The Winter Love by April Munday Page B

Edward’s more fashionable ones. Both wore much brighter clothes than she had expected. Their clothes on the ship had been drab browns, but here Edward was wearing a red over tunic with green hose, while Henry was wearing a pale blue tunic with dark blue hose. Everywhere she looked was brightness and colour. There were plenty of candles in the room, another sign of Edward’s wealth.
    Edward was a good host. He was attentive to the needs of his guests and his conversation was entertaining. He was courteous to his brother, who was also relaxed and amusing. This was yet another side of Henry for Eleanor to experience and all the more surprising for being preceded by his grief in the church. She guessed his conversation was for her benefit, as she had little to do, but to sit and listen. Edward rarely spoke directly to her, except to enquire whether she would like more wine or food. The brothers spoke about the wine they had been drinking, about what had been happening since Henry had gone to France, about Edward giving up his hawks because he wasn’t at home often enough to get the benefit  of them and about the little news that Edward had about Henry’s manor. Gradually Eleanor began to enjoy herself. At the convent mealtimes were silent affairs, unless it was accompanied by a reading from the Rule or the Fathers. And she had never known the like of the food. She reminded herself not to be disappointed with the life to which God had called her; it would be easy to prefer the luxury that she found here to the simplicity of the convent.
    After the meal Edward and Henry played merrills. Once Eleanor had picked it up she played against Henry and Edward finally left to go to his ship. He said good night to Henry and then turned to Eleanor. There was something in his expression that gave her pause, but he bowed and wished her a good night’s sleep. Henry and Eleanor played a bit longer, until Henry tired of the ease with which he beat her.
    “It is time to go to bed, I think,” he said an d Eleanor agreed. Although she had slept well enough on the ship, Henry still looked unwell and in need of sleep.
    “Sleep well,” she said, as she stood to go to her room.
    “And you.”
    Eleanor went to her bedchamber and took off her habit and wimple. Then she thought about the look on Edward’s face as he had left them. The bedchamber had no door, being separated from the passageway by a simple curtain. She was probably being foolish, she thought, but if Edward should come back and into her room, Henry was far enough away that he might not hear her call for help. It was wrong to suspect her host in this way, but he had declared that his promise to keep away from her had expired that afternoon. It did not necessarily follow that he would come into her bedchamber that evening, but she had recognised the look that he had given her as he left. He had looked like a hungry man inspecting his next meal. She shivered.
    She knew what she wanted to do, but it was one thing to share Henry’s bed because it was the safest place to be while they were travelling, or when he was sick. Now she would be asking a fully well man to let her sleep with him because she was afraid of what his brother, a man respected in this town, might do. A moment’s reflection told her that Henry knew his brother better than she did and could always send her back if he knew she had nothing to worry about and she would accept his decision.
    Eleanor picked up her candle and walked along the passageway to Henry’s bedchamber at the back of the house. This bedchamber had a door and the door was shut, but not barred and it swung open at her touch. Henry was in bed, but not asleep. He sat up and she saw his naked chest. She barely registered that he had not drawn the bed curtains before she stepped into the room
    “Eleanor, what are you doing here?”
    He made as if to get out of bed, then stopped. “I’m naked. I can’t get out of bed.”
    “Please , don’t be