Whited Sepulchres by C B Hanley Read Free Book Online

ale he’d just sipped. He coughed and then spluttered as some of it went up his nose. ‘Married? But …’ He tried to set the cup down again without spilling anything, and took a deep breath. ‘Me?’
    His mother rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, you. You’ve always been a good steady lad, and now you’re earning a fine wage and you have the attention of the lord earl himself, you’re the best prospect in the village.’ She softened and smiled for the first time. ‘Hadn’t you noticed?’
    ‘Well, no. But I mean … that is to say, what I mean is … married? Me?’
    ‘It comes to us all, Edwin, and you must put your mind to it. There are one or two suitable girls in the village, so you’ll have to choose from among them.’
    Strangely, the room seemed to look different from usual. Was it spinning slightly? He stood and drained the rest of his ale. ‘I have to go to … well, I’m in a hurry. I’ll talk to you later.’ He left the house.

    Joanna had no idea how an hour could have gone by so fast – even though it was midsummer so the hours were longer than at any other time of year – but it seemed like no more than a few moments before she was standing behind Isabelle as the heavy covered wagon creaked to a halt and the accompanying riders pulled up in the inner ward. The earl stepped forward to greet his guests as they alighted: first the Lady Ela, shaking out her skirts and pushing away the spindly arm of her husband William Fitzwilliam as she took her brother’s hand instead; next her younger son Roger, who jumped nimbly down – Joanna saw the earl frown slightly and wondered that a boy of eight should still be carried in the wagon like a child instead of riding a horse – and then the Lady Maud, short and plump, smiling as ever as she disembarked. The ladies’ companions followed, looking pleased to be out of the wagon, as well they might. Little Pierre had already dismounted from his pony and now he skipped forward to hold his father’s stirrup; Henry de Stuteville smiled at his son through his beard as he stood to await his turn to shake hands with the earl. Then they were introduced to Sir Gilbert and the group ascended the steps to enter the great chamber.
    Once inside there was a flurry of activity as the various squires and companions sought to make their masters and mistresses comfortable. Joanna was able to steal several glances at Martin as he directed them all to the wine and helped them to move chairs around. Once he looked back at her and her heart leapt so much that she thought she would drop the cup she was holding. But she managed to complete her duties and then retreated to the corner of the room along with Matilda, who was the Lady Ela’s companion, and the vivacious girl who had accompanied the Lady Maud, whom she hadn’t met before.
    It was strange how they seemed to become invisible so quickly. When Isabelle and Joanna were alone they spoke often, but now that there were other people of rank in the room, the companions – and the squires for that matter – were unnoticed as their betters chatted among themselves. Or at least, they were unseen until they were needed: soon both Matilda and the other girl, who had briefly introduced herself as Rosamund, had been dismissed and sent to unpack in the guest quarters. Joanna hoped they wouldn’t notice that the final preparations for the rooms had been a little rushed – she would go over there as soon as she could and see if they needed anything else. In the meantime she took up her embroidery and continued with it while the nobles caught up with each other.
    Isabelle was in her element, and why shouldn’t she be? She was about to regain the precedence over her sisters which had disappeared when she was a childless widow. She sat between them, the skirts of her new crimson gown spread out in a seemingly carefree manner, but one which was designed to show off the eye-catching colour to best effect. Joanna had laboured for many hours on