“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.
“Great,” he told himself rolling his eyes. “Now you will surely shame yourself with the lie.” Then he considered what the odds might be for him to see the beauty again, unless he courts her – which he would, if he didn’t start on the wrong foot with his lie, but now he forever doomed himself. Or so he thought.
And thus they arrived at her house. Humphrey bowed as goodbye deep as did his guards – by now accustomed to his strange ways with ladies. He quickly left the scene.
***
It was a bright and sunny morning and Humphrey hurried through the corridor, towards the great hall. Today he had to meet some of the representatives from London, and his brother John was to be present. They were to discuss the taxes on wool.
As he stepped on the corridor leading to the hall, the people greeted him with “Your Grace”-s and bowing deep. He just nodded at them. At the entrance, he saw a group of men and women chatting. He stepped close and just realised who’s standing there. He tried to turn just too late as one of the man bowed with a loud “Good Day, your Grace”, and they all looked at him. They bowed quickly and she did as well, but not before Humphrey caught the cutting cold in her eyes.
One day. One day she comes back late in the evening, and her father decided he needed to keep a closer eye on her. It was completely infuriating. And then, just to make her whole morning that much better, the mysterious Arteys turns out to be none other than His Grace Humphrey of Gloucester — in other words, the very man he’d claimed to be squire to.
Summer rather felt she’d been made a fool of on all accounts. With just a little luck, maybe she could get a moment with /Duke Humphrey/, and let him feel the edge of her tongue briefly. Arteys, forsooth!