Thwarted Queen Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking away.
    “One day you will be my wife.”
    “But I don’t want to be your wife if I have to be locked up like a caged animal.”
    “I am the heir to the throne.”
    “I hate these chains!”
    “You must do what your lord father tells you.”
    “I want to be free!”
    “Cis!” A deep bellow casts a pall.
    I freeze.
    Papa strides up, putting his hands on his hips and glaring at me. “Well?” he says. “What do you have to say?”
    I do not know what to say. Truly, my lord father and I do not see eye-to-eye on this matter.
    “My lord, it is nothing,” stammers Richard.
    Papa shakes his head. “Lord Richard, you are too kind. Mark my words, you will be ill recompensed for being so. Cecylee must learn to bear the consequences of her actions.”
    I lift my head. “I told him I did not want to be locked up.”
    “And why are you locked up?” asks Papa softly.
    “I don’t know,” I murmur.
    “Speak up, my lady.”
    “I don’t know.”
    Papa grasps me by the arm. “Don’t you? Then I shall have to teach you, my fine lady. Until then, you will show the company that you know how to behave. Is that understood?”
    I look at the floor, moisten my lips.
    “Is that understood?” thunders Papa.
    I flinch. “Yes, my lord father.”
    He glares at me.
    I sweep him a low curtsey.
    He stalks off.
    Richard lets out a long breath. “Are you affrighted, Cis?”
    “No.”
    “Isn’t he going to punish you?”
    I am silent.
    “You have greatly angered him—”
    With a flourish of trumpets, the food arrives in a procession of platters set down first on the high table, then on the lower tables. Silently, Richard takes my hand and leads me to the place of honor in the middle of the high table.
    The feast begins with thick turnip soup, flat manchet bread, and goat cheese; platters of green beans, sweet peas, and carrots follow. There is pike stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs and herbs. While the dishes are being cleared away, the first sugar sculpture is presented, created by Audrey’s son. On one platter is Castle Raby with a rose in front of it, to honor me, the Rose of Raby. On the other platter is a white lion to symbolize Richard, who has taken the White Lion of March as his personal badge in honor of his late mother, Lady Anne de Mortimer.
    At another flourish from the trumpets, the meat course arrives. There is a Swan and a Boar’s Head with an orange in its mouth, followed by a large piece of beef dressed with rosemary and sage. At the end of the procession, servants carry silver sauce boats, salt cellars and pipes of wine.
    The feast ends with another subtlety of the Lady and the Unicorn . The Unicorn bears an unmistakable resemblance to Richard, showing him sitting docilely at my feet. Richard reddens upon recognizing himself. But roars of laughter from Papa and the applause of the guests mask his embarrassment; everyone rises and drinks our health. The minstrels strike up a lively air, and Richard leads me into the hall for the first dance. How I love to dance! I even manage a smile for Richard.
    At last afternoon melts into evening, and Mama takes me by the hand. We bid our guests a “God go with you” and leave.

    I don’t have to wait long. I’m sitting by the fire with Audrey in attendance, dressed only in my chemise, when Papa strides up to my room, birch twigs in hand. He makes me bend over and lifts my skirts. The twigs cut into my bare skin. I try not to cry out, but soon give up.
    I am furious.
    Why shouldn’t I be free?
    Why should I be forced to marry someone I don’t want?
    I hate Richard.
    I hate my lord father.
    I hate men.
    I will never forgive them.
    Never. Never. Never. Never.
    Never. Never. Never.
    Never.
    Never.
     
     

Chapter 4
    Feast of Saint Ursula & The Blessed Virgins
    October 21, 1425
     
    I bring the pony to a stop. Before me, sprawled on the ground, lies my lord father, Ralph de Neville, the Earl of Westmorland. His right leg sticks out at a funny angle. Next to