The Devil’s Diadem by Sara Douglass

‘Perhaps we might get on?’ Pengraic said.

‘By all means,’ Henry said. ‘The sooner we progress to the feast the better.’

Pengraic led me, Henry and Summersete just behind, to a table where a large parchment lay.

I realised that another humiliation lay before me.

‘These are the jointure documents, Maeb,’ Pengraic said, ‘drawn up by Owain who was clerk enough for the duty. They convey to you the manors of Cogshall, Shiphill, Wharton and Hexthorpe as your jointure, your support and sustenance in the event of my death. We both need to sign them, and my lord prince and Summersete will witness.’

With that Pengraic picked up the pen, dipped it in the ink, and signed his name with a flourish.

Then he handed the pen to me.

I took it, hesitating.

I could feel Pengraic tense, perhaps thinking I was about to refuse (or, worse, ask for more).

‘I can make a mark only, my lord,’ I said softly.

‘A mark is as legal as a name,’ Pengraic said, as if utterly indifferent to the matter. ‘That is why we have witnesses for such things.’

Immensely grateful to him, I dipped the pen in the ink then, at the place he indicated, drew a shaky X.

I stepped back, Henry taking the pen from me, signing his name with a flourish, then Summersete.

‘And now the vows,’ Henry said cheerfully.

Pengraic took both my hands in his, our wrists crossed in the traditional vowing manner.

‘Before these witnesses,’ Pengraic said, ‘I swear I will willingly take Mistress Maeb Langtofte of Witenie to wife.’

Eyes turned expectantly to me.

‘Before these witnesses, I swear I will willingly take Raife de Mortaigne, Earl of Pengraic, to husband.’

‘Done!’ said Summersete, moving toward a manservant who held a tray of full wine cups.

‘Not quite,’ said Pengraic.

He reached behind him to another servant who held something wrapped in a sky-blue cloth. Pengraic picked it up then turned back to me. ‘To my betrothed,’ he said, ‘as symbol of my good faith.’

I had not expected a gift, but at the same time was not surprised by it. Acceptance of the gift would be as legally binding as the vows spoken prior. I was glad also, for this now would make my own gifting far less awkward.

I quickly checked for Evelyn … good, she was standing close.

Then I gave a little dip and took the bundle from Pengraic. ‘I thank you, my lord.’

I unwrapped it, gasping in unfeigned wonder as I beheld a stunningly worked girdle woven with gold wires and links and set with pearls, diamonds, emeralds and rubies. It was a magnificent thing — I had never seen the like, nor ever expected that I should receive such a gift.

I looked at Pengraic. ‘You do me great honour,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’

He gave a smile and I thought I could read him well enough now to see that he was pleased with my reaction.

‘You must put it on,’ said Henry, and stepped forward as if to take the girdle and fix it himself.

I was too quick. I held the girdle out to Pengraic. ‘My lord?’

Evelyn was at my back, undoing the girdle she had so carefully stitched. She slid it from my hips, then I stepped closer to Pengraic and held out the girdle to him.

He took it, stepping close so that he could wrap the central and most exquisitely bejewelled portion of the girdle about my waist, handing the ends to Evelyn. She crossed them over behind my back at my waist, clipping them together, then handing the ends back to the earl. He draped them low on my belly, loosely knotting the ends of the girdle so that it sat snugly.

‘It is beautiful,’ I said.

‘For what you did for my children,’ he said, very low.

My eyes flew to his. Others may have heard what he said, but they would not have known the significance.

I collected myself and turned slightly to Evelyn. She handed me my gift to the earl, wrapped in fine lawn. I handed it to him.

‘My gift to you, my lord,’ I said as I dipped in courtesy.

He looked surprised, but pleased, and his mouth curved in a smile as he unwrapped it.

He stared at the gift, then his smile widened slightly and he looked at me with what might have been some real warmth in his eyes.

‘It is lovely, Maeb. Thank you.’

I smiled in sheer relief that at least he had not hated it.

‘What is it?’ Henry said, stepping close.

‘It is a belt purse,’ said Pengraic, holding it out so those near him could see. ‘Exquisitely worked.’

The belt purse was of plain leather, but I had stitched a cover for it. For the background stitching it had a dark forest, much like that depicted on the walls of the castle chapel, while in the centre and foreground was a depiction of Pengraic Castle. Above the battlements I had stitched a fanciful sun and moon.

‘If the sun and moon ever come that close to this castle’s battlements,’ said Henry, ‘then I would think it a most unhappy event.’

‘Indeed,’ Pengraic muttered, then he stepped forward and kissed me.

It was not a deep kiss, but it was the first time he had kissed me and I was more than a little startled by its warmth, for I think I had only ever imagined a cold, hard kiss from the man. Maybe he meant it to convey his thanks for the purse.

‘It is a most exquisite design,’ he said, ‘and I thank you most deeply for it, and for the thought behind it.’

My heart still raced, but now with relief that my gift had gone down well.

‘Well,’ Henry said, ‘they are now betrothed, the gifts given and received. Surely we should drink to their health, and then proceed down to the great hall for our entertainment and feasting?’

Chapter Seven

Despite Prince Henry’s obvious desire for haste, we tarried in the solar for an hour or two more, drinking spiced wine and exchanging pleasant conversation. I admit I downed the first cup of wine a little too quickly, but it did relax me and I was careful with later cups.

Summersete cornered Pengraic and kept him in low, serious conversation. Prince Henry stayed by my side, exchanging inconsequential words as, one by one, the other men within the chamber came up to greet the prince and to wish me well.

Eventually, the prince managed to steer me into a clear space where we might not be overheard easily.

‘A meteoric rise, mistress,’ he said, his affable manner sliding away. His eyes had lost their warmth, and with that I thought he had lost all in him of his father.

‘It was not of my doing, my lord.’

‘I had not known, when I arrived here this morning, that I would be asked to witness Pengraic’s hasty new marriage. I was an admirer of Lady Adelie and sorrowed to hear of her death when Stephen’s message arrived at court.’

‘I also admired her, my lord.’

‘My father mentioned you, before I left Oxeneford.’

‘He did?’ Already on my guard because of the prince’s cooling manner and his questions, his words now confused me.

‘He told me to watch for Lady Adelie’s attending woman, Maeb. He said you were very beautiful. He was not wrong.’ The prince glanced about to ensure we were not being observed, then he slid a finger of his right hand under my girdle, against the soft mound of my belly.

Maybe he was his father’s son, after all.

‘I had thought to dally with Lady Adelie’s beautiful attending woman, but alas, I cannot see now how that might be without creating further crisis in the realm.’

‘Then by all means, let us avert the crisis,’ I said, drawing back so his finger slipped away from my girdle. I felt sullied and wished he were not here.

‘Your presence has quite startled me, my lord,’ I said, ‘for I had heard no rumour of your arrival.’

Instantly I regretted the last. Maybe Pengraic had known Henry and Summersete were on their way, but did not judge me of enough consequence to be informed.

‘We had thought to surprise Pengraic,’ he said. ‘But your betrothed husband is a difficult man to unsettle.’

He thought this might be news to me? ‘Why the need to unsettle him?’

‘Lord God, woman, you need some tuition in the skills of courtly conversation. Such direct questioning.’

‘She has the skill to unsettle you, it seems,’ Pengraic said, coming up behind us.

Again, there he was, having obviously heard much of our conversation.

I hoped he had not seen the finger under the girdle.

Pengraic took the empty cup from my fingers, handed it to a servant, then took my elbow.

‘It is time for us to descend,’ he said, ‘and feast.’