four breads, Gascon wine and endless sweet tarts. She could scarce swallow, partly due to her corset and partly due to her stomach, which was in her throat. But she ate something of everything rather than appear chastened.
Lady Felice and Castlemaine had been enemies before today, so the nature of Mend's ripostes had been anticipated. Babs rejected any woman she could not rule, and Lady Felice had been one who had not sought her favor, being too busy with the men at court. An omission Babs would not forgive, since they were often rivals for the same lord, although Babs sometimes exhibited even lower taste than that of Felice. One Jacob the tightrope walker had captured her interest, since he could bend his body into especially exciting poses, wearing only tight breeches, and that on a rope over Babs's bed.
The meal lasted for two endless hours, although Castlemaine left early, pleading her belly.
At her leaving, the little Portuguese queen finally lifted her head and smiled at the king. Meriel's heart went to the twice-burdened woman. Not only was she barren, but in love with her lusty husband. Strange though it was, Meriel felt a kinship, bearing as she did the double burden of being both lowborn and an imposter in love with the man she deceived.
Everyone sat until the king stood, then all stood.
Meriel waited quietly when Giles approached, standing tall and strong and handsome enough to steal any woman's breath. He bowed slightly. "My lady," he said, his eyes piercing her to her core. "I will escort you to your apartments, lest there be further talk of my countess strolling alone upon the streets."
"I can think of nothing that would give me greater pleasure," she said, answering his mockery with her own. Yet she had never meant any answer more sincerely.
It took them thirty minutes by the clock to walk the short distance, since everyone must be greeted, bows, curtsies and pleasantries exchanged.
When they reached her apartment, Giles strode swiftly to the adjoining bedroom door and closed it, ordering her twittering maids to remain inside and allow their mistress privacy.
Hesitating, Meriel remained by the entrance.
"My lady, you astound me!" Giles said, his voice a husky growl, moving quickly to the fireplace to pour a stemmed glass brimful of brandywine. He sat abruptly in a chair, sloshing strong drink on his embroidered coat, flinging one leg over the chair arm. He looked exhausted, breathing deeply, as if he had been at recent hard exercise, though she knew he had not.
"I do not take your meaning, m'lord," she said quietly, seating herself across from him, as if his bad manners had gone unnoticed.
"I think you do, Felice. There is every sign of conspiracy about you, although I do not understand it. The king has ordered me this day to remain at court. Why would he not want me gone if he is to cuckold me?" He poured another glass of brandywine.
"You are in drink, sir."
"Not as drunk as I wish to be, or soon will be," he growled. "Felice, this is not the first such conversation we have had, although I did think me never to have another. You are engaged in some plot, no doubt, with Buckhingham or Rochester. I promise you, my lady wife, I will go again to the House of Lords and petition for divorce on grounds that you are barren and I need an heir to protect my title. You will be banned from court,"
"This court where notoriety is exalted?" Meriel fought to stay in Felice's careless character, when as Meriel she wanted to deny these other lovers, to tell Giles the truth that if she were his wife there would be no other man for her. Ever. But she had knowledge that the Dutch planned mischief against England, and she felt Chiffinch's noose tighten about her neck and forced herself to respond in disguise again. "Giles, petition all you want, but the Lords will deny it. I am still young enough to produce an heir."
"Then you will, wife. Dam'me, but you will!" Giles stood so violently, the chair crashed down behind
Lady Felice and Castlemaine had been enemies before today, so the nature of Mend's ripostes had been anticipated. Babs rejected any woman she could not rule, and Lady Felice had been one who had not sought her favor, being too busy with the men at court. An omission Babs would not forgive, since they were often rivals for the same lord, although Babs sometimes exhibited even lower taste than that of Felice. One Jacob the tightrope walker had captured her interest, since he could bend his body into especially exciting poses, wearing only tight breeches, and that on a rope over Babs's bed.
The meal lasted for two endless hours, although Castlemaine left early, pleading her belly.
At her leaving, the little Portuguese queen finally lifted her head and smiled at the king. Meriel's heart went to the twice-burdened woman. Not only was she barren, but in love with her lusty husband. Strange though it was, Meriel felt a kinship, bearing as she did the double burden of being both lowborn and an imposter in love with the man she deceived.
Everyone sat until the king stood, then all stood.
Meriel waited quietly when Giles approached, standing tall and strong and handsome enough to steal any woman's breath. He bowed slightly. "My lady," he said, his eyes piercing her to her core. "I will escort you to your apartments, lest there be further talk of my countess strolling alone upon the streets."
"I can think of nothing that would give me greater pleasure," she said, answering his mockery with her own. Yet she had never meant any answer more sincerely.
It took them thirty minutes by the clock to walk the short distance, since everyone must be greeted, bows, curtsies and pleasantries exchanged.
When they reached her apartment, Giles strode swiftly to the adjoining bedroom door and closed it, ordering her twittering maids to remain inside and allow their mistress privacy.
Hesitating, Meriel remained by the entrance.
"My lady, you astound me!" Giles said, his voice a husky growl, moving quickly to the fireplace to pour a stemmed glass brimful of brandywine. He sat abruptly in a chair, sloshing strong drink on his embroidered coat, flinging one leg over the chair arm. He looked exhausted, breathing deeply, as if he had been at recent hard exercise, though she knew he had not.
"I do not take your meaning, m'lord," she said quietly, seating herself across from him, as if his bad manners had gone unnoticed.
"I think you do, Felice. There is every sign of conspiracy about you, although I do not understand it. The king has ordered me this day to remain at court. Why would he not want me gone if he is to cuckold me?" He poured another glass of brandywine.
"You are in drink, sir."
"Not as drunk as I wish to be, or soon will be," he growled. "Felice, this is not the first such conversation we have had, although I did think me never to have another. You are engaged in some plot, no doubt, with Buckhingham or Rochester. I promise you, my lady wife, I will go again to the House of Lords and petition for divorce on grounds that you are barren and I need an heir to protect my title. You will be banned from court,"
"This court where notoriety is exalted?" Meriel fought to stay in Felice's careless character, when as Meriel she wanted to deny these other lovers, to tell Giles the truth that if she were his wife there would be no other man for her. Ever. But she had knowledge that the Dutch planned mischief against England, and she felt Chiffinch's noose tighten about her neck and forced herself to respond in disguise again. "Giles, petition all you want, but the Lords will deny it. I am still young enough to produce an heir."
"Then you will, wife. Dam'me, but you will!" Giles stood so violently, the chair crashed down behind
Similar Books
