henry or Lord Scelfton: the man would be strong and well fixed in his own right; he would be loyal to the crown; he must be youthful enough to protect his bride from those who would usurp him. Edrea was certain that one day this would all seem a blessed predicament.

“
I should think you would be confident of God
’
s help,
”
she murmured.
“
He has surely seen to you all these years.
”

Edrea entered Fel
ise
’
s chamber with her and Felise sat down before her dressing table. Daria rose to the task of taking down her mistress
’
s hair and unfastening her gown while Edrea stood behind her and watched. As Daria intently focused her attention on the long, wound braid, Felise stretched a trembling hand toward her table. She fingered her prayer beads weakly.

“
Daria? You found my beads?
”
she asked hopefully.

Daria gave an uninterested glance toward the beads.
“
Nay, mum. But they
’
re found. You might
’
ve left them right there all the time.
”

Felise knew better.
“
You were here, in this chamber, all the day?
”

“
An
’
where would I go?
”
the maid complained.
“
Aye, I
’
ve been nowhere else.
”

“
Who was here while I was gone?
”

Daria sighed impatiently.
“
No one. Nary a soul. An
’
I
could
’
ve used someone to talk with. These castle servants think themselves too important to bother with us country folk.
”

“
But someone was here,
”
Felise
insisted, her stomach tightening as she had a mental picture of Sir Royce sneaking into her rooms.
“
Someone returned my prayer beads.
”

Edrea stepped closer and began to unfasten the back of
Felise
’
s gown, although she was getting in Dana
’
s way.
“
You are more distracted than I
’
ve ever seen you, Felise. Surely you forgot them and they were here all along.
”

“
Nay, Mother. I lost them in the gallery and
--
”

“
Come, darling. Let
’
s get you to bed. You
’
ve let this visit to Windsor cause you unnatural worry. Forget the beads and have a good rest.
”

Felise
looked behind her, first at Daria, who was grimac
ing in impatience, and then at Edrea, who wore a worried frown.
“
Aye, madam. I will go to bed,
”
she finally said.

Four

The queen
’
s tire-woman, Vespera, visited
Felise
’
s chamber every afternoon on brief errands. She brought herbs for the wine on one occasion, combs from Her Majesty on another, and a gift of oils for the bath on yet another.
Felise
found herself looking forward to the short conversations, for Vespera
’
s gentleness and comforting tones put her at ease. Yet this woman was never in evidence when there were many people around.

Four days had been spent at Windsor.
Felise
found herself approached by many men, but Sir Boltof and Sir Wharton were the two most determined. On an afternoon when she relented and allowed Vespera to comb her hair, she spoke of them.

“
Sir Wharton is handsome and the wealth he boasts is great,
”
she said blandly.
“
Sir Boltof is eager and not as rich, I think, but I have made the acquaintance of his father and he is much to my liking.
”

“
And of the men themselves, my lady,
”
Vespera softly inquired.
“
Who wins your preference?
”

Felise
sighed.
“
It matters very little,
”
she murmured.

Vespera laughed softly.
“
Surely one has found a place within your heart.
”

“
Nay, there is no one,
”
she said, her voice drawing out.
“
Sir Boltof, I suppose. It would please my father.
”

“
Your happiness will please Lord Scelfton, maid
Felise
,
”
Vespera whispered, drawing the comb through the long tresses, admiring the shining silkiness.

“
Lord Scelfton and Lord Orrick were friends in years
g
one by and have only rece
ntly renewed their friendship. In
deed, Lord Orrick is a fine man, a joy to be near. His son would please me for that reason. I would not be so lonely away from my parents.
”

Vespera
’
s hand froze. Her eyes, usually so composed, betrayed sudden emotion.

“
Lord Orrick,
”
Vespera breathed.

“
Aye, do you know of him?
”

Gradually Vespera began to move the comb again.
“
He has a young son?
”
she asked.

“
Sir Boltof,
”
Felise
said absently.
“
He is a civil host whene
’
er we meet, and his future is as promising as any knight of Henry, I suppose. But it is the old lord I find pleasurable. Yea, I would not be so grieved to marry close to a family my father approves. At least I am assured Sir Boltof would not keep me from my mother, but would relish the visiting.
”

Felise
drew her gown up to her knees and picked at the hem, judging the fraying it had suffered. She had not noticed that Vespera
’
s hand began to move the comb in nervous jerks.
Felise
dropped the hem and sat erect, sighing.
“
We would have many children, I suppose, and they would enjoy two very fine grandfathers.
”

The comb clattered to the floor.
Felise
turned to look at Vespera, whose countenance was completely discomposed.
“
I beg pardon, my lady, I
... I did not mean to ...
”
She stopped suddenly, retrieving the comb.
“
I beg pardon,
”
she said again, bobbing in a fluttering way.

“
Tis only a comb,
”
Felise
replied, taking it from Vespera.

“
Milady,
”
the woman said.
“
You will speak for this Sir Boltof?
”

Felise
turned away from the maid again, looking at nothing in particular.
“
If I say naught, Lord Scelfton will choose for me. There are at least some things I know about Boltof.
”
She shrugged.
“
Left alone, Lord Scelfton may
choose him out of fondness for his father. My brother, Maelwine, may be moved to speak for Wharton; Wharton tells me they are old friends. It will be one of them, I suppose. My father promises there will be an answer before I leave Windsor three days hence.
”

“
And this Wharton
--
”

“
Sir Wharton,
”
Felise remembered aloud.
“
There is nothing lacking in handsomeness, but he makes me ill at ease on some accounts.
”

“
How so, lady?
”
she asked.

Felise wore a puzzled frown.
“
He is courteous and good-natured,
”
she said.
“
Too much so, I think. Tis not a hardship to have a handsome knight boast of my beauty. But ofttimes he is a braggart, speaking out of turn about his strength and family wealth. And when he speaks of my family and the dower purse I hold, his eyes gleam with envy.
”
She sighed heavily.
“
Forsooth, I trust Wharton would wed my mare if she held my purse. He plays so mightily for attention, when I
’
ve not granted him the merest kiss, that I must believe my dowry is more important to him than any other thing I possess. It does not bode well of love between us.
”
She sighed pensively.
“
I do not loathe him, please understand. I have the feeling he lies to me.
”

Felise turned to look at Vespera and noticed that the woman stood idly gazing off into space, seemingly en
tranced. She thought perhaps none of her words regarding Wharton was heard and Vespera had only asked about him out of politeness.

Vespera turned suddenly and walked toward the door. Reaching that portal, she looked back at Felise.
“
Excuse me, my lady, but I must be about my other duties.
”

“
You
’
ve only just arrived,
”
Felise protested.

“
Her Majesty asked me to see to your comfort, but she will miss me if I
’
m away too long. Pardon.
”

“
Will you come back?
”
she asked, realizing she not only enjoyed the company of this woman, but was lonely in the long hours awaiting the next meal.

Vespera smiled and nodded, quickly leaving the room.

Felise had nothing to occupy her when her presence was not desired in the chambers of the queen or in the hall. After her unexpected meeting with Sir Royce, she had given up
any idea of walking about the castle or grounds and took Daria with her to morning mass, much to the maid
’
s dislike. Now she roamed around her room, thinking the same thoughts that had occupied her for several days: choosing the most appealing groom.

When she paused beside the window and looked below, her confusion mounted. She could see the walkway to the chapel; Vespera paced before the doors, her motions greatly agitated. This quiet wom
an usually moved with the self-
effacement of nuns, her hands gently folded, head slightly bent, and steps short and small. But as she moved before the chapel doors, she took wide, eager steps, hands fluttering before her and head up. Felise found not only her behavior odd, but also the fact that she would excuse herself on the queen
’
s business and go elsewhere.

Within a few moments a priest came out of the church and Vespera genuflected before him, crossing herself. She rose quickly and seemed to be speaking rapidly, something else Felis
e had never seen her do. Fe
lise remembered that she had never seen Vespera at mass with the others and wondered why this woman who by her admission lived among nuns did not rise for the morning communion. Then the priest and Vespera slowly walked together into the chapel, and once they were out of sight, Felise only won
dered for another moment at the unusual events before her mind was taken with other things
--
the style of gown she would wear that eve and the arrangement of her hair.

***

Royce made his way from his lodgings to Windsor with measured slowness. He stopped to purchase a gift from a merchant for Celeste, selecting some scented soaps that he thought would please her. He carried the parcel as he rode and at one point raised it to his nose. The rose, lilac, and lily scents combined to produce an odd floral bouquet, and his thoughts were bent not on Celeste, but on a maid with lively eyes the color of the sea meeting the sky and golden hair streaked with fire. As he lowered the soaps, he found that he had ridden past her family
’
s place of residence and was looking at the very window from which he had first viewed her.

He looked at that window as if she once again leaned out, her hair streaming down well below the sill and her hands clapping in glee as she laughed with the knights. He frowned sullenly, for he was well aware of what had happened to him.

Celeste should not be criticized for her plain looks. She was a gentle lady. And she appeared to remain as true and steadfast as any wife should be. Over several years, while he plied his attentions on her, she had ignored his sad reputa
tion and that of his family, never questioned him about his occupation or travels, and waited eagerly for each of his visits. She mourned his departure and, as far as he knew, had kept herself from other men since the first time his lips had touched hers. He had no reason to doubt that she was an honorable woman.

But this Felise had pounced upon London in all her tempestuous beauty and hexed him twice, for he had tasted those sweet lips and felt her body next to his. For all Celeste
’
s attributes, he could not put the temptress from his mind. To his further insult, she was handsomely endowed and sought after by Boltof.

It was to this end he was driven, for after many days of watching the young swains trample each other for just a look at her, she was due to depart the court with her family, and Royce would be forced to speak to the king on behalf of his friend. The chore in itself was distasteful. In his many dealings with Henry he had asked no favor. He found the monarch more generous than he ever expected, for Henry relied much on him, and he hated to taint their relationship with solicitation.

And Henry might willingly oblige him. He could not bear to meet
Felise
on every occasion he was near Lord Orrick
’
s home. He wondered how he would again enjoy the warm affections of Celeste, when every fiber of his being cried out to be satisfied by
Felise
. He was obsessed by want of her, and for that he felt a surge of anger. No woman had lingered long in his mind, not even the one he was to marry.

There was good reason that Royce ignored women and in the main found Celeste the only one worthy of marriage. There had been a long legacy of family conflict and affliction behind him. His father had battled with his uncle; his brother had fought their father and himself. His own
mother was another man
’
s wife, stolen by his father and held prisoner at Segeland. She had hated the very sight of Royce and claimed the rose-colored blemish that had marked his back since birth was the touch of the devil, a reminder of his father
’
s misdeed.

Royce, the youngest of three boys, had left his father
’
s home when he was twelve to live with his grandfather. His mother was likely driven insane by her captivity. His father had kept more than one mistress, and his two elder brothers had died under mysterious circumstances. The Leighton family had long warred with every relative and neighbor within range of their army. For many years no member of the Leighton family had been entirely trusted.

Royce had decided early in his life that he would never bequeath the ills of his ancestors and Segeland. When the time for marrying to satisfy custom was upon him, Celeste was close at hand. This woman, plain and demure, cost him neither sleep nor conflict of emotion. And, brutish as it was, he had lain with her already on several occasions and she had not come with child. There was hope she was barren. While Celeste worried with disappointing him, he was tremendously relieved by the prospect of begetting no heirs. He
would be pleased to have Boltof
’
s children inherit Segeland and so put an end to the gruesome history it had so far possessed.