Page 47

T he next day, Bronwyn woke up. Her pallet of straw was different somehow, even though she lay on the floor and shared a room with other women servants. She rubbed dried sleep from her eyes and yawned, staring up at the ceiling, comprised of heavy, wooden rafters.

The sounds of the other maidservants sleeping, their slight snores and heavy breathing, deep in slumber, made her stay quiet.

Then she realized, they were in London, at Westminster Palace, where the night before, the empress had been enjoying a great feast. She wanted to tell Theobold everything that she’d learned and had confirmed, but she was still mad at him.

And…… considering their history, she wasn’t sure he would believe her when she revealed Lady Morwenna’s guilt.

What if he turned on her? He could. That more than anything kept Bronwyn from going to tell him immediately.

Bronwyn quietly rose, fixed her braid, pulled on her shoes, shed her thin blanket, and crept around the sleeping bodies of the maids and cooks, tiptoeing until she slipped out the door of their room.

She joined the cooks and staff who were up in the early hours for a quick bite to eat, then set about the day’s baking.

Word came down from the empress that she wanted sweet white rolls made with honey, which Bronwyn immediately remembered as Queen Matilda’s favorite.

The games were already starting, she realized.

She baked the sweet rolls as asked and put them on a plate, with word to a page to deliver them directly. He returned ten minutes later, saying the empress wanted her to make more for midday, and to bring them herself to Empress Maud at the palace, in the great hall.

Bronwyn’s eyebrows knit. She had an idea of what this was about but did as was asked.

By the time midday had come around, she had a plate of rolls ready.

Two armed guards and pages escorted her, along with a cook who bore a pitcher of wine, and together, they marched to the great hall, with its immense stone pillars; smooth, worn, polished floor; and stained-glass windows that let in the light.

The rows of the hall were filled with nobles, as Bronwyn saw a sea of faces, watching her every move.

She noticed Rupert, Lady Alice, and the Ladies Morwenna and Susanna there, as well as Theobold, who briefly met her eyes.

They might not know if she was a servant or a prisoner, but this was like theater; all were watching, and every move was like that of a puppet on a stage.

Empress Maud sat on a great chair at the far end of the room, presiding over it all. She was sitting quietly, amused, as a lady was talking.

As she and the other servants drew closer, Bronwyn recognized the voice, for she had heard it numerous times just a few months ago. It was Queen Matilda, the wife of Stephen, and she was giving an impassioned plea.

The queen was short, but her stature was great.

She had presence and moved with a feminine grace, from the slow movements that were almost like a dancer, to the demure bowing of her head.

That day, she wore a rich, blue dress of a deep color, like the darkest ocean, accessorized with long sleeves and a gold belt at her waist. She had her dark hair pinned back in waves beneath a thin, golden circlet.

“I beg you all, we must come together in unity and rid England’s fields of bloodshed. Let us return to the way things were, when there was hope, and peace among us. But that starts with having the rightful ruler in place, and my husband is just that man.”

The empress laughed and bit into an apple, chewing loudly.

Matilda continued. “He is one of you, but raised by God, with a divine right to rule. He must not be allowed to languish in prison. That is why I beg you, all of you, to convince this woman to free him. It is not right,” Queen Matilda said.

“I ask that each of you think of this injustice, weigh it in your hearts. Stephen is the true ruler.”

Bronwyn listened and heard with only half an ear, for she watched Empress Maud’s face during this, and she was in part amused, and partly livid.

She wore a pretty smile, but her eyes were flinty, her mouth fixed, almost a rictus grin.

Bronwyn could tell by the stiffening of her back, sitting rigid and straight, the hard set of her jaw, and the way her nails dug into the wooden armrests of her chair, a great, hulking wooden beast far too big for her petite form, meant for a man.

The view of the would-be throne, and how it was meant for someone so much bigger, made Bronwyn think on this.

But then Empress Maud began to clap, haltingly, almost sarcastically, sharp barks of a clap that rang out and echoed in the great hall, as if it were empty, rather than full of hundreds of men and women.

The air was warm, but Bronwyn stood stock-still as if frozen in time, as Empress Maud rose from her wooden seat and addressed the gathering.

“My dear cousin’s wife makes a pretty speech, but these are nothing but fine words, meant to distract you from the truth.

You know in your minds how best to separate falsehoods and design from what is real, and the truth of the matter is that I shouldn’t be queen. ”

Gasps sounded. Bronwyn blinked, stunned. What was she saying?

Empress Maud waited. The air hung still, as the nobles strained to listen. She clasped her hands together, almost as in prayer, and said, “By right, it belongs to my brother, William Adelin. But fate took him from us, him and so many others that day on the White Ship.”

She said, “They will never be forgotten, but the consequences of that voyage mean that my father, your former king, Henry, decreed that I am his heir, and your rightful ruler upon his death. The right to the Crown is mine, and I will claim by right what belongs to me.” Her voice was cutting.

“So many of my dear cousin’s men flock to my camp and proclaim their support. Why, even when his deadly forces took over the humble city of Lincoln, the very cooks and people living there fled to me and my encampment for help.” She motioned for Bronwyn and the page to come forward.

Bronwyn swallowed and walked ahead, together at pace with the page, who held the wine pitcher and cup. Bronwyn held out the plate of rolls, and the empress smiled and, taking her by the shoulders, turned her around to face the gathering.

There was a quiet gasp of recognition.

Bronwyn’s eyes darted to Queen Matilda. Their eyes met. Bronwyn’s were full of apology, but Matilda’s only held pity.

Bronwyn kept her eyes on the ground and Empress Maud said, “You remember this humble maidservant, a cook in the royal household, and a very good one.” Her voice grew louder.

“But when this innocent, young woman’s father was accused of a murder he did not commit, Stephen threw him in prison and forced his daughter to work in the kitchens to work off his debt.

Is that how we repay innocent Englishmen? ”

The crowd murmured at this. Empress Maud continued.

“You may recognize this young woman, Matilda, or not. I would not begrudge it if you had no memory for servants’ faces, as you clearly do not care for them.

Please, do try one of her sweet rolls. They are delicious.

” She nudged Bronwyn forward with a little push.

Bronwyn stepped forward uncertainly and walked a little distance over to the queen. She held out the platter nervously, her hands trembling.

Queen Matilda looked at the plate of rolls as if they were snakes. She whispered, “It’s all right, Bronwyn. I forgive you your part in this farce.”

Bowing her head, Bronwyn returned to the empress’s side. She wasn’t sure to whom she felt loyal at that moment. Matilda was the woman who had willingly imprisoned her father for lack of another culprit, but she also felt anger at being used by the empress.

Empress Maud grinned. “What is the matter, Matilda? Are you too high and mighty to eat good, honest bread?”

“Alas, I have no appetite.”

“What a shame.” She hastened Bronwyn to come closer. “Give the rolls to the men and women in the front row.”

Bronwyn did, offering the plate out as if serving at a feast.

The nobles took and bit into them. “Delicious,” said one man, wolfing one down.

The rolls quickly disappeared.

“You see what comes of a little faith? And good hard work and honesty? This young woman made these rolls specially for today, but Matilda is too good to eat them. She raises her nose up at the very idea of it.”

“That is not true,” Matilda said, eyeing the now-empty plate.

“You had your chance. Now it is too late,” Empress Maud taunted.

“I ask you, all of you, to help me put an end to this fighting and help me rebuild England for you all. We need peace, but that requires funds. We need money if this campaign is to succeed, and if you are to have a nation at peace again. Stephen’s forces have trampled the fields, bled the towns and villages dry.

What is to prevent him from coming after your castles next? ”

“My husband does not—” Matilda started.

“Your husband is in prison, where he’ll rot,” Empress Maud snapped.

“He is a traitor. A traitor to the Crown, to my father, and to England. He tries to steal something that is not his and worse, he lays claim to the very crown, which my father bequeathed to me. I am a good and honest woman, and I obey where my father leads. Can you say the same?”

“I…” Matilda faltered.

“Speak up, Matilda. We cannot hear you. If you are a queen, as you say, then let us hear you,” Empress Maud bellowed. She earned some laughs from the crowd and grinned.

Queen Matilda’s cheeks turned pink. To the nobles, she said, “Please, I beg you. Please help me rescue my husband. He is the true and rightful leader. He—”