Lord Liar Part 30

Ranulf nodded, looking a little startled at Henry's words. "Well, you'll tell him exactly what he wants to hear, that I'm in it heart and soul, boots and purse--if I had a purse, that is.

No, I meant to inquire about the state of my royal brother, William Rufus.

How is the dear boy? " Aldyth was chilled by Henry's cold-blooded tone as he discussed his brothers. How sad that one could be so coolly cynical about one's siblings. She certainly did not agree with G.o.drie's loyalties, but she could never stop loving him. Apparently princes could not afford to be sent'

mental

"He is well, my prince, though he suspects Robert to be plotting. He sent me to spy on the duke, you know. He didn't mention you in his suspicions, however."

"Which doesn't mean he doesn't know that I'd jump whichever way my advantage lies," Henry said thoughtfully, making a tent of his fingers and staring at the tapes tried wall without seeing it.

"Ah, Ranulf! What a family we are, we sons of William the b.a.s.t.a.r.d and Matilda. I'm sure you cannot imagine plotting against your brother, or him scheming to steal your inheritance?"

Aldyth thought of Ranulf's younger brother Richard, who was a squire in the Earl of Chester's household.

"No, my lord, but then, we are not royal, and a kingdom and a duchy are at stake here, not a mere earldom," Ranulf said diplomatically.

"How tactful of you, Ranulf. Yes, I know we're an awful lot, but what else can you expect when a king has too many sons? I suppose one of us should have gone into the Church, but I'm sure you knew early on I wouldn't suit. I like mischief too welll Do you remember the lime we all dropped the contents of that chamber pot on Robert's head?"

Ranulf threw back his head and laughed, a deep, rich sound that wrapped itself around Aldyth's heart before she could think to guard herself.

"Nay, I had forgotten!" he said, slapping his knee. "Your page is looking at us as if we both have two heads," Henry observed.

"I will explain, boy. Once upon a time when we were all young, your master a.s.sisted Rufus and me in dousing Robert's pretensions of elegance when he was being most insufferable. He was dressed in an elegant new cloak of purple silk." He seemed to wait for some reaction on Aldyth's part.

"I--I see, my lord," she said hesitantly, not knowing whether it was all right for her to laugh or not. It was funny when one thought about how it must have looked. It was easy to picture Ranulf partic.i.p.ating, for even now, as he remembered the prank, Aldyth could see that his eyes danced with devilry.

"That was the beginning of the rift, you know," Henry said wistfully.

"Our father wouldn't discipline us enough to salvage Robert's youthful pride, which had been damaged in front of his friends."

"His grace the duke made no mention of it while we were in Rouen,"

Ranulf murmured.

"That alone ought to convince you that Curthose is either forgetful of your role in it or a forgiving fool. But enough of my family woes. Are you enjoying being known as an elegant popinjay, Ranulf?"

Ranulf studiously avoided Aldyth's gaze as he forced a tragic look into his eyes and effortlessly took on a languid manner.

"You've no idea how fatiguing it is to set the standards of raiment around his grace's court.

"Tis so expensive to always be wearing the latest mode, the thickest velvet, the softest silk .... " Henry gave a hoot of laughter and applauded.

"You're utterly convincing, Ranulfl I salute you!"

"Well, I'm heartily sick of playing the role, I can a.s.sure you, my prince.

I'll be happy to drop the pretense during my visit here--that is, if you're certain of the allegiance of all your men."

"Absolutely. Most of them either came with the land or are ones you'll recognize as having been around me since our boyhood days. Feel free to dress as you wish and be yourself. And now I must bid you to excuse me, but I will see you at supper. You will find a hot bath awaiting you in your chamber. You might want to continue being the peac.o.c.k and come down betimes, my friend, for I will have a surprise awaiting you." He smiled myslm'iously as he left them.

"You're very quiet, Aldyth," Ranulf said as he stood at the arrow slit window, watching the waves cras.h.i.+ng in upon the rocks below in the waning light.

"Are you sorry you came on to the Cotentin with me? I could have sent you home with Urse and Vivienne, I suppose, though you would have felt prodigiously in the way. Three's a crowd when two are in love, you know."

Aldyth looked up from the tunic she was shaking out from its folds.

"Nay, I did not want to return to England, my lord .... " She looked away.

Below he had avoided her eyes; now it seemed as if he probed too deeply and would reach her soul.

"I sense a 'but' coming."

"I...

"Tis just that ever since we reached Rouen, I've felt less and less as if I know you, my lord."

He stared at her for a moment, stroking his mustache and bearded chin.

"Surely when we are alone you can drop the formality, Aldyth. I am Ranulf, the same Ranulf who used to try to rescue your hair ribbons, not 'my lord."

" He waited.

She spread the garment out upon the bed, then turned back to him. She felt as if she were about to step out onto a precipice with a sheer drop below.

"Are you the same? I don't know who you are anymore, Ranuif. I came to Kingsclere expecting one Ranulf and found quite another. You seemed to be a typical courtier of Rufus's court, but you went to Rouen and were accepted as one of Curthose's cronies. Today I see you are thick as thieves with Henry, who seems as if he would s.n.a.t.c.h whatever his brothers have, if given half a chance. Will you go home and tell Rufus what both of his brothers are saying, then?"

"No," he said, the decisiveness of his tone surprising her. "No, I shall not go back and be a telltale to Rufus--or rather, I shall tell the king enough to satisfy him. But 'tis Henry who holds my allegiance."

"Why?"

The question seemed to surprise him by its directness, and he turned back to the narrow embrasure.

"We were raised together in his father's household," he began musingly, "but it's not simply because I know him best, or think he would reward any service best. I support him because he'd be the best king for England. He has none of Robert's foolishness or Rufus's vices, and he has the best brain of the three."

"I see. And the fact that he's the most ruthless of the three doesn't bother you?"

"You see much in a brief meeting," he muttered.

"He comes by his ruthlessness honestly enough--he's the son of the Conqueror, who would have been set aside as a b.a.s.t.a.r.d if he'd shown the slightest weakness. And Henry will be 163 nothing but a forgotten third son if he isn't as ruthless. And the kingdom will be the worse for it. Ruthless or not, Aldyth, he's English in a way--the only one of William's sons to be born in England. Does that influence your feelings toward him at all? Or would you rather resurrect some pathetic Saxon relic like Edgar the Aetheling for a king?"

"What should it matter how I feel about any of them?"

she asked curiously, then was stopped by something she saw in the midnight eyes.

"You wonder if I will betray you, Ranulf?"

He stood waiting, watching her.

"You actually think that I would tell your secrets, Ranulf?" she cried.

"How little you must trust me, after all.

And to whom do you think I would betray you, my lord? " He raised a hand.