Epic Knights of Legend and Steel

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

Oxford, City

O blivious to what had been discussed between this brother and Simon de Montfort at Oxford Castle, the muscle of the Lords of Thunder, surprisingly, had other things on his mind, things that didn’t involve the state of the country or preparation for battle. Maximus’ mind was on a woman.

Leaving Jeniver with Garran de Moray and Stefan du Bois to do her own shopping, Maximus took Courtly with him as he liveried the carriage and the horses in a small livery near St. Clement’s Church. The day, which had dawned clear but cold, was showing distinct signs of brilliance as the sky overhead bled bright blue from horizon to horizon. A few puffy clouds scattered across the expanse, pushed around by a gentle breeze.

Once the carriage was parked, Maximus dismounted his steed and opened the carriage door, extending a polite hand to Courtly who was still inside. He waited with anticipation until she put her small hand in his big, gloved one and he was able to assist her from the cab. Even though a heavy layer of leather was between them, he swore he could feel the heat from her hand against his flesh. It was enough to set his heart racing, an effect she seemed to have on him with very little effort. When their eyes met, he couldn’t help but smile.

“I do apologize if this all seems rather scandalous and forward, my lady,” he said. “But in speaking with you last night, I felt very sorry for the fact that you had lost everything in the fire. In fact, I feel somewhat responsible– I should have tried to help you save what you could. In any case, since you made no mention of your father replacing any of your possessions, I thought to make the offer.”

Courtly gazed up into the handsome face of the very big de Shera brother, feeling so giddy that she was breathless with it. It was a struggle not to feel faint.

“It is very kind of you, Sir Maximus,” she said sincerely. “But you are clearly not responsible. Please know that when I spoke of losing my possessions, I did not say it to play upon your sympathies. I was simply stating facts.”

He nodded. “I realize that,” he said. “That is why I hope you do not think me too forward for sending my brother’s wife to lure you into a shopping expedition.”

Courtly grinned. “I think it was a very generous thing to do.”

He smiled because she was smiling All he wanted to do was smile when he looked into that lovely face. “Shall we continue, then?” he asked, holding out his elbow to her. “I was on the Street of the Merchants yesterday and found a stall with all manner of goods. We shall go there first.”

Courtly nodded, eagerly took his arm, and promptly stepped straight on into a massive puddle of urine. It splashed up and got on her already dingy dress, causing her to gasp with horror. But the damage was done. Her right foot, right lower leg, and the hem of her dress were soiled. Maximus, seeing what had happened, pulled her even further back, away from the puddle.

“I beg your forgiveness,” he said, genuinely concerned. “I did not even look to see where you were stepping. This is my fault.”

Courtly was looking at her soaked foot and dirty skirt. She sighed heavily. “Nay, it is not,” she said, resigned. “It is my fault. I should have looked where I was walking. Honestly, Sir Maximus, I cannot possibly see how you would want to pay even the slightest attention to me. When we first met, not only did I fall on your head, but I beat you, too. Last night when you came to sup, you found me cooking the meal, looking like a common servant in the only dress I have. Now, I make a mess of myself again. I should apologize for all of this and tell you that I am not normally this slovenly or this clumsy, but so far, that is all you have seen from me. I will admit that I am ashamed.”

Maximus was watching her closely as she spoke. She seemed so dejected and sorrowful, but her words of apology only made him smile. Reaching out, he took her left hand and brought it to his lips for a warm, gentle, and thoroughly wicked kiss.

“And do you know what I have seen from you since we met?” he said, holding her hand against his bearded chin. “I have seen an exceptionally resourceful, intelligent, and determined woman who makes the best of whatever situation she is in. Instead of waiting for someone to save you from the hostel fire, you found a way to escape it. Instead of allowing your father to be embarrassed in front of his guests last eve, you cooked the meal yourself regardless of how it would make you appear. You sacrificed your dignity and reputation to ensure your father was not shamed. You may feel as if you have presented nothing but the worst you have to offer, but I assure you, I see the exact opposite. You are like no woman I have ever met.”

By the time he was finished, Courtly was looking at him with some astonishment. More than that, his bearded lips to her hand were making her heart race wildly. She’d never known such excitement in her life.

“I… I do not know what to say,” she breathed, watching his lips move over her fingers, “except that you are a very strange man if a foolish, dirty woman appeals to you.”

Maximus broke down into laughter. He kissed her hand again, wishing he could do much more but knowing this was not the time nor place for it. Besides, he’d already been bold enough and a move like that might scare her off. So he dropped her hand, bent over, and swept her up into his big arms to carry her through the puddled livery yard.

“Then I accept the fact that I am a strange man,” he said, “because a certain foolish, dirty woman does appeal to me. I am sorry if that shocks you, but you may as well know of my intentions now rather than later.”

Aloft in his arms, Courtly’s hands were around Maximus’ shoulders for support as he carried her through the yard. It was the safest, strongest place she could have ever imagined. The only man who had ever touched her had been her father, so to be in the arms of another man, a man she was wildly attracted to, was a new and thrilling experience. More thrilling still were his words.

“Intentions?” she repeated. “Will you explain your intentions?”

They had reached the street at this point and Maximus set Courtly carefully to her feet. “Is it not obvious?” he asked. “I just said that a dirty and foolish woman appeals to me, and you have called yourself those things.”

Courtly had indeed realized what he meant when he had first spoke the words, but she needed confirmation even if he didn’t want to give her a straight answer. It was nearly beyond her comprehension to realize that this man, this man she had dreamed about since the moment she had met him, was actually interested in her.

“Be plain, Sir Maximus,” she said. “Tell me plainly what you are declaring.”

He looked at her, his eyes crinkling with mirth. Reaching out, he grasped her gently by the elbow.

“I just did,” he said. “And I give you permission to call me, simply, Maximus. Or Max. I will answer to whatever you choose to call me. Now, have you eaten yet this morning? Are you hungry?”

He was pulling her along, out into the street, but Courtly was still reeling from their conversation and unprepared for a change of subject.

“I… I suppose that I am,” she said, now thinking on the fact that he had not only declared his interest but that he had given her permission to address him informally. Perhaps even affectionately. “I have not yet eaten this morning. Have you?”

Maximus shook his head. “I have not,” he replied. “But we will find a seamstress first because you need something clean to wear. Then, we will find a baker and a bagnio , or bath house, which is undoubtedly attached to it so that you may eat, bathe, and dress at the same time.”

Courtly looked at him, both hesitant and intrigued. “When I fostered at Prudhoe, Lady d’Umfraville said that bath houses were almost always located next to bakers because they used the big ovens to warm the water,” she said. “I have never visited a bath house, however. Do you truly intend to take me to one?”

Maximus pointed to her soiled right foot and the bottom of her skirt. “Unless you intend to walk about smelling like a livery, I do,” he said. “And you cannot wear this soiled garment any longer, so we must find you a clean one.”

Courtly wasn’t sure what to say to all of that. It was generosity beyond measure. “You seem to have everything planned,” she said. “I do not suppose there is one thing you have left out.”

Maximus shook his head. “There usually isn’t,” he replied, watching her grin. Her smile struck him, like an arrow straight to the heart, making him feel warm and giddy. “For a lady who has fought so hard to survive and thrive over the past day, I would not dare disappoint her on her trip to town.”

Courtly laughed soft at him. She very much like the feeling of his hand on her elbow. “I do not suppose you could ever disappoint me,” she said. “Except when you do not give me a straight answer.”

His brow furrowed. “When did I do this disgraceful thing?”

She looked up at him, eyes twinkling. “I asked you to explain your intentions,” she said. “You did not.”

“I did.”

“Nay, you did not.”

He sighed heavily, feigning annoyance. “Can a man not work up his courage to discuss such a thing?” he asked. “Suffice it to say that I have pulled my sister-in-law into my scheme of having you all to myself on a shopping trip. Shouldn’t that tell you my intensions?”

“It tells me that you are going to buy me bread, some manner of garment, and take me to a bath house.”

He pursed his lips wryly. “Does it not tell you that I wish to be alone with you, as we were briefly last night?”

Courtly picked up her skirt as she hopped over a water puddle, although she didn’t know why she bothered to try and keep her dress out of it. The garment was already ruined.

“It does,” she said. “But let us be clear. Simply because you offer to buy me things, does not mean that I will be less than proper with you, in any fashion.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that if you expect some manner of physical demonstration of my gratitude, then I will not do it.”

He fought off a grin. “A simple word of gratitude will suffice,” he said, eyeing her. “I do not want anything else. In fact, I would refuse it.”

Her expression washed with insult. “You would?”

He could see that he had her miffed and it amused him. “Aye, I would.”

She paused, frowning at him. “That is a terrible thing to say,” she said. “If you do not want a physical demonstration of my gratitude, then why are you taking me on a shopping trip?”

His grin broke through and he took her hand, bringing it to his bearded lips once again. He kissed her fingers tenderly.

“Well,” he said softly, hesitantly. “Mayhap I do want a physical demonstration of your gratitude. Just a little.”

Courtly could see that he was teasing her, quite flirtatiously. The man could be very charming when he wanted to be. She fought off a grin.

“I may or may not give you one,” she said, turning her nose up at him and pretending she wasn’t interested in the least. “I have not yet decided.”

Maximus laughed softly and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow again. He resumed their walk down the street.

“Then I may have to steal such a thing,” he said, eyeing her to see how she was reacting.

But Courtly kept her serious demeanor. “If you do, you may not like my reaction.”

“We shall see.”

“Aye, we shall.”

They turned a corner on the avenue and entered the Street of the Merchants. It was bustling at this hour, with people going about their business, children and dogs running up and down the avenue and contributing to a busy sense of purposeful chaos. Already, he had his eye on the merchant where he had purchased the rose oil yesterday because the man had many wonderful things in his treasure trove. It was their very first stop.

The old, white-bearded merchant was thrilled to see Maximus again and even more thrilled to see the lady. Women usually meant that copious amounts of money would be spent and he wasn’t wrong. Maximus and Courtly inspected nearly every item he had in his stall. Maximus would pick out a soap or a comb, show it to Courtly and, depending on her reaction, turn it over to the merchant for purchase.

Using this method, Maximus picked out two bars of hard, white soap, one bar of lumpy white soap that smelled of lemons, and another bar of lumpy yellowish-colored soap that smelled of roses. He also came across an oil, meant to soften the skin, that smelled fresh, like dewy grass, so he passed that to the merchant, too. He found a tray of combs, both to brush the hair with or use as an adornment, and from the tray he selected a large, bone comb for Courtly along with two big, butterfly combs meant to both affix the hair and decorate it.

All the while, Courtly simply followed along behind him, either nodding to approve an item or shaking her head at it. Shifts, scarves, and hair adornments became part of her growing booty. She was coming to see that whenever she thought something was pretty, he would buy it, and she was becoming very concerned with the amount of money he was already spending, so she began rejecting nearly everything he found after that.

Maximus caught on to what she was doing and began making arbitrary decisions with some fairly gaudy choices, which forced Courtly to speak up. He was very clever about eliciting an answer from her, something Courtly was also coming to see. But it was part of his charm so she truly didn’t mind. Maximus was, if nothing else, manipulative in the best sort of way.

But there was more to come. The real money was spent when the merchant indicated that his wife had loosely basted together several garments, selling them to fine ladies who then had their maids make the final touches on them, and that was exactly what Maximus had been looking for. The old merchant had called forth his wife from the rear, dank depths of the stall and the woman began producing all manner of simply constructed dresses made with some of the spectacular, exotic fabrics that the merchant imported.

Courtly had never seen such beautiful dresses, coats of the most elegant material. There were greens and yellows, blues and reds, and delicious shades of violet. Maximus didn’t know anything about women’s clothing but he knew when he saw a pale, shimmering green fabric and a silken dress the color of amber that he liked those the best. Courtly liked them, too, and very shortly she had four dresses in a pile and Maximus was examining a fifth.

But Courtly begged him off, assuring him that what she had was quite enough, and he politely surrendered to her wishes even though he would have liked to have purchased more. The intended of Maximus de Shera must be well-dressed. At least, that was what he was thinking– he had yet to voice it. The merchant even had small, embroidered slippers with all the colors of the rainbow that matched the simple gowns and, with that, Maximus made his enormous purchase complete.

Leaving the merchant to count the small pile of gold coins Maximus had paid him in, Maximus and Courtly left the stall with Maximus carrying the enormous bundle all wrapped up in a lavender-colored, linen surcoat. On the next avenue was the Street of the Bakers and Maximus headed in that direction, winding through the crowds of people. Courtly, holding on to his elbow, tried to keep pace.

“Where are we going now?” she asked.

Maximus slowed down so she wasn’t running after him. He usually moved very swiftly and wasn’t used to having to consider someone else’s pace.

“The Street of the Bakers is on the next street,” he said. “I do not recall seeing bathing houses there, but the last time I was there I was not looking for any. Let us see what we can find.”

Looking up at him, Courtly shielded her eyes from the mid-morning sun. “Truly, my lord, you have done quite enough for me today,” she said. “I do not know how I am to explain all of this treasure to my father.”

Maximus cast her a sidelong glance. “I told you to call me Maximus in private,” he said, his voice low. “As far as your father is concerned, I will explain to him why I bought these items for you. And then I shall ask for his permission to court you. So, you see, these will be considered gifts for my intended. Surely he cannot disagree with that.”

Courtly came to an abrupt halt and Maximus with her. When he looked into her face, he could see that her eyes were growing moist with emotion.

“So you have found your courage and now you are plain with your intentions,” she said. “Is this truly your desire, then? To court me?”

“It is.”

“Do you realize that you have only known me less than a day?”

He failed to see what had her so upset. “Of course,” he said. “Why are you so distressed?”

Courtly looked at him, really looked at him. There was so much joy and sorrow in her heart that it was difficult to isolate just one particular feeling out of the maelstrom. Why was she so distressed? If he only knew….

“Are you truly serious about seeking my father’s permission?” she whispered.

“I never say anything I do not mean,” he said. Then, he began to think that something was seriously wrong. “Is there another, my lady? If there is, then….”

Courtly cut him off. “Nay,” she said quickly. “There is no other. But let me be clear. What you have just told me brings me more joy than you can possibly comprehend. Last night, in spite of everything, was the most marvelous night of my life and although I should not be thankful for such a thing, I find myself very thankful that the hostel burned, because if it had not, I more than likely would never have met you. You are a kind, wonderful man, Maximus, and I am deeply honored by your attention.”

Maximus was greatly pleased to hear that she was receptive to his suit. Not that he believed otherwise because, based on the time he had spent with her, he felt very strongly that she was interested in him just as he was interested in her. Once, he’d feared that was not the case but clearly he had been wrong. He was glad, for once, that he had been wrong. But it seemed to him that there was something more that Courtly wasn’t telling him.

“But… what ?” he asked, seeing the myriad of emotions in her face. “What is the matter?”

Courtly sighed heavily. “If you are truly serious about asking my father for permission to court me, then know it will not be an easy task,” she said. “I do not want to tell any more than that for fear that you will change your mind, but I find that I cannot withhold such information. You must know that my father has chased off every potential suitor I have ever had. He is fanatical about it. The fact that you and I were so attentive to one another last night, engrossed in conversation as we were, was enough for him to make the decision to send my sister and me back to Trelystan Castle. Before you and Lady de Shera arrived this morning, my father and I were arguing over just that very thing. He wants to send me away from you.”

Maximus’ expression grew serious. “Is this so?”

“It is,” she replied miserably. “I realize that my father is an ally of de Montfort and you more than likely do not want to disrupt that allegiance. If that is the case, then as much as it pains me to say it, I understand.”

He cocked his head. “Understand what? ”

“That you will not ask permission to court me and risk disturbing the alliance, of course.”

He frowned. “If your father allows a suit for his daughter to destroy an alliance, then it would be by his choice alone,” he said. “I will still offer for you and he will accept if he knows what is good for him.”

Courtly sensed something ominous in that threat. “What does that mean?”

Maximus could feel himself getting worked up over the fact that his suit for Courtly was evidently going to run into an issue in the form of the lady’s father. It could prove to be a formidable obstacle. He began to prepare his answer with all manner of threat against de Lara but, looking at the lady’s face, he realized that he couldn’t do that. In spite of everything, the man was still her father. Uncertain now, Maximus simply took her by the elbow and continued on their journey through the alley.

“Come along,” he said, somewhat quietly. “We will speak on it later.”

“Please do not think me forward, but there may not be a later once you return me to Kennington.”

“That remains to be seen.”

Courtly didn’t question him further. He said it with such finality, as if he had no doubt that he would emerge the victor in whatever tussle there might be for her hand against Kellen de Lara. Therefore, she simply followed the man through the narrow passage and out onto the road beyond.

The Street of the Bakers wasn’t quite as crowded as the Street of the Merchants but it was still fairly busy. Maximus paused before taking a direction of travel, inspecting the buildings surrounding them to see if he could spot a bath house. He finally poked his head into the nearest bakery and asked the proprietor, who directed him to the next street, a smaller avenue, where a bath house was indeed attached to a neighboring bakery. There was no name on the bath house but there was a piece of wood hanging over the door with a crude flower painted on it. Opening the heavy, awkward door, having swelled from the heat and moisture inside the bath house, Maximus ushered Courtly inside.

It was very dark inside the structure and the ceiling was low, causing Maximus to have to duck his head. When the proprietress was summoned by a hovering servant, Maximus explained that his lady needed to be bathed and dressed, which the proprietress was more than happy to do. But rather than simply leave Courtly off and allow her to be tended by strangers, Maximus insisted on inspecting the bath house to make sure there were no hidden threats like lascivious men or any other danger to threaten a lady. As the proprietress stood by, rather shocked, Maximus carefully handed Courtly her bundle of possessions, unsheathed his broadsword, and went on the offensive.

He quickly learned that there were only five rooms to the entire structure; a small greeting room at the door with an attendant and three big dogs, then a room for men and a room for women. Off of each of these rooms were smaller rooms used to dress in. Maximus marched right into the men’s bathing room where two fat merchants were lingering in one of four big, barrel-shaped tubs of lukewarm water. The tubs could each hold two to four men, and serving women attended the bathers by rubbing oil into their skin and then scraping it off with a pewter instrument meant for such a thing. In the corner, a young man played a mandolin very badly, meant to be an entertainment while one bathed. But Maximus didn’t like the fact that it was a bathing house for both sexes if Courtly was going to be in the other room, so he ordered the merchants to put their clothes on and leave.

Of course, the men didn’t take well to this in the least, so Maximus reached into the bathing vessel and pulled one man out by his neck. Seeing his companion being roughly handled by the enormous knight, the second merchant fled the tub and, with both men dressing hastily, Maximus chased them from the bath house without them as much as having time to put on their shoes. Courtly, in the reception room, watched the barefooted men flee with great curiosity until she saw that Maximus was pursuing them with his enormous broadsword in hand. It made for a very comical situation but she dare not laugh. In fact, she rather appreciated Maximus’ sense of propriety. He didn’t want naked men in the same building with her, and she was deeply flattered.

With the merchants having been chased out, Maximus then went into the women’s bathing room and was greeted by three women in various stages of undress. They screamed when they saw the knight with the broadsword and it was enough to chase Maximus out of the chamber as abruptly as he had entered. He was fine in a room full of naked men, but a room full of half-dressed women had him somewhat unsettled. He stood at the door and tried not to look too embarrassed.

“There are already three women in there,” he said to her. “Are you comfortable bathing with other women?”

Courtly grinned at him. She couldn’t help it. She knew that if she told him that she wasn’t, then he would chase the women from the chamber just as he’d chased the men. Therefore, she nodded.

“Perfectly comfortable,” she said. “What will you do while I am bathing?”

He shrugged those wide shoulders. “Wait here until you are finished.”

“You have nothing else that you could be doing?”

He shook his head. “I will not leave you unattended.”

Courtly didn’t have an argument for that. “I see,” she said thoughtfully. “I feel rather guilty that you will be waiting for me to bathe. It will take an hour at the very least.”

“I will wait.”

“Why not go and find us something to eat? By the time you return, I should be finished. I will hurry.”

“Are you famished, then?”

“I am.”

It gave Maximus something to do other than hang around a bath house, so he agreed, but not before he explained to the proprietress that Lady Courtly must never be unattended and must be given the best of everything. The woman agreed, especially when Maximus paid her handsomely for her troubles. With a wink to Courtly, he quit the bath house in search of a feast fit for a queen.

His queen. And he would dare her father to deny him.