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“Is it?” James was startled. He had certainly not had time to think about women during his own time as a squire.

Or since that time, if he was honest. He eyed his brother-in-law’s appearance anew.

Hal was a stout young fellow with a shock of tow-colored hair like his sister’s only cut much shorter.

He had a confident bearing, a booming voice, and an open, honest face.

Out of his friends he was probably the least prepossessing for Cuthbert and Kit were very good-looking.

Then again, Cuthbert’s conversation was disconcerting to say the least, and Kit scowled too much to be considered truly amiable company.

Out of the three of them, was it possible that Hal was the most popular?

“Hal’s got this preposterous theory,” Kit said, leaning forward, “that every woman, every woman mind you, has something pretty about her. Even if it’s something like her hands or her ankles or her manner of speech.”

“And I fully stand by that statement,” Hal said, glancing around and hailing a servant approaching with a platter of bread. “Ah, there’s the fellow.” He slapped him on the shoulder and complimented his skill on balancing several trays at once.

“Hal is popular with ladies and servants alike,” Cuthbert commented quietly. “They all like him. Young or old. My own granny says she would swap me for him given half the chance.”

Hal laughed at something the servant said, and James noticed him set down a second lot of bread likely intended for another table. There was an inelegant scramble and James was grateful there were two lots, or he would have ended up entirely breadless.

“Hal may be popular,” Kit said waspishly, “but is it any wonder when he’s so indiscriminate in his tastes? He’ll woo anyone who gives him the time of day!” Snub Nose hooted with laughter.

“Montmayne speaks true,” said Cosgrave. “Payne spent over an hour holding Hortense Latimer’s hand and parading her about at Areley Kings as though she was some fine lady in need of escort,” he said derisively.

“And what if I did?” asked Hal through a mouthful of bread. “She’s a very nice girl. I’ll wager I had a better time of it than you did, Cosgrave. You got booted from the bohort and your master gave you a thick ear for your pains, did he not?”

The other boys laughed, and Cosgrave looked sulky. “A good time?” he jeered. “Why, ’cos she sneaked you half a dozen pies after supper.”

“They were excellent pies,” Hal reminisced fondly.

“A good mix of sweet and savory. Besides, Hortense is a good talker once she gets going. You just have to give her a chance. Told me all her hopes and fears, gave me a tour of the grounds there and said she would look out for me next year.” Hal looked smug.

“You’d better hope she doesn’t set her sights on you in earnest!” Kit warned, shaking his head. “Or you’ll be for it!”

“She’s betrothed now,” Cuthbert announced, surprising everyone greatly.

“Is she?” demanded Snub Nose. “First I’ve heard of it and she’s my second cousin! To whom?”

Cuthbert squinted his eyes. “Some long-standing friend of the family, I think. Name begins with a J . Jacomb?” he suggested uncertainly.

“Is it Jacobson?” Hal asked excitedly.

Cuthbert’s shoulders relaxed. “Yes, that is it.”

Hal whistled. “Good for her.”

“Henry Jacobson?” Snub Nose looked stunned. “Fancy his offering for her! I know that’s what her mother and sisters were praying for, but I thought it a vain hope, truth to tell!”

“You’ve been cut out, Payne!” Cosgrave guffawed. “I doubt you’ll get your tour of Areley Kings next year!”

“I disagree,” Hal said complacently. “For all she may be married, I’ll wager she still stands my friend. We shared a perfect summer’s afternoon. One does not forget such a thing and one should not.”

The other boys looked flummoxed by such a sentiment.

Fortunately, a second wave of servants appeared bearing large platters of sliced gammon and eggs poached in milk and topped with cheese.

The boys cheered, and pulling their knives from their belts, they fell upon the platters, dragging the meat onto their plates with wild, uncouth enthusiasm.

He had almost forgotten what it was like to be a squire, James mused as he watched the food disappear with astonishing rapidity.

A few tidbits made their way into Hal’s tunic from which a small snout and a pair of bright, shiny eyes protruded, but the rest was consumed as by a pack of slavering wolves.

Cuthbert nudged the eggs closer to James, who made haste to help himself before the platter was seized and dragged to the opposite end of the table. “You have to be quick,” Cuthbert warned. “Or you’ll end up with an empty belly, else.”

“So I see” was James’s rejoinder.

Though his own master had been no tourney-goer, they had attended the high feasts well enough, so he knew what a scrimmage it could be. Such occasions though had been far from the norm in his own training. He fancied it must be rather different for squires who followed the tournament circuit.

“Do you enjoy being squire, Ames?” he asked Cuthbert impulsively.

Cuthbert shrugged. “I do, in the main. It has both good and bad sides, like most things in life.”

A scuffle had broken out on the far side of the hall.

A table overturned with a crash of a splintering of broken vessels.

The boys all jumped up onto their feet, craning to see the parties involved.

Hadrian leaped up onto the bench to get a bird’s-eye view.

“It’s Peterson,” he announced excitedly.

“He’s got Bauer in a headlock!” Hal whooped and all the boys left their empty trenchers to fly across the hall to form a large, noisy circle around the combatants.

James sighed. At least during the royal summer and autumn tournaments they had reinforcements of the royal guards to keep participants in check.

These Squires’ Revels seemed entirely unsupervised.

If present company was a true representation, then most of them had not even been accompanied by their mentor knights into the capital.

Glancing around the hall, he could see precious few figures of authority, just a lot of bewildered and distressed courtiers. Getting to his feet with some reluctance, James started in the direction of the scuffle.