Roselynde by Roberta Gellis Read Free Book Online Page B

very strangely since he had not promptly obeyed her on the road.
    Of course, he might have changed over the years they had been
apart. No, that was not true. There had been no sense of strangeness, no sense
even of a break in their well-established relationship, from the moment he had
entered the keep at Winchester with the glad news of her release. The Queen's
eyes dropped to her hands and her gaze rested on the age-creased and mottled
skin. By the name of God, she thought, he is no longer a young man. I think of
him as a boy, because thus I knew him best when I was a young woman, but I am
an old, old woman now, and Simon is a man, also growing old.
    "Child," she said gently to Alinor, "will you see
that a change of garments is laid ready for me? Something warm. These days I
feel the cold as the evening draws on."
    There was nothing Alinor could do but curtsy and leave. She knew,
of course, that the Queen was sending her away so that she could talk Sir Simon
around in private. Had the Queen allowed even the smallest opening, Alinor
would doubtless have bitten off her nose to spite her face by saying she would
order her vassals to rescind their acceptance—or something equally silly.
Fortunately she had no opportunity to seem either spiteful or foolish and, by
the time she reached her chamber, she had reconsidered, swallowed her bile, and
was hoping sincerely that the Queen would be successful. One thing was sure.
Any man who could look with revulsion on being the King's warden for estates
like Alinor's was not out to line his purse with another's gold.
    The Queen, however, was thinking less of cajoling Simon than of
trying to discover what was wrong with him. "Simon, what ails you?"
she asked as soon as Alinor left them. "Are you ill?"
    "No."
    The short answer was even more disturbing. Simon was in the habit
of telling her his troubles when she had time to listen to him. And that had
not changed, either. He had been full and fluent on the subject of the state of
England and the problems that state had caused him in the last years of Henry's
reign. The Queen put out her hand and grasped Simon's wrist.
    "You must believe I had no thought that you would not welcome
this. I thought of it as a jest because that child is a hellion and will run
you a merry race, but I thought you would be pleased. I thought I had found one
part of a fitting reward for the good news you brought and for your long
faithfulness."
    "Pleased? You thought I would be pleased that you laid
another heavy burden on my back?"
    "What heavy burden?" the Queen asked, so stunned by
Simon's inaccurate description of what she knew was a profitable sinecure that
she could feel no resentment at the rebellious tone. After all, what were
liegemen for but to bear burdens?
    "You think I will be welcomed here? This land needs a warden
as I need a second head. Anything I do or say will be bitterly resented."
    "Of course," the Queen agreed, frowning in worried
puzzlement. "There is naught for you to do but judge what the income from
the lands should be so that the King receives his rightful due. And for this
light duty you may take a tithe— which is rich pay for little labor. I ask
again, what ails you? What mislike you in this duty?"
    "I will take no tithe from the pittance that will remain to
the King's ward," he snapped. Then, horrified at the implication of his
words, he passed his free hand over his face. "I beg your pardon, Madam. I
know you mean to do the best in your power for Lady Alinor."
    The apology was welcome, but he had not answered her question and,
it appeared, had no intention of doing so. The Queen shrugged angrily.
"Very well. It is some embarrassment to me, but I will not press an old
friend into an unwelcome task. I shall seek out another warden."
    "No!" Simon exclaimed forcibly.
    The Queen gaped at him and then shook her head. She could swear
that he was as surprised as she by what he had said. "Will you deign to
tell me, then, what it is you