01 The Silken Rose by Carol McGrath

Author:Carol McGrath [McGrath, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2020-04-01T22:00:00+00:00

20

1241

Autumn tumbled in with wind rattling at doors and tree branches scratching at windows like cursed souls demanding entry to the palace. Candles were lit early. Light glowed from cressets placed in wall niches. Corridors grew shadowy early in the evening. Ailenor took an hour’s leisure with Henry in her bedchamber whilst their children slept through the storm in their nursery above. She lifted a tiny shirt she was sewing for Edward and unpicked a rogue stitch.

Ailenor slowly drew her thread through the fabric. She was grateful to Rosalind for teaching her such fine work and she missed her. It had been a dreadful and frightening incident. When she had summoned Rosalind’s father to the Tower to explain his marriage to Rosalind’s mother, she had felt uncomfortable when his misery at the accusations against her caused him to appear outraged. His first wife, he’d explained, hailed from a Cathar family. On her marriage to him, she denied heretical beliefs and renounced her family. She had made a difficult choice but she had chosen him. He wiped a tear from his eye.

Ailenor, moved by his story, leaned forward and assured him that she would protect Rosalind, safe in St Helena’s Convent, where she working on a cope for the Bishop of London. Rosalind was doing God’s work. He should be proud of her.

‘May I visit her, Your Grace?’

‘The nuns are strict and you would only be permitted to speak with her through a grille.’

‘I understand. How long -’

‘Friar Alphonse, her accuser, will be returning to Spain very soon. The squire who threatened Rosalind is far off in the Borderlands. Rosalind can return to court in time.’

‘Your Grace, I would rather have Rosalind at home. My wife would too.’

‘We should let Rosalind decide. The nuns, I have heard, are delighted to have her instruction. They like her quiet presence. She is one of the best embroiderers in the land, you know,’ Ailenor said. Lady Mary nodded. ‘The accusations were nonsense, but people talk. I have heard that the grocer’s son Jonathan wished her ill. Is this true do you think? It is better that she is safe.’

Alfred said thoughtfully, ‘The De Basing lad has married. He should be content. I should never have wished him on my daughter.’

Ailenor frowned. ‘But the grocer’s son wanted to marry Rosalind, did he not?’

Alfred nodded again. ‘She refused him.’

‘That explains his spite. She prefers another?’

‘She likes a squire who is on Crusade with Earl Simon. His name is Thomas.’

‘Earl Simon will return any day soon. And then we shall see. Thomas could be a good match. He will inherit his father’s lands. She would join the knightly class.’

The tailor shook his head. ‘I would be honoured if she did but I fear she is overly hopeful. Still, I pray daily for my daughter’s happiness.’

‘Stranger things have happened, Master Alfred. It is not unknown for a young man of noble heritage to be betrothed to a master craftsman’s daughter, particularly when that family is wealthy.’

Once the embroideress had gone to dwell in St Helena’s, Henry never spoke of her again.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.