I said. ‘I have heard …’ I paused, drawing out the moment, ‘ … I have heard that the very dryads from the woods threaten the king! They rustle their leaves, and the king grows anxious!’
Saint-Valery chuckled. ‘You have done well, Mistress Maeb. No doubt you know I shall be reporting thus to Edmond. I —’
‘Mistress Maeb,’ said the Earl of Pengraic’s voice, and a heavy hand fell on my shoulder. ‘I would speak with you privately if I might.’
My stomach fell away. I looked up at the earl’s face. It was impassive, but I thought I saw anger in his eyes.
Sweet Jesu, what had I done so wrong he needed to single me out like this?
I murmured a politeness to Saint-Valery, then rose and walked after the earl out of the hall.
I could feel the eyes following me as I went.
Pengraic led me to a quiet corner by the staircase, then turned to me.
‘What did Saint-Valery speak with you about?’ he said.
‘We chatted of the court, and he pointed out the nobles to me, and —’
‘Did he ask about the meeting in the solar?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I said that the king had learned the dryads in the forests threatened to shake their leaves at him, and thus he fled Westminster.’
Foolishly, I thought he would laugh at my wit as had Saint-Valery.
‘What do you know of the dryads in the woods?’ the earl snapped.
‘I am sorry, my lord,’ I stuttered, ‘I only thought to deflect Saint-Valery’s interest.’
The earl simply stared at me.
‘I am sorry, my lord,’ I repeated, and hung my head. It was aching now from all the excitement and the wine, and all I wanted was to escape everyone and flee back to my chamber.
‘You think too much of yourself, Maeb.’
I bit my lip. I did not know what to say.
He sighed, and I found the courage to look at him again.
The earl’s face had lost all its anger and now only looked tired. I realised that he, as the king and everyone who had arrived with them, had been riding for a full day and night and must be exhausted.
‘Maeb, my lady wife will need all your love and care on your journey to Pengraic. She is not well with this child.’
‘I know, my lord. She shall have it. I care for her greatly.’
He studied me, then gave a small nod. ‘I am very much afraid the world shall be a dark place for many months to come.’
I was feeling ever more uncomfortable, mainly because I had not thought to see the earl this vulnerable — he had always been so proud and strong and terrible to me — and that vulnerability frightened me.
‘Maeb, remember this, and remember it well. Every word spoken is carried by the wind to each corner of this mortal earth, and to the ears of God and the Devil. Remember it.’
‘I will, my lord.’
In my tiredness I could not grasp what he meant, nor could I foretell that my utter failure to remember his words in time to come would make a wreck and a mockery of my entire world.
Just then Evelyn appeared, pausing a few steps away.
The earl nodded to her, then he walked toward the hall.
Before he had gone too far, I called out to him. ‘My lord? I have said nothing to Saint-Valery, nor anyone else. Truly.’
He looked at me a long moment. ‘I know that,’ he said, then he walked off.
I put a hand to my head. ‘Evelyn, I think I need to go to bed. Is it seemly that I leave the feast now?’
She smiled and came close, taking my arm. ‘Yes. No one will take offence. Come now, I have had enough myself, and I think those at high table are making murmurs about their beds, too. Yvette will look after our lady and we will make sure Alice and her sister and the boys find their beds, and then we will sleep.’
Much later I lay in the bed I shared with Evelyn, unable to sleep even though my head throbbed and my limbs ached with weariness. My mind could not stop, revisiting everything I had seen and heard and done this day.
After a while I felt Evelyn’s hand on my arm. ‘You did well today, Maeb. I do not know what you heard in the solar, but if all that wine Saint-Valery pressed on you did not loosen your tongue, then little else but torture will … and I do not think you need worry about that in our company.’
I chuckled. ‘Not even from the earl?’
Evelyn laughed softly. ‘I think he might be too tired, but maybe next week, when he is recovered …’
‘Evelyn … may I ask something of your life?’
‘Of course. I have little to hide.’
‘Are you wed? I was wondering this evening, as we walked into the hall …’
‘And you wondered if I could have my pick of all the men?’ Evelyn laughed again. ‘Maybe so, but I have little interest. Yes, I was wed, but my husband died within a year of our marriage and eventually I took service with my lady. I have a daughter from that marriage, fourteen summers this year.’
‘Truly? Where is she now?’
‘In service to the household of Sir Roger de Tosny at Redmeleie, north of Glowecestre.’
I considered her words — thinking Evelyn would be a good mother and that she must miss her daughter. ‘You do not wish to wed again?’
She took a long time answering, and I wondered if she had fallen asleep or if perchance I had hit on the little she did want to hide.
‘I will tell you this, Maeb, not only because I like you, but also because you will hear of it soon enough from someone else. I was only surprised Saint-Valery did not speak of it to you — but then I suppose he had his reasons to keep silent. I also tell you of this because of the way Edmond looked at you this morning. When you fell from your courtesy … by the Blessed Virgin, Maeb, you did not see him almost fall himself in his rush to aid you!’
She paused. ‘I did long for another man once, and lived for those hours I spent in his arms, but there was no question of marriage. Maeb, I was the king’s lover for one summer. I loved him with every breath I took, but … his whims burn furious and then fade fast. Many others have replaced me in his bed since that summer and my own passion for him has long since died. It was a summer’s fancy only. He looks upon me kindly now, but I swear he has forgot that once he took me to his bed. Now, no, I have little interest in finding myself another husband. I have a secure home with the countess, and after Edmond …’
I was struck dumb. I had not expected this confession.
‘And now he wants you, Maeb. But he will not touch you, not yet. Not while you remain unwed — that is his idea of courtesy.’ She gave a brief, soft laugh. ‘But if ever you do wed, my sweet, and return to court, beware of his interest. He has marked you well. Saint-Valery was at your side this evening for good reason and it had little to do with whether or not you prattled about what you heard in the solar. Edmond wants to know you better, and the only way he can do that for the moment is through Saint-Valery. Even now Saint-Valery will be at the king’s side, whispering quietly in his ear. Be careful, Maeb. Be very, very careful.’
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next day passed in a blur of activity as the household prepared to leave. I think both