Captives by Emily Murdoch Page B

truth!”
    “Well,” Adeliza said after they stopped chuckling, “he would be a good match for Isabella – but now I think it more likely that he shall marry Emma.”
    Catheryn screwed up her nose in confusion, and ripped some bread off the loaf before her.
    “Why?”
    Adeliza looked around her, as if to check that no one was listening to their conversation.
    “I have not spoken of this with anyone,” she said conspiratorially, “not even my husband, for I have not seen him since he left to go with our King to England. But there are now no limits on the type of man my daughters can marry – no limits of country, especially.”
    Catheryn’s eyes widened as she began to understand what Adeliza was hinting at. “You mean…?”
    Adeliza nodded. “Having a husband who is English is no longer a problem, and there is one man who is the prize.”
    Catheryn spluttered out her words, “You can’t mean… Edgar Ætheling?”
    “You don’t think that my daughter is worthy of him?” Adeliza’s voice was frosty once more, and Catheryn was brutally reminded of their first meeting.
    “Wait, wait,” she said hurriedly, “you misunderstand me. I just did not realise that Edgar was still an eligible match for any young woman. I would have thought that King William would not want him to marry a woman of such a high status family. Surely Isabella and Edgar’s children would be a great threat to the royal family?”
    Adeliza waved away that concern with her hand. “Edgar cannot seriously consider himself an alternative to William. His marriage to Isabella will only secure her and her children’s lands both here and in England. Ralph de Gael will then marry Emma.”
    “God forbid.”
    Adeliza and Catheryn turned in shock to look at the man who had spoken. It was the young man sitting beside Adeliza. He blushed. He turned away from them, and started talking to his neighbour.
    The two women couldn’t help themselves. They collapsed into giggles. They only paused in their laughter to help themselves to more succulent pork that was being offered to them by a servant. The man sitting on the other side of Adeliza leaned forward to help himself too, but before either woman could speak to him, he returned to his seat and began eating silently.
    “That,” Adeliza said in an undertone, “is my son, Roger.”
    Catheryn stole a glance at the boy – or rather, young man. His hair mirrored his mother’s, but she had to assume that his face was closer to his father’s, as there were no similarities there.
    “Tell me about him,” Catheryn said, turning back to Adeliza. “He seems very… different from his sisters.”
    Adeliza smiled happily. “He is a little shy, perhaps, and a little too concerned with the way that people think about him, but Roger is a good man. He is seventeen years, and very good with our villagers. The people love him.”
    Catheryn nodded. “Those are good traits for a son – but then, did you not say that you had four children? Where is the fourth?”
    “William is my oldest, named for his father,” Adeliza drained her goblet, and gestured for a servant to bring her more wine. “In fact, he is lately married.”
    “Congratulations! Who is the lucky woman?”
    “There is no reason why you would know her – Maud is her name, but she comes from no family of particular repute.”
    Catheryn hesitated, but then continued to say what she thought. “I would have expected the eldest son of such a house as yours to marry a woman of great power and wealth.”
    Adeliza smiled. “You forget that everything has changed. Before this time last year, this house was ancient, and yet had accrued little honour. But my husband is the cousin of our King William, and our power rises with his. William married almost three years ago now. Maud may not have a title or a name worth keeping, but she is beautiful, well-learned, and came with a large dowry. What’s more, they are fond of each other. We saw no reason to