Page 341 of Historical Hotties
Gisella fought off a smile. “If they are anything like my family, they would have used it to torment me.”
“Then we must have the same family for that is exactly what they would do.”
Gisella laughed softly, her hand in the crook of his elbow as they began to take the stairs. This time, Bastian didn’t remove her hand for easier maneuvering and she didn’t remove it, either, so taking the stairs was rather slow going as they tried to walk them together. Bastian was very careful with her, making sure she didn’t step on the hem of her long surcoat, and when they reached the landing on the second floor, he began to lead her down the hall but she hesitated.
“My chamber is on the next floor,” she said, pointing overhead.
Bastian looked down his nose at her. “I know,” he said. “I am taking you to my chamber.”
Gisella felt a quiver in the pit of her stomach at that declaration. So many things rolled through her mind at that moment, not the least of which was the fact that he was apparently intending to claim his husbandly rights at the earliest opportunity, which was evidently now. She wasn’t ready for intimacy of any kind with him but she stilled herself, knowing that it was indeed his due. She could not refuse him in any case, as he was her husband. She belonged to him. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to calm her nerves.
“As you wish,” she said, trying not to sound nervous. “But my capcases– all of my clothing and possessions– are in the chamber upstairs.”
“I will send a servant for them.”
Gisella wasn’t sure what to say to that so she kept silent as they moved down the corridor, which was bigger on this level and had a finely woven carpet that overlaid the wood-planked floor. Rugs were rare and precious accessories but she had seen them at Bella Court and now she was seeing them at West Court. The de Russes had wealth and means, and they displayed both.Do not tell anyone that my uncle bought himself a dukedom.She was coming to believe, given the display of riches around her, that the statement was close to the truth.
Bastian’s chamber was at the far end of the corridor, facing the river. As Gisella entered the bower that smelled heavily of mustiness and smoke, she realized that her shared chamber with Sparrow was directly over Bastian’s room. The chamber was dark due to the oilcloths over the windows, and cold, and she could see Bastian moving around in the darkness. The first thing he did was strike a flint and light two slender tapers that were on an iron sconce near the bed. That brought a bit of pale light into the room as he knelt down before the hearth, tossing in a few slabs of peat and then piling wood atop it. He lit the wood, watching it smoke and spark, before tucking a few of the burning pieces of kindling beneath the peat to ignite it. It didn’t take long for the material to begin smoldering and the earthy, tangy scent of burning peat began to fill the room.
“The room will warm up shortly,” he said.
Gisella smiled weakly in acknowledgement as he moved to the chamber door and called for a servant. A man appeared shortly and Bastian sent him running for Gisella’s capcases. When the servant fled, he shut the door and began fumbling with the pieces of plate armor on his body, unfastening theleather straps that held them in position. Sections of armor began coming off and he laid them carefully on a small table near the door. Gisella watched him as he began to undress, curious about what he was doing, about the man in general.
“Do you need help removing your armor?” she asked. “I have never done it before but if you tell me what to do, I would be happy to help.”
He looked up from a twisted strap of leather on his breastplate. “Your offer is kind,” he said. “Over the years, however, I have learned to do this all myself. It is faster, and simpler, with a squire or two for assistance, but I can manage quite ably alone.”
Gisella watched him fuss with the twisted strap. “Do you have a squire?”
He nodded. “I have seven lads between the ages of twelve and seventeen who squire for me and my knights,” he said. “They have been sent north with my army to Etonbury for now. I am not exactly sure how long I will be in London so it is best to send them to my seat for now. I can always recall them later if I need them.”
Gisella wasn’t following his line of thought. “When are you going to London?” she asked. “Are you not staying here?”
Bastian finished with the strap and carefully pulled off his steel breastplate, placing it on the table with the other pieces of armor. It occurred to him that he had never discussed his future plans with his wife. Up until an hour ago, he didn’t consider it her business but now, he thought it would be the polite thing to do. She was to come with him, after all. It was only fair to tell her what the future held for them both. Their futures, from this point forward, would be intertwined. He indicated the chair that was at the foot of the bed.
“Please,” he said quietly. “Sit. It would appear we have much to discuss.”
Obediently, Gisella planted herself in the cushioned chair, facing him expectantly. Bastian went to work on the vambrances, or steel protection, on his forearms.
“There has not been the opportunity to tell you of our immediate future,” he said. “We will only be at West Court for two or three days at the most. After that, we will go to London where the young king resides. I have been assigned as his chief protector for the time being. It would seem that Bedford and Gloucester are concerned for the king’s safety and I am to ensure his good health. I have been ordered to take you with me so that you may entertain the young king while I watch over him. These were Gloucester, and Lady Gloucester’s, directives.”
Gisella considered the information carefully. “I have only caught glimpses of the young king during my time with Lady Gloucester,” she said. “My impression is that he is a boy with many retainers about him telling him what to do.”
Bastian nodded in agreement. “As a young king, he needs the wisdom and training of others.”
Gisella shook her head. “Nay,” she said softly. “I mean that when I saw him, there were two severe looking women hovering over every move he made. They told him what bites of food to take, and how often, and limited his drink. One of them even wiped his mouth. You say I am to entertain him? Am I to be his companion?”
Bastian shrugged. “That was the directive I was given,” he said. “I apologize that you will be entertaining a young boy who would probably rather be out riding or fishing. I’ve not seen the king in a few years, of course, so I do not entirely know his mind, but when I was that age, all I wanted to do was ride my horse.”
Gisella was silent a moment, pondering what she’d been told. “I will be honest when I say I felt a good deal of pity for him,” she said. “He was being pushed around and he did not fight back. He simply did what he was told. I wonder if he even has a free will.He has only known people telling him what to do. I wonder if he ever makes his own decisions.”
Bastian glanced at her, thinking on the meaning of her words. “You will soon find out,” he said. “I suppose that if he has no free will, you will encourage such a thing.”
Her head came up and she looked at him. “God gave man a free will,” she said. “A king, most of all, should have one. He is making the decisions for our country, is he not? Better his decisions than someone else’s with an ulterior motive.”
Bastian pulled off the last of his plate armor. “Wisely spoken, wife,” he said, watching her expression at the use of the new term. She appeared rather startled at first but then she grinned when she saw that he was watching her. He grinned in return. “I have a feeling you will be an excellent companion to him but beware his advisors and retainers. If they feel you are working against them, it might make our lives rather difficult.”
She cocked her head curiously. “Ourlives?”
