Chapter Six #3
“I thought we were going to shop for items you needed, my lady,” she said.
Jeniver lifted her slender shoulders. “I am going to shop for items I need,” she said. “If you are agreeable, Maximus will take you shopping for a few items that you need.”
Courtly still wasn’t following her meaning. “Then you and I are not going together?”
Jeniver shook her head. “Maximus will be perfectly behaved, I assure you,” she answered. “It will be quite safe to go with him alone. Unless, of course, you would rather come with me, in which case, Maximus will accompany us. The choice is yours.”
It was a wide-open question, the answer of which could have implications on both Maximus’ life and Courtly’s.
The opportunity was presenting itself for a potential suitor to have some time with Courtly, away from her father, and the realization was almost too much to comprehend.
In fact, it was too good to comprehend. Courtly could hardly believe it, but it was becoming readily apparent to her that this had been planned all along – Maximus wanted to spend time alone with her, much as he had done in the kitchen the previous night, and Lady Jeniver was helping him accomplish that.
Overwhelmed with the scandalous joy of such a thing, all Courtly could do was nod.
“Aye, my lady,” she replied softly, with emotion in her voice. “I will go with him, alone. I would be honored.”
Jeniver smiled. “It could be considered quite unseemly by others,” she warned gently. “Surely you understand that.”
“I understand.”
Jeniver was pleased that the lure of being alone with Maximus was worth the risk of gossips.
That showed that Lady Courtly had some bravery in her and it also showed that perhaps her feelings for Maximus were indeed genuine.
In any case, the woman was agreeable, as they had hoped. Jeniver turned to Maximus.
“Max?” she said, catching his attention. “Hurry us along to Oxford, now. You and Lady Courtly have shopping to do.”
Maximus didn’t need to be told twice.
*
Oxford Castle
“Gallus, we must move. We must convene at Westminster.”
The ominous words came from Simon de Montfort.
Leader of the baron’s rebellion against Henry III, he had essentially been in control of the country since the end of April when the king had been virtually overthrown by de Montfort and his most powerful barons, Hugh Bigod and Gallus de Shera included.
Hugh Bigod was also in on this meeting along with Peter de Montfort, of no relation to Simon, Hugh’s brother Roger, John Fitzgeoffrey, and Richard de Clare.
These were some of the most powerful men in England at this time, men who ruled alongside de Montfort, but Simon’s latest words had Gallus furrowing his brow.
“Why?” Gallus asked, perplexed. “I thought we were meeting here, with all of our supporters, in two days?”
De Montfort shook his head. A big man, he was older but he was still quite strong and healthy.
He sat heavily in the nearest chair, one of oak with a silk pillow on the seat, and one that happened to be the closest to the pewter decanter of wine that de Montfort was so fond of.
As the man poured himself a draught of wine, he spoke.
“Our main goal last month when Hugh wrested power from the king was that a council be set up to govern the country so the king does not have absolute rule,” he said.
“You know this, Gallus. You were there when Henry agreed to surrender his absolute rule in favor of a council of twenty-four men, chosen equally by him and by us.”
Gallus snorted. “The king did not have much choice with Maximus standing over him,” he said. “He was afraid he was about to be arrested or worse. Maximus has that effect on people.”
Simon’s lips flickered with a smile as he remembered the incident. Henry had been caught off-guard by a mutiny of his barons and, fearful of being thrown in the Tower, had agreed to their terms. That was essentially how de Montfort had come to power, but the struggle wasn’t over, not in the least.
“So he does,” Simon agreed. He took a long swallow of wine and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
“I have received word that Henry has chosen his representatives for the council and, unfortunately, I agree with none of them. Most of them are damnable Poitevins, Henry’s relatives from France that seem to be infiltrating our country by the hundreds.
Those men have no right to rule England. ”
It was serious news, indeed. The king’s French relatives were one of the main points of contention between Henry and his barons.
“What do we do?” Gallus asked quietly. “Henry was free to choose his representatives, as we were free to choose ours.”
Simon eyed him. “Henry was free to choose men who belong in England,” he snapped softly, “not mercenary relatives who will only govern for their own good and not for England’s. That is why we must go to London, Gallus. My sources tell me that they are convening at Westminster and we must be there.”
Gallus understood. “Very well,” he said, though there was disappointment in his tone.
Simon caught the inflection. “What is it?”
Gallus hesitated a moment before speaking.
“I was hoping we would be finished with our business in Oxford quickly so that I could return home and see to my mother,” he said.
“I realize that seems like a trivial thing when the fate of the country hangs in balance, but certainly it is not trivial to me.”