“I will read to her whilst she bathes.”
“And I?” The elder Ellen shrugged. “Naught left but for me to stroll the garden.”
“Naught but for you and Amilie to tend me,” the queen said, then, “Enjoy your bath, Lady Joslyn. We will speak afterward.” With the two ladies trailing, she departed the chamber, leaving Joslyn to worry over what needed to be discussed.
CHAPTER NINE
“Do not think I am unaware of my husband’s appetites.”
Joslyn startled. Bathed, perfumed, garbed, and groomed, she had been savoring her solitude, unaware the queen had stolen behind her. She turned. “Your Majesty?”
Resplendent in red velvet, the queen smiled tightly. “I speak of the apartment, Lady Joslyn.”
Joslyn forced herself to hold the woman’s gaze. Liam had said, and now Philippa confirmed, the king had intended to come to her for recompense.
But did that mean Liam had lost Ashlingford for no other reason than that Joslyn appealed to Edward? She prayed not—unless it meant he might reconsider his ruling. Surely she could not be blamed for the loss of Oliver’s birthright if the king changed his mind, for even had she not slipped free of the palace, she would have refused Edward had he sought intimacy with her.
“You did not know what my husband intended?” the queen prompted.
“I suppose I should have.” She had not been blind to the way he had looked at her and, later, touched her. “But all I could think of was Oliver.”
“When word was brought to me that my husband had installed you in the apartment, I was vexed, but no more than usual. You see, Lady Joslyn, I love my lord very much and he loves me, but it is difficult for him to pass by a lovely face when it is so easily in his power to more intimately enjoy it.” Philippa caught up the loose ends of her girdle and began rubbing the gold beads threaded upon it. “’Tis a shameful thing to admit, but I was relieved to hear you had disappeared.”
“Was it the king who discovered me missing?”
“Nay, but he would have if your father’s arrival had not earlier brought it to his attention.”
“Thus, you delivered me to your apartments.”
The queen walked to the fireplace and put her hands out to warm them. “’Tis rare I am able to manage my husband’s infidelities, but I saw the opportunity and took it. Quite unashamedly.”
“Even if…” How to say it? “I would not have…”
Philippa turned back. “Now that I have met you, I am inclined to believe I need not have worried.” She stepped forward and touched Joslyn’s arm. “Think no more on it. On the morrow you will be on your way to your new home, and this need never again be mentioned.”
Joslyn was tempted to appeal to her for assistance in the matter of Ashlingford, but providing King Edward was not so angered with her he bestowed the barony on Liam Fawke, the matter was settled. Nothing to be gained from complaining. “I thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And I you.” She considered Joslyn a moment longer and murmured, “Methinks Sir Liam—now Lord Fawke—is very wrong about you.”
Joslyn could not let it pass. “Forgive me, but may I ask how you know him? What I mean is, Lady Cedra said you were with him in the garden this morn.”
Philippa chuckled. “Wondering if I am as unfaithful as my husband is to me?” Before Joslyn could protest, she said, “I jest. Do not fear you have offended me.” She crossed to an overstuffed armchair that looked never to have been sat upon and lowered to its edge. “As we have a few minutes, I will explain. I was at my husband’s side seven years past when Sir Liam and his brother came before the throne to argue whose right over Ashlingford was greater. I believed Sir Liam’s claim should be honored, regardless of whether or not he is legitimate born.”
“Because his father named him heir?”
“That is part of it. After all, an astute man knows his sons better than they know themselves, and the old baron was
“And I?” The elder Ellen shrugged. “Naught left but for me to stroll the garden.”
“Naught but for you and Amilie to tend me,” the queen said, then, “Enjoy your bath, Lady Joslyn. We will speak afterward.” With the two ladies trailing, she departed the chamber, leaving Joslyn to worry over what needed to be discussed.
CHAPTER NINE
“Do not think I am unaware of my husband’s appetites.”
Joslyn startled. Bathed, perfumed, garbed, and groomed, she had been savoring her solitude, unaware the queen had stolen behind her. She turned. “Your Majesty?”
Resplendent in red velvet, the queen smiled tightly. “I speak of the apartment, Lady Joslyn.”
Joslyn forced herself to hold the woman’s gaze. Liam had said, and now Philippa confirmed, the king had intended to come to her for recompense.
But did that mean Liam had lost Ashlingford for no other reason than that Joslyn appealed to Edward? She prayed not—unless it meant he might reconsider his ruling. Surely she could not be blamed for the loss of Oliver’s birthright if the king changed his mind, for even had she not slipped free of the palace, she would have refused Edward had he sought intimacy with her.
“You did not know what my husband intended?” the queen prompted.
“I suppose I should have.” She had not been blind to the way he had looked at her and, later, touched her. “But all I could think of was Oliver.”
“When word was brought to me that my husband had installed you in the apartment, I was vexed, but no more than usual. You see, Lady Joslyn, I love my lord very much and he loves me, but it is difficult for him to pass by a lovely face when it is so easily in his power to more intimately enjoy it.” Philippa caught up the loose ends of her girdle and began rubbing the gold beads threaded upon it. “’Tis a shameful thing to admit, but I was relieved to hear you had disappeared.”
“Was it the king who discovered me missing?”
“Nay, but he would have if your father’s arrival had not earlier brought it to his attention.”
“Thus, you delivered me to your apartments.”
The queen walked to the fireplace and put her hands out to warm them. “’Tis rare I am able to manage my husband’s infidelities, but I saw the opportunity and took it. Quite unashamedly.”
“Even if…” How to say it? “I would not have…”
Philippa turned back. “Now that I have met you, I am inclined to believe I need not have worried.” She stepped forward and touched Joslyn’s arm. “Think no more on it. On the morrow you will be on your way to your new home, and this need never again be mentioned.”
Joslyn was tempted to appeal to her for assistance in the matter of Ashlingford, but providing King Edward was not so angered with her he bestowed the barony on Liam Fawke, the matter was settled. Nothing to be gained from complaining. “I thank you, Your Majesty.”
“And I you.” She considered Joslyn a moment longer and murmured, “Methinks Sir Liam—now Lord Fawke—is very wrong about you.”
Joslyn could not let it pass. “Forgive me, but may I ask how you know him? What I mean is, Lady Cedra said you were with him in the garden this morn.”
Philippa chuckled. “Wondering if I am as unfaithful as my husband is to me?” Before Joslyn could protest, she said, “I jest. Do not fear you have offended me.” She crossed to an overstuffed armchair that looked never to have been sat upon and lowered to its edge. “As we have a few minutes, I will explain. I was at my husband’s side seven years past when Sir Liam and his brother came before the throne to argue whose right over Ashlingford was greater. I believed Sir Liam’s claim should be honored, regardless of whether or not he is legitimate born.”
“Because his father named him heir?”
“That is part of it. After all, an astute man knows his sons better than they know themselves, and the old baron was
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