Read Online Guinevere Evermore by Sharan Newman - Free Book Online Page B

one I’d pick. He’s strong and quick and could talk circles around any half-brained bishop.”
    Arthur considered. “He is all that, and more. I don’t understand it. Gawain keeps dropping dark hints about him. Gareth won’t sit near him. Even Agravaine seems uncomfortable around him. They’re his brothers. What’s the matter with him?”
    Cei shrugged. “Maybe some childhood quarrel never settled. Modred is the youngest by quite a bit. The others could feel that he got too much of their mother’s attention.”
    “Are you speaking from our own past?” Arthur prodded. Cei drew himself up with dignity.
    “We always fought it out like men, Arthur. My father wouldn’t let anyone have favorites.”
    “I know. Ector was a good father to me, too,” Arthur smiled. “And he gave me a good foster-brother, even if you did rub my nose in the dirt more than once.”
    Embarrassed, Cei shuffled some papers and changed the subject.
     
    • • •
     
    Guinevere had spent the morning properly engaged in a trip to the woods to search for herbs and mushrooms. She had been accompanied by most of the other ladies and all of the younger children. The conversation on earlier such trips had of necessity excluded her, since, after herbs, the main topics were children and the vagaries of husbands. She had no children and common sense forbade her discussing her husband with the wives and mistresses of those he commanded. But now that she had Galahad, the circle had opened to her. Much to her surprise, she found that she liked it, and the women who had been just a pregnant and nursing mass to her before became people with whom she shared more than she could have thought possible.
    Still, there were areas that were forbidden. She knew by the discreetly lowered voices, the curious, sideways glances. She pretended that she didn’t notice, but it was a relief to be back in her own room with Lydia to report on the domestic arrangements and Risa to bring her cool cider and gossip.
    “What do you think of the last of Arthur’s nephews?” Lydia asked Risa. “Oh, don’t look surprised. Everyone knows he was in your room last night.”
    “I’m not surprised,” Risa answered. “There are no secrets here. It seems he had overheard Gawain and Agravaine talking about me and he wanted to find out for himself.”
    They waited.
    “He’s very talented, but I don’t trust him. I think he wants to use me to find things out about Arthur.”
    “But that’s silly, Risa,” Guinevere protested. “What could you tell him that he couldn’t find out elsewhere?”
    “Nothing, of course. And even if I could, I wouldn’t. But why should I tell him that? It’s rather amusing. Men are so odd. Modred is just like most of them. They assume that if I’ll go to bed with them, I’ll do anything else they want out of sheer gratitude.”
    “Cheldric doesn’t,” Guinevere interrupted.
    Risa grimaced. “I know." He’s good with the children, too. Never even asked which ones were his, just loves them all. When I think of what a swaggering bore he used to be, I can’t believe it. Losing his arm did wonders for his personality. But I’m not going to marry him, so stop hinting.”
    Guinevere subsided. “But I do think you are mistaken about Modred. Arthur likes him.”
    “So does Cei,” Lydia added. “He seems to be the most normal of the bunch.”
    Risa shook her head. “All the same, I consider it my duty to continue meeting him until I know what he’s up to.”
    “Well, by all means, you can’t shirk your duty!”
    “Go on, laugh if you like. Just wait and see. There will be a formal dinner tonight, you know, and a meeting of the Round Table. Which jewelry would you like me to lay out for you?”
    Lydia got up. “All right. We won’t tease you anymore. May I borrow the opal brooch, Guinevere? I’m going to wear my new blue tunic tonight.”
    “Yes, of course. Risa, will you get that out, too? I think I just want the pearls and the