“If you had found me in the library, I’m sure you would ask me what I was reading, yes, highness? You have a quite fine copy of Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, which I enjoyed very much. May we not speak of literature and fine writing? Surely such topics cannot excite gossip, and if it does, well, I care not. There is naught that may be said as could hurt me.” She tossed her head disdainfully.
He looked at her with a slight smile, he did not notice he was staring at her until she looked back at him and he shook himself out of the reverie.
“Did you enjoy the book my lady?” he asked her, “It has been a while since I have looked upon the library, John is the one most likely to be found upon the bookcases and the rows of literature and words.”
“Had I known that, I would have asked you some other where. Perhaps the gardens, or the stables, or the music room?” Summer swung herself around and stood up, carefully favouring her ankle. She approached Henry, watching his face closely. “My lord, I must admit, my motivations are somewhat suspect, for you have been far more than kind to me and I am impelled to repay that somehow. Yet you deflect my every attempt. What may I do to please you?”
He looked at her as she stepped forward, his eyes gazing down to her ankle as she walked towards him, and then his eyes were upon hers as she spoke, and he stood there – as if transfixed, but he showed nothing of it on his face.
“I know not what you mean my lady.” he told her, his arms still crossed over his chest, “You need not repay me by any means, I seek no payment here.”
Her shoulders slumped. “As you will then, highness. I wished only that there be no debt between us. I’ll not trouble you any longer.” Summer turned away, staring into the fireplace.
“If you had found me in the library, I’m sure you would ask me what I was reading, yes, highness? You have a quite fine copy of Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, which I enjoyed very much. May we not speak of literature and fine writing? Surely such topics cannot excite gossip, and if it does, well, I care not. There is naught that may be said as could hurt me.” She tossed her head disdainfully.
He looked at her with a slight smile, he did not notice he was staring at her until she looked back at him and he shook himself out of the reverie.
“Did you enjoy the book my lady?” he asked her, “It has been a while since I have looked upon the library, John is the one most likely to be found upon the bookcases and the rows of literature and words.”
“Had I known that, I would have asked you some other where. Perhaps the gardens, or the stables, or the music room?” Summer swung herself around and stood up, carefully favouring her ankle. She approached Henry, watching his face closely. “My lord, I must admit, my motivations are somewhat suspect, for you have been far more than kind to me and I am impelled to repay that somehow. Yet you deflect my every attempt. What may I do to please you?”
“I would set them aright, and right swiftly too. ‘Twas my own foolishness and no other thing. Your grace could no more harm a lady than could fly.” Once again, Summer tucked her head to his shoulder, closing her eyes to better breathe in the scent of him. Perhaps she /was/ falling in love with her King. There were worse folk on whom to bestow affection, be it returned or no.
Henry smiled at her words, it was true that it would be difficult for any to believe that he would be cruel to any of the maidens, for there were far too many that wished to be in her position, to be cared for by the King. In fact there was more danger for her to be hurt by them, which made the King remember his place, he should not place so much attention to her.
He took her to her room and placed her on the bed again, hovering slightly over her as he lay her on the bed, his eyes met hers for a moment, and he blinked and stepped back.
“I shall call on your nurse to watch you.”
“Watching is too kind a word for what she will do. She wished me to lie abed all the day, can you believe? I would go mad straightaway.” She sensed his sudden withdrawal, and was saddened by it. “My lord, I am stronger than you think me. Will you not stay but a moment and converse with me?”
Henry hesitated at her words, and crossed his arms at her.
“And what would be said of the King in a young maiden’s chambers?” he asked her, with a smirk, “Would not that be very indecent of me to be so?”
But he enjoyed her company, she was unlike the other maidens that he had known in his time in the castle, all the other ladies who wished and vied for his attention.
So he humoured her.
“And what would you wish to converse of?”
“If you had found me in the library, I’m sure you would ask me what I was reading, yes, highness? You have a quite fine copy of Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, which I enjoyed very much. May we not speak of literature and fine writing? Surely such topics cannot excite gossip, and if it does, well, I care not. There is naught that may be said as could hurt me.” She tossed her head disdainfully.
“I would set them aright, and right swiftly too. ‘Twas my own foolishness and no other thing. Your grace could no more harm a lady than could fly.” Once again, Summer tucked her head to his shoulder, closing her eyes to better breathe in the scent of him. Perhaps she /was/ falling in love with her King. There were worse folk on whom to bestow affection, be it returned or no.
Henry smiled at her words, it was true that it would be difficult for any to believe that he would be cruel to any of the maidens, for there were far too many that wished to be in her position, to be cared for by the King. In fact there was more danger for her to be hurt by them, which made the King remember his place, he should not place so much attention to her.
He took her to her room and placed her on the bed again, hovering slightly over her as he lay her on the bed, his eyes met hers for a moment, and he blinked and stepped back.
“I shall call on your nurse to watch you.”
“Watching is too kind a word for what she will do. She wished me to lie abed all the day, can you believe? I would go mad straightaway.” She sensed his sudden withdrawal, and was saddened by it. “My lord, I am stronger than you think me., Will you not stay but a moment and converse with me?”
“You may ask the physician who tended to me,” Summer responded with dignity. “I could have returned on my own, though but slowly.” A touch shyly, she added, “I would not refuse a chance to be in your arms, your grace. Though I fear you will think me too forward to say so.”
He could not help but chuckle at her words as he readjusted her so that she was closer to him, they began to walk through the hallways, and the servants looked at the both of them before they rushed off.
Rumours would abound soon of them, but Henry did not care much for rumours.
“You would be the envy of every woman in the court,” he said, “As long as they do not think that it was I who caused your injury in the first place.”
“I would set them aright, and right swiftly too. ‘Twas my own foolishness and no other thing. Your grace could no more harm a lady than could fly.” Once again, Summer tucked her head to his shoulder, closing her eyes to better breathe in the scent of him. Perhaps she /was/ falling in love with her King. There were worse folk on whom to bestow affection, be it returned or no.
It was fortunate that he did, for Summer tried to put her weight on her strained ankle, which unsurprisingly refused to hold her. “Highness!” she gasped, clutching his arms while she found her footing. “Once again you come to my rescue. I begin to think you plan these encounters!” She teased, laughing up into his face. “When you did not come to the library I was certain the business of government overwhelmed you.”
Her weight fell upon his chest and arms as he held her in the hallway, the way she spoke and laugh made him smile down at her – he did not notice how close she was to him at that moment – and he looked down at her as he tried to balance her once more.
Henry opened his mouth to speak of the court matters, but then he remembered that it had been an assassination attempt to his life, that they had wished to take his life at the hunt.
So he said nothing, and looked at her with a smile.
“Shall I carry you to your room again?” he asked her, and without a second more he scooped her up into his arms again, and he turned down the hallways, making his way to her quarters.
“Did you find the library relaxing?”
“Your highness, really, you must not … ” Summer stumbled to a halt when Henry swept her up again, effortlessly, and the edge of his emotion flickered in her mind. “Are you well, sire? You seem … ” she studied him from her awkward angle, fitting one arm about his neck, “ill-at-ease. Is there some way I might repay your gallantry and ease your mind? I’d not have you upset for the world.”
He began to walk to her room; he shook his head as she spoke, not wishing to think upon the attempt to his life. For he was far too familiar with such things in his life.
“It seems you always wish to be in my arms,” he said, changing the subject, “Are you so sure you have wounded your ankle?”
“You may ask the physician who tended to me,” Summer responded with dignity. “I could have returned on my own, though but slowly.” A touch shyly, she added, “I would not refuse a chance to be in your arms, your grace. Though I fear you will think me too forward to say so.”
It was fortunate that he did, for Summer tried to put her weight on her strained ankle, which unsurprisingly refused to hold her. “Highness!” she gasped, clutching his arms while she found her footing. “Once again you come to my rescue. I begin to think you plan these encounters!” She teased, laughing up into his face. “When you did not come to the library I was certain the business of government overwhelmed you.”
Her weight fell upon his chest and arms as he held her in the hallway, the way she spoke and laugh made him smile down at her – he did not notice how close she was to him at that moment – and he looked down at her as he tried to balance her once more.
Henry opened his mouth to speak of the court matters, but then he remembered that it had been an assassination attempt to his life, that they had wished to take his life at the hunt.
So he said nothing, and looked at her with a smile.
“Shall I carry you to your room again?” he asked her, and without a second more he scooped her up into his arms again, and he turned down the hallways, making his way to her quarters.
“Did you find the library relaxing?”
“Your highness, really, you must not … ” Summer stumbled to a halt when Henry swept her up again, effortlessly, and the edge of his emotion flickered in her mind. “Are you well, sire? You seem … ” she studied him from her awkward angle, fitting one arm about his neck, “ill-at-ease. Is there some way I might repay your gallantry and ease your mind? I’d not have you upset for the world.”
Summer hadn’t gone far, absorbed in a tapestry that had caught her eye. One hand on the wall to steady herself, she touched the threads gently with the other, tracing the figures stitched on the fabric. Half-consciously she slowly rotated the strained ankle, foot lifted up behind herself.
Henry saw her against the wall, looking at a tapestry and he stepped up towards her and smiled.
“It is beautiful, is it not?” he asked her and she jumped slightly, turning, Henry out of instinct – once more – raised his arms to catch her.
It was fortunate that he did, for Summer tried to put her weight on her strained ankle, which unsurprisingly refused to hold her. “Highness!” she gasped, clutching his arms while she found her footing. “Once again you come to my rescue. I begin to think you plan these encounters!” She teased, laughing up into his face. “When you did not come to the library I was certain the business of government overwhelmed you.”
A painstakingly written note lay sealed on the table by his bedside. The note within read, ‘Your Grace, I wished to let you know, the physician tells me it is merely a strain to my ankle, and though I must not stand upon it for some time I am permitted to hobble about if I take care and use a stick. I expect I shall be spending some time in the library. Might I hope to be favoured with a moment of your time tomorrow?
devotedly yours, Summer Rainault’
Henry lay on the bed as he read the note and he sighed as he fell against the bed, he had council in the evening but he knew it would be rude to not accept this invitation.
He undressed quickly and lay back on the bed as he fell asleep wondering what the girl would ask of him if she had wished to see him, for she had said that the palace was a bore and he could not help but agree with her on those words.
He sighed, he supposed he would see such things tomorrow.
The peace of the library was soothing after the way her maid and the castle servants had fluttered about getting her there. Bertha had pleaded with her not to leave her bed, in fact, but Summer was adamant: she’d not be holed up inside her rooms all day. She’d go mad if she couldn’t get out at least a little.
Fortunately, Henry’s library held copies of several manuscripts she had been wishing to read, including the Roman de la Rose and Lancelot, Knight of the Cart. Happily she submerged herself in the lyric writing.
Henry was making his way to the library when he was called away to the council again, he stood in the room as he was told of an assassination attempt against him and he sighed.
“Find them,” he said, “Have them hung for treason, and for attempted assassination. Has it been discovered when they intended to do such a thing?”
“At the hunt my lord,” they told him, “They wished to catch you during the hunt.”
Darkness superseded the sunlight spilling through the windows, and Summer laid the manuscript aside, carefully pushing herself out of the chair. She was oddly disappointed, though reason said there was no reason she should be. He was the King. He’d work to do.
She’d just wander the castle for a while, where there were walls to catch her if she stumbled again.
Henry was now making his way back to his original destination, the library, without even realising that he had picked up his pace he made his way there and found himself slightly out of breath. He thought for a brief moment why he had been rushing.
He would not know if the Lady Summer had waited for him, for he knew the hour was late that he should arrive here for her. But she was a lady and with that he was honour bound to come and see upon her.
For she was injured and he would like to know how she was managing, he thought of her ankle and of her shooting. It was a shame she would miss out on the hunt, he was sure she would have been a great contribution to the hunting party.
Summer hadn’t gone far, absorbed in a tapestry that had caught her eye. One hand on the wall to steady herself, she touched the threads gently with the other, tracing the figures stitched on the fabric. Half-consciously she slowly rotated the strained ankle, foot lifted up behind herself.