Chapter 4 #4
“Aye,” said Alex. “Five years of my youth were spent here. But I have seen the earl many times since. He was with us in Normandy, though he joined William late in the fight.”
Merewyn had wondered about his time away. He must have seen much fighting and many deaths.
“Earl Hugh is a good knight and was respected by the Conqueror,” said the Lord of Talisand. “ ’Twas why I chose him to foster Alex.”
“I expect William will soon have Earl Hugh fighting the Welsh again,” ventured Alex.
Merewyn spoke the one truth she knew of the Lord of Chester. “The earl still holds the King of Gwynedd as his prisoner.”
Lady Serena nodded, her expression somber. “Rhodri told me of it many years ago.”
They ascended the stairs to the castle. At the door, Earl Hugh and his wife greeted them and introductions were made. Merewyn judged him to be in his fourth decade and his countess in her third.
Though he was attired in garments befitting a high-ranking lord, the earl still had the look of a warrior, his craggy face brown from the sun, his demeanor intense.
He was clean-shaven and his dark hair cut in the shorter Norman style, like that of Earl Renaud and Sir Geoffroi.
But unlike Talisand’s men, Earl Hugh had a large belly his cinnamon-colored tunic strained to cover.
The Lady of Chester must have been sharing her husband’s trencher, for her elegant pale gold gown did not conceal her plump figure.
But, unlike the earl, Countess Ermentrude had a pleasant face and a warm smile, one that was very welcoming.
Merewyn assumed her hair was brown from her brows for the woman’s headcloth entirely covered her hair.
“Welcome to Chester,” she said and took Lady Serena’s arm, leading her into the castle. “It has been too long!”
Merewyn followed the two women as they spoke of their children. Behind her, the Earl of Chester inquired of Talisand’s lord, “I trust your journey was without mishap, Ren?”
“Yea, ’twas pleasant with fair skies, but long enough your hearth fire and some of Normandy’s wine will be most welcome.”
Earl Hugh laughed. “And a soft bed, no doubt. ’Tis been many years since we found sleeping on the ground an adventure.”
The earl welcomed Sir Geoffroi and the other men into the castle, beckoning them toward the hearth fire in the large hall.
Two rough-coated hounds came to greet the visitors.
They were slightly smaller than the ones at Talisand but no less friendly.
One hound trotted up to Alex and nuzzled his hand.
“Remember me, do you?” Alex said, scratching the dog’s ears and patting his head.
To Merewyn, the two seemed great friends.
Earl Hugh glanced at Alex, Rory and Guy, who had joined the other men around the fire, and said to Earl Renaud, “ ’Tis been but a short while since I was with these three in Normandy. I expect we will soon ride together with the king to deal with the Scots.”
Merewyn did not hear the response as her attention was drawn to the grandeur of the hall, larger than the one at Talisand that sat next to the manor.
Light from torches and candles illuminated the intricate tapestries decorating the walls.
The weavings were very large, making her wonder if they hid alcoves.
“This is your first visit to Chester,” stated the countess. “Do you like the tapestries?”
“Oh yea, they are wondrous.” Merewyn could not suppress the awe in her voice for the tapestries looked almost like paintings so intricate was the weaving.
Light from the blazing fire and many candles made the figures depicted seem to come alive: the animals of the hunt raced through the woodlands and the ladies smiled at their gallant knights.
“The ones we have in Talisand’s old hall are small,” put in Lady Serena, “but the castle at Talisand has larger ones.”
In addition to the dais and trestle tables, there were small tables and benches scattered around the edges of the room in between the tapestries.
Since they were the earl’s only guests, Countess Ermentrude told Merewyn there was plenty of room and she would have her own chamber. Nelda would have a room in the servants’ quarters.
Serving women bustled into the hall, setting pitchers of wine and silver goblets on one of the long tables. Once the wine was poured, Earl Hugh lifted his wine in a toast, “To the health of the king!”
“To the king!” echoed the travelers and downed their wine. Even Lady Serena, who had no love for Norman kings, joined in.
It took Merewyn a few more gulps than the men to drink her portion, but she was glad she did as the potent red liquid lifted the weariness from her bones and warmed her blood.
She watched Alex down his wine with great enthusiasm, exchanging barbs with Rory and Guy, but more than once he glanced to where she stood with Lady Serena and Lady Ermentrude.
Each time, her heart hammered in her chest as their eyes met.
The two earls and Sir Geoffroi stood to one side, but close enough for Merewyn to hear them speak of the battles with the Welsh that had gained Earl Hugh and his cousin a good part of North East Wales.
It horrified Merewyn to think Rhodri might be affected but, as she listened to the men speaking, she was comforted in the knowledge there had been no dire news out of Powys where Rhodri made his home.
A servant came to show the women to their chambers.
Merewyn, together with Lady Serena and Nelda followed her to the floor above.
Once inside her own chamber, Merewyn was pleased to see a fire in the brazier, candles on the table under the window and her chest of clothing at the foot of the bed.
Opening the carved wooden box, she found the gowns Nelda had neatly folded.
The dark-haired maidservant with fair skin, a round face and pleasant manner was a treasure.
And she had been kind to help Merewyn when she was not her mistress. No wonder Lady Serena so valued Nelda.
While Merewyn waited for the hot water to arrive for her bath, she took out the gown she would wear this evening, an azure velvet that fitted her well. She would save the amethyst silk Lady Serena had given her to wear in London when she would meet the king.
She walked to the window and flung open the shutters, breathing in the cooler air of the evening.
Just then she heard the bells of the church ring the hour of None.
Looking past the motte and the River Dee, she glimpsed the peaceful village lying on the other side of the river.
The cottages glowed with many hearth fires where she imagined the people were preparing their supper.
She sighed, more content than she had been for a long while, for when Lady Serena had told Countess Ermentrude that Merewyn was her ward and the daughter of a close friend who had died, the countess had accepted the description without question.
Merewyn could only hope the shame of her birth did not follow her into the future.