Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) (7 page)

Sir Humphrey, also dressed in white, came forward and helped her mount her horse.

"I trust you passed a pleasant night, Your Majesty?"

"Indeed, Sir Humphrey, I slept in comfort. Tis a glorious morning, is it not?"

"That it is, Your Majesty."

She smiled at him. She was finding it less and less difficult to adjust to the life she had been born to. But there was a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Sir Humphrey, it must be difficult for you to think of me as your sovereign. You have too often seen me with dirt on my face."

He looked at her seriously. "I always saw the crown of Talshamar on your head. You have ever been my queen."

Soon the long column left the secluded glen and wound its way along the twisted trail until they reached the high road. What a splendid sight they made with scarlet banners flouncing in the wind and golden chainmail gleaming in the sun.

Everyone they met along the way gawked at the lovely young queen, with her stark white entourage. Eleanor had been wise in her choice of white, for how magnificent they appeared to the English peasants.

Word spread quickly to the villages and hamlets along the route, and as the cavalcade advanced, throngs of people gathered to greet them with waves and cheers of delight.

None knew the identity of the beautiful young queen, but all the same, they raised their voices to glorify her.

6

Henry was closeted with his minister and his bishops as they puzzled over the strange news that was filtering in from the outlying villages on the high road to London.

Henry was pensive as he spoke. "Say you that the cavalcade is dressed all in white, from tip of head to their steeds, and that they are led by a beautiful young noblewoman?"

"Yes, Sire. By my faith it is so. It is reported that they are even now within sight of London. Shall I have them detained at the gate?"

"Are they armed?"

"Indeed they are, but they have posed no threat to anyone along the way. In fact, it has been reported that they throw gold coins to the people as they pass."

Henry looked disgruntled. He always distrusted such generous gestures. "When they reach London, allow only the woman and two of her followers to enter the city. Disarm the others and place them under guard."

"Yes, Sire," the minister said, hurrying out of the king's bedchamber to follow his orders.

The mystery intrigued Henry, but he had no time to ponder his strange visitors. He moved slowly from his bedchamber to the throne room. This day he must render judgment on Prince Ruyen, a distasteful but necessary business.

Harshly whispered words rippled between the nobles who had gathered to hear King Henry's final judgment against the upstart Prince Ruyen and his sister, Princess Cassandra. Conjecture was widespread and wagers were placed involving the outcome of the king's ruling. Most believed the prince and princess would be condemned to death.

When at last King Henry entered, he ignored the waiting courtiers, focusing his attention on the light spilling through the high stained-glass windows, his mind already racing ahead to his decision. Whatever he decided today would be unpopular with many of his own subjects. But he would not tolerate audacious hotheads who supported his treacherous sons. Prince Ruyen would be an example to deter others who might be tempted to follow his troublesome offspring. Besides, the Isle of Falcon Bruine already as good as belonged to England.

Henry Plantagenet, the greatest lion of them all, was not an old man, yet his cropped short hair was heavily grayed, and his gray eyes had lost much of their luster. His complexion was ashen and he was now prone to obesity.

Though betrayed time and again by those closest to him, his shoulders were still straight, his head erect. He was a powerful man and those whom he counted among his enemies trembled at the thought of displeasing him, for his might was commanding and his reach long.

He had lost almost everything that really mattered, but not England—never England. He thought of Eleanor, imprisoned for plotting against him, and of his two remaining sons, Richard and John, who warred between themselves as well as against him. The vast lands he had conquered would likely be lost after his death, for which of his sons had the power to keep them?

"Bring in the prisoners," Henry told his lord chamberlain.

Prince Ruyen, although in chains, walked unhesitatingly beside his sister, his arms about her, supporting her, for she was ailing and weak from her imprisonment. He raised his head proudly, his eyes riveted on the man who held their fate in his hands.

King Henry's brow furrowed as he glanced at the haughty young prince, who many referred to as the Golden Falcon. He was a caged bird now. There was insolence in those dark eyes, but Henry knew how to deal with his sort. Prince Ruyen had been a formidable opponent— pity to destroy such a warrior. Grudgingly, Henry admired him, wondering if the young prince knew it was his own mother's betrayal that had caused his capture.

Princess Cassandra was a different matter, however. She was clearly ill and out of compassion he ordered a stool for her, but she shook her head, choosing to stand beside her brother. Henry had been told that she was but fourteen, and she held the hint of future beauty. There was a time when the sight of her would have stirred his blood, but no more. He was getting too old for the pleasures of the flesh.

Again, Henry looked at the prince, whose eyes still smoldered with the fire of rebellion. Oh, how well he knew what Prince Ruyen was feeling. Had he not once felt those same fires smoldering within himself?

"This is a sad moment for me," King Henry said in a voice that carried to the back of the large chamber. He shifted his weight, trying to find a comfortable position for his bulk.

A page, seeing the king's discomfort, rushed forward with a cushion, only to receive a scowl for his troubles. Henry did not like to show weakness before his subjects.

Henry continued to speak. "Your guilt has been pronounced by the high court, and it falls to me to render sentence for your crimes. As you know, rebellion must be punished or it will grow and fester into a cankerous sore. Although it would please me to be merciful, justice must be served."

Overcome by a dark and bitter hatred, Prince Ruyen spoke. "And you have ever been known for your mercy, have you not, Henry? Your wife is in prison and your own sons despise you. Tell my sister more about your mercy, maybe she will believe you, but I do not."

"
By the eyes of God!"
Henry roared, "your insolence will be the death of you. If you care not for your own life, care you not for your sister? If I had any notion of leniency, it is all but gone."

Ruyen was in a grip of rage and striving to keep his self-control. His voice was composed, hardly above a whisper, causing those in the back of the chamber to strain to hear. "I ask one boon of you, Henry."

Henry grinned, leaning forward and perching his chin on his folded hand. "You would ask a favor of me? Whatever can it be?"

"I ask only that you allow my sister to go free. She is innocent of any wrongdoing and should not suffer because of me."

Henry knew that if he provoked the young hothead he would surely condemn himself with his own arrogance. It was precarious condemning a royal family. He had been careful to gain the sympathy of the people, thus quelling any dissension in the ranks of his own nobles.

"You should have considered your sister sooner! You have no rights here since you have been tried and convicted of crimes against England."

Prince Ruyen clamped his lips in a severe line, but said nothing.

Suddenly, there was a stirring at the door and the two men-at-arms barred someone from entering the chamber. All attention turned in that direction.

"Determine the trouble at once," Henry said harshly to his lord chamberlain.

As the man rushed forward and then quickly returned, he bowed before the king.

"Well, speak," Henry demanded sourly. "Who has dared interrupt these proceedings?"

The lord chamberlain was accustomed to Henry's dark moods, so therefore was undaunted and leaned closer, whispering so only the king could hear.

"What?" Henry looked astounded. "What you say is preposterous! Have I not searched for..." His voice trailed off. "This cannot be."

"She claims to be Queen Jilliana of Talshamar and insists that she be allowed to attend this hearing because it concerns her."

Henry stroked his chin with a satisfied smile on his face. "So, after all these years in hiding, the young queen comes to me. If indeed she's telling the truth." He turned to the chamberlain. "But she is mistaken when she says this sentencing concerns her. Inform her that I shall grant an audience in my private chambers at the conclusion of these proceedings."

To Henry's amazement, a young woman appeared, dressed in white with a golden crown set atop her head. She glared at the guards who blocked her path. "Stand aside and allow me to pass," Jilliana ordered, pushing away the sword of one of the men. She advanced boldly into the chamber, flanked on either side by Sir Humphrey and Cardinal Failsham.

Silence fell over the chamber as they moved toward King Henry. Jilliana could hear whispers rippling through the crowd.

"Who can this beauty be?"

"Whence does she come?"

But her eyes were on the man who sat upon the throne. She stopped in front of Henry and stared into his puzzled eyes.

"Sire, I am Queen Jilliana of Talshamar," she said in a voice that carried to the far corners of the room. "If you condemn Prince Ruyen and Princess Cassandra to death, then you must also condemn me, for I carry within my body Prince Ruyen's seed."

King Henry was stunned, but no more so than Prince Ruyen. Henry's eyes went to the girl's stomach, but it was impossible to tell her condition since she wore a flowing surcoat.

Ruyen stared at the woman as if she had lost her mind. How dare she make such an outrageous claim. His sister looked at him in astonishment.

Suddenly, Ruyen remembered the baffling message he had received a fortnight ago. The servant who usually brought their meals had been replaced by another. As he served the food, the man had hurriedly whispered, while casting furtive glances over his shoulder at the guard. He had urged Ruyen to be alert for the chance that would come for him to save himself.

Ruyen had assumed that the man was sent by Richard. But as days passed and nothing happened, he forgot about the incident. And now this woman appeared—surely this was the opportunity the man had meant.

"You claim that you are Queen Jilliana of Talshamar," Henry said skeptically, "but how can we know that you speak the truth? It has long been our belief that Jilliana died in childhood."

Although Jilliana's heart was thundering against her breast and her hands trembled, she faced the king with clear eyes.

"I am indeed who I claim to be." She nodded at Sir Humphrey and he handed her an object wrapped in a velvet cloth. "Know you the Great Seal of Talshamar, Henry Plantagenet?"

"I do," Henry answered, his eyes narrowing.

She held the seal out for his inspection, but drew it back when he would have touched it.

"Then know that the seal is in my possession and that it signifies I am the true queen."

He nodded. "It looks to be the seal." He turned to Cardinal Failsham, knowing he would not put forward the claim of an impostor.

"Is this woman the true queen of Talshamar?"

"She is, Your Majesty. I have followed her progress throughout the years and know her to be the true heir to the Talshamarian throne."

King Henry nodded. "I accept your word, along with the evidence of the Great Seal." His eyes were piercing as he looked at Jilliana. "You have kept yourself hidden from us, when we wanted only to help you, Queen Jilliana."

Jilliana met his even gaze. "I have not been hiding, Henry. For these past few years I have been residing in one of your own castles. You are familiar with the castle of Salisbury?"

Henry's fist came down hard on the arm of his throne. "Eleanor! By the true God, she did this to me!"

Jilliana strived to hide her smile, wishing Eleanor could witness Henry's rage. "Did you not know that I was the ward of your lady wife?"

It was apparent that Henry was having a difficult time bringing his anger under control, but he would not allow everyone to see that Eleanor had bested him.

Slowly his red face whitened and he managed a smile. "Had you come to us sooner, we would have offered you our son John as husband."

Jilliana lowered her voice, so only those standing near could hear. "Why should I put my trust in the man who caused the death of my mother, and why would I want to marry your son, whom I dislike intensely?"

Henry's breath hissed through his teeth and his face stained red with anger.

"You dare say this to me?"

She moved to stand beside Prince Ruyen and clasped his resisting hand, praying he would not reject her gesture. She felt his hand tighten on hers in a painful grip.

Ruyen knew of Talshamar, and like everyone else, he had heard of the missing queen. If this was she, why had she come to stand beside him when it would surely mean her death? He did not understand or trust this woman, but he would not expose her just yet.

Jilliana raised her voice so everyone could hear. "I am ready to die beside the man I love and the father of my unborn child. Think you that the people of my country, and indeed the civilized world, will applaud our deaths?" She paused, ready to play Henry as Eleanor had instructed her. "Perhaps France being the exception. Philip could very well rejoice at my death."

King Henry roared to his courtiers: "Everyone out.
Now
!" Then he waited impatiently while the guards cleared the room.

"Now, what say you, young prince?" Henry demanded of Ruyen. "Does Queen Jilliana carry your seed?"

She drew Ruyen's startled gaze. He paused, looking deeply into eyes the color of a summer sky.

"I had not known about the baby," he said truthfully, deciding to trust this woman, who seemed to have no trouble manipulating Henry.

"But you have lain with her?" Henry pressed accusingly. "Surely you admit that."

"Being a gentleman," Ruyen said dryly, his eyes lowered to the woman, "I could hardly admit to that. I may lose my life, but I will never defame a lady's reputation."

Jilliana did not have to feign embarrassment because her cheeks flushed scarlet. She could not look at the prince, but hurriedly spoke before her courage failed her.