reminded him of Saphira’s tresses. But Eleanor’s locks were dark and glossy where Saphira’s were flame-red. Her face was pleasant and well proportioned, no more. But what made it exceptional were the eyes. They were bright and intense, showing Eleanor to be a very confident and intelligent woman. It was her eyes that raised her above the common crowd, as well as her breeding. Falconer replied to her query, taking his chance before Sir John could intervene.
‘Your Majesty, I am William Falconer, taxed by the king to investigate the attempt on his life. I merely wished to talk to you about the unpleasant incident with your husband in Acre.’
Eleanor shivered and crossed her arms around herself, as though trying to protect herself from the evil memory of that day. Falconer immediately regretted his blunt approach.
‘Of course, if it is too painful a memory, I will understand.’
Eleanor pulled herself upright, lifting her chin high. She was visibly growing into her role as the Queen of England.
‘No, Master Falconer, I can speak of it, and tell you all I know. But it will be little, I’m afraid.’
She waved a hand, and Appleby hurried out of the room, no doubt on his way to inform Edward of this turn of events. Eleanor, meanwhile, crossed to the large and comfortable chair that stood beside the empty hearth and sat down, smoothing her gravid belly. Falconer remained standing and formed his first question carefully.
‘Did Your Majesty think that Anzazim was a reliable servant before this incident?’
Eleanor paused, making clear that she was giving the question fair and full consideration.
‘I saw him several times, bringing communications from the Emir of Joppa to my husband, and I even spoke to him once or twice. He appeared to be a very courteous and charming young man. My husband trusted him, so I see no reason why I should not have. Oh, and before we continue, Master Falconer, please no more Y our Majesties , or this will be a very long and tedious conversation.’
Falconer nodded politely and went on.
‘Thank you, Your… My Lady, what caused you to enter the chamber just after the attempt on your husband’s life?’
Eleanor frowned and sat a little forward in the chair, clasping her hands around her right knee. For a moment she looked like a young girl eager to please her old uncle.
‘I heard a commotion. A cry from my husband, I think. My instinct was to go to him, so I did.’
‘Not to run and hide in fear of your life?’
Eleanor smiled, and involuntarily Falconer found himself captivated by this pretty woman. He had to remind himself she was the queen, a mother several times over and fast approaching her thirtieth birthday.
‘I am not a shrinking violet, Master Falconer. Nor do I live in fear for my life. Besides, if there had been any danger, I am sure the men-at-arms surrounding my husband would have held me back.’
Worldy-wise as well as beautiful, then.
‘I am sure they would have. Please, tell me what you saw and heard when you entered the king’s chamber. Any fact, no matter how small, could be of significance.’
‘I am not sure I registered much. My eyes were mainly for my husband. He was standing by the window on the other side of the room, clutching his hand into a fist. The room was in a mess. A table had been tipped over and the marble top shattered. Two guards were dragging a body out of the room. I did not see at the time who it was. All I could see was blood everywhere. I did not know if it was that of my husband or the other man’s. I just ran to Edward’s side. He tried to convince me he was all right, but then he collapsed at my feet.’
By now, Eleanor’s grip on her knee was so tight that her knuckles were white. Her voice suddenly sounded strained.
‘Of course, you must dismiss from your mind the romantic myth of my sucking the poison from his wounds.’ She smiled fleetingly. ‘That was made up as a jest by Edward much later. You know, I only found
‘Your Majesty, I am William Falconer, taxed by the king to investigate the attempt on his life. I merely wished to talk to you about the unpleasant incident with your husband in Acre.’
Eleanor shivered and crossed her arms around herself, as though trying to protect herself from the evil memory of that day. Falconer immediately regretted his blunt approach.
‘Of course, if it is too painful a memory, I will understand.’
Eleanor pulled herself upright, lifting her chin high. She was visibly growing into her role as the Queen of England.
‘No, Master Falconer, I can speak of it, and tell you all I know. But it will be little, I’m afraid.’
She waved a hand, and Appleby hurried out of the room, no doubt on his way to inform Edward of this turn of events. Eleanor, meanwhile, crossed to the large and comfortable chair that stood beside the empty hearth and sat down, smoothing her gravid belly. Falconer remained standing and formed his first question carefully.
‘Did Your Majesty think that Anzazim was a reliable servant before this incident?’
Eleanor paused, making clear that she was giving the question fair and full consideration.
‘I saw him several times, bringing communications from the Emir of Joppa to my husband, and I even spoke to him once or twice. He appeared to be a very courteous and charming young man. My husband trusted him, so I see no reason why I should not have. Oh, and before we continue, Master Falconer, please no more Y our Majesties , or this will be a very long and tedious conversation.’
Falconer nodded politely and went on.
‘Thank you, Your… My Lady, what caused you to enter the chamber just after the attempt on your husband’s life?’
Eleanor frowned and sat a little forward in the chair, clasping her hands around her right knee. For a moment she looked like a young girl eager to please her old uncle.
‘I heard a commotion. A cry from my husband, I think. My instinct was to go to him, so I did.’
‘Not to run and hide in fear of your life?’
Eleanor smiled, and involuntarily Falconer found himself captivated by this pretty woman. He had to remind himself she was the queen, a mother several times over and fast approaching her thirtieth birthday.
‘I am not a shrinking violet, Master Falconer. Nor do I live in fear for my life. Besides, if there had been any danger, I am sure the men-at-arms surrounding my husband would have held me back.’
Worldy-wise as well as beautiful, then.
‘I am sure they would have. Please, tell me what you saw and heard when you entered the king’s chamber. Any fact, no matter how small, could be of significance.’
‘I am not sure I registered much. My eyes were mainly for my husband. He was standing by the window on the other side of the room, clutching his hand into a fist. The room was in a mess. A table had been tipped over and the marble top shattered. Two guards were dragging a body out of the room. I did not see at the time who it was. All I could see was blood everywhere. I did not know if it was that of my husband or the other man’s. I just ran to Edward’s side. He tried to convince me he was all right, but then he collapsed at my feet.’
By now, Eleanor’s grip on her knee was so tight that her knuckles were white. Her voice suddenly sounded strained.
‘Of course, you must dismiss from your mind the romantic myth of my sucking the poison from his wounds.’ She smiled fleetingly. ‘That was made up as a jest by Edward much later. You know, I only found
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