Summer threw one swift glance back at her father, who raised his eyebrows before flicking a hand in acquiescence. Proprieties met, she tucked her hand in Humphrey’s offered arm, offering him a wide smile. “I did know that, my lord. Perhaps some day I may pay you a visit there. Will you tell me of it?”
She knew there were eyes on the pair of them as Humphrey led her quickly outdoors, but that was surely to be expected to one who was the King’s brother. Summer took a long moment as they walked to truly look at him, to observe details torchlight had obscured in the night.
Tall, of course, as all the Lancaster were; dark hair that curled down his throat; a long elegance of limb that showed well in his walk; dark blue eyes that just now glittered with animation. He was a fine specimen of a man, this Humphrey of Gloucester. Strange that he should fixate on her.
“I wish I could my lady,” He admitted. “Yet I shamefully admit that I am yet to visit. I only received it a few months back.” Humphrey kept thinking of something she said, how she wouldn’t mind the pleasure of Gloucester, to know the mind.
“I keep thinking what kind of pleasure you associate me with, my lady Summer, for I have many.” He said in a tone that ended up more serious than he intended it to be. “If you refer to those rumours of wild orgies in Greenwich or Hadleigh, you shall be disappointed. I prefer to indulge in the pleasures of the mind when away from London, despite the contrary belief.”
“Do you read, Lady Summer?” he asked curiously. “Chaucer, Lydgate, Hocclave? Maybe some of the known Italian poets, like Petrarch? His love poems are heartbreakingly marvellous. As if he intended to make us believe that love can be only true if it is hurtful although I shall say, it never hurt me.”
The moment Humphrey mentioned ‘wild orgies’, Summer had to press her lips together to keep from laughing aloud. Her eyes sparkled with it, but fortunately for Humphrey’s pride, she was diverted by his question. “I do read! It is one of my great pleasures. I regret to say I have not encountered Petrarch, but I have become quite fond of his countryman Aligihieri. His Commedia is so beautiful! ‘Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate’,” she quoted. “Of late I have become terribly fascinated with the legends of King Arthur, though.”