The Winter Love

by April Munday

  “Edward must be very wealthy,” she said as she turned the pages. It was a book about falconry and the illustrations were very detailed and accurate.

  “Yes, he is, and he lives in accordance with his wealth.”

  Eleanor smiled at him. “These are indeed treasures.”

  “He takes a great deal of care of them.”

  “I’m sure.” Eleanor ran her finger down the spine as she put it gently on the table, then took out the next one. After she had inspected all three, John returned them to the chest and locked it. They must be the most valuable items in the entire house, thought Eleanor, possibly even more valuable than the wine in the store room.

  When she returned to the hall it was still empty. She sat on a bench and waited, turning her thoughts gradually to prayer.

  Eventually Henry joined her. He had shaved off his beard and trimmed his hair so that he looked like a respectable man. Now that she could see his face, she could see that he was also very handsome. She had not expected this. She stared for a moment and he caught her doing it. She blushed.

  “I did not know you were so handsome.”

  Henry snorted with laughter. “I think you confuse me with someone else.”

  Eleanor’s blush grew deeper. Could it be that her ideas of masculine beauty were wrong?

  “Now I have insulted you.” Henry’s voice cut through her embarrassment and she laughed.

  “No, I accept that I cannot tell whether you are handsome or not, but it is very pleasing to look at you.”

  Now it was Henry’s turn to blush. “You are also very pleasing to the eye.”

  “Oh.” Eleanor looked at the floor. “I wish that you had not told me, for now I shall be vain.”

  “I tell you so that you will not be surprised when men look at you in the street. Did you not notice them on our way here?”

  “No, I was too busy looking around.”

  He came and stood in front of her and lifted her face so that he could look into her eyes.

  “You are comfortable in your room?” he asked.

  “Yes, it’s very pleasant.” She smiled slightly at the clumsy way that he had changed their conversation.

  “We will eat well tonight; Edward keeps a good table, as well as good wine.”

  Eleanor was relieved that he would be eating well; he looked even thinner than he had before they had joined the ship. He was wearing fresh clothes, finer and newer than the clothes he had been wearing on their journey. Now he looked more like a man who could afford a fine war horse.

  “We have some time before we eat, shall I take you out and show you some of the town?”

  “I should like that.” Eleanor was slightly scared at the thought of going out among so many people again, but was confident that Henry would protect her. She noticed that he wore his sword and wondered how dangerous the town was. Rich people lived here, so perhaps thieves wandered the streets as well.

  It was cold outside and starting to rain, but they walked quickly, despite her efforts to slow him down again. She almost fell once as she continued to look at something after they had passed it by and tripped. Henry caught her by the waist and she was reminded once more that, no matter how thin he was and how sick he had been, he was still very strong. He tucked her hand into his elbow and started walking again without a word. Eleanor looked up into his face and saw a determined man. This was not someone who had brought her out to look around aimlessly; this was a man who had a purpose.

  To her surprise Henry led her into a church, then she remembered that he had just returned from France, from a battle in which he had undoubtedly killed. Surely he would have been shriven by a priest before he left for England.

  “I’ve come to fulfil a vow,” he told her, “but I thought you would welcome the sanctuary of this place.”

  “Yes, thank you.” His thoughtfulness touched her.

  Henry removed his sword and left it by the entrance, then they walked together to the altar and knelt. Eleanor paid no attention to what Henry was doing and took solace just from being here. Exciting though the last few days had been, she had missed the quiet and order of life in the convent, where the pattern of the days was always the same. She had longed to regain the stillness that she felt she had left behind there. Silently she poured out her heart, not forgetting to show her proper gratitude for Henry and Edward. Gradually, thankfully she embraced the stillness and lost herself in her meditation.

  She did not know how long they knelt there, but after a while Henry groaned and threw himself prostrate on the stone slabs of the church floor. Such grief could know no comfort, so she sat by him until he sighed again and lifted himself up onto his knees. Before he could move further she took him into her arms and held him. He relaxed against her and laid his head on her shoulder. Eventually, he moved her arms from round his body and kissed her hands. “You are a great comfort to me, Eleanor,” he said huskily as he held her hands in his. “These last days you have done so much for me, when I could do nothing.”

  Eleanor didn’t know what to say or do, but Henry did not seem to expect anything from her. Finally he kissed her forehead and stood and helped her rise.

  “We should return now.” He turned and led the way out of the church leaving Eleanor to follow him and to wonder what it was that he had seen or done that had caused him such bitter grief.

  Eleanor had never seen as much food on a table as she saw that night. Somehow Edward must have sent word that he was arriving, for some of the food must have been prepared the day before. He must have sent a messenger overland or by another ship whilst he was waiting for Henry, she concluded. It was just the three of them at the meal and John waited on them. The wine was even finer than she had tasted on the ship and she let each sip roll around her mouth as she took it. Once, she caught Henry looking at her with a slight smile on his face and realised that it probably did not pass as good table manners outside the convent. They only drank watered wine in the convent. She swallowed as she set her beaker down and resolved to improve her manners.

  There were more dishes than she had thought possible. Sometimes she had no idea what she was eating and had to ask Henry. He showed no surprise at her ignorance, but told her quietly and without making her seem foolish. From his attitude she could tell that blackbird was a great delicacy, but it was not to her taste. The goose pleased her more, as did the carp.

  “One of the best things about living here,” said Edward, “is that all the luxuries from the south and the east come here. I have spices from the east, wines from France, fish from the rivers and from the sea, meat from the forest and from the heath.”

  “Not too much from the forest, I hope,” said Henry, frowning.

  “Only what is permitted and only from those allowed to give it. I have no wish to hang for the sake of eating venison. It was payment for some wine.”

  The venison was delicious. Eleanor had never eaten it before and doubted she would eat it again after Henry had explained that it was very rarely sold and usually eaten only by those who raised the deer. Everything on the table seemed calculated to impress her, but Edward could not have known that she would be here when he had sent the messenger. Henry, then. Edward must believe that it would not be possible for his brother to provide such a feast. It was not her arrival, then, that had caused the quarrel between the brothers; the rivalry was much older. On reflection, though, it seemed to her that the rivalry was all on Edward’s part. Henry did not seem to have the same need to impress his brother. He had not been ashamed of his sickness in front of his brother. With her it had been different and he was only angry that Edward should try to make Eleanor see it as a weakness. Now he was enjoying his brother’s bounty and encouraging her to do the same, even though he had told her that his own house could not offer these comforts. Edward was even dressed more richly than Henry, but Eleanor had no doubt but that she would rather sit and look at Henry than at Edward. The younger brother was good looking and the fabrics and colours he wore must have been
chosen to show off his good looks. Henry seemed to have no vanity. His clothes were fine, but looked more comfortable to wear than Edward’s more fashionable ones. Both wore much brighter clothes than she had expected. Their clothes on the ship had been drab browns, but here Edward was wearing a red over tunic with green hose, while Henry was wearing a pale blue tunic with dark blue hose. Everywhere she looked was brightness and colour. There were plenty of candles in the room, another sign of Edward’s wealth.

  Edward was a good host. He was attentive to the needs of his guests and his conversation was entertaining. He was courteous to his brother, who was also relaxed and amusing. This was yet another side of Henry for Eleanor to experience and all the more surprising for being preceded by his grief in the church. She guessed his conversation was for her benefit, as she had little to do, but to sit and listen. Edward rarely spoke directly to her, except to enquire whether she would like more wine or food. The brothers spoke about the wine they had been drinking, about what had been happening since Henry had gone to France, about Edward giving up his hawks because he wasn’t at home often enough to get the benefit of them and about the little news that Edward had about Henry’s manor. Gradually Eleanor began to enjoy herself. At the convent mealtimes were silent affairs, unless it was accompanied by a reading from the Rule or the Fathers. And she had never known the like of the food. She reminded herself not to be disappointed with the life to which God had called her; it would be easy to prefer the luxury that she found here to the simplicity of the convent.

  After the meal Edward and Henry played merrills. Once Eleanor had picked it up she played against Henry and Edward finally left to go to his ship. He said good night to Henry and then turned to Eleanor. There was something in his expression that gave her pause, but he bowed and wished her a good night’s sleep. Henry and Eleanor played a bit longer, until Henry tired of the ease with which he beat her.

  “It is time to go to bed, I think,” he said and Eleanor agreed. Although she had slept well enough on the ship, Henry still looked unwell and in need of sleep.

  “Sleep well,” she said, as she stood to go to her room.

  “And you.”

  Eleanor went to her bedchamber and took off her habit and wimple. Then she thought about the look on Edward’s face as he had left them. The bedchamber had no door, being separated from the passageway by a simple curtain. She was probably being foolish, she thought, but if Edward should come back and into her room, Henry was far enough away that he might not hear her call for help. It was wrong to suspect her host in this way, but he had declared that his promise to keep away from her had expired that afternoon. It did not necessarily follow that he would come into her bedchamber that evening, but she had recognised the look that he had given her as he left. He had looked like a hungry man inspecting his next meal. She shivered.

  She knew what she wanted to do, but it was one thing to share Henry’s bed because it was the safest place to be while they were travelling, or when he was sick. Now she would be asking a fully well man to let her sleep with him because she was afraid of what his brother, a man respected in this town, might do. A moment’s reflection told her that Henry knew his brother better than she did and could always send her back if he knew she had nothing to worry about and she would accept his decision.

  Eleanor picked up her candle and walked along the passageway to Henry’s bedchamber at the back of the house. This bedchamber had a door and the door was shut, but not barred and it swung open at her touch. Henry was in bed, but not asleep. He sat up and she saw his naked chest. She barely registered that he had not drawn the bed curtains before she stepped into the room

  “Eleanor, what are you doing here?”

  He made as if to get out of bed, then stopped. “I’m naked. I can’t get out of bed.”

  “Please, don’t be disturbed. I... my... my room has no door...I can’t lock it and I was worried.”

  “About Edward? He’s gone to sleep on the ship.”

  “But he could come back.”

  Henry opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. He sighed. “I do not want to believe it of him, but it’s possible. There’s no reason that I know of why he should have gone back to the ship and he and I have shared this bed many times before when he has had guests. Very well, turn round.”

  Eleanor smiled with relief as she complied. She was glad that he did not think her foolish. In a few moments Henry stood beside her, clothed in hose and tunic. “I should offer to sleep on the floor, but these last few days have done me harm.” She had noticed him using his left hand in preference to his right today even more than he had before.

  “Then I...”

  “Will not sleep on the floor either.” He shut the door and pulled the bar across. “You will return to your room before anyone knows and we will both sleep soundly.”

  His voice shook slightly and Eleanor guessed that he was worried that he would repeat his behaviour of this morning. She held the candle between them so that it lighted both their faces.

  “Henry, I take refuge with you because I know that your intentions are good. I also know that your lusts are strong when you sleep. No, please,” she said as he tried to interrupt, “if I feared that you would harm me, I would have waited until you were asleep and come in here and taken your sword to defend myself and slept on the floor. You are stronger than your desires.”

  Henry leaned forward to kiss her forehead lightly. “Then forgive me now, little one, for I do not know what I will do when I am asleep.”

  Eleanor smiled up at him. “I think your only desire is to please and I am not afraid of that.”

  Henry’s lips turned up in a slight smile and he took her arm gently and led her to the bed. She got in one side and he got in the other, after he had drawn the curtain on her side. Now she wondered that he had not done so before. Had he been so tired that he had not bothered to do so? It was of no matter, yet it worried her slightly.

  It was a large bed, so large that there was no need for them to be close, but Eleanor knew that Henry would soon be holding her in his arms. She wondered if there was some woman waiting for him at home whose body he missed in his bed, then she wondered why she had not asked him. It would explain why he was so eager to get home, but if there was a wife it would not be improper for her to go with him. Not a wife, then, but someone else, someone less honourable. She shut her mind to her next thought, but the effort made her tense her whole body.

  “Do not fear, Eleanor, no one will harm you this night.”

  “I am not afraid.”

  Henry blew out the candle and they lay next to one another in the dark. Eleanor was just beginning to fall asleep when she heard a door close somewhere in the house, then someone climbed the stairs, making an effort to be quiet. Edward! She stiffened, then felt a hand take hers and squeeze it. Henry had heard it, too.

  “You were right to come to me,” he whispered, so quietly she almost couldn’t hear him.

  She felt tears of fear prick her eyes at the thought of what might happen when Henry left her.

  Henry sighed and she felt the mattress give as he moved to her side of the bed. He took her into his arms and she cried silently against his chest. He stroked her hair absently, as if his thoughts were elsewhere. Perhaps he, too, was wondering how he would protect her from his brother when he was a day’s ride away.

  Henry woke before dawn and made sure Eleanor was back in her room before anyone else was up. He then started to make as much noise as he could so that Edward, if he was still in the house, would know that he was up and ready to defend Eleanor. He had lain awake long after Eleanor had fallen asleep in his arms, wondering what he could do to keep her safe. He had to admit now what he had tried to deny at first, that Eleanor was an attractive woman. Edward would not be able to resist her and would not rest until he had seduced her. Henry knew his brother’s appetites, even if he did not understand them.

  Now Edward would know that Eleanor had spent another night with Henry. Well, l
et him think about that for a while. If he thought she was Henry’s woman he might think twice about trying to seduce her. Henry was a trained soldier and the stronger of the two. Edward had never wanted to fight him, even when they were boys. It was not that Edward was a coward; just that he always found other means to achieve his ends.

  Despite the evidence of last night, Henry doubted that Edward would try to take Eleanor by force. He preferred his women to want him; it made it easier for him to cast them off when he was finished with them. And he finished with them very quickly. It pained Henry to think that Eleanor could join their number, but she was alert to Edward’s desires now and that would be her protection.

  He met Edward coming in from the street as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

  “Good morrow. Sleep well?” asked the younger brother.

  “No, did you?”

  “No. Too many dreams of the beautiful Sister Margaret.”

  Henry took a step towards his brother. “Make sure they are only dreams. If you touch her, I shall kill you.”

  Edward paled, then recovered himself. “If it’s because she’s Philip’s sister...”

  “She’s a nun, damn you! She has a vocation and all you can think about is getting her into your bed.”

  “While you apparently have no shame about taking her into yours.”

  So, he had returned last night and guessed that Eleanor had slept with him. “I am her protector, if I choose to keep her close, so be it.”

  “Close! You can’t be much closer than inside her.”

  Henry could not stop himself; he hit Edward harder than he had hit anyone in his life and his brother fell to the floor.