I turned for the door, intending to retrace my steps back into the courtyard where I might find the right door, when I stopped, so terrified that I froze, unable to move or even think.
The door was open, and there must have been a torch in the chamber beyond, for what stood — crouched — in the door was clearly silhouetted.
It was an imp — my mind registered that at least. How often had I seen them, crawling in stone across the walls of churches, or grinning down from their gutters high above?
It had a grotesque lumpy body, its limbs thin and stick-like, its hands and feet over-sized and splayed as it rested on all fours, watching me.
A long, skinny tail snaked out behind it, threshing to and fro, like a cat stalking.
Its face was round, with a pig’s snout, its teeth small and sharp.
A red forked tongue flicked out as I watched, and its luminous eyes slowly blinked.
Then it hissed and rose on its back legs as if to strike out. Standing, it was taller than a man.
I shrieked, stumbling backward, certain that it would take my life and carry my soul down to hell.
Suddenly something caught me about the waist and I was violently wrenched to one side.
‘Get thee back to thy foul master, imp!’ a man’s voice cried, and I heard the sound of steel being drawn.
I had stumbled against a barrel, and it was only after I had found my balance and could look up that I realised it was Pengraic who stood there, stepping forth to the imp with his sword drawn. He made a lunge toward it and the imp gave a soft sibilant hissing sound, as if thwarted, and abruptly vanished.
A low cry came from my throat, and everything momentarily blurred and darkened about me. I felt the earl grab me about the waist again, and he guided me to sit down on a barrel that lay on its side. He sat holding me until he was sure that I would no longer faint.
‘Saints damn you! What do you here?’
‘I am s… s… sorry, my lord. I came only for a poultice for Evelyn’s back.’ Amazingly, I realised I still held the thing in my hands. I had been confronted by an imp from hell, but I had not dropped Evelyn’s poultice. ‘I lost my way … I am … I am … sorry.’
‘You are a most foolish woman, mistress!’ the earl said as his hands relaxed away from my waist.
I thought to rise, almost as fearful of the earl in his bad temper as I had been of the imp, but he stopped me.
‘Wait. We need to talk, then I will escort you back to your chamber.’
‘Yes, my lord.’
‘You will not say anything, not to anyone, about what you saw here tonight.’
‘No, my lord.’
‘Not to anyone, Maeb! Swear it!’
‘I swear, my lord!’
‘Not to Evelyn, not to my lady wife, not to Stephen. To no one. It would cause panic and dismay, and that we do not need.’
‘I will not speak, my lord.’
We were close enough that I could see his face, and I could see that he watched me carefully, his eyes narrowed. Finally he gave a small nod. ‘Yes, I will trust you. You will not speak.’
What if he had decided the other way? That I could not be trusted? What would he have done?
I had been trembling, but now I trembled more.
‘You are not in danger, Maeb. The imp will not trouble you again … but stray here no more. Stay close to your lady and your chamber.’
I nodded. ‘But the imp has seen me, my lord … did it come for me? How do I know it won’t return?’
‘Maeb, just trust me. It will not return for you. It was not you it wanted.’
‘Then who? I —’
‘Stop questioning my words, Maeb!’
I cringed at the sharpness of his voice, and he sighed. ‘Maeb, now I am sorry for my roughness of speech. And I have yet to express my gratitude for what you said to Saint-Valery this day. That was well said, and I thank you for it.’
I knew he was trying to take my mind away from the imp, but still I appreciated his words. ‘Thank you, my lord.’
I wanted to leave. I kept glancing toward the door, but the earl sat as if he still had something to say but could not quite find the words for it. I grew more uncomfortable by the moment, and wished desperately I was back in my chamber, curled up with Evelyn, finding refuge in a deep, unknowing sleep.
The earl turned a little, enough so that he faced me directly. ‘Maeb, there is a dark flood coming. You will need to be strong.’
‘My lord?’
‘The plague. It will be worse than you could ever imagine, worse than you have been told.’
I did not know what to say, for his words struck great fear into me.
‘Remember that you promised all your care for my wife.’
‘I will be strong, for my lady’s sake.’
‘Good.’ His voice had relaxed now, so I dared also to relax.
A little too soon, as it happened.
‘Saint-Valery has asked for your hand in marriage,’ he said.
‘No!’ I said.
‘You know full well why he has asked for you, don’t you.’
Of course I knew. The king did not want to touch me until I had been wed. It was his idea of courtesy. Saint-Valery would do anything to smooth the path for his master. I was to be used and then discarded in the king’s casual game of lust at court. I felt ill, and I think some of what I felt showed on my face.
‘Do not worry, Maeb. You will go to Pengraic and there you will be safe. Who knows who or what will be left standing when this flood recedes.’
‘Thank you, my lord.’ I did not truly know what to say. They were the safest words I could think of.
‘Now take that poultice to Evelyn, and forget all you have seen and heard this night — save your vow of silence.’
‘I will, my lord,’ I said.
I rose, dipped in courtesy, and left the store room. The earl seemed to have forgotten his promise to escort me to my chamber, but I did not mind. I was glad enough to leave him.
I returned safe to my chamber, and applied the poultice to Evelyn’s back. She did not appear to notice anything amiss, and I said not a word of what had occurred.
I lay beside her, the poultice warming us both as we curled together, but I did not sleep that night. The hissing imp invaded my thoughts whenever I closed my eyes, and if it was not the imp, it was the earl’s words. There is a dark flood coming. It will be worse than you could ever imagine, worse than you have been told.
It was all I could think about. The imp and the earl’s bleak warning. They pushed away any other thought I may have had, whether of SaintValery’s offer for my hand, or whatever query I may have raised in my own mind as to what purpose the earl may have had for lurking in that store room.
I was exhausted and gritty-eyed when I crept into the earl and countess’ chamber early the next morning. I stoked their fire, adding more wood, set two bowls of water to warm on the hearth, then lit several candles with a taper from the fire.
‘My lady?’ I bent over her side of the bed, laying my hand gently on her shoulder.
She sighed, then opened her eyes, and thus we began our day.
The countess pushed back the cover and sat on the side of the bed. She took several deep breaths as I pulled a half mantle about her shoulders, and I thought she struggled a little with them. She was very pale, and her distended belly heavily veined, and I wondered yet again how much this child was taking from her.
‘My lady?’ I murmured, concerned for her.
‘I am well enough, Maeb. Fetch the water, and I will wash.’
The earl rose as I carried one of the bowls back to the countess, and as she washed so did he, crouching by the fire and grunting as he splashed water over his face and the back of his neck.
It seemed strange to be working silently with my lady as I helped her to dress, first in her linen chemise and stockings, then in a brightly coloured kirtle that slipped over her head and belted loosely about her swollen body. I combed out and re-bra
ided her hair. Behind us the earl was dressing with the aid of his valet, Charles, and as he and the countess prepared for the day they exchanged quiet words about the countess’ continuation of her journey to Wales.
It was almost as if I (and Charles) were invisible to the earl and his wife. They had been naked before me, yet the greater familiarity was allowing me to watch this routine intimacy of one of the most remarkable dynastic marriages in England. There was no passion between them, but there was a strong respect, and they both listened to the other.
It was only when Charles was gone and both the earl and his wife fully dressed, the earl shaking out his mantle in preparation to going outside, that they dragged me into the conversation.
‘I saw Maeb last night,’ said the earl to the Lady Adelie, and my heart started into my mouth, ‘as she was going to bed and I returning to you. I spoke briefly with her about Saint-Valery’s offer. She was not pleased.’
Lady Adelie turned to regard me. ‘It is a good offer, Maeb. He is a man of wealth, with several lordships and estates and great influence. It is a far better match than I could have hoped for you.’
I stood with my eyes downcast, not knowing how to respond.
‘Maeb understands what comes attached to the offer,’ Pengraic said.
‘Ah,’ Lady Adelie said. She took a breath, considering the matter. ‘This must seem strange to you, Maeb, and perhaps not welcome, but you have yet to learn the ways of the court. The king is a kindly man and a generous one. He has a warm heart. In many respects, he is the one who will provide the security in your life, not Saint-Valery.’
‘I cannot believe that you recommend this path to me, madam,’ I said, almost in tears. ‘Why not trade me in the cattle yards next market day? You may yet get an even higher offer for me.’
‘You have a poor habit of speaking your mind, mistress,’ the earl snapped. ‘It is not pleasing, nor will it ease your path in life.’
‘I have not spoken all I could,’ I snapped back at him, so angry and hurt that I cared not what I said. ‘As well you know, my lord.’
The countess looked at her husband, an eyebrow raised.
‘I will not accept Saint-Valery’s offer,’ I said, still looking at the earl, ‘unless you force my hand.’
Lady Adelie sighed, but the earl held my gaze steadily. I was playing a dangerous game here, for he knew that I was threatening to break my silence about last night.
‘No wonder your father did not manage to marry you away,’ Pengraic said softly, ‘for you have the temper and petulance of a harridan. What man could possibly want you for a wife? You would curdle the milk in the dairy as soon as you laid eyes on it.’
‘Raife,’ Lady Adelie murmured.
‘I will tell Saint-Valery that the matter will be settled once the threat of the plague has passed,’ Pengraic continued. ‘Until then, mistress, you will endeavour to keep your tongue still in that waspish mouth of yours until you are well clear of this court and on your way home to Pengraic. You will not refuse Saint-Valery outright; the matter can remain in abeyance for the time being. Madam,’ he turned to Lady Adelie, ‘you have a long journey to the Marches in which you can instil some manners into this girl. God help us all if she behaves like this at court!’
With that, he was off, slamming the door behind him.
I fell to my knees before Lady Adelie, my tears now spilling over. ‘Madam,’ I said, ‘I am truly sorry for what I said. It was fear that spoke.’
‘You must surely loathe the idea of marriage to Saint-Valery,’ she said. ‘But, girl, do you expect to choose your own husband? It will never be. I was not allowed to choose my husband, nor did I have any say in who that husband might be. Saint-Valery is not a bad man, and he is of a far better rank and of greater wealth and estates than you could ever have hoped!’
‘But it shall be a sham so that the king can —’
‘The king’s fancy will last but a season,’ Lady Adelie said, ‘and in the meantime you will have won for yourself a position in society that but a few weeks ago was as far beyond you as are the stars in the firmament. The marriage will be no sham; it will be honoured by Saint-Valery, who will receive the king’s favour for it. It is an advantageous marriage to you and to this household.’
Ah, the nub of it. Both the earl and the countess saw this match as a means of placing their own factor in the court and bed of the king, while Saint-Valery was likely anticipating yet more favours from the king for doing his will.
‘Maeb,’ the countess said, her tone kindly, ‘you have come from a simple and uncomplicated world and in a short time have been hurled into such … events. It is overwhelming.’
‘You and the earl are asking me to forsake my vows of marriage,’ I said, unable to believe the devout countess could overlook this small detail.
‘Sometimes,’ she said, ‘in worldly matters, one has to bend with the wind.’
‘Would you have done so, madam?’
Again I risked her anger, but I was still upset and more than a little angry myself.
‘For what favour and advantage it would bring to my family,’ she said, ‘yes, I would. Oh, Maeb. It is but a man. They are simple creatures and so easily sated. You have such a wit and spirit about you …’ She paused, sighing softly. ‘My dear, such an alliance can purchase you influence; wealth, if that is what you desire, or offices and favours for your children. Marriage among our rank is not merely affection between a man and a woman, but a power-building exercise, a constant accumulation of rank and privilege and estates and offices for ourselves, but more so for our children. It is a game, Maeb, and one you do not wish to lose.
‘Now, come with me to chapel, and let us say our prayers. Remember, always in life there is a priest to whom you can confess, and wash away your sins.’
Later that morning, when we had returned to Lady Adelie’s chamber, she noticed that the earl had left behind his gloves.
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘he will be cross, but no doubt is too busy to return for them. Maeb, will you take them to him? He will not be far — ask any of the king’s servants or men-at-arms and they will tell you.’
It was not a task I felt happy about, but I could surely leave them with a servant somewhere to hand to the earl.
I made for the main quarters of the king, where I knew he met with his advisers and nobles. I would not be allowed in, so I felt sure that I could safely leave the offending gloves with a guard.
But the earl was not there.
‘He has just left,’ said one of the guards. ‘He and his son are heading for the chapel.’
My heart sank, because now I would need to speak to the earl, stand face to face with him, meet his eye, and I did not think I was quite courageous for that yet, not after our morning’s confrontation. Already I was regretting pushing him so far, for I did not think now he would treat me kindly in future dealings.
I hurried for the chapel, crossing the main courtyard, and saw the distinctive figure of the earl in the distance, Stephen to one side of him, and another man to his other, to whom I did not pay attention. I wanted only to hand these damned gloves to the earl and then return to my lady, with whom I had much mending of fences to accomplish.
I hurried as fast as I dared over the cobbles, slippery from a recent shower of rain, but even as I drew close the men started to run lightly up the steps toward the open door of the chapel.
The last thing I wanted was to be forced into sidling up to the earl at his devotions.
‘My lord!’ I cried.
All three stopped, and turned, as one.
A ray of sunshine suddenly broke through the low clouds and illumed the three of them: Stephen, Pengraic … and the king, Edmond.
I couldn’t move. I was frozen by the vision on the steps. They all had their gaze on me. Stephen’s face was creased in a wide, open grin. Whatever the earl felt was locked away tight behind his impassive façade. The king … Edmond looked at me with a warm regard, and it suddenly struck me that what I fe
ared in the proposed marriage to Saint-Valery was not Edmond, or what he asked, but Saint-Valery and a lifetime of regret at his side.
The sun’s ray bathed the three men in a golden, ethereal light, and I knew God had handed me this moment. It caught me in the thrall of premonition, and I realised then, in that instant, that my life would be bounded by the knight, the earl and the king, and no other.
What I did not know then was that this was the last time I would ever see these three men together.
‘Mistress Maeb?’ said the earl, and somehow I freed myself from my thrall, and walked up the steps toward him.
‘Your gloves, my lord,’ I said, handing them over, then I dipped in courtesy toward Edmond, nodded at Stephen, and turned my back on them and walked away.
I walked easy, for somehow, in a manner I could yet not discern, my entire life was settled in that one golden moment.
Whatever happened now was in fate’s hands, and no manner of struggling would change a thing.
Chapter Ten
The next day Evelyn woke me. She’d been up early to go down to the kitchens, returning one of the bowls I had used for a poultice. ‘Maeb! Maeb!’
I opened my eyes grudgingly. Mistress Yvette was back tending our lady this morning, and I’d been allowed to sleep until Evelyn and I joined them in chapel for our morning prayers.
‘Maeb! I have heard news — of a plague. Everyone is talking of it.’
I sat up, wondering what I should say.
‘I have heard such terrible things. Sweet Mother Mary, Maeb, is this what you had heard in the solar?’
I nodded. No point in trying to deny it now.
‘And why we are fleeing back to Pengraic?’
I nodded again.
Evelyn was white, and she sat down on the bed as I rose, washed my face and dressed.