Chapter 6 #2
The girl was efficient as she moved the copper tub to the center of the room and gestured the lads to fill it. When they had done so, Nelda ushered the lads from the room and waited by the door as two male servants carried their chests into the room, along with Merewyn’s bow and quiver of arrows.
Once the men had gone, Nelda made a quick survey of the chamber, a satisfied look on her face. “I will return after I’ve seen to Lady Serena.”
“Thank you, Nelda.”
Alone, Merewyn peeled off her gloves, her gown stained with mud, her undertunic, shoes and hosen. Taking the pot of soft soap from her chest and picking up a drying cloth from the stack left on her bed, she breathed in the scent of Talisand’s flowers and stepped into the tub.
The light from the window fell across her body. Most of her skin was a pale ivory, but even with her straw hat, her face felt tight, as if it had gained color from the sun, for they’d had good weather.
She eased her body into the steaming water and laid her head on the edge of the tub letting the hot water soothe her.
Her mind filled with images of their travel to London.
She had loved seeing the countryside and places she had never been.
The days spent conversing with Lady Serena had been pleasant.
But most of all, she had enjoyed being with Alex, mayhap too much.
She was fond of seeing him each day. He could be charming as well as commanding and often he had made her smile in their brief stops or at supper.
Whatever there was between them, it had grown, at least on her part.
It was there whenever he touched her, placed his hands about her waist or allowed his gray eyes to linger on her.
It was dangerous, but she could not bring herself to show him indifference.
In Shrewsbury, they had played chess again and he had won. She had been relieved. It was better that way. Friends traded wins.
The memory of the first night he had kissed her flickered in her mind.
He had said they could be more than friends.
What had he meant? She would not be his mistress and could never be his wife.
What more was there for them? In truth, she feared she was playing with fire. But she could no longer deny her heart.
The bath water began to grow cold and, feeling a chill, she quickly rinsed her hair and reached for the drying cloth.
Stepping from the tub, she dried herself and changed into a linen gown the color of green summer leaves.
Nelda would return to help her with the laces.
Would Alex think it feminine? Her archer’s clothing had been sewn to conceal her curves.
Though she was slender, she did have them and, for Alex, she wanted to appear more than a bowman.
Pulling her still damp hair back from her face, plaiting the sides and tying them together at her crown, she let the rest of her hair hang free.
She shot a glance at her bow, leaning against the wall next to her quiver of arrows. The silent rebuke she heard in her mind was not so strong as it had once been. As Maugris had advised, she would control the bow and keep her own counsel.
After Nelda had come and gone, Merewyn went downstairs. Everyone was there save Alex. Her searching gaze did not go unnoticed. Rory strolled to her. “Alex has gone to the palace to let the king know Earl Renaud has arrived. He will bring back news of the barons’ meeting.”
Embarrassed that Rory should have been so quick to see her interest in Alex’s whereabouts, Merewyn thanked him and went to join Lady Serena where she stood with Earl Renaud and Sir Geoffroi on the other side of the room.
She had just taken a sip from the goblet handed her when Alex appeared at the doorway, a frown on his face.
He darted a glance at her, then strode to his father. “The king has decided the barons will meet two days hence. Ranulf says nearly all have arrived. But William has called a hunt for tomorrow in Windsor Forest.”
A hunt. With a night’s sleep in a comfortable bed, Merewyn would enjoy racing through the woods after deer. Her brows lifted in question to Lady Serena. “Where is Windsor?”
“ ’Tis the closest of the royal forests, a morning’s ride away,” replied Lady Serena. Then she turned to Alex, “Will we be expected to join the king for dinner at Windsor Castle tomorrow eve?”
“Nay, he plans to return to Westminster where we will dine with him and the barons. ’Tis likely to be a large gathering with so many in London.”
The steward was good to his word and soon they were dining on roast duck cooked in wine sauce with cherries. The dish was a particular favorite of Merewyn’s and she ate heartily from the trencher she shared with Alex.
It was a happy gathering that evening as the men discussed the king’s hunt planned for the next day. Merewyn had never seen Windsor Forest, one of the king’s woodlands set aside for his pleasure. The men did not invite her to participate but she wanted to. A royal hunt!
That night, Merewyn lay in bed, listening to the rain pounding on the roof, the sound soothing and the breeze blowing in through the open shutters clean and fresh.
The next morning, awakened by the bells sounding the hour of Terce, she threw back the cover and walked to the window.
In the distance, the Thames was a deep blue, the morning sun already turning the sky a paler version of the river.
She inhaled deeply. The air, washed clean by the rain, smelled fresh.
The rain had swept away the horrible stench, at least for a time.
Nelda stirred in her small bed on the far side of the chamber. “Oh, I am late rising.” She sat up, already replaiting her hair. “Do you require my service before I attend Lady Serena? I am certain she is awake and Earl Renaud may already be breaking his fast.”
“Nay, I am well able to dress myself, Nelda.” Merewyn’s voice was full of the excitement welling up inside. “I plan to join the hunt so ’tis an archer’s clothing I will be wearing today.” Then with a smile, she added, “No laces.”
Nelda returned her a surprised look and then, bobbing her head, splashed water on her face, slipped her simple tunic over her undertunic and left the chamber.
It took Merewyn only moments to dress and plait her hair she was so anxious to take part.
Grabbing her bow and arrows and her brown felt hat, she quickly descended the stairs and crossed the entry into the main chamber.
The men were seated at the table and, as Nelda predicted, eating their morning gruel, bread and berries. Cups of ale dotted the table.
Alex looked up and scowled, his hand poised with a piece of bread in front of his open mouth. “Where do you think you are going dressed like that?”
Rory coughed and sputtered, his gruel flying out of his mouth.
Guy beamed at her. At least he was pleased.
Merewyn’s gaze quickly took in the two older knights. Both Earl Renaud and Sir Geoffroi bore amused expressions.
In a fit of temper, Alex threw his bread on the table.
“I want to join the hunt,” she calmly stated. “I have my bow and arrows and Ceinder can soon be saddled and ready.”
Pounding his fist on the table, making the cups jump, Alex bellowed, “Absolutely not!”
His father raised a brow and cocked his head toward his son.
“I think ’tis a grand idea,” said Guy.
“We know she can shoot well,” chimed in Rory, wiping his face with a cloth.
“And I have you to protect me,” she said to Alex, batting her eyelashes, “should I face a wild boar.”
Sir Geoffroi laughed. “Emma would be proud.”
From behind Merewyn, the voice of Lady Serena brought the discussion to an abrupt close.
“Let her go with you,” she said to her son.
“Ren and Geoff will look after her. And Rory has the right of it. Merewyn can shoot well. You have witnessed her skill yourself. It might prove entertaining to see her outshoot the Norman king’s men. ”
Alex turned to his father as if seeking support, but Talisand’s lord remained silent in the face of his wife’s approval.
“I like it not,” said Alex, “but I can see I am outnumbered.”
In a typical hunt, the men raced their horses after the hounds and, when they had cornered a deer, dropped to the ground to render the killing blow. But she could shoot from her pony, which gave her an advantage. Merewyn could hardly wait to see how she fared against the king and his barons.
Lady Serena draped her arm around Merewyn’s shoulders. Having the support of the Lady of Talisand meant much. Alex might not like it, but Merewyn would go with them.
“I will wear my cap,” she said to Alex holding up the brown felt, “so everyone will think me your page.”
Alex let out a huff. “Indeed, that is just what I feared.”
* * *
Alex held his breath as they approached Windsor Forest, hoping no one would remark on Merewyn’s presence. Perchance he could keep her hidden among the others as they hunted in the thousands of acres set aside for the king.
Already, a group of more than a dozen men had gathered for the hunt, waiting beneath the tall beech trees that stood guard at the entrance to the dense woods.
Like his father before him, William Rufus was an avid hunter.
Alex had hunted many times with him in the New Forest that the Conqueror had created southwest of London at the expense of nearly two score villages.
It was close enough to Westminster for the king to spend a day away from court pursuing the beasts of the chase, the hart—the red deer stag he loved—and the wild boar.
But most often, the king hunted in Windsor Forest because it was closer to London.
Only the king and his friends were permitted to hunt in the royal forests.
Harsher than his father, William Rufus showed no mercy to anyone caught hunting without his permission.
A man found taking one of the deer would be sentenced to death.
To shoot at a deer would lose a man his hands and disturbing a deer would cost a man his eyes.