Courtly Love

  Henry was far different from his brother in temperament, Serena thought, yet both men were arrogant in their own way. William demanded respect by virtue of his over-bearing manner, while Henry won the loyalty of those he met with a straight-forward manner and unstudied charm. Oh. yes. Henry was a charmer, William Rufus a bully, and both had inherited their father's magnetism and energy, which they exuded in waves.

  "I do not require you to teach me how to deal with a woman. Henry," William was saying. "Nor have I need for your advice on any other matter!"

  Henry smiled insolently at his brother. "I take back my words; you are not a goat. William, you are a—"

  "Henry! William!" Matilda came forward and delivered a stinging slap to each of them followed by a tirade of French. "Now out, both of you. What an impression you have made on this poor innocent, I cannot imagine; but you will both make amends to her. I have not yet decided how, but you shall both regret abusing my woman." Matilda gave both sons a push to the door and stood silently until it closed. Then she turned to Serena. "Come, child, let me look at you."

  Serena obeyed, standing quite still while Matilda circled her, chin in hand, appraising her newest lady-in-waiting. "You are a tiny thing. Are you well?"

  "I enjoy the best of health, Your Highness," Serena assured her.

  "Bon! I require my hair to be dressed. Are you capable?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  "Then let us begin. Come."

  While Serena brushed and curled the queen's greying but still lovely blond hair, Matilda kept up a running stream of conversation. "You must forgive my sons, Lady Serena, William has spoiled all of our children shamefully and I fear it shows. 'Tis hard for them, being the offspring of a man such as the king. There is naught William has said he would do that he has not accomplished, and our sons must naturally feel they must achieve even greater feats. Henry is a good boy, although I worry about him. Being the third son, he will inherit very little. Normandy will fall to Robert, of course, since he is the eldest and William will receive England. Oh, my dear, I am sorry. Do you hate my husband as some of your countrymen do?"

  "No, Your Majesty, I do not hate the king nor the Norman people as a whole." Serena replied honestly, although her pride burned at the thought of her beloved England being handed over so carelessly to one such as William Rufus.

  "Ah, but I had forgotten, you are married to one of my husband's bravest knights. Gyles has not visited the court in, ah ... let me think . . . two years? How long have you been married?"

  " 'Twill be a year in January, your majesty."

  "Ah! and no little ones?"

  "No, your majesty." Serena reddened.

  "But soon, yes?" Matilda asked with a twinkle in her hazel green eyes. "Your husband—you are happy with him?" Serena nodded. "It is a rare thing for one to be completely happy in a marriage. When the envoys came from the Duke to offer for my hand, oh, the scene I created! But afterward"—Matilda's eyes softened in remembrance—"William was like no other man I had known. He has a terrible temper, it is true; and such pride, so unwilling to bend, to understand that a person may reach out to give him loyaltv and affection freely, with no thought of reward." Matilda blinked rapidly, recalling suddenly Serena's presence. "I am sorry, ma petite, for a moment I forgot..."

  Serena said nothing as she patted a final curl into place, though she felt Matilda watching her in the mirror. She knew little of court life---that fact Gyles had made painfully clear—but she doubted the queen fell to conversing so freely with her women, particularly one so recently arrived at court. Some of her doubts must have shown in her face for Matilda gave a soft laugh and turned to face Serena.

  "And now you are wondering if the queen has taken leave of her senses, are you not, child?" Matilda asked with a smile. "I assure you, I am in full possession of my faculties. As you will soon learn." Matilda continued in a sterner vein. "Very little is done at court without a purpose being served—and your attendance upon me does have a purpose. It is no accident that we are alone or that I hoped to gain your confidence by striking a chord within you by the similarities between our husbands. Do not pale so, Lady Serena, I do not mean to frighten you nor do I mean you any harm. In truth you are younger than two of my daughters."

  Serena placed the brush she still held on the table and folded her shaking hands to still their trembling. She moistened her dry lips, but when she spoke her voice was calm. "What is it you wish of me Your Highness?"

  Matilda laughed in genuine amusement. "Child, you have more courage than most men I have known! Come, sit down here." Matilda indicated a chair by her side. "The time for pretense is over then I like you, so from now on there shall be only the truth between us. My husband instructed me to include you among my ladies— because of your brother."

  "Bryan? But why?" Serena's eyes were wide with alarm.

  Matilda's lips pursed in thought for a moment. "Your brother has no great love for my husband or his rule. No? There are many young men such as your Bryan, Lady Serena, and it is not my husband's desire to destroy the flower of England's manhood. You must believe that. But neither can he allow traitors to spread dissension throughout the land. The king greatly desires peace in the kingdom; it has only been five years since Wales was brought under his rule and more worries must not be added to the burden he already carries. And his burden is great." Matilda's eyes grew sad as she sat wrapped in her thoughts, then she sighed wearily. "I have no love of politics or of intrigue, Lady Serena. I care only for my husband and children, and now I find myself torn between them as well. Do you know of Robert, our eldest son? No? Then I shall speak of him so you may understand my husband's position more clearly. Robert is our firstborn, the heir to Normandy's throne. During my husband's frequent absences, Robert rules in his stead. All was well 'til Robert came to England last year and demanded—demanded!—independence and full authority for himself in Normandy.

  "My husband refused, of course, and Robert took ship back to Normandy where he and his allies tried to storm Rouen and failed. There was no other course left to William: He issued orders that Robert be arrested. But our son and his fellow rebels had already fled into France. Have you any idea what it cost William to declare his own son a rebel, a traitor? Despite what you may have heard, Lady Serena, my husband is a just and honorable man; he has shown mercy to those who have opposed him numerous times. William has no desire to spill blood senselessly, that I earnestly pray you to believe, but he will brook no interference with his rule. Rebels must be dissuaded from their purpose or he will be forced to deal harshly with them—be they Saxons who wish a Saxon king for England or Normans who desire a different Norman to rule Normandy. If your brother is involved in these rebel activities, and my husband believes he is, there is still time to save him from the executioner."

  "You are asking me to betray my brother!"

  "Nay, child, nay." Matilda leaned forward intently. "To save him, and your king. If Bryan is captured during a raid or arrested while he is spreading treason, there will be no choice left to William but to order his death."

  Serena's bottom lip caught between her teeth. "If I do as you ask, what assurance have I that no harm will come to Bryan?"

  "William will give you his solemn oath if you wish; but for now you have my word that your brother will be safe."

  "Very well, Your Highness," Serena decided. "I shall do as you ask. What will you have of me?"

  "Persuade your brother to give up his activities before he is discovered. Bryan is also at court now, so you will have many opportunities to speak with him."

  "I shall do my best, Your Majesty. I have no desire to see Bryan's head on a pike." Serena rose. Everything had been so carefully arranged: her private audience with the queen, Matilda's pretended confidences of her marriage. Oh yes. Gyles had been right, Serena did indeed have much to learn of court life. "Your Majesty, did Gyles . . . my husband, did he know of the king's reason for our summons to court?"

  Matilda looked up in surpris
e. "Gyles was summoned because he has been absent too long from court. I would guess that he did not attend us last year because of your pending marriage."

  "Then you will no longer wish me to attend you?"

  "Au contraire, little one. You appeal to me far more than any of my other ladies, and I would be devastated should you not wish to serve me." Matilda's eyes sparkled, yet it was clear to Serena that Matilda meant what she said. "Now, child, you would not disappoint an old woman, would you?"

  Matilda was charming; Serena found herself liking her, for she was a kind woman who had not altered when she became queen. She was a woman concerned primarily with the welfare of her husband and children and very little with the affairs of state except when it directly affected her family. Perhaps it was because Matilda treated Serena more like a daughter than the wife of one of her husband's lords, but for whatever reason, for the first time since learning that she would go to court, Serena looked forward to her stay. Serena sank down before Matilda and put her hands between the queen's in the accepted gesture of servitude.

  "If it please you, Your Majesty, I shall be most honored to wait upon you."

  "Bien," Matilda said quietly. This Saxon lass was indeed special. When Matilda had learned that Sir Gyles had wed, she had been surprised . . . and shocked as well, for she remembered Gyles and his previous behavior at court all too well. A bastard like her husband, Gyles carried in his heart a burning anger against all women and had bedded the women of court not only because of a physical need but also, Matilda thought, because he enjoyed being able to ignore them completely the following day. One small piece of revenge for the lifetime of shame he endured because of ore woman's moment of weakness. That Matilda could well understand, for her own husband labored under the same black stigma of bastardy, yet William's reaction to his illegitimate birth had been completely different from Gyles's. Throughout the years, William had remained faithful to her, never allowing another woman to know his favor; yet at the same time William was unfailingly polite and courteous to those women who lived at or visited the court.

  Matilda studied Serena as the young girl worked the snood into place on the queen's hair. Such an innocent, young thing to be wed to such as Gyles. Yet, there was strength beneath that delicate exterior, Matilda sensed; strength Serena would need aplenty to survive a marriage to Gyles. A pretty child, Matilda mused, but how had Serena come to the attention of the lord of Camden; and more puzzling still, what quality did Serena possess that could persuade Gyles to wed her? Was it possible— just possible—that that fierce Norman knight had found his heart's ease in this beautiful Saxon lass? Matilda gave a slow smile to Serena as she stepped back to survey her handiwork.

  "Do not frown so, Serena, you will ruin your lovely brow." Matilda indicated a looking glass on the table beside her and Serena handed it to the queen silently, waiting nervously while Matilda scrutinized her reflection. "Lovely, child. Now, in the wardrobe you will find a gown of burgundy velvet and slippers that match."

  Serena complied and soon Matilda was fully dressed save for the gold circlet that was her crown. Serena reached for it, then hesitated, uncertain whether she was allowed to touch the symbol of authority.

  "Vite, vitel Above all, William detests tardiness," Matilda urged. Serena snatched the crown from its resting place without a second thought and secured it firmly atop Matilda's hair. "Good," Matilda sighed. "I am ready. Come, we shall collect the rest of the ladies along the way."

  Matilda kept Serena by her side as they hurried through the halls to gather the remainder of her entourage and rushed the rest of the way to the banquet hall. At the entrance. Matilda came to an abrupt halt, patting her hair and smoothing her gown to assure that her appearance was perfect. When she turned to Serena, Matilda's face had assumed a regal air, but a hint of warmth still glinted in her green eyes.

  "I know you wish to sup with your husband, Lady Serena, so I give you my permission to do so. But I shall require your assistance when I retire. D'accord?"

  "Oui, Sa Majesti," Serena agreed. "Merci."

  Matilda's eyes twinkled. "Then run along and enjoy your first evening at court. And, Lady Serena," Matilda halted Serena in mid-turn. "Do not break too many hearts."

  * * *

  Serena strolled among the clusters of people in the hall, anxious to find Gyles, yet eager to explore the new and exciting world of William's court. So many people! Serena's eyes widened in anticipation. There was much to be learned and experienced here: People from all parts of the continent had come to pay their respects to William. Even with her limited knowledge of the French tongue, Serena could hear the different dialects that were being spoken. She must remember to ask Gyles about that! William and Matilda had entered the hall, but were not seated at the table so Serena had some time yet to locate Gyles. Serena glanced around the hall and nearly stamped her foot in frustration. As tall as he was, Gyles should stand out even in this overcrowded room, but Serena could not see him.

  "Are you lost, Lady Serena?" A harsh voice beside her caused Serena to jump. William Rufus stood so closely by her side that Serena could smell the wine on his breath as he regarded her appraisingly from heavy-lidded eyes. "My mother is not here to protect you now," William sneered.

  Serena's chin lifted. "I do not require protection, Your Majesty. I am quite capable of doing that for myself."

  "Are you indeed?" William's knuckles caressed her jawline. "You are far different from the other Saxon women I have met. At least you do not smell as badly as most."

  "I regret I cannot say the same for you," Serena snapped then smiled as William's face went rigid with anger. Serena leaned toward him and spoke with great precision. "You are in need of a bath, William Rufus, and I, mere Saxon woman that I am, find you offensive."

  William's hands clenched at his sides. "You are insolent, madame, and you take a great risk. For your words alone, I could have you flogged!"

  Serena's smile did not waver. "Do as you please, Your Highness, I am sure the court would be very impressed by that display of your power."

  William's fingers caught Serena's wrist. "No one else would ever know," William threatened.

  "And my husband?" Serena asked softly.

  "Would not dare interfere with a royal order," Wiliam sneered.

  "How convenient." Serena forced a lightness she did not feel into her voice for the benefit of a passing lord. "Now I know the secret of your attraction to women —you threaten them with the power of your royal position." But Serena was thinking, God help us if this man becomes king! She glanced around and nearly fainted with relief when she saw Gyles making his way to her from across the room. "My husband is coming, Your Highness. Shall I introduce you?"

  "We have already met." William released her wrist and stamped off.

  Serena lost no time in hurrying to Gyles. "Where have you been? I have been looking all over the hall for you."

  Gyles held the hand Serena extended and smiled down at her. "I encountered some old friends, cherie, and stopped to pass the time. How fared you with the queen?"

  "Quite well, I think, but I shall tell you of that later. She has released me from any duties until she retires so I may spend the entire evening with you. You must show me everything, Gyles, and introduce me to your friends."

  "Nothing would please me more, Serena, but 'tis impossible tonight. The king has called a council after the meal." Gyles dropped an arm about Serena's shoulders. "I am sorry, but we will be here for a long time and there will be many opportunities for me to present you. Ah, 'tis time for the meal. Come."

  While they ate, Serena was acutely aware that she was being watched and looked up, expecting to find William Rufus glaring at her, but instead she intercepted a look between Gyles and the most striking woman Serena had ever seen. The woman's raven hair showed blue-black through the gold of her snood, her complexion was as pure as milk and her black eyes were as slanted as those of a cat's. When the meal was over and she rose, Serena was awed by her perfect stat
ure, for the woman was taller than herself by a good head and shoulders, and although she appeared the same age as Gyles, her willowy figure bore none of the disfigurements of childbearing.

  "Gyles," Serena tugged on his sleeve when the woman had turned from the table. "Do you know that woman?"

  "Which one?" Gyles asked disinterestedly.

  "Don't be stubborn! The one who kept looking at you during the meal. The beautiful one with the black hair." Serena nodded her head toward the woman. "Well, do you know her?"

  "Yes," Gyles answered shortly.

  "For heaven's sake, Gyles, must I drag it out of you? What is her name?"

  "Her name is Elspeth, she is very rich. I met her at court several years ago, and she has recently been widowed. Does that satisfy your curiosity?" Gyles said curtly.

  Serena regarded her husband with icy curiosity. "I beg your pardon, Gyles! I did not know her identity was such a secret. And as my questions seem to affront you, I am certain you will be glad to be relieved of my companionship for the remainder of the evening. Adieu, m'lord."

  "Serena, wait!" Gyles rose along with her.

  "For what?" Serena snapped, then pulled her dignity around her injured feelings. "The king is leaving, Gyles, should you not attend him?"

  The hand Gyles had stretched out to Serena fell uselessly to his side. "I shall wait for you in our chamber."

  "You needn't bother," Serena told him coolly. "I shall try not to wake you when I return."

  Gyles made one last effort to soothe her affronted pride. "I should like to hear about your first day in court"

  Serena's anger ebbed away as Gyles took her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing each of her fingers in turn, his green eyes growing quite warm as he stared down at her. "If you are still awake when I return," Serena agreed, "I should like to tell you of my day."

  Gyles bent to kiss her cheek. "Try not to be too long, cherie. Come to me as soon as you can; I shall be waiting." And then he was gone, leaving Serena wondering whether she was still angry with him for his brusque remarks or if she had already completely forgiven him.