Chapter 8 #3
“ ’Tis so different from the village at Talisand or the wares to be had in Powys. Even what I saw of Chester tells me this market exceeds what that city offers.”
“Aye, London’s market is large,” replied Lady Serena.
“You can find everything here: fine cloth, the craft of the goldsmiths, sword smiths, pottery, spices and all manner of food. Even casks of Normandy’s wine are plentiful here.
Yet I do not think their wool can match Talisand’s.
Nor is their salmon so fresh as ours. But there are many things we cannot make that we can buy here. ’Tis why I wanted you to see it.”
Merewyn could smell the exotic spices overflowing large, roughly woven sacks stacked in front of the next merchant’s stall. “I smell cumin, ginger, cloves and pepper.”
They walked to the stall and Lady Serena told the merchant, “We will have some of that saffron you keep on the shelf.” She pointed to a carved box behind the merchant.
Merewyn watched as the merchant carefully lifted the box from the shelf and spooned some of the saffron into a small bag. “I have heard it is rare and highly valued for food as well as dye.”
“Aye and costly. The red threads of the spice come from a rare purple flower that grows in far-off Persia. A thread of saffron will lend an exotic perfume and savory flavor to a whole kettle of pottage and will dye the dish bright yellow.”
Merewyn was amazed at all Lady Serena knew.
To be a countess required knowledge in many things.
No wonder the king wanted Alex to marry a highborn woman.
The reality of how little Merewyn had seen had come to her with their trip to the palace, now even more as the world of the merchants was opened to her.
“The first time I came to London, my eyes were as large as yours,” the Lady of Talisand said with a smile as she pointed to other spices she would have.
She patted Merewyn’s hand, nearly bringing tears to her eyes for the kindness the simple touch represented.
“You will learn, as I did.” When Lady Serena had made her purchases, the merchant handed her small bags of the spices she had selected.
Rory and Guy walked behind them, their hands on their sword hilts. Behind them strolled two men-at-arms. She was glad for their presence, for the streets were noisy and crowded with men whose rough appearance and leers made her uncomfortable.
Merewyn glanced back to see the two knights gazing longingly at the tavern on the other side of the street. She would have suggested they all stop for some ale, but she was certain a lady did not enter such a place and Rory and Guy would not leave them under penalty of Alex’s wrath.
They walked on until they reached the silk merchant.
Lady Serena stopped to admire the silk, velvet and wool being sold.
“We must have some of this,” she said, holding up a length of shimmering blue silk for Merewyn to see.
“ ’Tis the color of your eyes and would make a fine gown.
We could embroider it with golden thread.
Oh, look,” she said, her attention drawn to the shelf behind the merchant, “he has the thread as well.”
The merchant picked up the thread and presented it to Lady Serena for her inspection. “ ’Tis fine golden thread, my lady. The nuns use it for altar cloths in the abbey.”
Merewyn was humbled by the generosity of Talisand’s Lady. After all, Merewyn was not kin to any at Talisand. “You do too much for me.”
Lady Serena paid the merchant for the cloth and thread she wanted, then placed her hand on Merewyn’s shoulder. “I would do more than this. Emma and I want to see you happy. We loved Inga as we love you.”
An hour later, the church bells of St. Peter’s sounded Sext as they made their way to Fish Street where the smell of fresh fish was strong.
She glanced over to where mackerel, herring, lampreys, eels and cod were neatly stacked in wet, hay-filled crates next to one merchant’s stall.
On the other side of the stall stood several barrels. “What is in the barrels?”
“Probably crabs and lobsters,” said Lady Serena.
“Crab would be good for supper. I will ask one of the men to buy some. ’Twill be wonderful cooked with butter, cinnamon, honey and a little vinegar.
The cook at the London house has a wonderful way with crab.
” She handed Rory some silver pennies and gave him instructions on how much to buy.
Listening to Lady Serena’s description of the way she would have the cook prepare the shellfish they would have later, Merewyn could almost taste it.
They walked on, passing stalls filled with all manner of summer vegetables, herbs and fruit. A few stops more and Rory and Guy were handing packages from more of Lady Serena’s purchases to the two men-at-arms who had resigned themselves to be packhorses for the day as well as their guards.
Suddenly, from out of the crowd, came Alex, smiling broadly.
She could not help but return his smile as she met his gaze, longing to reach out and touch him. But she said only, “The meeting with the king must have gone well.”
“Well enough,” he said, his eyes never leaving hers.
“You are alone?” his mother asked. “Where is your father? Your horse?”
“A messenger from the king called Father back to discuss some pressing matter. I had a stop to make so Sir Geoffroi went ahead to the manor and took Azor with him.”
“Was the meeting of the barons long?” Merewyn asked. Alex had left the manor before she broke her fast, causing her to wonder. Rory and Guy drew close waiting for his answer.
“ ’Twas short, but we lingered with the king after.
” He glanced at her, then at his two friends.
“William announced his plans and told me when he would have us meet him in Durham. The barons agreed to his plans. I can explain more when we are not in so public a place.” Then, to his mother, “If you are finished, I will walk with you.”
“We are ready to leave,” said his mother. “What we have now will fill the cart we brought from Talisand.”
They turned toward St. Peter’s church and the manor beyond.
Merewyn had enjoyed her morning, but with Alex walking beside her, her mood rose higher.
Their time might be short but she vowed to enjoy it.
As the skirts of her dark blue linen gown glided over the hard-packed earth beneath her feet, it was as if she floated above the ground.
Not even the darkening sky could dim her spirits.
She laughed at Guy’s shameless attempts to amuse them, making fun of the king’s “three graces”, as he called the courtiers, and their outlandish shoes with long curving toes she had not observed at the king’s court.
“However do they walk in them?” she asked.
“Not far, to be sure,” said Alex.
“They have only to walk as far as William,” offered Rory.
Alex seemed happier than she had ever seen him. He stole glances at her as they walked along. Was he thinking of their time together? She had given him her heart as well as her body. At least for a time, he was hers. She refused to think of Lady Adèle.
That morning when she had dressed for the day, she had spotted her bow leaning against the wall of her chamber. Silently, it had shouted its disapproval.
“Do not stand there rigidly condemning me for my behavior,” she had retorted. “Alex is… unlike other men. He is different. And with him, I am different.”
Maugris’ words had come back to her then. … The archer controls the bow and not the bow the archer.
And so she would.