Devonmere by Jacqueline Armitage

Author:Jacqueline Armitage [Armitage, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jacqueline Armitage

7

Chapter Seven

The next Sunday, in the chapel, during the communion, as Alexandra took the sacraments, the bishop’s hand seemed to stay slightly longer on her head, but he actually disguised it well by laying his hand for the same length of time on the heads of everyone who took the holy communion. Stuart smiled slightly; brilliant, he thought. No one would be any the wiser.

At the end of the service, he glanced at his bishop, who gave the barest of nods; the deed had been done. Stuart mentally crossed himself, asking for forgiveness for what he had ordered his bishop to do.

Two days later, it was Midsummer eve. The knighting ceremony and celebrations would follow the next day. Colwyn was up early and had rushed down to the jeweller to collect the present for Bodine. The craftsmanship was exquisite and she was delighted with the finished object. She just hoped that her intended would love it as much as she did. She would present it to him just before the banquet the following evening, when the King would make the announcement of their betrothal.

As the new Duchess of Invermere, Colwyn had taken over Giles Dernley’s sponsorship on the death of her father and was determined to carry out her duties, instructed by the Duke of Rossmere. She had seen Dernley the day before and given him the good news about Archer, and that he could begin some gentle exercise, which somewhat amazed him, as he had been convinced the horse would have to be destroyed. Having told him the news, she then said she would see him the following evening for the vigil.

Bodine was also sponsoring two squires into knighthood and Monsignor Colin McLeod had offered to oversee their bathing and preparation for the night of vigil.

The ritual began with a ceremonial bath the night before the dubbing. All three squires sat in wooden bath tubs. McLeod went to each in turn, starting with Dernley, and asked: “Giles Dernley, are you ready for this water to wash away your former life, so you may begin anew?”

“Yes Father, I am ready,” he responded.

McLeod nodded solemnly and poured a large pitcher of water over his head, completing the act of purification. When all three had been re-christened, they donned robes and sat down to be shaved, and a single symbolic lock was cut from their hair. In the olden days, they would have had their entire heads shaved, but this was now deemed an extreme sacrifice, so now only one lock was taken.

Page boys assisted the three men to dress. Black hose were donned first. These were to remind the squires of death. Over this went a new white tunic which symbolised their purity. Next came a magnificent red cloak, denoting nobility and willingness to shed blood for God and the church. The final item of clothing was a white belt, placed around their waists, denoting their chastity.

This completed, the squires picked up their new arms and went to the cathedral to begin their night of vigil.

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