The Girl Empress (The Chronicle of Maud Book 1) Read online

  After we had spent many days in this state, the great moment finally arrived. The king had resided at Windsor for several days, and now his party approached along the western road, a glittering display in the afternoon sun. The entire household made to welcome them, and William and I were pulled along with the rest, Lady Beatrice having taken great pains to ensure that we looked especially presentable.

  We were all lined up in perfect order, with my mother at the head of the welcome party. I could hear the officials behind us commenting on how lovely the queen was, and it was certainly the truth. Her undergarment was of a pale hue, and her outer garment was made of silk the color of violets covered in an intricate pattern of gold thread. These were the lighter fabrics that the queen preferred for the summer heat, as opposed to the thick wool employed in the winter. Her auburn tresses were held up in a pair of interlaced braids, and she wore pearls from her native Scotland. Brighter than all of these things was the smile on her face, which seemed to lend a light of its own to her attire. She looked back at us and we smiled in return, content simply to bask in the glow of her personage.

  In due course the main gate was pulled open, and a swarm of horsemen entered the grounds, each steed adorned with the heraldry of its master. First were several of the king’s household knights, then a few of the nobles who had joined him on his progress throughout the country. Finally the king himself entered on his tall gray horse, which he had named Merlin after the magician of legend. By his side was Roger, who was both the bishop of Salisbury and the king’s foremost justiciar. He rode a slightly smaller brown horse.

  Following closely in their train, with many of their sworn companions riding alongside, were the king’s lads: Robert fitz Roy, the king’s son; Stephen of Blois, the king’s nephew and my cousin; and Brian fitz Count. This was the first time I had ever laid eyes upon Cousin Stephen, for he had yet to permanently join the king’s court. The journey did not appear to have sapped the lads’ vigor, for they continued to jest as their horses kicked up enough dust to make us sneeze.

  Last of all, the carts and carriages bearing the females of the party and the infinite array of trunks, tents, weapons, apparel, and the like could be seen pulling around the back entrance to the palace to deliver their burdens. Among them, undoubtedly, would be my father’s latest mistress, whose name was not even spoken in my mother’s household except in whispers, and who naturally could not be seen accompanying the king in the queen’s presence. Rumor had it that she was to stay with a relative who owned a great house just south of the river. The king would be deprived of her company during his stay in Westminster, but there was talk that he might attempt to include her on his voyage across the Channel, a prospect that was sure to be a subject of discussion with my mother over the course of the next month. For the moment such thoughts were placed aside, and the queen stepped forward as the men alighted. She made a deep bow and welcomed them.

  “My lord king, bishop of Salisbury, members of the king’s council, it is my great honor to welcome you all back to Westminster. Too long we have suffered in the absence of your most regal presence, and now we understand that you are to leave us once again for quite some time. But let us not talk about such things, for we must embrace the joyful bliss that nature has offered us in this summer season! Come and have some refreshment, for you must be weary from your long travels.”

  “My lady, your beauty is surely the greatest healing a man could receive on such an occasion,” the king said, stepping toward her and bestowing a brief kiss.

  “Too long you have been away,” I could hear my mother say, not loud enough for most of the company to hear.

  “Yes, but a king’s business is to be among his people, wherever that call may arise. I trust that you and the children have borne this separation most nobly,” he said, then, loud enough for the whole assembly to hear, “Roger, I believe you have not seen my wife since we were all in Normandy more than a year ago?”

  “Too true, Your Highness, I have not had that pleasure of late,” he replied, stepping forward to greet her.

  My mother offered her hand, and the bishop bent low to kiss it. I knew, as did most of the people there, that the two of them were not the dearest of friends. Bishop Roger of Salisbury was said to be the most powerful man in the kingdom, save for the king. During my father’s absences, there had been some controversy regarding the maintenance of government in England, with both the queen and the bishop seeking to fulfill certain aspects of the role of regent. For the present it appeared that they were on good terms, but there was no way to tell how long that might last. The bishop was the king’s chief counselor, and my mother was suspicious of his influence over the king. Perhaps she disapproved of the bishop’s willingness to overlook any transgressions in the king’s personal affairs in the interest of increasing his own ecclesiastical and secular power. Such enmity was beyond a child’s ability to inquire into, so I received most of my information from less discreet members of the queen’s household.

  Her Royal Highness turned now to the three young men accompanying the king, each of whom appeared to stand taller upon catching her glance.

  “My lords, welcome to my home and yours for the coming days. I see you have grown both in height and strength. I trust the king feeds you well.”

  “No man could wish for more,” Robert replied. “We have been out stalking every day for the past week and sent our killings on to the palace, save for what we were able to feast on each night. As long as your cellars are well stocked, we shall want for nothing, and your ladyship’s hospitality is highly praised throughout the land.”

  “Is that so?” my mother said. “I fear with the number of friends you have collected during your travels, even our cellars may be bare at the end of two fortnights.”

  “If that be so, my queen, then you may be sure that we will send you all the best from across the water once we have returned,” Brian offered.

  “Oh, there is no need for that! Indeed, there will be no need for sending anything, for I intend to accompany you all, and what a grand time we shall have!”

  This was clearly a surprise to all the men standing there, including the king, whose attention had wandered until this comment was made.

  “My dear, surely you would rather stay here with the children. Remember how you longed for home upon our last journey!”

  “I assure you, my husband, that I am quite resolute in this matter. If I am to fulfill my duty as your consort, it is only proper that I should be with you wherever you are, and Normandy is no less your kingdom than England. In any case, the bishop of Salisbury will attend to matters while we are away.”

  I suspect this is precisely what the bishop longed to hear. He seemed to be working hard to suppress a smile even as he bowed and said, “Your Graces, I must assure you that I am ready to carry out the task that lies before me.”

  I knew my mother was unlikely to hand power to the bishop willingly, as she never trusted him completely, so her determination to join the progress to Normandy revealed her fear of an advance from some other corner. I suspect she must have been hoping to prevent any incursions into the king’s bedchamber.

  At last my brother William broke into the conversation. “Are we to travel with Father as well, or will you leave us?”

  “Ah, fear not, my William,” the queen said, stooping down to meet his eyes. “I will not leave you as orphans, nor shall you remain idle during my absence. I have spoken with the archbishop, and he is able to undertake your training for as long as necessary.”

  “Archbishop Anselm?” I asked. “But he is very old now, and surely his health is not good.”

  “He has strength to master both of you, I’ll be bound.” Here she stood back up and faced the king. “What say you to all of this?”

  “I say that you seem to have arranged this all exceedingly well,” my father answered with a knowing look on his face.

  “’Tis the duty of a queen to make sure all things are in order, as you are no dou
bt aware.”

  “Yes, and were I not, you would surely let me know it. Come, let us have some supper. I am famished from our long ride. Herbert! See to the horses!”

  The steeds were then transferred to Herbert, the king’s chief groom, and the men under him, to be fed, watered, given a good washing, and installed in the stables. The king led his queen into the palace, with the bishop of Salisbury and the rest of the council following behind. I gathered from his disposition that the conversation with Mother was not yet complete, but that he had no wish to continue with so many witnesses present. Meanwhile, the king’s lads tarried in the yard. Lady Beatrice attempted to lead my brother and me back to our chambers, but William was determined to welcome his heroes.

  “Brother Robert, you came back!”

  “Yes, my young master, I have indeed. And here with me are the others of your friends; you remember Brian?”

  “Of course I do!”

  “Then you must remember what I gave you last Christmastide,” Brian said.

  “Yes, you gave me a whelp, and I have been taking the greatest care of it ever since!”

  “I suspect that one of the servants has been taking very good care of it,” the older lad teased.

  “No, sir! I feed him every day and fetch his water and take him outside to play!”

  “Pay no heed to him,” I finally said, adding myself to the conversation. “He does not feed him but half the days. Master Edmund is placed in charge of all the dogs, including the prince’s bloodhound.”

  “You stand mightily accused by your sister,” Robert said to him. “What have you to say to that?”

  “I say what did you bring me this time?”

  All three of the young men laughed at William’s cheek.

  “Bring you? Now, what made you think we would bring you something? Don’t you know we are unfeeling knaves?” Stephen jested.

  My brother looked much aggrieved, and I too was feeling sorely cheated. “Who are you?” William asked with suspicion.

  “This is your cousin, Stephen of Blois. He is joining us for the length of the king’s stay here so that he may learn the ways of the royal court,” Robert explained.

  “Also, I was keen to see this England that I have heard so much about,” Stephen added.

  The attempt at humor seemed to be lost on William. “I still want to know what you brought for me!”

  I looked in the direction of one who might take pity on us. “Brian, surely you have brought back something for William and me?”

  “Indeed I have, Princess Maud.”

  He reached into a small satchel he had on his person, and out of it he pulled a stone of amber, dark yellow in color. He placed it into my open palm and bid me examine it. As I turned it over and viewed it from each direction, I could see that there was something inside it: a moth that had been caught. Its wings were partially open, giving it the appearance of flight.

  “I remember your love of all living things. When I saw this, I knew I had found something truly magnificent, and I must bestow it upon a young lady who was most worthy.”

  It was certainly a magnificent gift. Yet for some reason it troubled me deeply, so much so that I began to cry.

  “Is she weeping?” Stephen scoffed.

  “Perhaps it was not the perfect gift we were hoping for,” Robert concluded, digging through his own pockets for a piece of cloth.

  Brian placed his hand on my shoulder and knelt down to ask, “Lady Maud, what is the matter? Has my gift upset you in some way?”

  “I am sorry for my tears. I just feel . . . it is a shame that the poor moth will always be trapped inside this stone. It looks as if it is struggling to break free, but I know that it never will. I do not know why it distresses me so.”

  “Here, let me take her,” Robert said, picking me up in both arms. “By Jove, you are heavier than I remembered, Maud! You must have grown half a foot since I saw you last!”

  “And yet I am still a little girl.”

  “You will not always be,” was his reply.

  Behind us, Brian and Stephen each took William by one of his hands and swung him back and forth as we walked toward the front entrance of the palace. Lady Beatrice was there to meet us with a look of displeasure on her face.

  “Young masters, what have you done? I see that Lady Mathilda has been crying.”

  “It is not their fault, Lady Beatrice . . .”

  “What she means to say,” Brian interrupted, “is that I was merely a bit careless and upset the princess for a moment, but she is all better now.”

  “I hope for your sake that is the full truth. I should hate to hear that you have been misusing the king’s children in any way,” answered Lady Beatrice. She instructed Robert to place me on my feet and then took me by the hand. “I think you children have had enough excitement for one afternoon. We must start on your next lesson.”

  Still attempting to swing upon the arms of the taller men, William let out a sigh that seemed to say, “Why can I not just be a boy for once as God intended?”

  It was not possible to sleep that evening. The sound of the feast might have woken an animal from its winter slumber, and I longed to join the festivity below, but the presence of Lady Beatrice in our darkened room, with several other ladies beyond the door, held me in check. So I aimed to rest my mind and enter the land of dreaming. Finally, having determined that there was no great likelihood of slumber in the near future, I slid out of my bed in all quietness, taking care not to wake my brother, who was sleeping soundly on the other side of the bedchamber. I now had a clear view of Lady Beatrice’s chair, in which I saw the old lady sitting, her eyes apparently closed.

  Even so, I was not completely satisfied that I could slip out in secret, for William and I had always observed that Lady Beatrice slept rather like a cat, with eyes closed but mind on guard, ready to spring at the slightest noise. Further investigation was necessary.

  It was difficult to move across the floor without creating a loud creaking noise that might wake my watcher, but I did so to the best of my ability, advancing within one pace of the chair. I could make out her features clearly now. As I had suspected, her eyes were shut, a faint sound of wheezing came forth from her nose, and her mouth was partially ajar.

  “Surely Lady Beatrice would never allow herself to be caught in such a state unless she was truly asleep,” I thought.

  Having witnessed Lady Beatrice’s slumber, I started to turn around and make for the door, when I heard something that almost caused my heart to stop in fear.

  “What are you doing?”

  I spun back toward Lady Beatrice, but she was still asleep. I then turned and saw that William had been standing just behind me. I struggled mightily to contain a yelp, so great was my surprise.

  “William!” I said in a hushed tone. “Why are you out of bed?”

  “No, why are you out of bed?” he asked.

  “I was unable to sleep, so I thought if I paced around the room a bit, it might help to relieve my mind.”

  “Liar! You were sneaking out! You know that is against the rules.”

  My brother had appealed to that immutable standard which had been placed upon us in our infancy, but I sensed there might be a way around it.

  “Yes, I admit that I was hoping to see the feast. Why do you care?”

  “Mother says we have to stay in our room till morning.”

  “William,” I said, “would you like to come with me?”

  The young boy was clearly uncertain of what he should say. Surely he ought to follow the commands of Mother and Lady Beatrice, and he may have even wished to spare me from trouble. However, I had now excited his curiosity and tempted him with an enticing prospect.

  “I shouldn’t. It would be bad.”

  “But no one will see us, and even if they did, you can say it was all my idea. We both know they will believe you.”

  William now paused to think for so long that I had begun to despair of his ever making a decision when su
ddenly he nodded, and we both moved in the direction of the door. With the greatest of care, I strained my small fingers to pull on the door that led to the small adjoining room. Here the women under Lady Beatrice were supposed to be keeping further watch. As I opened the door just a bit, I peeked through the crack to determine if an escape was possible.

  In the center of the room, I could see a table, surrounded by four chairs, at which the ladies had apparently been playing some type of game and where they had left their hour candle burning. However, there was no sign of their presence.

  “They must have slipped out too,” I whispered to my brother.

  Ever so carefully we wedged our small bodies through the opening, taking care not to let too much light into the bedchamber. We then moved quickly out the open door and into the main passage. I was afraid that we might encounter someone at that point, but our luck held, as there was not a soul in sight. I looked in both directions and saw naught but the torches that stood to guard our way. It was strange wandering through the palace without a guardian, and both William and I found ourselves uncertain of which way to take.

  We started walking to the left, toward a place that I knew would give us a view of the festivities from above. The sound of manifold voices grew louder with each step we took. In time we came to the passage that led to the great hall’s upper walk, where we hoped to enjoy the benefit of concealment. We rounded the corner toward our destination, and we both stopped in our tracks as we saw one of the palace guards at the other end of the passage. Fortune must have been smiling upon us, for he walked by without so much as a glance in our direction. My heart beat so powerfully that I believed my brother, now cowering beside me, must have heard it.