The Troubadour's Romance Read Online Free PDF

prior to the time of Eleanor ’ s court in Poitou, where troubadours sang of pure and devoted love; indeed, there was some romantic conjecture about your birth. ” She shrugged. “ As there has been verse of Rosamond and others. I promise you it has not followed your upbringing with us. For all the world cares, you are Felise Scelfton. Romantic speculation was the great pursuit of the time ... before our queen was locked away. ”
    Felise swallowed hard, contemplating this. “ Yet I go to Windsor. And what tales will I find there? Will they call me bastard and shun me? ”
    Edrea ’ s eyes grew serious. “ Nay, darling. They have need of rich beauty such as yours. And your father is a jealous man who holds his own tight within his fist. He babbles when a firm mind would gain him more. ”
    “ How long must I stay there? ” she asked.
    “ But a few days, and then we will return to Twyford. ”
    “ But I ’ ve never been away from you, ” Felise argued.
    “ Nor shall you be, ” Edrea smiled. “ We will keep this residence, but the king has kindly included us in the dinners that you will attend. So you see, there is no worry, but a grand time to be long remembered. ”
    Felise looked toward Harlan in wait of some encourage ment from him. He was a tall man whose tawny hair held more gray than gold, and his thick jowls were tensed. But finally he seemed to relax his features, whether involuntari ly or by effort was uncertain. “ Aye, a time to be remem bered, ” he grunted. “ She is right, ” he relented. “ I am a jealous father and would not have you flaunted about the court. ”
    “ I suppose it gives no comfort that you despise the queen, ” Felise attempted somewhat lamely.
    He looked away from her again, his jaw twitching slightly. “ Aye. Though it ’ s more distrust than hate. But you will go. This one time only. ” He forced a smile that was far from sincere. “ You may begin to gather your gowns now, for on the morrow we will take you there. ”
    Felise looked to her mother and Edrea gave a smile and a nod. She tried to rise slowly and even give a measure of reluctance to her step, but it was impossible. She nearly skipped. Although this tale of her mother had made her slightly anxious, she couldn ’ t deny a surge of excitement at spending a few days at court.
    When she was out of the room and gaining the stairs, Harlan turned to Edrea with a look of worried disapproval. “ You have allayed all her fears when she should be put on her guard. ”
    “ I cannot agree, ” the lady returned. “ There is nothing she can do to guard herself now. ”
    “ She is being used as a pawn to divide a kingdom to Henry ’ s advantage, ” he blustered, his voice held carefully low.
    “ The pawn may achieve the treasure if you are right. Let us see, Harlan. ”
    He shook his head. “ Listen to me, for you have refused to understand the folly of this. The queen ’ s motives be damned. Whether she is moved by compassion or selfish ness means nothing to me. Henry would not gift her this without his own ends. Eleanor is here for one purpose only: Henry uses her to aid him in his alliance with his sons. He acknowledges some old dowry of lands in Aquitaine for Felise and asks that we include her dower lands in England. With a purse so rich, some English lord of Henry ’ s can acquire much and make his oath to the king first and hold property under Richard. It is as common a ploy as sending a spy into Richard ’ s camp. And our daughter, madam, pro vides the means. If it did not suit Henry, he would deny the original dowry and leave our daughter alone. ”
    “ And why do you fear? ” she asked him. “ The land in France is not such a prize. I hear ‘ tis a small demesne that ’ s been managed these many years by a seneschal. The king would not even disclose the location or family name. I say you smell trouble where there is none. Who pleads for the hand of a maid with an unknown dowry? ”
    “ If the