and behind the knights were the various high level servants and men at arms who traveled with the king.
Afton was surprised to see the king’s granddaughters sitting at a table directly across from her, on the far side of the room. They were silent, sitting in stillness, their eyes trained on the trenchers in front of them.
“Lunette,” Afton whispered, tugging on the maid’s sleeve. “See the granddaughters over there? Have you had occasion to talk to them this week?”
“Shh, not I,” Lunette whispered, laying a finger over her lips. “Hush now, the king approaches.”
A trumpeter shrilly proclaimed the king’s arrival, and the entire company stood and bowed as King Henry entered. Perceval, Endeline, and Lienor followed him and took their places at the raised table. When the king had been seated, the entire group sat and centered their attention on the grand meal set before them.
The dinner was impressive. Perceval had saved his best foods for the king’s farewell dinner, hoping to impress his sovereign with Margate Castle’s seemingly endless supply of delights to please the palate.
Afton crinkled nose in appreciation as the highly seasoned foods were passed down the tables, and her mouth watered. There were black puddings, sausages, venison and beef, eels and herrings, fresh water fish from the lake, and round and flat sea fish. The meats had been seasoned with sauces of vinegar, verjuice, and wine, and each gave off a most delicious aroma. One roast that passed by her was studded with cloves; steam and the scent of ginger rose from a tray of boiled snails. Almonds, a rare treat, were sprinkled over the foods in abundance. Murmurs of appreciation rose from the men and women who indulged themselves at Perceval’s table, but Afton was speechless. Compared to the common fare she had been eating with the servants, this food was an unimaginable excess of richness and variety.
Perceval sat at King Henry’s right hand, and Endeline sat at his left, Lienor by her side. Afton glanced up at her playmate and smothered a smile. Endeline’s plan was apparently proceeding well, and after today Lienor’s destiny would be settled.
***
Endeline felt a vast feeling of relief settle over her, but she forced herself to remain vigilant. All was going well, but it was not yet time to celebrate. Perhaps it was time to seal a royal marriage.
She smiled carefully at the king. “If it please Your Highness, may we inquire about the health of your son, William? Our hearts were laden with sorrow when we heard he would not be joining you here with us.”
“My son remained behind, but he does well,” Henry answered, nodding. “He is a brave and valiant knight. He will do justice for England and Normandy when he wears the crown.”
“He cannot do wrong, but with the proper wife he will do better still,” Endeline said gently. “Has your royal son given thought to marriage?” She looked down and idly stirred the pottage in her bowl. “My daughter, Lienor, is of noble blood. Of course I know I do not need to remind you, but her grandfather, Lionel, was a close ally of your father’s.”
“I heard my father speak of Lionel often,” Henry nodded. He glanced at Lienor, who sipped her pottage with her eyes obediently downcast. “And surely your daughter carries the same noble heart. There is a spirited look about her.”
Endeline felt like kicking Lienor under the table. What had the king seen? Endeline had tried to keep Lienor’s wild nature concealed, but obviously she had failed. “Aye, her grandfather’s spirit flows in her, but a more womanly girl could not be found,” Endeline answered, her cheeks reddening. “Do you not agree, my king? A free spirit can certainly be a virtue.”
The king did not answer, but Perceval scowled in Endeline’s direction as he cleared his throat. .”We should like to host Prince William sometime,” he said evenly. “Perhaps he can share his gracious company with us after his
Afton was surprised to see the king’s granddaughters sitting at a table directly across from her, on the far side of the room. They were silent, sitting in stillness, their eyes trained on the trenchers in front of them.
“Lunette,” Afton whispered, tugging on the maid’s sleeve. “See the granddaughters over there? Have you had occasion to talk to them this week?”
“Shh, not I,” Lunette whispered, laying a finger over her lips. “Hush now, the king approaches.”
A trumpeter shrilly proclaimed the king’s arrival, and the entire company stood and bowed as King Henry entered. Perceval, Endeline, and Lienor followed him and took their places at the raised table. When the king had been seated, the entire group sat and centered their attention on the grand meal set before them.
The dinner was impressive. Perceval had saved his best foods for the king’s farewell dinner, hoping to impress his sovereign with Margate Castle’s seemingly endless supply of delights to please the palate.
Afton crinkled nose in appreciation as the highly seasoned foods were passed down the tables, and her mouth watered. There were black puddings, sausages, venison and beef, eels and herrings, fresh water fish from the lake, and round and flat sea fish. The meats had been seasoned with sauces of vinegar, verjuice, and wine, and each gave off a most delicious aroma. One roast that passed by her was studded with cloves; steam and the scent of ginger rose from a tray of boiled snails. Almonds, a rare treat, were sprinkled over the foods in abundance. Murmurs of appreciation rose from the men and women who indulged themselves at Perceval’s table, but Afton was speechless. Compared to the common fare she had been eating with the servants, this food was an unimaginable excess of richness and variety.
Perceval sat at King Henry’s right hand, and Endeline sat at his left, Lienor by her side. Afton glanced up at her playmate and smothered a smile. Endeline’s plan was apparently proceeding well, and after today Lienor’s destiny would be settled.
***
Endeline felt a vast feeling of relief settle over her, but she forced herself to remain vigilant. All was going well, but it was not yet time to celebrate. Perhaps it was time to seal a royal marriage.
She smiled carefully at the king. “If it please Your Highness, may we inquire about the health of your son, William? Our hearts were laden with sorrow when we heard he would not be joining you here with us.”
“My son remained behind, but he does well,” Henry answered, nodding. “He is a brave and valiant knight. He will do justice for England and Normandy when he wears the crown.”
“He cannot do wrong, but with the proper wife he will do better still,” Endeline said gently. “Has your royal son given thought to marriage?” She looked down and idly stirred the pottage in her bowl. “My daughter, Lienor, is of noble blood. Of course I know I do not need to remind you, but her grandfather, Lionel, was a close ally of your father’s.”
“I heard my father speak of Lionel often,” Henry nodded. He glanced at Lienor, who sipped her pottage with her eyes obediently downcast. “And surely your daughter carries the same noble heart. There is a spirited look about her.”
Endeline felt like kicking Lienor under the table. What had the king seen? Endeline had tried to keep Lienor’s wild nature concealed, but obviously she had failed. “Aye, her grandfather’s spirit flows in her, but a more womanly girl could not be found,” Endeline answered, her cheeks reddening. “Do you not agree, my king? A free spirit can certainly be a virtue.”
The king did not answer, but Perceval scowled in Endeline’s direction as he cleared his throat. .”We should like to host Prince William sometime,” he said evenly. “Perhaps he can share his gracious company with us after his
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