justify my desires and needs. The answer was simple enough. ‘When my father was alive, we travelled constantly. I watched and I learned. Andnow I act as I know he would have done. He was a good man. I miss him,’ I admitted.
Louis’s face was transfigured by a blinding smile. ‘You need me, Eleanor. I will advise you.’
Could a child brought up as a monk give me advice, brought up as I had been in my father’s court? I did not think so. ‘I hope we will come to an agreement,’ I compromised.
‘My lord will rule your lands wisely, my lady,’ Abbot Suger interposed.
I bit back a sharp reply. Of course, it would happen whether I liked it or not. I lowered my voice, leaning towards Louis, suddenly intent on mischief.
‘If we are speaking of advice, my lord—try this dish.’ I offered a flat silver platter stacked high with translucent grey shells. ‘Oysters are known to raise the humours and make a man think of a night heating the bed linen with a beautiful woman. Oysters give a man magnificent stamina.’
He looked at me as if I had struck him. ‘My lady!’
‘I am your wife. Is this not a proper conversation?’
Louis swallowed. ‘I think it is very forward, madam …’
I hooded my eyes. ‘It would please me if you would try them. I shall. We might both be pleased with the result tonight.’
Louis le Jeune looked like a hunted rabbit. With regret, I thought we were both in for some inexpert fumbling before we came to know each other. I wished my husband might have some experience, even if helacked finesse. Entirely oblivious to my anger, my barely concealed scorn, Louis accepted the oysters without comment. I prayed silently that the old wives knew the efficacy of the succulent shellfish.
Barely had he lifted one, unenthusiastically, to his mouth than a courier approached down the length of the hall, pushing aside servants and guests alike. I expected him to come to me, but, of course, he would approach Louis—no, he bowed before the Abbot, which spiked my irritation further. The messenger stooped, whispered in Suger’s ear so that I could not hear. The Abbot issued a number of terse replies, brusque enough to fix my attention. Relaying the information to Louis, there passed between Abbot and Prince a welter of instructions and affirmations as the courier left the hall as fast as he had come.
I had been involved in none of it.
‘What is it?’ I would not be kept in the dark.
Louis turned reluctantly to me. ‘A problem.’
‘Well?’ I raised my beautifully plucked brows.
‘We leave now.’
‘Leave … You mean the palace? In the middle of the feast?’ As bad as I had feared.
‘We leave Bordeaux. It is not safe.’
‘Not safe? How could it not be safe in my own streets, my own city? No one would dare harm me here …’
Abbot Suger offered the explanation, speaking around Louis, his expression bleak. ‘An ambush, I am informed, outside the walls, my lady. Planned for tomorrow, underthe auspices of the Count of Angoulême. Your vassal. He will take you both prisoner and assume the power in Aquitaine for himself.’
‘Angoulême? I don’t believe it. A show of force would soon drive him off …’
Louis took my hand, actually patted it as if I needed his comfort. ‘I’ll not risk it. I’ve given orders for my camp to be struck and your immediate possessions packed. We ride at once.’
So he would order the disposition of my own possessions. ‘Are we to run away?’ I asked between disbelief and fury.
‘No, no. We’ll forestall him. A far better course of action.’
‘It seems cowardly to me. Where do we go?’ To leave now before the bridal night? I had a sudden vivid picture of spending it in a ditch, beside a road.
‘It’s arranged, by my lord Abbot. We stay at the castle of Taillebourg tonight.’
‘It’s … it’s more than eighty miles to Taillebourg!’
‘It’s owned by one of your vassals who did homage to me—so it’s safe for us.’ Louis stood.
Louis’s face was transfigured by a blinding smile. ‘You need me, Eleanor. I will advise you.’
Could a child brought up as a monk give me advice, brought up as I had been in my father’s court? I did not think so. ‘I hope we will come to an agreement,’ I compromised.
‘My lord will rule your lands wisely, my lady,’ Abbot Suger interposed.
I bit back a sharp reply. Of course, it would happen whether I liked it or not. I lowered my voice, leaning towards Louis, suddenly intent on mischief.
‘If we are speaking of advice, my lord—try this dish.’ I offered a flat silver platter stacked high with translucent grey shells. ‘Oysters are known to raise the humours and make a man think of a night heating the bed linen with a beautiful woman. Oysters give a man magnificent stamina.’
He looked at me as if I had struck him. ‘My lady!’
‘I am your wife. Is this not a proper conversation?’
Louis swallowed. ‘I think it is very forward, madam …’
I hooded my eyes. ‘It would please me if you would try them. I shall. We might both be pleased with the result tonight.’
Louis le Jeune looked like a hunted rabbit. With regret, I thought we were both in for some inexpert fumbling before we came to know each other. I wished my husband might have some experience, even if helacked finesse. Entirely oblivious to my anger, my barely concealed scorn, Louis accepted the oysters without comment. I prayed silently that the old wives knew the efficacy of the succulent shellfish.
Barely had he lifted one, unenthusiastically, to his mouth than a courier approached down the length of the hall, pushing aside servants and guests alike. I expected him to come to me, but, of course, he would approach Louis—no, he bowed before the Abbot, which spiked my irritation further. The messenger stooped, whispered in Suger’s ear so that I could not hear. The Abbot issued a number of terse replies, brusque enough to fix my attention. Relaying the information to Louis, there passed between Abbot and Prince a welter of instructions and affirmations as the courier left the hall as fast as he had come.
I had been involved in none of it.
‘What is it?’ I would not be kept in the dark.
Louis turned reluctantly to me. ‘A problem.’
‘Well?’ I raised my beautifully plucked brows.
‘We leave now.’
‘Leave … You mean the palace? In the middle of the feast?’ As bad as I had feared.
‘We leave Bordeaux. It is not safe.’
‘Not safe? How could it not be safe in my own streets, my own city? No one would dare harm me here …’
Abbot Suger offered the explanation, speaking around Louis, his expression bleak. ‘An ambush, I am informed, outside the walls, my lady. Planned for tomorrow, underthe auspices of the Count of Angoulême. Your vassal. He will take you both prisoner and assume the power in Aquitaine for himself.’
‘Angoulême? I don’t believe it. A show of force would soon drive him off …’
Louis took my hand, actually patted it as if I needed his comfort. ‘I’ll not risk it. I’ve given orders for my camp to be struck and your immediate possessions packed. We ride at once.’
So he would order the disposition of my own possessions. ‘Are we to run away?’ I asked between disbelief and fury.
‘No, no. We’ll forestall him. A far better course of action.’
‘It seems cowardly to me. Where do we go?’ To leave now before the bridal night? I had a sudden vivid picture of spending it in a ditch, beside a road.
‘It’s arranged, by my lord Abbot. We stay at the castle of Taillebourg tonight.’
‘It’s … it’s more than eighty miles to Taillebourg!’
‘It’s owned by one of your vassals who did homage to me—so it’s safe for us.’ Louis stood.
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