Free The Troubadour's Romance by Robyn Carr Page B

all her life -- from ward of the queen to daughter in a loving family to a sought-after bride. Any other orphaned girl-child might have been left to starve alone, yet this one grew up in riches and grace. This dowry, however burden some at this moment, was yet another incredible piece of good fortune. There was no doubt every man who saw her would have asked after her even without the dowry, but this only served to bring the strongest and most noble to the forefront of her consideration.
    Edrea worried only slightly about who might be thrust on Felise and thereby forced into their family. It was indeed possible that many adjustments for all of them lay in the future. But a few things were certain if a man were approved by either King Henry or Lord Scelfton: the man would be strong and well fixed in his own right; he would be loyal to the crown; he must be youthful enough to protect his bride from those who would usurp him. Edrea was certain that one day this would all seem a blessed predicament.
    “ I should think you would be confident of God ’ s help, ” she murmured. “ He has surely seen to you all these years. ”
    Edrea entered Fel ise ’ s chamber with her and Felise sat down before her dressing table. Daria rose to the task of taking down her mistress ’ s hair and unfastening her gown while Edrea stood behind her and watched. As Daria intently focused her attention on the long, wound braid, Felise stretched a trembling hand toward her table. She fingered her prayer beads weakly.
    “ Daria? You found my beads? ” she asked hopefully.
    Daria gave an uninterested glance toward the beads. “ Nay, mum. But they ’ re found. You might ’ ve left them right there all the time. ”
    Felise knew better. “ You were here, in this chamber, all the day? ”
    “ An ’ where would I go? ” the maid complained. “ Aye, I ’ ve been nowhere else. ”
    “ Who was here while I was gone? ”
    Daria sighed impatiently. “ No one. Nary a soul. An ’ I could ’ ve used someone to talk with. These castle servants think themselves too important to bother with us country folk. ”
    “ But someone was here, ” Felise insisted, her stomach tightening as she had a mental picture of Sir Royce sneaking into her rooms. “ Someone returned my prayer beads. ”
    Edrea stepped closer and began to unfasten the back of Felise ’ s gown, although she was getting in Dana ’ s way. “ You are more distracted than I ’ ve ever seen you, Felise. Surely you forgot them and they were here all along. ”
    “ Nay, Mother. I lost them in the gallery and -- ”
    “ Come, darling. Let ’ s get you to bed. You ’ ve let this visit to Windsor cause you unnatural worry. Forget the beads and have a good rest. ”
    Felise looked behind her, first at Daria, who was grimac ing in impatience, and then at Edrea, who wore a worried frown. “ Aye, madam. I will go to bed, ” she finally said.
     
     

 
     
     
    Four
     
    The queen ’ s tire-woman, Vespera, visited Felise ’ s chamber every afternoon on brief errands. She brought herbs for the wine on one occasion, combs from Her Majesty on another, and a gift of oils for the bath on yet another. Felise found herself looking forward to the short conversations, for Vespera ’ s gentleness and comforting tones put her at ease. Yet this woman was never in evidence when there were many people around.
    Four days had been spent at Windsor. Felise found herself approached by many men, but Sir Boltof and Sir Wharton were the two most determined. On an afternoon when she relented and allowed Vespera to comb her hair, she spoke of them.
    “ Sir Wharton is handsome and the wealth he boasts is great, ” she said blandly. “ Sir Boltof is eager and not as rich, I think, but I have made the acquaintance of his father and he is much to my liking. ”
    “ And of the men themselves, my lady, ” Vespera softly inquired. “ Who wins your preference? ”
    Felise sighed. “ It matters very little, ”