Read Online For the King's Favor by Elizabeth Chadwick - Free Book Online Page A

too. You’re good for me, girl, do you know that?”
    Ida gave a modest smile and lowered her eyes. Henry tilted up her chin and kissed her again. “Don’t change,” he said with sudden intensity. “Don’t ever change.” He handed the cup back to her. “Here, put it away and keep it somewhere safe.”
    Ida shook her head and laughed. “Sometimes, sire, I feel like a magpie with a coffer full of shining things.”
    Henry gave her a look both bright and slumberous. “Never a magpie.” He reached for her. “Your breasts are like swansdown.”
    ***
    Ida sat at the dining board among the ladies of the royal household. Although of rich fabric, her gown was modestly cut with neat, understated embroidery and her hair and throat were entirely covered by a linen wimple. Henry’s gold and ruby ring shone on her heart finger and to initial appearances she resembled a respectable young goodwife rather than the latest royal concubine.
    Her immediate companion at the board was Hodierna, who had once been a wet nurse to the King’s son Richard. Her own son, suckled at the same time as the royal nursling, was now at study in Paris. Ida enjoyed Hodierna’s company, for she was a warm, maternal woman, sociable and garrulous, but trustworthy too, and Ida found herself telling her about her meeting with Gundreda of Norfolk and what Henry had said about the situation.
    “Always hard for a woman to claim against a man,” Hodierna said, “and I reckon the Countess thinks she’s owed some recompense for the life Hugh Bigod led her. Can’t say I blame her for that. It’s a pity she’s taking it out on the first son though.” She nodded in the direction of a group of men sitting at a trestle to the right of the King. “There,” she said. “That’s Roger Bigod in the blue tunic, second on the left.”
    Ida glanced surreptitiously at the man Hodierna had indicated, who was talking to the Earl of Oxford. His head was turned away and all she could see were thick feathers of golden-brown hair and a gesturing fine-boned hand. He nodded to something that Oxford had said, and then faced forward to pick up his wine so that for a moment Ida caught a glimpse of his features: high cheekbones, long mouth, square jaw. His expression was tense and watchful and Ida quickly dropped her gaze to her meal lest she be caught looking at him.
    “He’ll be at court a great deal while he is fighting the dowager Countess through the courts for his earldom,” Hodierna said.
    Ida attended to her food and feigned disinterest, although her curiosity had been piqued, especially after her discussion with Henry this afternoon. She continued to give Roger Bigod swift little glances. He too was looking round, but he made no direct eye contact with any of the women at the trestles. His gaze was observant and assessing, constantly on the move as if on the lookout for danger. She wondered what colour his eyes were.
    “He has no wife, nor is he pledged to marry,” Hodierna remarked, “but I expect plenty of fathers will be making enquiries. Even with his lands in dispute and the defences at Framlingham destroyed, he’s still worth consideration.” Her tone was bland, but Ida took things less at face value these days, even with those whom she trusted. Hodierna was telling her that Roger Bigod, despite his circumstances, was a good catch for someone.
    ***
    Roger entered the King’s private chamber, knelt before Henry, and bowed his head. Henry leaned forward, took Roger’s hands in his and bestowed the kiss of peace on him. “I was sorry to learn about the death of your father, God rest his soul.”
    They both knew it was a platitude; neither man was sorry at all. “It was as he chose, sire.” For a moment Roger’s vision filled with the image of his father’s sealed lead coffin being placed inside the tomb at the family foundation of Saint Mary at Thetford. Whether his soul would lie in peace was a different matter. Certainly, there was little for the