Candace ROBB - The King’s Bishop

At the door to Sir William of Wyndesore’s chambers Alice turned, eyebrows raised. “Gilbert?”

Her servant rushed forward, shifting the goblet to the hand with the flagon, and rapped sharply. He had learned that to spare his knuckles threw his lady into a temper.

As the door opened, Alice swept past Gilbert into a comfortable yet austere parlour, obviously furnished by a military man: two high-backed chairs, two companion tables, and a chest for storage. The chairs were arranged in front of a large brazier that radiated a pleasant heat from its dark corner. Sir William occupied one of the chairs, his feet stretched out towards the fire. He looked up lazily and nodded. He was a handsome man, over twenty years Alice’s senior but still a physically powerful man with rich dark hair – succumbing to silver streaks, but still abundant. How like him not to rise, Alice thought. When he served under the Duke of Clarence in Ireland had he behaved with such insolence? An intriguing question. She must pursue it. “Sir William.”

Wyndesore waved Alice over to the other chair. She sat down with a regal sweep of her skirts. A servant rushed over to place a small table by her. Gilbert came forward, poured the wine.

“You carry your refreshment with you? As a precaution?” Wyndesore grinned.

“I have a particular thirst in the early morning, and, as we decided last night–” she glanced up with a coy smile “–my cellar is excellent.” Alice lifted her goblet as if toasting him, then drank.

Wyndesore watched her with amusement. “The King’s pampered pet.”

Alice bristled. “Not a pet.”

Wyndesore touched his heart and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Mistress Alice. I have the clumsy manners of a soldier.”

Alice paid no heed to his false apology.

Wyndesore looked bored with the game. “So. Ned Townley. He fancies your maid Mary?”

Alice ran her finger idly round the rim of her goblet. “Why do you ask?”

“You have heard about my page?”

Alice made a sad face. “Poor Daniel. Sledding. Everyone has been expecting such an accident, but involving a child, not a young man.” She lifted her eyes slowly. “Why do you mention Ned?”

“Perhaps it was not an accident. Ned Townley threatened Daniel last night – about being with Mary. Was Daniel dallying with your maid?”

“Sir William! Have you been consulting common gossips?”

Wyndesore leaned forward, impatient with Alice’s teasing. “Was he?”

Alice pouted and folded her hands like an obedient child. “Daniel had made a pest of himself of late, that I can say, though I dislike speaking ill of the dead. But he was not wooing Mary. That was clearly not his intention.”

Wyndesore sniffed. “Why else does a man spend time round a pretty woman?”

Alice feigned surprise at his comment. “She cannot be a friend if she is pretty?” She tilted her head and tsked at Wyndesore.

He laughed.

Alice sipped her wine, serious again. “What are you thinking?”

Wyndesore drew his feet back, snapped his fingers for a cup of ale. “What I’m thinking does not matter. It’s my men. They think Townley killed Daniel.” He took a long drink, watching Alice over the rim of his mazer.

Alice shook her head. “Ned did no such thing. I can vouch for him, and so can Mary. He was with her last night when I went up to bed – you will recall that was rather late.” Alice sighed. Mary was a pretty child; Alice had plans for her – and they did not include a nobody like Ned Townley. “I have little hope for the preservation of Mary’s maidenhead.”

Wyndesore grinned. “There was never any hope for it, Mistress Alice. A pretty girl at court? Come now.” Wyndesore drank down his ale, took a cloth from his sleeve and wiped his mouth like a gentleman. Manners of a soldier indeed. “Well, your word is enough for me, but my men will not agree. They were fond of the lad – he was their pet, I suppose. They’re angry he’s dead, they want blood, and Townley’s a man they delight in hating, with his courtly clothes and his swagger with his fancy daggers.” Wyndesore laughed at his witticism.

Alice smiled politely; Wyndesore was handsome and powerful, but he was no wit. “Ned is also resented because he is Lancaster’s spy. The common folk have no love for the Duke.” Gilbert refreshed Alice’s goblet. She used the interruption to consider the situation. “I wonder whether Ned knows he’s in danger?”

“You may be sure he does. I’ll warn my men that if any harm comes to Townley, they’ll pay. But he’d be best away from here.”

“That was not the Duke’s plan for him,” Alice said. The Duke of Lancaster had left Ned at court, while he fought in Spain, to polish his manners and his skill at letter-writing, informing the Duke of the news at court.

“Devil take the Duke!” Wyndesore growled.

Alice winced. Wyndesore should have a care. In Ireland, he had been second in command, too important to offend. But here at the King’s court he was insignificant. And many felt he had betrayed his lord to the King. Men neither respected nor trusted such an opportunist. Wyndesore should tread softly.

“How goes the King?” Wyndesore asked, changing the subject.

Alice frowned, glanced towards Wyndesore’s servants. Hers was also a precarious perch at court. As the King’s mistress she was showered with gifts from him and wielded some power. But should he tire of her – or more likely, considering his age, should he die … Alice took great care to be discreet. She trusted her own servant, but what did she know of Wyndesore’s men? How carefully did he choose those who surrounded him? They certainly had no cause to be loyal to her.

Wyndesore snapped his fingers, dispersing the servants. “So?”

Alice shrugged. “He spits venom at Pope Urban at the moment.”

“Wykeham is not yet a bishop, I know.”

“Thomas Cobham has returned from Avignon with the news that His Holiness is pleased to allow Wykeham to handle the temporalities of the seat of Winchester until the successor is named . You can imagine Cobham’s red ears. The poor man was visibly trembling when he entered the King’s presence. And he was far worse before he backed away.”

“Wykeham seems a suitable man. I do not understand the Pope’s resistance.”

“All this is just a convenient way for His Holiness to show his power over the King. Two old men hitting each other with sticks.”

They shared a smile.

Smarting from the hostile glances all about him, Ned went in search of Mary’s sympathetic ear. She knew where he’d been last night; she of all people would bristle with righteous indignation on his behalf. He found her sitting by a tall window in Mistress Alice’s parlour, transferring pearls from one of her mistress’s fine dresses to another. Mary was a lovely young woman with a cloud of softly curling, raven-black hair, a face of such sweet innocence Ned had been amazed by the passion with which she’d responded to his kisses from the first, and the tiniest waist he had ever had the pleasure to wrap his arms round. Mary possessed his heart completely. Never again would he tease his friend Owen Archer about his devotion to his wife. Ned understood now.

Mary glanced up at Ned, revealing eyes red from weeping. She sniffed. Her heavenly hazel eyes filled with tears.

Ned dropped down to his knees before her, dismayed. “Oh, my sweet Mary, do not weep for me. Their unjust accusations are naught to me.”

Mary put aside her sewing to blow her nose.

“Let me fetch you some wine,” Ned offered.

Mary shook her head. “No. I must finish my work. Wine will lead to pricks that stain the dresses. You would not suggest it had you ever had the chore of removing bloodstains from fine cloth.”