His face was so close that she could see the faint sprinkling of freckles across his nose, and the tiniest barber's nick on his cheekbone. 'You'll save him, and you'll let him know that it is your skill that has kept him out of a shroud. His upper lip curled into what was almost a snarl.
'Louis, you're hurting me. She tugged herself free and rubbed her bruised elbow.
He stepped back and, with a little shake of his head, breathed out. His tone softened and he stroked her cheek. 'Catty, if he dies, then so do my hopes of becoming a baron. Save his life, and you will have not only his eternal gratitude, but that of the entire royal party, and we can make what we want of it.
Now she understood. He was in the midst of the largest gamble of his life and her skill was the luck that loaded his dice. 'Everything has its price in your eyes, doesn't it? she said with contempt. 'I wonder about my own worth to you. If I had not been known to the King and desired by another man, would you have valued me enough to bind me with old wedding vows?
His eyes narrowed. 'You know I would. Don't be such a shrew.
Without a word she turned from him and approached the stairs to the royal chamber.
Chapter 21
On the second Sunday in May, the castellan of Wickham Keep drank too much, fell off his horse, landed on his skull and killed himself. The news was delivered to Stephen in Northampton, where he lay weak as a kitten but recuperating, under the watchful eye of the Queen, his senior retainers and Catrin.
During the first week of his illness, his brother, the Bishop of Winchester, had administered the last rites to a man delirious with fever and on the brink of death. The Queen had knelt in prayer by her husband's side the night through, while Catrin laboured over him with steam inhalants, aromatic chest plasters and honey and blackcurrant tisanes.
Another twelve hours passed before the fever broke. Sweat poured out of Stephen as if he were a leaky bucket, and as swiftly as the sheets were stripped and replaced he soaked them again. By the time it was over, he was lying on a table-cloth purloined from the dais trestle in the hall, and covered with blankets borrowed from his retainers. Catrin was as exhausted as a limp sheet herself, and scarcely had the strength to feel triumph as the King opened lucid eyes for the first time in three days.
Since then he had continued to improve and a fortnight later, although still possessed of a wheezy cough and confined to bed, was conducting daily business from his chamber.
'Fell off his horse, he repeated, tossing the vellum message on the bed and scowling at the man who had brought it. 'I don't believe it. Good God, the man was almost born in the saddle! He drew his furred bedrobe around his painfully thin body.
The messenger looked at the floor and shuffled his feet. 'Sire, he mumbled.
'Oh, it's not your fault. Begone. Stephen waved his hand in terse dismissal. As the man bowed and scurried gratefully to the door, the frown deepened between Stephen's brows. Picking up the letter he studied it again, narrowing his eyes at the scribe's untidy scrawl.
'He was a good man, de Chesham, but overly fond of his wine — to his cost and ours, God rest his soul. He made the sign of the cross with the same irritation with which he had dismissed the messenger.
Catrin came to him from the hearth where she had been preparing a savoury milk broth.
'I cannot even rise from my bed but must lie here like a puling infant, supping food fit only for old men, Stephen added with disgust as she placed the steaming cup in his hand.
Catrin reddened. 'It will help to replenish your strength, sire.
Stephen glowered, but set the cup to his lips. 'It had better. He took a swallow, grimaced for form's sake, and looked across at his brother and William d'Ypres. 'He'll have to be replaced immediately, he said. 'But who can we send?
'There's Thomas FitzWarren, said the bishop. 'He's served me right well as a castellan in the past.
'In the past, there you have it, Henry. Stephen shook his head and took another swallow of the milk broth. 'He's nigh on three score years. You've already had the best out of him, brother.
Catrin had become such a fixture of the royal bedchamber in recent weeks that she was treated as such. If she had possessed a loose tongue, she could have earned herself a fortune in silver from the things she heard. Prudently, she had spoken to no one, not even her husband. Oh, she fed him harmless details about the King's health, what he wore and what he ate. She told him about visits from the Queen and the royal offspring and seasoned the bland trivia with occasional items of gossip that were destined for the common melting pot anyway. Catrin preferred not to examine her reasons too closely. It was easier to dwell in the shallows than probe the murky depths.
Now, listening to the King and his senior advisors discussing the castellanship of Wickham, she remained nearby and, instead of being unobtrusive, deliberately clattered at her work.
Henry of Winchester threw her an irritated look. His eyes were like Stephen's in colour but were smaller and without the King's candour or good-natured twinkle. William d'Ypres followed the direction of the bishop's glower. His own gaze rested thoughtfully on Catrin, and the faintest suggestion of a smile curved beneath his moustache. 'I know of a younger man who has been chafing at the bit for some while, and to whom you owe a favour, he said.
Stephen raised his brows. He too looked at Catrin. 'There are many men of that ilk, he said, but his expression was considering. 'What experience?
William d'Ypres shrugged. 'His father was commander of the garrison at Chepstow and gave him a grounding. Other than that, he's quick-witted with good soldiering abilities. Give him a chance, I say. If he proves unsuitable, then replace him.
Stephen rubbed his beard. 'You're right, he murmured. 'A man cannot be tried unless he's tested. He drank down the rest of the milk broth and wiped his lips. 'Does that suit you, Mistress Grosmont?
'Sire? Catrin widened her eyes. She had almost choked when she heard William d'Ypres tell the King that Louis's father had been commander of a garrison, when he had been no more than a common serjeant at arms.
Stephen smiled. 'Come now, you have ears beneath your wimple and they hear very well, the times you have been at my side in the night with a cup before I have scarcely stirred. I am going to offer that husband of yours the custody of my keep at Wickham.
Catrin knelt to him, her head lowered, her face flaming. 'Sire, I do not know what to say. Which was true enough. She was breathless with surprise that it had been so easy; but her stomach was churning too. 'Thank you seems not enough.
'In truth I am only repaying what I owe for my life, Stephen said, a smug grin on his face as if the suggestion had been his in the first place. 'Go and find your man and bring him to me for confirmation. My scribes will make out the necessary letters for the constable.
Catrin could not wait to leave the room. She knew that the King and d'Ypres were amused by her flustered response, and that Henry of Winchester was contemptuous. Whatever the angle they all thought her a foolish woman, never realising their own folly. As she descended the tower stairs, her joy for Louis warred with the tarnish of the lie he had told d'Ypres. How many other falsehoods was his reputation built upon? She tried to ignore the thought. Louis would make a good commander. What did his father's occupation matter?
A niggling voice replied that it was not his father's occupation that mattered at all. His lies were the real concern but, despite the acuteness of her hearing, or perhaps because of it, Catrin chose not to listen.
While Wickham was not a castle of significance in the mould of Windsor or London, it was nevertheless useful to Stephen. Together with Warwick, Winchcomb and Northampton, it served as a counter to the Empress's castles at Worcester and Hereford. It was of no great size, but solidly built, and reminded Catrin of a stout man standing with feet planted apart and arms akimbo. In a way, it was almost endearing.
The June sun turned the stone blocks to a deep, ruddy gold and flashed upon the roof tiles as their entourage approached the huge wooden gates. A hundred paces from the keep, Louis drew rein and leaned back in the saddle to study his new acquisition.
