Read Online The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henley - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Virginia Henley
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thought was uppermost in my mind, sweetheart,” he assured her.
William heard the high spirits of his young knights who were only half his age and for the first time in his life he envied them.
The twenty miles from Windsor were soon swallowed up by the travelers, and in less than two hours the pretty turrets of Odiham manor house came into view. It was surrounded by apple orchards whose trees were just budding into blossom. William knew immediately that Eleanor was entranced by it. Her deep-blue eyes sparkled when she was happy and excited, and he wished in that moment he could make them sparkle like that for the rest of her life.
All was in readiness when the master arrived. The housekeeper had set the maids to cleaning and polishing from dawn ’til dusk as soon as young Rickard de Burgh had brought the marshal’s message. The steward had brought up the best wines from the cellars and selected two barrels of ale from the small brewhouse. The grooms cleaned the stables and spread fresh straw and hay for the horses. Since there was little for Rickard de Burgh and his men to do save polish their armor and sharpen their weapons, they had gone hunting.
The venison turned on spits alongside lambs and the aroma of roasting pheasant floated across Odiham’s flagstoned courtyard to whet all appetites. Before the steward had assigned rooms to all the illustrious visitors, he was richer by several pieces of gold. Not only had Rickard de Burgh’s twin brother bribed him to give a saucy maid a small, private tower room that opened onto the parapets, but the king’s brother, Richard of Cornwall, had made it worth his while to plenish a large chamber apart from the other females for Lady Isabella Marshal.The steward shook his head at the irony of it. The master and mistress who were legally wed were accommodated in separate chambers.
The household servants of Odiham were well trained. Cool drinks were the first order of business for the dusty travelers, and hot bath water was the next. Mick de Burgh took himself off to the knights’ quarters to look for his brother. He thumped Odiham’s new captain of the guard with a massive fist and teased, “By the Blood of God, you’ve got a soft touch here.”
Rickard grinned. “Nothing to do save hunt and dice.”
Mick grinned back. “I’m glad you’re well rested, little brother; have I got a wench for us!”
Eleanor had five maids eager to do her bidding. One tended her bath, another brushed her hair, a third unpacked her clothes and hung them in the woodruff-scented wardrobe. A fourth brought her a luncheon tray with tempting hot meat pasties and a silver dish of early strawberries and cream. They were all dressed alike in gray uniforms with crisp white aprons and lace caps.
They whispered with delight over the countess’s beautiful gowns and undergarments. Eleanor had exquisite taste in clothes and knew exactly the vivid shades to wear to enhance her dark beauty. After her bath she chose a peach-colored afternoon dress and tied a matching satin ribbon around her curls in an effort to keep them in order.
William knocked on her chamber door and the maids ushered him in with giggles, then quickly left in a flurry of curtsies claiming pressing duties elsewhere. He raised her fingers to his mouth and brushed his lips across them. “You are so unearthly fair, it takes my breath away,” he murmured.
She dimpled, longing for him to put his strong arms about her.
“Come, I’ll give you a tour of the manor; it’s bigger than it first appears.” He retained her hand in his and Eleanor was content. The outbuildings, though small and compact, were numerous. There was a brewhouse, a dairy stillroom, a laundry, a smithy and weapons room, even a small chapel.
William showed her the neat rows of herbs in the kitchengarden, then led her through the formal rose garden and out into the orchards where little round hives housed the honeybees that pollinated the apple blossoms. She
William heard the high spirits of his young knights who were only half his age and for the first time in his life he envied them.
The twenty miles from Windsor were soon swallowed up by the travelers, and in less than two hours the pretty turrets of Odiham manor house came into view. It was surrounded by apple orchards whose trees were just budding into blossom. William knew immediately that Eleanor was entranced by it. Her deep-blue eyes sparkled when she was happy and excited, and he wished in that moment he could make them sparkle like that for the rest of her life.
All was in readiness when the master arrived. The housekeeper had set the maids to cleaning and polishing from dawn ’til dusk as soon as young Rickard de Burgh had brought the marshal’s message. The steward had brought up the best wines from the cellars and selected two barrels of ale from the small brewhouse. The grooms cleaned the stables and spread fresh straw and hay for the horses. Since there was little for Rickard de Burgh and his men to do save polish their armor and sharpen their weapons, they had gone hunting.
The venison turned on spits alongside lambs and the aroma of roasting pheasant floated across Odiham’s flagstoned courtyard to whet all appetites. Before the steward had assigned rooms to all the illustrious visitors, he was richer by several pieces of gold. Not only had Rickard de Burgh’s twin brother bribed him to give a saucy maid a small, private tower room that opened onto the parapets, but the king’s brother, Richard of Cornwall, had made it worth his while to plenish a large chamber apart from the other females for Lady Isabella Marshal.The steward shook his head at the irony of it. The master and mistress who were legally wed were accommodated in separate chambers.
The household servants of Odiham were well trained. Cool drinks were the first order of business for the dusty travelers, and hot bath water was the next. Mick de Burgh took himself off to the knights’ quarters to look for his brother. He thumped Odiham’s new captain of the guard with a massive fist and teased, “By the Blood of God, you’ve got a soft touch here.”
Rickard grinned. “Nothing to do save hunt and dice.”
Mick grinned back. “I’m glad you’re well rested, little brother; have I got a wench for us!”
Eleanor had five maids eager to do her bidding. One tended her bath, another brushed her hair, a third unpacked her clothes and hung them in the woodruff-scented wardrobe. A fourth brought her a luncheon tray with tempting hot meat pasties and a silver dish of early strawberries and cream. They were all dressed alike in gray uniforms with crisp white aprons and lace caps.
They whispered with delight over the countess’s beautiful gowns and undergarments. Eleanor had exquisite taste in clothes and knew exactly the vivid shades to wear to enhance her dark beauty. After her bath she chose a peach-colored afternoon dress and tied a matching satin ribbon around her curls in an effort to keep them in order.
William knocked on her chamber door and the maids ushered him in with giggles, then quickly left in a flurry of curtsies claiming pressing duties elsewhere. He raised her fingers to his mouth and brushed his lips across them. “You are so unearthly fair, it takes my breath away,” he murmured.
She dimpled, longing for him to put his strong arms about her.
“Come, I’ll give you a tour of the manor; it’s bigger than it first appears.” He retained her hand in his and Eleanor was content. The outbuildings, though small and compact, were numerous. There was a brewhouse, a dairy stillroom, a laundry, a smithy and weapons room, even a small chapel.
William showed her the neat rows of herbs in the kitchengarden, then led her through the formal rose garden and out into the orchards where little round hives housed the honeybees that pollinated the apple blossoms. She
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