His Fair Lady (24 page)

“Better that cooler heads prevail, for there
is far more to consider,” Lady Blythe added. “Marriage is an
alliance, a joining of houses, the future of one’s blood line and
its security.”

Ana started to take exception to the women’s
words, then realized, to her dismay, how she’d used a similar
measure in choosing a husband. Though she’d initially felt an
attraction for Gervase, and a deep fondness for him, she’d accepted
his proposal in greater part for the security he could provide her.
Her affection for Gervase had increased since then, and she felt
confident ‘twould continue to do so. She was committed to being a
good wife to Gervase, though in all honesty, a part of her heart
would always belong to another.

The cheerful banter of male voices filled
the garden as the king and his escort entered the gate. At once,
the queen rose and went to greet him, leaving behind her ladies,
who quickly moved off their benches and dropped to deep
curtsies.

Ana stole a glance at the royal couple,
marveling again at their difference in age and at the extreme youth
of the queen. It struck her then how Queen Isabella had remained
silent throughout the ladies’ discussion of marriage.

Ana could only wonder what the child queen
thought on the subject. Isabella was still a new bride, her
marriage a hasty arrangement. Rumor had it that King John had been
struck with Love’s arrow at the first sight of the heiress of
Angoulême. But what of Isabella? Did she embrace the match? Or was
it the crown she espoused more?

As the couple continued to speak, the king
motioned for the ladies to rise. Ana resettled herself on the
bench, at the same time catching sight of several young men peering
over the hedge, one with a patch over his eye.

“I see Walter Forshay pursues you still,
Lady Arietta,” Lady Blanche said teasingly as she drew her thread
through the tapestry.

“He’s not the only admirer in the garden, I
see,” Lady Mertise remarked, glancing toward the fruit trees. “I
believe Lady Juliana has a suitor as well.”

Ana started to look past her shoulder but
Lady Arietta shook her head in warning then speared her needle
through the canvas. “Ignore them. They need no encouragement from
us.”

Ana turned forward again, found her
companions busily working the tapestry, and gave her attention to
the figure of the bird, looking much the worse for her
stitches.

“Did you hear who is to arrive today?” Lady
Blythe broke the silence a moment later. “Lady Sibylla, the
Countess Linford.”

“‘
Tis no secret why
she’s
hurried apace to Wallingford,”
Lady Arietta said provocatively, drawing a titter of laughter from
the others.

“Word must have reached her that Sir
Royce has re
turned,” Lady Mertise joined in. “She’s
been staying at Castle Rotherford, nearby. ‘Tis one of her own, of
course, but ‘tis obvious she’s been laying in wait for his return
to Court.”

Again, knowing smiles were exchanged around
the tapestry.

Ana canted her head. “The countess seeks Sir
Royce?”

“Seeks?”
Lady
Blythe huffed a laugh.
“
Pursues
is more like it.”

Lady Arietta caught Ana’s gaze. “None of us
here were present at Westminster Palace when Sir Royce first
arrived and was then sent to find you. However, Lady Sibylla was.
She’s since made it well known to those ladies seeking a husband
that her mind is set on the hero of Acre and Ascalon.”

“‘
Twas no less than a warning,
everyone else should keep their distance of the knight,” Lady
Blythe added, round eyed.

“Can she do that?” Ana puzzled their words.
“Does not the countess have her own husband?”

“She is a widow.”

“Again.”

“But she is very powerful.”

“With each new husband, she’s improved her
station, acquiring more titles, more land, more wealth,” Lady
Arietta apprised. “She’s exceedingly influential with the court
officials as well.”

“No surprise there.” Lady Mertise
sniffed.

“How many husbands has she had?” Ana drew
her gaze over the others.

“Three, all buried.”

“But why set her eyes on Sir Royce? Forgive
me for saying so, but his own rank is inferior to her own.”

“Marriage to Lady Sibylla would raise him to
a station equal to hers. But, as to the countess’s reasons, ‘tis a
bit of a mystery.”

“What mystery?” Lady Mertise sniped,
interrupting Lady Blythe. “The countess is hot-blooded and her last
husband was ancient and crusty. Sir Royce has proven his prowess on
the battlefield and is exceedingly handsome. I suspect she wants a
champion who can defend her lands as well as be a strong, lunging
ram in her bed!”

Ana drove her needle into her finger at Lady
Mertise’s words. Thrusting her finger into her mouth, she sucked on
it as the embarrassing image continued to play in her mind.

Seeing the queen was withdrawing from the
garden with the king, Ana decided to depart as well. She wished to
hear no more of the women’s gossip.

“I best see to this. The needle went deep,”
she muttered, using her finger as a pretext to excuse herself.

As Ana stood to her feet, the cluster of
pink campion spilled from her lap and rolled onto the ground.
Seemingly from nowhere, one of the young men haunting the garden
rushed forward and snatched up the bouquet.

“Ah sweet flowers that have graced my lady’s
lap, guarding Love’s Gate!” he proclaimed loudly, slipping the
bunch beneath his tunic and against his heart. With that, he
hastened away.

“‘
Love’s Gate?’ Ana looked to the
others. “Nay, do not tell me. I fear I can guess his
meaning.”

Retiring from the garden, Ana left the other
ladies to their stitching and headed back to her chamber in the
keep.

»«

Ana’s eyes widened. “You are Luvena?”

“Luvena Little,” the miniature woman stated
proudly in her high-pitched voice, drawing herself up to the full
of her height.

Ana could not help but stare. Luvena stood
no more than four feet high, perfectly proportioned and neatly
clothed in a fawn-colored kirtle and white headdress. Regaining
herself, Ana sank onto a chair to be more at eye level with the
maid.

Luvena crossed her little hands, waiting
patiently for her new mistress’s directions, but Ana had none.

“Does my height concern you, Lady Juliana?”
Luvena asked pointedly, her gaze steady upon Ana. “You will find I
am as skilled and experienced a lady’s maid as any who are taller,
and am a devoted one as well.”

“I’m sure you are, Luvena. You are
recommended most highly. However, I have never had anyone attend me
before.” Ana’s heart sank a little. “I do not know what message you
might have received from Lord Gilbert concerning me, but I know
nothing of being a noble lady.”

Luvena tipped her head, her small lips
turning up in a compassionate smile. “That is why I am here, Lady
Juliana. You may trust me to see to your needs and to guide you as
very best I can.”

Ana gazed in wonder at the little maid, a
warm joy spreading through her. She sensed she’d just found more
than a maid or mentor, but a true friend at Court.

“Thank you, Luvena. I am most grateful,
truly.”

Three raps sounded at the door, attracting
their attention. Luvena bustled to open it, then returned with her
arms filled with rose-colored cloth.

“‘
Tis your gown, my lady, and such a
pretty one.”

“It has been cleaned already? The castle
laundresses are quite efficient are they not? I sent it to them
only last night.”

“I’ve never known them to be that
efficient,” Luvena commented, unfolding the gown.

Ana was unsure she could bear to look upon
it. Surely, ‘twas hopelessly stained. But, as Luvena opened the
gown to its full length, Ana gazed in astonishment. It bore not a
single blemish, the cloth as good as new.

When Ana arrived in the forechamber of the
great hall, she found Lord Gilbert already present. He sat apart
from the other nobles on a portable chair, leaning heavily upon two
canes. Godric attended him as did a second man. Ana guessed the two
to be of some relation, owing to the identical coloring of their
hair and similarity of features.

As she headed toward Lord Gilbert, Ana
realized he appeared exceedingly fatigued. Plainly, he’d
overexerted himself in coming to the hall. Anxious, she hastened to
his side.

“My lord, you look pale. Perhaps you should
return to your bed.”

“Nay, child. A little tired is all. ‘Tis to
be expected. Perhaps, I should have sent Renfeld away this
afternoon.”

“Renfeld? The little man with the purple
nose?”

“Aye, the same. He is an assistant to the
queen’s physick.”

“He didn’t bleed you, did he? Tell me he did
not.”

“He believed ‘twould renew me for the
evening if he rid me of some of the bad humors that plague me.”

Ana quickly felt Lord Gilbert’s head and
hands and found them to be unnaturally cool. “I fear the man has
caused you more ill than good. You mustn’t let him bleed you again.
He drains your very life away.”

“Dear Juliana, you worry for naught. ‘Tis
the most modern curative medicine offers. ‘Tis perfectly safe.”

“I am not so trusting as you. Pray, do not
let the man Renfeld near you again with his knives.”

Lord Gilbert smiled. “How you remind me of
your mother, Alyce. She, too, was strong minded. As you wish, I
will not be bled unless ‘tis absolutely necessary.”

Ana straightened and looked to the lord’s
two manservants. “Godric, you and—” She paused, not knowing the
other man’s name.

“Brodric, m’lady. He is my cousin,” the
servant informed.

Ana hesitated at the name, then acknowledged
Brodric with a nod. “Promise me, you’ll not allow the royal
physicians to perform any procedure on his lordship that he does
not desire.” Her gaze moved between the two men.

“We never would, m’lady.” Godric looked
wounded that she considered they might.

“Just like Alyce,” Lord Gilbert chuckled.
“Ah, look there. I see Sir Royce has taken my advice. He speaks
with the Earl of Pembroke, William Marshal.”

Ana spied Sir Royce on the other side of the
chamber conversing with a distinguished looking man with a full
head of white hair and a flowing mustache. She shifted her gaze
back to the knight then allowed it to travel slowly down his
length. He wore the same rich crimson tunic and black chasusses
he’d worn at Dover when he stole her breath away. Even now, she
felt a strange stirring inside her and a warm tingling in her
breasts.

A fluttery movement drew Ana’s eye and she
next discovered Lady Blythe waving a square of red silk, trying to
capture her attention. As Ana looked to her, Lady Blythe twitched
her head to the right, as though alerting her to something
there.

Curious, Ana glanced to find what might be
of interest. Instantly, she discovered the assembly of nobles
parting and the most elegant court lady she’d ever seen stepping
into view.

“Ah, the Countess Linford,” Lord Gilbert
observed beside her. “I see Lady Sibylla has cast her spell over
the chamber, as ever she does when she makes an appearance. Of
course, ‘tis likely the ladies do not welcome her presence so
eagerly as do their lords.” He chuckled.

Ana found, just as the others, she could
scarce pull her gaze from the countess. Lady Sibylla commanded
every eye in the room. Her hair was black as a raven’s wing, woven
with strands of pearls into a single thick braid that draped over
one shoulder and down to her hips. Her gown was of a lustrous
sapphire brocade, tightly laced and form revealing. While the
sleeves of her undertunic fit her arms snugly to the wrists, those
of her outer kirtle were cut wider, the fabric dropping in long
points from beneath the elbow to the hem of her gown. A wide collar
of gold set with fine gems gleamed at the countess’s throat, as did
the many rings upon her fingers. Added to this, an airy veil
drifted in layers from atop her head, secured in place by a gold
coronet.

As Lady Sibylla continued to claim the
attention of all present, her great dark eyes roamed the gathering.
Within seconds her gaze came to settle on Sir Royce and the Earl of
Pembroke. Their interest, too, fixed upon her person. Lady
Sibylla’s lips lifted in a smile as she nodded in greeting to Sir
Royce. Ana thought the woman looked much like a predator marking
its prey.

The familiar flourish of horns announced the
approach of the king and queen. As the nobles bowed and scraped,
Ana observed how the countess sank into a deep curtsy with enviable
grace. She held the position, eyes cast down, until the royals
passed. Then, rising in one fluid motion, she turned and moved
purposefully toward Sir Royce.

To Ana’s surprise, the knight appeared
oblivious to the countess’s approach. He’d spied Lord Gilbert and
now his eyes shifted to Ana’s, fastening his gaze on hers. Sir
Royce smiled warmly, as if pleased to find her and Lord Gilbert
present. With that, he began to make his way across the chamber,
directly toward them. Halfway across, Lady Sibylla stepped in his
path, intercepting him.

Ana returned her attention to Lord Gilbert
as Godric braced him upward, helping him to gain his feet. Brodric
moved swiftly to collapse the portable chair and take it up, then
offered his support to the old lord as well.

Ana slowed her pace to that of Lord
Gilbert’s as he shuffled forward on his canes, assisted by the two
servants. She worried at the great effort he spent with each step,
that the strain would weaken him further. But as they moved toward
the doors, she saw him nodding right and left to this lord and
that.