Summer’s mouth twitched. All three of the rough men there knew her, very well. One of them boasted a burn scar on his hand to show for it. But these were not things she told just anybody she might meet. Long and long tests of trust before she revealed some things.
She sternly suppressed her mirth and laid a careful hand to Arteys’ arm. “My father’s house is around the corner from the ruins of the Savoy. I thank you very kindly for your concern, my lord. Will you tell me what brings you to the city?”
Humphrey chuckled upon the mention of the Savoy. He usually doesn’t think about it, it was burned down during the Peasant’s revolt, before he was born. But it was owned by his grandfather, John of Gaunt, whose stories he grew up on. Grandfather loved the Savoy, its expensive extravagance and comfort just as well as its perfect location in the city. Humphrey heard enough stories of the Savoy and whenever he saw the ruins it tore his heart a bit.
“Well….” Humphrey hesitated. He shouldn’t have lied about his name, now there was no way out. “I work for the Duke of Gloucester. I’m his squire and messenger. So I am in and out of London with the Duke or on his business.” He lied. While Humphrey was no stranger to scheming, lying with no purpose than to mislead another was not something he enjoyed, and it made him feel uneasy. “Your father lives in the best location of the city. With all courtesy, how did he acquire such an illustrious place? Is he in trade, or in government?” He asked. He hoped for a favorable answer now that he was set on the path to become his own squire.
“My father is a baron. My family has served the king for centuries,” Summer told him proudly. “You are lucky to have such a good post. With no queen, there’s no need for me at court, and I’m left almost entirely to my own devices.”
At some point, she knew, he would have to stop lying to her. Whoever he really was, he had the air of nobility. It would be interesting to see how long this played out.