Castles in the Air Read Online Free PDF Page B

she opened them she found hisgaze fixed on her face. A half-smile decorated his mouth, but whether because of her pleasure or Henry’s doubtful fidelity, she didn’t know. Briefly, her doubts of the night before returned. Was this the king of hell? Had she damned herself to stay with him eternally by the eating of his food? As she watched, he tucked his hair behind his ears to keep it out of the way, and she saw the earring again.
    A barbaric earring of hammered gold, so large it expanded the pierced lobe. The pain must have been extraordinary, and she couldn’t imagine what had made him allow such a license. He glanced up to see the cause of her sudden silence, and she launched into speech. “I’ve heard the nobles keep their wives and daughters away from the king.”
    “Unless they want a favor,” he acknowledged. “But this girl, this Rosamund, is different. Henry flaunts her, keeps her in the royal residences.”
    As she ate, she debated the wisdom of telling him all the gossip the minstrel had passed on. But he knew so much, was so intimate with the players, she couldn’t resist. “During her autumn travels, Eleanor found Rosamund living at Woodstock.”
    He put down his spoon. “At that most beloved royal residence?”
    “So I was told.”
    “Does Henry believe Eleanor will submit tamely to his disrespect? Before she was Queen of France or of England, she was Countess of Poitou and Aquitaine. Her lands are almost half of Henry’s empire.”
    She scraped the last bits of apple from her bowl. “What kind of woman is she?”
    “A marvelous woman.” His smile spoke volumes of his fondness. “No queenly figurehead is she.She understands the politics between France and England, and understands the politics within France and England. Without her help, Henry could never have come so far, so quickly.” He took her bowl and gave her another helping of the oat and apple mixture.
    “Surely you believe she’s one of the lesser sex.”
    He sidestepped her challenge. “But greater than most men. She’s borne Henry seven children—three healthy, living sons, and perhaps a fourth at Christmastide.”
    Juliana’s heart contracted with sympathy for the beleaguered queen. “She carries a child?”
    “Which Henry sent her away to bear on English soil, so he said.”
    “Perhaps the king doesn’t realize how he offends her with his exhibit of this Rosamund.”
    “He does, never doubt it, but rather than placate the queen, he’ll display his power over her subjects. He’ll spend Christmas at Poitiers, at Eleanor’s own home, to introduce his son Henry to the Poitevin lords. The second son, Richard, is Eleanor’s designated heir to Poitou and Aquitaine, but the king will introduce Henry the younger as their future sovereign.” He set his bowl aside with a sigh of satiation or aggravation. “Our liege is a splendid tactician.”
    The way he said it made her look at him. “Don’t Poitevins recognize the young Henry as their overlord?”
    “Poitevins are a flighty people, with a tendency to break into rebellion every time Henry turns his attention elsewhere. If the queen should go to them and request their assistance—”
    “They’ll gladly rebel,” she finished. “And mayhap rebellion would spread. Glad I am that I’ve plans to make improvements to my castle.”
    His attention homed in on her. “Improvements?”
    Should she tell him? Would it impress him that she had the foresight to strengthen her defenses, or would he see a weakness he could exploit? “Additions to the curtain wall,” she said, watching him as closely as he watched her.
    He leaned forward, his hands on his knees, his eyes sparking with zest. “Your outer bulwark needs reform?”
    “Aye. I’ve been told of the progress made on the design of castles manned by the Crusaders, and I resolved to take advantage of those designs.”
    Obviously pleased, he told her, “I can help. I know a bit about castle design.”
    Did he