Chapter 244: Find Him A Wife
"Then put an end to it now." Henry said. "Find him a wife. Richard is a duke. Women have always been falling over themselves for his attention even before his dukedom was bestowed upon him. Find suitable names. It should not be so hard. If Richard accepts the condition I set before him when I reach France...then he will need a wife when he returns to England. If he does not accept it, he remains there."
Geoffrey’s face darkened. "You would make his return conditional upon marriage?"
"Upon relinquishing any claim, public or private, to Livia."
"If Richard returns under such terms, Miss Valenti will know he was compelled. You may remove him from her path, but you cannot force her conscience to forget him. You may win the field and lose the woman."
"We will cross that bridge when we reach it."
"Do I send a message ahead to the King of France? Their party left this morning. A fast rider might still catch the royal ships before they cross fully to Calais."
"No. We do not know what Lionel will uncover," Henry said. "We do not know whether Elodie will speak. We have suspicion, not proof. I gave Lionel instructions...Elodie is to be questioned without gentleness. She either talks, or she will continue with her torture."
"Understood, Your Majesty," Geoffrey said. "I shall do as you have commanded."
"You are excused," Henry said. "Have the guards send Lionel to me when he is finished with Elodie. And send Stephen in."
"At once, Sire."
Stephen arrived not long after. "Your Majesty," he said, bowing. "You called for me."
"Yes. Have my midday meal prepared in the great hall."
Stephen blinked. "The great hall, Sire?"
Henry’s mouth twitched. "You heard me."
"We have not used it for the king’s meal since Your Majesty came to the throne."
"I am aware."
Stephen hesitated. "May I ask if there is a reason?"
"Someone informed me that my court needs to see more of me."
"Ah. She does have the makings of a queen, does she not?" Stephen said.
"Tell me something, Stephen."
The valet looked up.
"Why are you the only man around me with no objection to Livia? With what you know, you have not once advised me against it."
"She makes you happy, my lord."
"See to the preparations."
Stephen bowed. "At once, Your Majesty." He withdrew, and Henry sat in silence, holding those words for longer in his thoughts.
She makes you happy.
*****
Theodora, as usual, arrived like a storm. She had been informed almost immediately that the king was taking his midday meal in the great hall.
With Miss Valenti.
Naturally.
Whitehall’s servants had carried the news through the palace. Henry never used the great hall. He preferred his private chambers, his little pockets of solitude.
Now, after one night with that Italian bitch, he had opened the doors. The change itself was not bad. Theodora could admit that. A king seen at table reminded the court of its centre. Visibility was useful.
She simply despised the reason. One night in Henry’s bed, and already the girl was altering royal habit. A morning meal in his privy chamber. Her belongings creeping into his lodgings. Now the great hall thrown open. She entered the great hall with her maid.
The hall, long neglected for royal dining, had been revived in haste. The high table had been laid. Plate gleamed under the rush of midday light.
Henry sat where a king ought to sit. Livia sat near him. "Mother," Henry called, his tone bright enough to be offensive. "I thought your little birds would bring you the message."
Theodora smiled as she advanced. "What task have I, my son, but to keep my eyes and ears open? A mother worries." She reached the high table and inclined her head. "Your Majesty."
"Your Grace."
Livia rose at once. Theodora’s gaze shifted to her. The girl curtsied properly. "Your Grace," she said.
Theodora took the seat at the opposite end of the table. Only after Theodora had settled did Livia return to her own chair, smoothing her gown as she sat. Theodora’s maid stepped forward at once and began serving her mistress, laying food upon a silver plate. Theodora did not look at the food.
Her eyes remained on Henry. "You know who is missing from this table?"
Henry lifted his cup. "Actually, I believe we are one person too many already."
Theodora smiled. "Your future queen." She had not arrived for luncheon. She had arrived for war, and like any seasoned commander, she had begun by choosing soft ground. "I hear you are reconsidering your marriage plans with the princess."
"You hear a great many things."
"I make it my duty." Her gaze slid to Livia. "What do you think of it?"
Livia met her eyes. "What His Majesty chooses to do is his own business. My thoughts do not matter, Your Grace."
"Spoken like a woman with no courtly sense."
"Mother." Henry called.
"Your Majesty?"
"I do have the authority to have you removed from this hall."
Theodora’s brows rose. "I am your mother. Surely you will show me respect before your mistress."
"I am your king. Surely you will show respect for my authority."
Theodora’s eyes glittered. There it was between them: son and mother, king and almost-queen, affection long curdled into contest. Livia could feel the history beneath every word, years of resentment. "I am merely trying to instruct her...The poor girl must learn her place as favourite. Such positions are delicate. Too much hope can be fatal."
Henry’s lips thinned. He knew precisely where this was going. Theodora turned her attention fully to Livia then.
"It was not so very long ago that Lady Bella held the same place," she said. "It began just like this. A seat close to him. Meals brought to private chambers. Night after night of being summoned until the whole palace knew which woman warmed the king’s bed. Poor Bella was so pleased with herself."
"She was young too," Theodora said softly. "Young ladies can grow drunk on a king’s affection. It feels like love, I suppose. When a man with power makes you believe you are not merely desired, but chosen."