The Confession of Piers Gaveston by Brandy Purdy

Author:Brandy Purdy [Purdy, Brandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780595898329
Publisher: iUniverse
Published: 2007-07-23T05:00:00+00:00

THE FOLLY OF GOOD INTENTIONS

When I set foot on English soil for the first time after my yearlong Irish exile I had such hopes. Foolishly, I thought everything would be different now that I had proven myself. The earldom of Cornwall and all the honors I had lost were restored to me, and Edward’s pestering of the Pope had returned me to the Church’s good graces. I was brimming over with good intentions. I promised myself I would strive to be on agreeable terms with everyone and to curb my wicked tongue. Ah, how miserably I failed!

And to delight Edward, I who am accused of taking all and giving nothing, brought back musicians and storytellers, beautifully crafted ornaments and musical instruments, finely bred wolfhounds, and the best Irish horseflesh, as gifts for him. But the moment he saw me, dressed in emerald velvet and surrounded by a bevy of Irish attendants, all of them chosen for their wild, uncouth appearance, the better to accentuate my slight build and the elegance of my clothes and bearing, the only flesh Edward was interested in was my own, everything else could wait. He seized my hand and rushed me straight to his bed, intent only upon his own pleasure, ignoring the startled, angry, and appalled faces of the Queen and court as they stepped aside to hastily make way for us. Aye, things were off to a rollicking, but not a very promising, start! I had not even been back at court an hour and everyone was already damning and reviling me for consuming the King’s attention and leading him into degeneracy.

Shortly afterwards we celebrated my return with a magnificent tournament at my castle of Wallingford.

Edward had given me a suit of red-gold armor studded with emeralds. I was so proud of it that I would have nothing shield its magnificence and left off my silk surcoat; I would have only the green and yellow ostrich plumes swaying atop my helmet to represent my colors. Truly it was the most beautiful armor, when the sun struck it glowed fiery as a sunset!

To receive my favors, I rode up to the royal box where Edward and Isabelle sat comfortably ensconced in cushioned chairs with servants to fan them and serve wine, sweet cakes, and meat pies.

There had been a slight disagreement about whose favor I should wear. Thus it was both my young wife and royal lover who leaned down to present their tokens to me while Isabelle sat stiff-backed and icy-eyed in her chair looking every bit the Ice Queen in white satin.

Ignoring Edward’s scowl, I went first to Meg.

Smiling softly, she took the diaphanous pink veil from her headdress and bound it carefully round my upper arm, making sure the knot was secure and that it would not hamper my movements. When she began to draw away I reached up and lightly caressed her cheek and, rising in the gilded saddle of my great black charger, I kissed her gently.

At Edward’s wounded cry I smiled and went to him.

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