Page 363 of Historical Hotties
Young Henry could only hold out hope that it was true. Perhaps with the introduction of his personal protector, his lonely days were to be a distant memory.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The evening mealthat night was held in the big hall of the White Tower, a vast space with two massive tables that held an array of fine food and drink. Unlike Lady Gloucester’s feasts, which tended to be quite elaborate with live entertainment, opulent settings, and exotic beasts, the king’s table was less frenzied, less elaborate, but stocked with the same expensive and quality foods that Gloucester often had. There was no mistaking that it was the king’s table.
Bastian and Gisella found themselves in the young king’s entourage as they entered the White Tower and emerged into the glowing, brightly-lit hall. Great torches lined the walls, sending dense black smoke to the ceiling, as a hearth taller than a man and four times as wide belched searing flame and embers into the room. Servants bustled about, finely dressed, ensuring that the tables were set with pewter plates instead of trenchers. Wine flowed.
From the moment Bastian had returned with the young king from their private walkabout, the monarch seemed determined to keep Bastian very close to him. Gisella had been on the outskirts, which she didn’t mind because it gave her theopportunity to observe and see all Bastian probably couldn’t see since he was in the middle of it. Shrewd and understanding the hierarchy of courtiers from her years in Lady Gloucester’s circle, Gisella deduced quite a bit very quickly that she knew would be helpful to her husband.
The two nurses surrounding the king seemed to make most of the decisions for him. They were harpies, both of them, jealous of anyone else getting close to the boy and only backing away when they were forced to. The king’s physician, a round man with a bald head, seemed to genuinely have the young boy’s interests at heart and there were two more physicians that gathered around him.
Initially, it seemed like there were the three physicians against the two nurses, but there were also a host of other servants that followed him closely– two boys that were slightly older than him and evidently meant for companionship because they really had no other purpose, plus a privy attendant who, literally, cleaned up the young king after he relieved himself. There was a servant of the body who dressed and helped bathe the young king, and a servant of the bedchamber whose only task was to remain next to the king’s bed all night in case he should need anything. But that wasn’t where it ended. There were more courtiers still.
There were the advisors– Gloucester and his half-brother, de Beauchamp, plus the Earl of Suffolk who had recently been ransomed from being a hostage in France, the earl’s foolish younger brother, and several other barons that Gisella had not yet identified. They were men meant to give advice but what they really did was tussle over control of the king’s good will and power. Gisella had seen quite a bit of it in Lady Gloucester’s court but she was seeing it at a greater level here. These were the men to be avoided and they were the men who already had great suspicion and great hatred of Bastian because he added a newelement to their competitive group. They knew the Beast and it was clear that the Beast knew them. Invisible lines had already been drawn.
But Gisella was used to that kind of thing and, evidently, so was Bastian. He ignored everyone except the young king, who walked into the hall holding on to Bastian’s arm. The monarch was announced as he entered the hall and the guests who were already there bowed deeply to the young king as he made his way to his cushioned seat. Everyone remained standing until the king was seated on the dais at the end of the hall.
Then, people began to mill towards their seats and in the far right corner of the hall near the door, a group of five minstrels began to play. There was a harp, a lute, and a vielle, like a violin, as well as a man on a drum and another man with small clacking wooden objects in each hand. As they struck up a rather lively tune, the servants began to bring out the main courses.
Great heads of beef were brought out, tongues fully cooked and exposed, and there were semi-precious stones where the eyes use to be. The horns on the heads were painted bright red and the heads, six in all, were placed in various places along the feasting tables as even more servants brought out great bowls of stewed ribs with carrots and onions, meatballs of beef and veal that were shaped and colored to resemble lemons, and a variety of boiled vegetable dishes and breads. As soon as young Henry tore off a piece of warm bread and put it in his mouth, the guests began to eat.
The king insisted that Bastian sit to his right, which he did, and Bastian made sure that Gisella sat on his right. The rest of the courtiers except for the nurses and physicians settled themselves at the table, everyone slurping up the king’s fine wine and helping themselves to the savory dishes. A servant brought the king a tray ofhattes, or little meat pastries shaped like knight’s helmets, which utterly thrilled the young boy.Meanwhile, Bastian helped his wife with the bread and meat, pouring her wine himself from one of the golden pitchers on the table. As she buttered her bread, he leaned into her.
“How was it after I left the king’s chamber earlier?” he asked quietly. “They all seemed quite shocked that I took the king away without any of his entourage as chaperones.”
Gisella grinned. “I do not think they knew what to do,” she whispered. “But no one will challenge you, that is for certain.”
He grunted. “Except for Suffolk’s brother,” he muttered. “He bears watching.”
Gisella’s smile faded. “More than you know,” she said softly. “He is a thief and a liar. Lady Gloucester has had difficulties with him before. In no way should he be close to the young king. If I were you, I would find a way to banish him completely.”
Bastian wouldn’t look at the young lord who was far down on the table now, drinking more than his share of wine and being rude to the servants. “I cannot unless you give me a solid reason to do it,” he whispered. “What do you know about him?”
Gisella took a drink of her wine before replying. “I told you,” she said. “He is a thief. He stole a golden salt cellar from Bella Court last month. Rumor has it that he sold it and used the proceeds to pay for the services of young boys over on Watling Street. That is only rumor, of course, but I would not let him near young Henry if I were you.”
Bastian buttered his own bread. “Did you see him steal the salt cellar?”
“I did not, but one of Lady Gloucester’s servants did.”
“What about the rumors of his taste for young boys?”
“It is common knowledge. Ask anyone.”
Bastian sighed heavily, ending up coming out as a grunt. “If it is common knowledge, I am surprised they allow him near the king at all.”
“He is Suffolk’s brother and Suffolk is a major supporter of the king.”
Bastian knew that. He took a big bite of his bread, trying to mask his expression of disgust for Suffolk’s brother.
“Then I will speak with Gloucester,” he said. “Mayhap we can have him removed from court without offending Suffolk.”
“As the King’s Protector, surely it is your decision on who has access to the king,” Gisella insisted. “If you make the decision to remove him and Gloucester supports you, then Suffolk cannot refute you. Surely the man knows the rumors of his own brother. I wonder if he allows him near his own young sons?”
Bastian lifted his eyebrows. “Excellent point, wife,” he said, turning his attention to her and studying her lovely features. She was such a glorious creature and, for the first time, he felt proud to have her at his side. “May I say that I am very glad you are here with me? I feel as if I have been out of touch with Henry’s court for years. I am glad to have the advice of someone who knows.”
Gisella smiled at him, flattered, and he smiled back, swallowing what was in his mouth. Then he leaned forward and kissed her on the tip of her nose.
“That is in thanks for your assistance,” he said softly.
