No matter what else happens, this much is true: there is a person in the world who thinks of you kindly, and wishes you well.
Even if we never write together again, no matter what happens, you’re in my heart, and that will never change.
Tag Archives: dukehumphrey
The Three Fountains
“And how else should I know you? We met, we parted, we have met again.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “You expect faith of me, who has not yet earned it? I am not one to be won with pretty gifts or sweet words alone.” Summer stepped closer, laying her hand against Humphrey’s chest, and hissed, “You may make free with my body, and this is expected, and in time you may show change, and then will you truly win my heart.”
Humphrey looked at her with disbelief. “Tis one thing to be one that ha yet to prove, tis another to be one put in the wrong for it.” he said, his voice calm and distant. His steward stepped to them, and Humphrey ordered a chamber to be prepared for her, and asked the man to lead her to the hall for supper, excusing himself for no longer wishing to attend. When she turned to go, Humphrey grabbed her arm gently, yet his calm voice was cold. “You don’t kick the dog that you want to scratch, my lady, for it may bite in return.”
Humphrey returned to his chamber, but seeing the mess they left, he decided to spend his time in his library, sitting by the fire and reading, while the servants clean and tidy the room. His books had their magical way of calming his always restless mind.
She bit her tongue on any further words, seething within. She followed the servant, but only picked at the food, and spent long minutes simply staring into the fireplace. At last, she sent the dishes away, asking the steward to bring her books from her saddlebags and a quill. Carefully, she tore a blank leaf from one book and wrote, slowly,
‘My lord, the words we exchanged are not our wont. Please understand my concerns — we know so little of what could be known one of the other, and if you intended some longer association I was not aware of it. I will look for you at Court, and hope that we may repair this rift.’
Glancing over the text, she nodded and bid a servant to take it to Humphrey. She herself made her way to the stables, saddling her horse herself. Humphrey’s worries notwithstanding, she would rather return to the city right away than stay, fretful.
Humphrey saw the girl leaving, and called for his guards to follow, for her safety. He was not surprised, he almost knew she would not stay: She was a free spirit, and he knew from the first time they met, and if he was honest this was the reason why he was so drawn to her. He felt hurt in his pride tho, he tried to be discreet only to preserve her honor – of course it would have been easier if he considered more traditional ways of wooing. Still he kept a low profile because he didn’t want the talks before he knew what was meant to become of their association, and that meaning, he was, well, open minded. Until tonight. Now he was noting sadly to himself, that there were too many mistresses, stories, rumors about him to believe that a woman at court would seriously consider him worthy of more than what they did today. The thought almost scared him from attending the feast two days from now. He would’ve crawled into a cave had he had one, and now Greenwich manor seemed to be his cave. He had two days to reassess himself before the king’s next feast.
Summer sensed the guards behind her, and sighed. Then again, he’d no real reason to believe her capable of seeing to her own safety; they’d not made it out to the hunt, and so he could not know her proficiency with bow, nor had he any way of knowing her — particular skills. Anger spurred her to spur her horse in a vain attempt to leave the guards behind.
Well, there would be other occasions to speak again, though she’d half-hoped he would stop her leaving. Perhaps she had been wrong to mention his past, but surely he couldn’t possibly expect her to ignore it? If he truly expected to treat her differently, he should have done so from the start — well, from their first meeting at Court, anyway. But no, he had begun with her as he had always begun with his women, and so how could she possibly know that his intentions might be different?
Even for her, such things were difficult to discern. Hair-fine shadings of emotion, at a time when her own were in turmoil, could easily deceive. Sleep did not come easily to her that night.
The Three Fountains
“No?” Her tone arced high with surprise and an edge of teasing. “And what, may I inquire, brings you to this decision?” She laughed at him, arch and a little cruel, and went on, “I know you, my Duke. You’ll not cleave to me for long, so I’ll have as much as I may before that time comes. Did you wish me to be blind to you?”Humphrey stopped and looked at her with cold grey eyes. “You know nothing,” he hissed. “You know the gossip and rumors about me and my pasttime. I thought you might be fitting for something more meaningful, have I been mistaken? If so, then you are right. I shall not cleave you for much longer.”
“People change, and you just proved you have very little faith in me, my lady. Tis disappointing indeed.” He added with sadness in his voice.
“And how else should I know you? We met, we parted, we have met again.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “You expect faith of me, who has not yet earned it? I am not one to be won with pretty gifts or sweet words alone.” Summer stepped closer, laying her hand against Humphrey’s chest, and hissed, “You may make free with my body, and this is expected, and in time you may show change, and then will you truly win my heart.”
Humphrey looked at her with disbelief. “Tis one thing to be one that ha yet to prove, tis another to be one put in the wrong for it.” he said, his voice calm and distant. His steward stepped to them, and Humphrey ordered a chamber to be prepared for her, and asked the man to lead her to the hall for supper, excusing himself for no longer wishing to attend. When she turned to go, Humphrey grabbed her arm gently, yet his calm voice was cold. “You don’t kick the dog that you want to scratch, my lady, for it may bite in return.”
Humphrey returned to his chamber, but seeing the mess they left, he decided to spend his time in his library, sitting by the fire and reading, while the servants clean and tidy the room. His books had their magical way of calming his always restless mind.
She bit her tongue on any further words, seething within. She followed the servant, but only picked at the food, and spent long minutes simply staring into the fireplace. At last, she sent the dishes away, asking the steward to bring her books from her saddlebags and a quill. Carefully, she tore a blank leaf from one book and wrote, slowly,
‘My lord, the words we exchanged are not our wont. Please understand my concerns — we know so little of what could be known one of the other, and if you intended some longer association I was not aware of it. I will look for you at Court, and hope that we may repair this rift.’
Glancing over the text, she nodded and bid a servant to take it to Humphrey. She herself made her way to the stables, saddling her horse herself. Humphrey’s worries notwithstanding, she would rather return to the city right away than stay, fretful.
The Three Fountains
“No?” Her tone arced high with surprise and an edge of teasing. “And what, may I inquire, brings you to this decision?” She laughed at him, arch and a little cruel, and went on, “I know you, my Duke. You’ll not cleave to me for long, so I’ll have as much as I may before that time comes. Did you wish me to be blind to you?”
Humphrey stopped and looked at her with cold grey eyes. “You know nothing,” he hissed. “You know the gossip and rumors about me and my pasttime. I thought you might be fitting for something more meaningful, have I been mistaken? If so, then you are right. I shall not cleave you for much longer.”
“People change, and you just proved you have very little faith in me, my lady. Tis disappointing indeed.” He added with sadness in his voice.
“And how else should I know you? We met, we parted, we have met again.” Her voice cracked like a whip. “You expect faith of me, who has not yet earned it? I am not one to be won with pretty gifts or sweet words alone.” Summer stepped closer, laying her hand against Humphrey’s chest, and hissed, “You may make free with my body, and this is expected, and in time you may show change, and then will you truly win my heart.”
The Three Fountains
“Yes, my lord,” she sighed, drawing away. It was probably fortunate that she’d done most of her undressing herself. It made it simple to locate her dress and relace it, though she wasn’t sure what had become of the blue velvet. “Do I suit your desires now, sweet?”
“Plainly speaking, no… you suited MY desires without the garment.” Humphrey said pulling her into a hug. He sensed a change of mood. “Sadly we need to care for other things than my desires… and mayhap we could talk as you feel as cold as wind in winter, so tell me what it is I may have insulted you? I meant no offence.”
Summer leaned her head against his chest, sighing softly. “I am not insulted, only disappointed. I wished more of you, and you put me off.” Deliberately, she looked up and smiled. “Come, kiss me again and we shall go into supper. We may talk, though not of insult.”
Humphrey kissed her obediently, and possibly longer than she intended because his mind was lost in its analysis of her wanting more of him. Once out his chamber, he asked her. “What would you mean by more of me, thought you had enough of me… for a little time. Thought you hesitated to stay. I had no intention to put you off.”
“No?” Her tone arced high with surprise and an edge of teasing. “And what, may I inquire, brings you to this decision?” She laughed at him, arch and a little cruel, and went on, “I know you, my Duke. You’ll not cleave to me for long, so I’ll have as much as I may before that time comes. Did you wish me to be blind to you?”
The Three Fountains
Summer pressed herself against Humphrey. “Very tempting. But you know I don’t fear the darkness, Humphrey.” She leaned up his body, murmuring, “It would have to be very late indeed to prevent my return to the city. Perhaps your library will be interesting enough to distract me.”
“You are very tempting, like a sweet blueberry pie laid in front of me for supper,” Humphrey said, pulling her close to him. “The one with vanilla sugar on top. Yet, I must ask you to dress, and we shall join the household for supper.”
“I am sure you are not fearless, Summer. No one is,” he added, before he planted a light kiss on her forehead, “Dress, love. Let us find out what the hunters caught in the woods while I was hunting you down.”
“Yes, my lord,” she sighed, drawing away. It was probably fortunate that she’d done most of her undressing herself. It made it simple to locate her dress and relace it, though she wasn’t sure what had become of the blue velvet. “Do I suit your desires now, sweet?”
“Plainly speaking, no… you suited MY desires without the garment.” Humphrey said pulling her into a hug. He sensed a change of mood. “Sadly we need to care for other things than my desires… and mayhap we could talk as you feel as cold as wind in winter, so tell me what it is I may have insulted you? I meant no offence.”
Summer leaned her head against his chest, sighing softly. “I am not insulted, only disappointed. I wished more of you, and you put me off.” Deliberately, she looked up and smiled. “Come, kiss me again and we shall go into supper. We may talk, though not of insult.”
The Three Fountains
Summer pressed herself against Humphrey. “Very tempting. But you know I don’t fear the darkness, Humphrey.” She leaned up his body, murmuring, “It would have to be very late indeed to prevent my return to the city. Perhaps your library will be interesting enough to distract me.”
“You are very tempting, like a sweet blueberry pie laid in front of me for supper,” Humphrey said, pulling her close to him. “The one with vanilla sugar on top. Yet, I must ask you to dress, and we shall join the household for supper.”
“I am sure you are not fearless, Summer. No one is,” he added, before he planted a light kiss on her forehead, “Dress, love. Let us find out what the hunters caught in the woods while I was hunting you down.”
“Yes, my lord,” she sighed, drawing away. It was probably fortunate that she’d done most of her undressing herself. It made it simple to locate her dress and relace it, though she wasn’t sure what had become of the blue velvet. “Do I suit your desires now, sweet?”
The Three Fountains
“Oh?” Summer replied archly, laughing softly. “Who is feisty? You must take yourself into account, Humphrey.” She kissed him again, lightly. “But since you spent the day hunting hearts instead of harts, is your kitchen prepared to feed us? ‘Twould be a sad thing to starve after such a feast.” She drew away and slipped out of the bed, reaching her arms to the ceiling in a massive stretch, hair atumble down her bare back. Looking over one shoulder at the Duke, she added, “Yes, I am always so.”
“Hearts versus harts, I like this…” Humphrey laughed watching her as she stretched herself, as if she was performing a show to him. “I believe if you showcase yourself like this you might end up with serious delay of supper for I shall drag you right back to bed.”
Regardless of his words, Humphrey also rose from his bed, walking across the room to his wardrobe to dress in something comfortable. “I warn you, you will sup with a monk. I think to wear some lengthy robe,” he said, “Anything more than that would be bothering me.” He chose his garment and turned towards her, “Will you stay the night, Summer? I mean… I would like you to.”
“Is it not wordplay that brought us together, Humphrey? I must keep in practise, lest I lose your attention.” She smirked, stalking toward him, but hesitated in the midst of putting her arms around him at the question. “I — ” No glib answer came to mind. Play, wordplay, bedsport, all these were well and good, but she was yet a noblewoman, and he a duke and brother to a king. “I might be persuaded to,” she went on, at last, playfulness fallen from her eyes as she searched his.
“Well, you will have a chamber as befits your status, prepared for you… you are a respected guest of the house,” Humphrey said with a grin, noting how she looked confused, “and after supper it will be likely too late for the journey to London.” He put her hands around his waist finishing the motion she started, “I might sneak in tho…” He whispered into her ear. “Who knows, you might be frightened in the dark and need some knightly guarding around you….”
“After supper I show you the library. You might like what you find there, to keep you in practice with your wordplay.”
Summer pressed herself against Humphrey. “Very tempting. But you know I don’t fear the darkness, Humphrey.” She leaned up his body, murmuring, “It would have to be very late indeed to prevent my return to the city. Perhaps your library will be interesting enough to distract me.”
The Three Fountains
[I am beyond sorry for the delay of this. I have no excuse. *kowtows massively*]
Hours later, Summer slid back to the surface of sleep, blinking slowly. Humphrey had pleasured her to the point of exhaustion, and then the two had slipped into sleep still tangled about one another, clothing strewn about. At some point, one of them must have woken enough to draw the coverlets up.
She looked at him, arms still loosely about her, and couldn’t help but smile. He was generous and brave and beautiful; she ran a gentle hand over his hair. “Humphrey?” she whispered. “Wake up, lover.”
“Oh?” Summer replied archly, laughing softly. “Who is feisty? You must take yourself into account, Humphrey.” She kissed him again, lightly. “But since you spent the day hunting hearts instead of harts, is your kitchen prepared to feed us? ‘Twould be a sad thing to starve after such a feast.” She drew away and slipped out of the bed, reaching her arms to the ceiling in a massive stretch, hair atumble down her bare back. Looking over one shoulder at the Duke, she added, “Yes, I am always so.”
“Hearts versus harts, I like this…” Humphrey laughed watching her as she stretched herself, as if she was performing a show to him. “I believe if you showcase yourself like this you might end up with serious delay of supper for I shall drag you right back to bed.”
Regardless of his words, Humphrey also rose from his bed, walking across the room to his wardrobe to dress in something comfortable. “I warn you, you will sup with a monk. I think to wear some lengthy robe,” he said, “Anything more than that would be bothering me.” He chose his garment and turned towards her, “Will you stay the night, Summer? I mean… I would like you to.”
“Is it not wordplay that brought us together, Humphrey? I must keep in practise, lest I lose your attention.” She smirked, stalking toward him, but hesitated in the midst of putting her arms around him at the question. “I — ” No glib answer came to mind. Play, wordplay, bedsport, all these were well and good, but she was yet a noblewoman, and he a duke and brother to a king. “I might be persuaded to,” she went on, at last, playfulness fallen from her eyes as she searched his.
The Three Fountains
[I am beyond sorry for the delay of this. I have no excuse. *kowtows massively*]
Hours later, Summer slid back to the surface of sleep, blinking slowly. Humphrey had pleasured her to the point of exhaustion, and then the two had slipped into sleep still tangled about one another, clothing strewn about. At some point, one of them must have woken enough to draw the coverlets up.
She looked at him, arms still loosely about her, and couldn’t help but smile. He was generous and brave and beautiful; she ran a gentle hand over his hair. “Humphrey?” she whispered. “Wake up, lover.”
“Oh?” Summer replied archly, laughing softly. “Who is feisty? You must take yourself into account, Humphrey.” She kissed him again, lightly. “But since you spent the day hunting hearts instead of harts, is your kitchen prepared to feed us? ‘Twould be a sad thing to starve after such a feast.” She drew away and slipped out of the bed, reaching her arms to the ceiling in a massive stretch, hair atumble down her bare back. Looking over one shoulder at the Duke, she added, “Yes, I am always so.”