Devil's Consort by Anne O'Brien

not have the good Abbot to offer advice on this occasion. The water steamed, herbs filled the room with aromatic fragrance, my limbs cried out for soothing. Aelith fussed to unlace me. I cast off my gown, my undergown, my full-length shift.
    A knock sounded on the door. I raised my hand to the chambermaid to forbid entry, but too late. The door opened and Louis himself, still in tunic, boots and hose and mail, stepped in. He halted on the threshold, pushing back his coif, thrusting a hand nervously through his matted hair, which clung wetly to his neck.
    ‘Forgive me.’ With a shy smile and what could only be described as a charming little bow, mailed gloves still clutched in his hand as if he had come straight from the stabling—as perhaps he had—he took in our surroundings. ‘I came to ask after your well-being, my lady. I see that everything has been provided for …’
    His words dried. His jaw dropped. His eyes focused on my legs, where they became fixed, until they slid nervously away to my face.
    ‘My lord?’
    ‘Madam!’
    I waited.
    ‘That … that garment …’
    It had been made for me, of chamois leather. Soft, figure-hugging, hard-wearing and above all protective, it enclosed my body, covering each leg as with a soft skin of its own. Wonderfully supple, wonderfullyliberating, it enabled me to move and stretch with great freedom. And to ride without discomfort. As accommodating as a man’s chausses on which it was clearly modelled.
    ‘Excellent, is it not?’ It pleased me to tease him. His opinions were as inflexible as stones set in gold. His reaction was much as I had anticipated.
    ‘It is indelicate, madam!’
    ‘Do you expect me to ride well nigh a hundred miles, astride, in a shift? In linen drawers perhaps?’
    ‘No … I … That is …’ Louis stumbled.
    ‘I had them made for me. For hunting. We enjoy hunting in Aquitaine.’
    ‘It is not seemly. The women at our court in Paris would shrink from wearing such a garment.’
    ‘A woman from Paris would not shrink from it if she had to flee for her life on one clumsy animal after another! But do your women not hunt? I think I must instruct them on such a garment’s practicality.’
    ‘You will do no such thing. My mother would be appalled.’
    ‘How so?’
    Louis shook his head, refusing to elaborate. He did not see a need to, only to enforce my obedience. ‘As my wife, you will not wear them again.’ The expression that settled on his face was not attractive, almost vicious in its intensity.
    Would I not? As if I, Duchess of Aquitaine, did not know how to conduct myself, how to present myself.‘Really?’ I opened my mouth to tell him exactly that. But realised that I was just too tired to cross swords with this man who was almost squirming with embarrassment. If the floor had opened before his feet I swear he would have willingly leapt in. Glancing round, I saw the sly smile on Aelith’s face. I could not humiliate him more. Louis would soon learn and become accustomed to my ways. Taking pity on him, I donned a robe to cover the offending article. But that was as far as I would go.
    ‘I should inform you, my lord—I shall wear this garment again tomorrow when we ride on to Poitiers. You have no right to forbid it.’
    ‘But I am your husband.’ His response was brutally frank.
    ‘As I am your wife.’
    ‘You have sworn to obey me.’
    ‘You will not dictate what garments I choose to wear. Particularly when they are covered by my skirts and not obvious to any onlooker. Only to a man who entered my chamber without my invitation when I might—after the day I’ve had—expect some privacy!’
    As a stand-off it was magnificent.
    ‘As I see it,’ I continued before Louis could draw breath, ‘we’re set to travel another vast distance tomorrow. I will ride at your side, my lord, but not without protection.’
    ‘As you say, madam.’ He glared his rancour but I knew I had won. Louis’s response was as tight as themuscles in