Chapter Six #2
“You think so? I only studied it for a few years, but I feel like such a novice. And then when the other ladies test me, the words go out of my head, and I can’t remember anything.”
“I think it’s their way of teasing you, to put you on the spot. They don’t sound very nice.”
“Well, Lady Alice is all right, sometimes. When she’s not going on about Rupert this, and Rupert that. He’s her fellow.”
Bronwyn nodded, feeling a lump in her throat.
She thought about him at least once a day.
She thought ruefully about Lady Susanna’s past actions toward Rupert and reminded herself to be wary.
What if the noblewoman was threatening the empress now?
Perhaps it would be good to stay near. “I had a thought. What if you taught me French?” Bronwyn said.
“What?” Lady Susanna looked at her.
“Well, it’s just that the empress occasionally wants me to say French words, and I have trouble understanding her accent at times. So, it would be useful to me to learn how to say a few things and to know what they mean.” And it would help her observe the noblewoman more closely.
Bronwyn was talking to the table at that point, her eyes glued to the hard wooden surface. She expected a swift rebuke. But there was only silence. Her eyes flicked up to Lady Susanna’s face.
“I’d love to.” Lady Susanna clapped her hands together. “It’s a wonderful idea.”
“You think so?”
“Mm-hmm.” Lady Susanna nodded.
“Oh, good. I mean, I don’t have hours to spend learning, but I could learn a few words here and there, when I’m not working.”
“Yes. We can do that. And I can test you.” Lady Susanna’s eyes lit up. “I mean, we can practice together. I’m not fluent by any means, but the empress is always telling us to get fresh air and take a brisk walk to strengthen our bodies. We could walk together and talk then.”
“That would be nice,” Bronwyn agreed.
The young women shook hands and Lady Susanna smiled, her shy demeanor and dimples practically lighting up the room. The first phrase she taught Bronwyn was ‘à bient?t,’ or a friendly ‘see you later.’
Bronwyn went back to her duties, a slight smile on her face. She liked learning new things. But now she also had a reason to be near Lady Susanna.
And maybe by learning French, she would become more useful.
She could only see the benefit in learning a new language.
No doubt Lady Alice would have something to say about it, but maybe Bronwyn and Lady Susanna didn’t need to tell anyone.
Perhaps it might remain secret for a while.
Perhaps. A part of her liked having a secret, even though it wasn’t really a secret at all, and it was completely harmless.
Just thinking about the phrase ‘à bient?t’ and repeating it in her mind made her think of the nun overhearing the whispered conversation.
Who would have access to the empress’s room and reason to want to ruin the bed in the first place?
Who had the empress hurt or made an enemy of?
There were three ladies-in-waiting she knew of.
Lady Susanna, Lady Alice, and Mistress Agatha, who in her mind, didn’t really count.
Lady Susanna was easily the sweet and innocent one of the bunch despite being highly suspicious, and Lady Alice she knew well as a trusted confidante.
She also knew that Lady Alice relied on the empress’s goodwill to advance and wanted to prove herself.
Would she do something to damage that? No.
Lady Alice would rather eat poisoned meat than ruin her relationship with Empress Maud.
Lady Susanna, she didn’t trust, but Agatha was even more suspicious.
But speak of the devil, Agatha walked into the kitchen like she owned the space, her hands on her hips.
A silver curl peeked out from beneath her veil, and she said, “I want to inspect the food for tonight’s dinner.
I don’t want any more surprises like a few nights ago. ” Her voice carried in the space.
Hugh came up to her. He opened his mouth wide to blast her, when Bronwyn said, “Apologies, Mistress Agatha. That won’t happen again. I trust you are feeling better?”
Hugh shut his mouth and looked at her. A big, bushy eyebrow rose as if to say, What are you up to?
Agatha nodded and sniffed. “Yes. I am on the mend. But I spent hours in the privy that night and then with my chamber pot. It was not my choice way to spend an evening, I tell you.”
Bronwyn bit her lip to keep from laughing.
They knew she’d lied, but details of her outgoings made her want to smile.
As it was, a few snickers and amused looks caught their attention.
Agatha’s face turned pink. “What are you preparing for tonight’s dinner?
I cannot have anything too spicy, or it will hurt my stomach. ”
Bronwyn nodded. “A warm broth, perhaps, for you.”
“No, that won’t do. I can’t have any special treatment.
It is kind of you to suggest, I suppose, but my concern is for the empress.
I must have what she is having. I have to taste a bite of each of her dishes before she does to ensure her safety.
It is a hard life, and as you saw, dangerous at times. But that is my calling.”
Bronwyn turned away to hide her smile. A hard life, indeed.
The taster decided to come back later, once the empress’s dishes were prepared and ready for serving.
The air outside whistled from arrows arcing through the air, like angry screeches.
Bronwyn stayed clear of the windows, but she needed not worry, as each available space was taken up by archers at their posts.
The parapets were covered with men crouched down, hiding and shooting arrows down at the attackers who were camped below.
Winchester Castle stood perched upon a raised grassy knoll that stood easily more than thirty feet high.
It offered some of the best views in Winchester, for one could see for miles around, but it also made attacking the castle very difficult.
Archers manned every post, and the grassy knoll was incredibly steep.
Even if one were to scale it, one wrong step and a person could lose their footing and tumble down to the rocky ground below.
They would be lucky not to break bones, and that was the least of it.
Bronwyn swallowed a mouthful of ale as she sat down to luncheon with the other servants. The nuns joined them, their faces gaunt, and after some grumbling, the other servants made space for them.
Sister Joan, the younger of the two, sidled in next to Bronwyn and shared her stale bread trencher.
Dollops of potage were dropped onto their trencher, and fresh bread was passed around once everyone had taken a turn to wash their hands.
Sister Joan tore off a hunk and helped herself, using the bread and a wooden spoon to mop up the hot, steaming potage.
She ate like she hadn’t eaten in weeks and hunched over the trencher, spooning the hot food into her mouth.
Bronwyn sat back and watched, giving her some space. She drank more of her ale and made eye contact with the other servants, who were openly watching Sister Joan.
Hugh said, “Slow down, girl. You’ll choke if you’re not careful.”
Sister Joan turned pink and sat back. She opened her mouth and belched, making the others laugh. “Sorry. I’ve just been so hungry.”
“Decorum, Sister,” Sister Rebecca said, eating sedately from her trencher with her spoon.
Sister Joan shot Bronwyn a small smile and rolled her eyes. Bronwyn grinned, and using a bit of bread, used it to scoop some of the potage into her mouth. It was hot and filling and it burned her tongue.
“What will you do now, Sister?” Hugh asked.
The other servants watched as Sister Rebecca laid down her spoon beside the trencher she shared with another servant.
“I do not know. The empress has been most gracious in allowing us to stay. I think we may provide spiritual guidance to those who need it. And we will stay close to the church and spend our days in prayer.”
Sister Joan squirmed on the wooden bench beside Bronwyn. “And we will help wherever we are needed, too. In the kitchens, cleaning, anywhere.” Sister Joan shot her fellow nun a look. “It is the charitable thing to do and a good and proper way to earn our keep.”
“Yes. Quite.” Sister Rebecca raised the spoon to her lips and blew on the steaming-hot potage. She swallowed some. “This is very… nutritious.”
“It’s wonderful. We were hiding for days and stealing bread to survive,” Sister Joan said, helping herself to a cup of ale. She swallowed the cupful and burped again, earning a few smiles from the servants.
“Sister,” Sister Rebecca started, frowning. Her eyebrows furrowed in disapproval. “Show some manners. Just because we are out of the nunnery does not mean we act like heathens.”
“Sorry.”
Sister Rebecca sniffed.
After the midday meal, Bronwyn took the nuns to a spare room that was often used for bathing and helped them heat up water to wash in.
The large, round, wooden circular tub looked inviting, and she left the women to it.
She was just closing the door when Sister Rebecca said, “Bronwyn, stay a moment.”
Bronwyn turned around.
“Are we safe here? Everyone has been kind, but I cannot ignore the imposition and strain we have added to the castle’s people. You are under siege and cannot want more mouths to feed.”
“It’s not my decision, Sister. But I think if the empress has welcomed you, then she is true to her word.”
“What do you do here?” Sister Rebecca asked. “You seem more than an average servant.”
“You have a kind soul,” Sister Joan said, pulling the veil off of her head to reveal a head of disheveled, brown hair. “I know we are safe.”
“It’s never wrong to be too careful,” Sister Rebecca said. “You may leave us.”