The Heavy Crown
Bath, England - January 1138
Eadward stood in the cold morning air with only a blanket to cover his bare form. He stood before the open window and felt the chill but held the blanket closely around him. A slight snow covered the grounds below, but already the sun was shining overhead and some few creatures were scavenging beneath the melting ice. A snore coming from the bed behind him caused him to turn his head only slightly with scorn across his face, but he looked down below once more and felt that melt away as well.
She’d been a pretty creature, he knew. The looks of a woman were always a thing prized to his mind and this one was young and comely, full of figure and yet petite all at once. The daughter of the gardener, mayhaps? Or was it the gamekeeper? He could not recall, in truth, but there was little to do when she was given word that the King wished her to his chambers.
Spirited in bed she was as well, though he did not truly have his heart into it. And he was a much older man at the now. Yet the blood did rush and he had done his part. As he considered it now, however, it did not match former conquests. She was no Madrun of Gwynedd, this child behind him. Certainly she was not his late wife. If she was anything at all, she was a way to take his mind from his loss. An attempt to find some satisfaction, if there was any to be had.
A solid snort came from the sleeping girl and in irritation, Eadward announced over his shoulder in a loud voice, “My dear...you would rise. I would give you leave!”
“Your Grace?” came the soft tone of the girl barely awake.
He turned and found a frown once more, “What is your name, girl?”
She caught his eye and immediately sprang from the bed to bow to him even in her nakedness as she covered her body with her arms, “Ealdgyth, Your Grace...”
“Then Ealdgyth...” Eadward was quick to respond, “...you would find your dress and take your leave. I commend you on the night but as you may see, it is now over and a fresh day does find us. I thank you for your troubles.”
Young Ealdgyth was confused and then startled as a knock came to the door and a page outside called out, “Your Grace...the Lord Harold does await your pleasure to the council chamber!”
Eadward found a more pleasing face as he kept his eye to the naked girl before him as he called out, “Send in my groom!”
The girl seemed frozen in place and shivered in the chill air as the door quickly opened and the King’s groom was swift to find a cover for her. Though he kept his gaze away, the groom moved with alacrity to gather her things and ushered this young Ealdgyth right away through the back door to the King’s chamber. Eadward sat to a table and poured a morning cup of ale and did not find a smile as the groom reentered the room.
“Did His Grace find a peaceful rest?” the groom asked as he moved to pour some ice cold water to a basin for the King.
Eadward allowed a heavy gulp of the ale before standing before the basin and dipping his head under the water. As he stood tall once more, the groom was quick with a towel and Eadward dried at his head, “It was uneventful.”
“Very good, Your Grace,” the groom kept his head low, “Would His Grace wish for a full dress or simply a heavy robe?”
“I think a heavy robe, sir,” Eadward allowed the blanket to drop from his shoulders and stood there with his arms stretched out in his nakedness.
The groom was quick to provide a heavy woolen tunic and helped the King pull it over his head before moving back to the chamber door to give a knock. Within seconds, two young boys entered and began work on the fire in the hearth, stoking it to warm up the room. The groom offered the King a pair of wool stockings over his arm as he gave a bow. As the two boys scuttled from the room, Eadward sat once more and began to put on the hose as his groom stood before him with a fine robe held out, “His Grace may like this one. It comes direct from Flanders with regards from the Lord there.”
Eadward gave it some regard as he stood, “A pretty pattern. Yes...that will do.”
The groom was quick to help the King slide both arms in and shifted to find a silken sash, “An excellent piece, Your Grace.”
“And have some victuals sent to the council chamber, for I am famished and yet have need to meet with the Lord Chancellor,” Eadward tied the sash himself and moved to leave the chamber.
“Very good, Your Grace,” Eadward heard the groom suggest as he moved to the hallway and made his way to Lord Harold. To those encountered along the way, none spoke but each lowered their heads in a bow. Eadward did not pay attention such was his mind and by the time he reached the council chamber, he found a smile come across his face.
“My Lord Chancellor,” Eadward announced to the bowing Harold when he entered, “I do hope that you come to me with some fine news.”
“I may hope it so, Your Grace,” Harold stood and quickly moved to pour the King a cup of ale as Eadward sat to his chair, “Quite some good news, if I may say.”
Eadward kept his smile as Harold offered him the cup, “Nay, my Lord...you may take the cup yourself. I’ve already had mine and I have ordered some treat for the morrow. But sit and tell me what you have found.”
“Very kind, Your Grace,” Harold gave another slight bow and sat to his place, “I am sorry to disturb you at such an early hour but it has been a busy time.”
“Quite right,” Eadward offered a nod, “I wake early at any rate. I know well what I have charged you and it was barely after my beloved Judith found her eternal rest that I sent you off. A far piece from Norfolk, as well.”
Harold placed the full cup aside and returned the King’s smile, “Not so very far, Your Grace...yet I do ask again...why not to Westminster?”
“I have told you, my Lord,” Eadward placed his hands to the table, “My dear wife did have wish to find her internment next to her Lord father...our Lord Skuli. You did never know him, but a fine man he was. I could not deny her that.”
“It is just...that...” Harold struggled to find his words.
Eadward helped him by moving him along, “Consider it no more as it is a thing done. A sad one, at that. The Prince Æthelric does turn inward at the now at such a loss and I do well to keep his spirit high. So I may ask of you...might you do the same for your King. What of your mission?”
“Indeed I know well, Your Grace,” Harold held his head low, “My Lady Hereswith is inconsolable.”
Eadward gave nod, “She is a sweet girl and loved her mother, as we all did. And yet...what news from the north?”
Harold threaded his fingers before him on the table, “A busy time as I say, Your Grace. I was scarcely returned before there was some discontent to a town near to here. Yet I think to have calmed their spirits and given them faith that all be well.”
“You do a superb job, my Lord...” Eadward offered him a skewed eye, “...and yet, you do not answer my query.”
“I do apologize, Your Grace,” Harold bowed his head, “It was somewhat more difficult to the north...to Lancaster.”
Eadward looked on with a raised brow, “Need I send our Lord Berold there, my Lord? I was told that the Lady did love me well. Does she not find her affection at the now?”
With a raised hand, Harold tried to smile, “In all ways, Your Grace...she does indeed find affection. Yet I have counseled to you that she does remain to mourning, and her position does not change.”
“She would not wish to be Queen once more?” Eadward asked with some surprise.
Harold tried to be careful in his response, “I do not think it is considered, Your Grace. Though there was no consummation, the Lady Ada does not see how the Holy Father might grant a dispensation to see her married to two brothers of Wessex. She did give it deep thought, yet it did give her soul great pause. As much as she might wish it...and she said that she did...it was not a Godly thing to do, as she spoke to me.”
“That is a great disappointment,” Eadward replied trying to hide his own hurt at what he thought might be a slight, “I have done my best to support His Holiness in his crusade though it falters still, but he may well consider our plea should we put it to him. I think to have his ear. Was there some other that gives her pause?”
“None other, Your Grace,” Harold was quick to shake his head, “It was this and no thing else. It does give a great weight to her mind and the Lady could think of no way to see it happen.”
Eadward offered a sharper eye to his Chancellor, “I believe that I have told you that a match with Mercia is most desired, my Lord. There is none other that would mean as much at the now.”
“Of course, Your Grace, and I know it well...” Harold answered with some nervousness, “...naught a Scottish Princess or a French one would do, indeed.”
“So why then do you come back to me with an answer of no...my Lord?” Eadward kept a steely gaze.
Harold remained careful, “It is not entirely a naught answer, Your Grace. The Lady has offered another path.”
“What other path might there be?” Eadward questioned with irritation.
“Your Grace...” Harold hesitated knowing it would not be pleasing, “...her sister...the Lady Margaret.”
Eadward stood and placed both hands flat to the table as he loomed over his Chancellor, “She is a child!”
The Lord Chancellor kept tall under the wilting gaze, “Thirteen...moving soon to fourteen, Your Grace. A great prize and already many have sought out such a match with her. Lady Ada would not see it such is her care, but for you...Your Grace, she would assent.”
“You have done fine work in your time, my Lord...” Eadward moved to pick up the cup of ale on the table and shifted to look out the window, “...yet I do believe that you fail me at the now.”
Harold remained tall in his seat as he looked to the King, “I know well what it is that you wish and I think to have found it for you, Your Grace.”
“Do you?” Eadward turned with some anger, “For my wish is to find another bride. It is my wish to have another son. It is my wish to see this House joined with Mercia such that they may not rebel when it suits them. It is my desire to see you make that so...sir.”
The Duke of Gloucester stood with a calm stance and a determined eye, “Begging your apologies, Your Grace, but I have found you a bride and a young one at that. There should be no trouble finding you male issue in that and it does connect this House with Mercia. I may also suggest that a match with the Lady Ada does present a problem perhaps not considered.”
“Do you think that I do not consider them all?” Eadward stepped to him.
“Mayhap not this...Your Grace,” Harold bowed his head before looking to the King with a sure eye, “Should you find male issue with Lady Ada, any son would find more land and ability than your princely son Æthelric. The Prince is meant to be King and it would not be best to have a younger brother with more. That...Your Grace...is a recipe for anarchy. I put to you the best that I have found that gives you all that you may wish and desire but without the headache and the trouble. I humbly submit myself to you and await your judgment.”
As Lord Harold bent to a knee and kept his head low, Eadward looked on him with scorn at first but finally found a charmed eye. The King stepped to him to raise him up and looked on clearly impressed, “Mayhap I am the one that requires the judgment, my Lord. I do think that you do your worth.”
“I would do no other, Your Grace,” Harold stood but kept his head low.
Eadward put a hand under his chin to raise it, “You do remind of myself, my Lord Harold. You would think of all things and appreciate it, I do. One may lose some sight under this weight, and it remains to others to remind them.”
“I merely wish the best for you, Your Grace,” Harold answered with a pleading eye.
“And I believe that you have done so,” Eadward answered as he finally found a smile once more, “If the good Lady does give assent...then I give you leave to make it happen.”
Harold was certain in response, “I do believe that you will be happy once more, Your Grace.”
“I think not that I shall ever be happy again, sir...” Eadward stepped away and drained the cup of ale before placing it down upon the table, “...yet sound. I wish it all sound.”
Harold bowed his head once more as he grasped the King’s hand, “I promise to make it so, Your Grace. I do so swear.”
