Merry Medieval Christmas by Elizabeth Rose et al

Author:Elizabeth Rose et al. [Rose, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval Romance
Published: 2019-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

GALA

Dervenn escorted them to the king’s feast on the last day of December.

The child complimented his black tunic, which Victorine had to grudgingly admit made him look dashing. Marie held his hand and skipped along, until they came to the immense hall of Westminster Palace. Suddenly, she cowered against his leg, clearly intimidated. Unseen musicians played. Servants rushed here and there. The excited voices of hundreds of noblemen and women echoed off the stone walls.

Dervenn stooped to pick the child up.

Victorine understood the impulse to flee. Her best gown brought from home felt like peasant garb compared to the stunning elegance of the clothing worn by the women. Indeed the girls who’d accompanied her from Normandie stood out as being underdressed for the occasion. Some smiled and looked content with their new husbands-to-be, others pouted and cast furtive glances here and there as if searching for an avenue of escape.

The de Toeni family was rich. Victorine’s father was proud of his wealth and took every opportunity to display it. He provided his children with clothing fashioned from the costliest materials. His sons rode the finest horses and wielded swords forged of the strongest steel. Visitors to their castle were regaled with sumptuous feasts and lodged in splendidly furnished chambers.

Victorine was no stranger to opulent extravagance, but she gaped in disbelief at the amount and variety of food laid out for the king’s guests, many of whom walked away from the groaning sideboards with trenchers piled high. She recognised the aroma of venison, and certainly there was roasted chicken, and goose, but other dishes were a mystery. “So much food,” she whispered.

Dervenn set Marie on her feet. “This mob will make short work of it. You’d think they hadn’t eaten for days. Watch over the child and I’ll charge our trenchers.”

He strode off and elbowed his way into the crowd of men swarming around the tables au bufet. One or two protested his intrusion—until they saw his face.

Marie slipped a hand in hers. “I hope there are oysters.”

Victorine admitted inwardly she would like to taste the sea creatures again, but she shrugged as if not caring. “Sir Dervenn said they are a delicacy, so they probably disappeared first.”

She scanned the hall. Men, women and children sat at tables eating and drinking. She supposed these were families. Other men wandered about, almost all carrying a goblet from which they sipped as they meandered. Small winged creatures fluttered in her belly. These must be bachelors. Mayhap among them…

Occasionally they stopped and exchanged hearty conversation with a group, then moved on to another. The din grew louder by the minute, the hall hotter. The braziers glowing around the perimeter seemed unnecessary.

Banquets at home had always been sedentary affairs, with servants bringing food. This was a different experience and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Standing alone with Marie in the midst of the chaotic hubbub made her feel conspicuous. She fidgeted with her hair, willing Dervenn to return.

One fellow sauntered up to them and raised his goblet.

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