Free The Table of Less Valued Knights by Marie Phillips Page A

any of that. What was the part about the ears?’
    ‘Thank you all,’ said Martha. ‘I will endeavour to ride this horse as best I can and –’
    ‘Three cheers for Queen Martha!’ said Sir John. ‘Hip hip!’
    ‘Hooray!’ chorused the men.
    ‘Hip hip!’
    ‘Hooray!’
    ‘Hip hip!’
    ‘Hooray!’
    ‘Now, where to begin?’ said Sir John, climbing back down off his chair. ‘There’s so much to get through before we leave you to it.’
    ‘Leave me to it?’
    ‘Of course. The King is dead.’
    ‘Long live the Queen!’ said the men.
    ‘You are the monarch now, and in full possession of your faculties. There is no need for a Regency any more. Of course, I would suggest that you appoint some advisers to assist you with your decision-making, particularly in areas that are inappropriate for a female – the archbishopric, for example. But the men of this chamber are advanced in years, and ready to pass the burden, and gift, of power on to the next generation.’
    ‘Not me!’ called a voice.
    ‘No, of course, not Ludovic, he’s quite the spring chicken.’
    ‘I’m seventy-two!’ said Ludovic.
    ‘He’ll carry on as Master of the Rolls, if it pleases Your Majesty.’
    Ludovic pushed himself to his feet and bowed.
    ‘But for the rest of us,’ said Sir John, ‘once the funeral, the coronation and the wedding are out of the way, we’ll be bidding you a fond, though not entirely regretful, au revoir.’
    ‘The wedding?’ said Martha.
    ‘I suppose, if you deem it necessary, a few of us could stay on perhaps another week, two at most, to ensure the smooth handover of power. But then we really must be on our way.’
    ‘What wedding?’
    ‘And of course once Your Majesty is settled with a husband, he can take over much of the decision-making, as is natural.’
    ‘I have no intention of getting married,’ said Martha.
    Sir John gave her a patronising smile. ‘Your Majesty does not need reminding that it is against our constitution for a woman to rule without a husband,’ he said. ‘But there’s no need to concern yourself. Your parents arranged it all when you were born. We’ve already sent a pigeon across the border, and Prince Edwin should be here by nightfall. The wedding will take place in the morning.’
    Martha’s hands gripped the arms of the throne so tightly that they almost snapped off. ‘I’m meeting him tonight and you expect me to marry him tomorrow?’
    ‘By no means,’ said Sir John. ‘It’s unlucky for a groom to see the bride the night before the wedding. You will, as tradition dictates, spend the eve of your wedding locked in a tower and meet Prince Edwin at the altar. Unless you wish the first act of your reign to be one of iconoclasm?’
    ‘I wish no such thing. But –’
    ‘Then rejoice! By all accounts he’s a handsome fellow, looks terrific in a crown, and the trade and military alliance will be a great boon for the kingdom. Or should I say queendom? Ha ha.’
    The men all laughed too.
    ‘No, of course not,’ said Sir John, ‘that’s not even a word. But we’ll make sure you have a nice dress for the ceremony, so there’s nothing to worry about. I’m sure there’ll be time for a fittingonce we’ve worked through a bit of this legislative backlog –’ he indicated one of the piles of papers, ‘– and we’ve done a few hours in court –’ indicating another, ‘– and a few other bits and pieces. And then, once you’re married – remind me, Diary Secretary? I can’t keep track.’
    One of the old men consulted a scroll. ‘King’s funeral the day after tomorrow, and coronation the day after that.’
    ‘Bumper week for you, Archbishop,’ said Sir John to a short fellow with tufty ears and a large gold cross around his neck, who simpered in return. ‘Sir Thomas, are preparations for the banquets under way?’ he continued.
    ‘I’ve got teams of village children slaughtering and plucking herons around the clock,’ answered Sir Thomas, a man