The King's Mistress by Emma Campion

Author:Emma Campion [Campion, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307589255
Publisher: Crown
Published: 2010-07-06T05:00:00+00:00

IN A few days the court removed to Windsor to prepare for the St. George’s Day festivities. With so many expected, I shared a chamber with Elizabeth and other higher-born ladies whose husbands could not be present. They whispered among themselves over the screens placed round the small bed that I was to share with Gwen—two large beds would suffice for the six of them, their servants making do with pallets laid out on the floor after their mistresses were abed.

My bed was close to a small door opening onto a passage leading to Edward’s chamber, so that on those nights I was called away, I might depart without stumbling over the servants’ pallets. When I returned in the early morning to dress for Mass the ladies would include me in their sleepy chatter; none of them, not even Elizabeth, asked where I had spent the night. That they were so cautious in their looks and speech emphasized for me the rank of my lover.

While at Windsor Edward and I hawked and dined together, in company. I found it exciting to catch him watching me. But when away from him I was beset by doubts and fears, not at all easy in my mind despite feeling a bond between us that was strong and true.

When Joan arrived with Prince Edward, she summoned me to walk with her in the gardens. She looked more beautiful than ever, her face radiant, her clothes subtly revealing that she was with child.

She saw that I’d noticed, and her face opened up into a most beatific smile as she touched her stomach. “With God’s grace, I may be carrying a future king.”

She kissed me on both cheeks, then stood back to study me. She startled me by pressing my belly. “You are not with child, are you? But then, I think it might be too soon to know.”

“You have heard about the king and me?” She had not been at court since Christmas. But even before she responded, I thought how foolish I was to think she might not know.

“That the king has taken you for his mistress? Oh, yes, I do. The two Edwards send messengers back and forth with news of the realm and their daily activities.” She affectionately kissed my cheek. “My Edward’s father is like a child boasting about you, Alice. Be glad. Let your heart rejoice.” Then she grew serious. “I must speak to my maid, have her give your Gwen the recipe for a physick you must take before and after you lie with him, and one you must take if, despite this precaution, you quicken. You do not want a royal bastard.”

It frightened me that messengers carried news of our liaison. I had hoped that as long as we said nothing, it would remain merely a rumor. I had begged Edward to speak of us to no one. I must have made a face, which Joan misread.

She shook her head at me. “You cannot afford to be foolish.

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.