"Be still!" Madelyne snapped, looking toward the heavy door. Could Jube-or Rohan-hear what was being said?

"Lord Gavin kissed you?" Tricky had lowered her voice, but now stared at her assessingly. "I should never have guessed that, my lady. That puts quite a different light on things. "

"What?" Madelyne asked. "What do you mean?"

But Tricky did not reply; just looked at her shewdly, brows crinkling and lips settled firmly, nodding her head as though some great mystery had been revealed.

Chapter Nineteen

"I've seen nor heard nothing of de Belgrume," Gavin told the king. It was evening, and he sat in a large cushioned chair in the king's private bedchamber.

Henry paced, as always, hands clasped behind his back. "He has been too quiet and I fear that he plots something. I much prefer to know where he is and what it is he does. "

"I cannot disagree," Gavin replied. "But he seems to have disappeared and is nowhere to be found here at Whitehall. Mayhap he has taken his twisted self back to Tricourten for a time. . . but I do not believe that is likely. "

"How come you on your task of finding a husband for that little nun?" Henry changed the subject.

Before Gavin could reply, a knock came at the chamber door and a squire entered. "Her majesty has arrived and awaits your pleasure," said the young man with a short bow.

"Indeed, I have been awaiting her for the last hour. Bid her enter. " Henry waved his hand impatiently. "How can it take a woman so long to prepare for bed?" he grumbled.

"When one is preparing for bed with the king of the realm," a husky voice said from the doorway, "one must do the preparations justice. "

Garbed in a fur-lined satin robe, Eleanor crossed the room. Giving a brief curtsey to her husband, she then raised a cheek to him. He kissed it and grasped her hand, bringing it to his lips. "Madame, you are beautiful as always," he told her. When she glanced curiously at Gavin, the king explained, "I shall be only another short while. Please, sit. . . and mayhap you will have an opinion on the matter at hand. "

He gestured to Gavin, who had risen upon Eleanor's entrance. "Your majesty, may I pour you some wine?"

"Only if 'tis from Aquitaine," she responded with a coy smile.

"Of course. The king has only the best of all vintages," he said smoothly, nodding pointedly in her direction to include her in the compliment.

She was delighted. "Gavin Mal Verne, I did not expect such an agreeable response from you. The ladies speak of you with such apprehension. . . half of them would swoon if you so much as looked at them, they fear your black moods so much. " She laughed and took the goblet that he offered to her. "Now I know better and will not allow them to speak thus. "

Gavin wasn't certain how to respond, so he merely nodded again and, after she sat, he, too, sank into a chair. Henry continued to pace, fussing with his tunic, a sheaf of parchments, his goblet of wine. . . whatever it was that caught his eye and allowed him to expend energy.

"Do you hunt with us on the morrow?" Eleanor asked Gavin.

"Aye, your majesty. I didn't know that you planned to join us. "

She nodded regally, her blond hair gleaming in the candlelight. "I and several of my ladies will join you. I look forward to fresh venison or mayhap a wild pig if all goes well. "

The king seemed to pull himself from the frenetic activity of pacing the chamber back to his companions and his own agenda. "So, Gavin, have you found a husband for Madelyne de Belgrume? The sooner she is wed and bed, the easier I shall feel-for de Belgrume will have no cause to disturb my court. And of course I shall assess a significant brides-price for her hand," he added, tugging at his beard.

Eleanor drained her goblet. "My solar is abuzz with the rumors that John of Kilharten plies for her suit, while Reginald D'Orrais appears to have the favor of all, including the lady herself. "

Henry whirled, his overtunic spinning from his body like the petals of a flower. "And you-madame. . . who is your favorite to wed with the woman who would be a nun?"

"Reginald is a fine man-if a bit young, but fine enough for the likes of Madelyne. She will give him no trouble, and he is smart enough to keep her from the hands of her father. "

"Gavin? Do you have a thought on this or will you continue to stare blankly at your hands while we make the decision?"

"I had not given D'Orrais much thought, my liege. As her majesty says, he is young. . . but smarter than Kilharten, who cannot tell his hand from his foot in the dark. Still, D'Orrais has little experience with a large fief such as Tricourten, and may not have the ability to keep it producing the rents you are accustomed to. " Gavin knew that attacking the king's coffers was the most effective way to sway his opinion.

"Aye. Hmmm. . . well, you must make an assessment. I have too many other burdens to see to. I cannot bother myself much longer with this trite situation. Make a recommendation by three days hence, or I will make it easy and give the nun to D'Orrais. He isn't a bad choice-'tis your task to see that he is the best choice. Unless you find a compelling reason not to select him, 'twill be D'Orrais. "

Henry looked pointedly at the chamber door. "You may leave us now. "

Gavin bowed to the king, then for the queen, and took his leave.

Tags: Colleen Gleason Medieval Herb Garden Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net