The de Montfort Histories - The Dove and the Devil Read Online Free Page A

family, he was a distant cousin
of Alicia’s. He had come as a young page to Simon’s estates and, in turn, had
become the most useful of the several young noblemen who had arrived there to
undergo training. Simon reckoned he would make an excellent knight when the
time came.
    “I’ve asked him to organize Amaury’s first hauberk with the armourers.
He chose the German to make it. From what I’ve heard of the man’s reputation, I
think Walter’s choice was sound. We will present it to the boy tonight at dinner,
but I want to be sure everything is in place so there will be no disappointment
for him.”
    “How old is Amaury? Surely not old enough for a hauberk!” Geoffrey
looked surprised. How quickly the years pass by!
    “Oh, he’s old enough, and I think he already has the makings of a good
soldier. Didn’t I tell you we have decided he’s to go away? We think he’ll be
delighted with the hauberk. It will soften the blow of his leaving, at least as
far as he is concerned. I’m not so sure about Alicia’s reaction, though, when
the time comes. She has agreed that he must go somewhere, and we have made up
our minds that he will go to my uncle of Leicester within the next fortnight.
She knows my aunt, the Countess of Leicester, so he won’t be going to complete
strangers, which is a blessing. I had to do a great deal of persuading, I can
tell you! She finally agreed when I pointed out that that her own brothers had
come to my father’s court and we hadn’t treated them badly.”
    “It’s always hard when the firstborn leaves,” Geoffrey agreed. “My
mother cried for days after I left, and what did I care? I was too taken up
with all the new sights and sounds I was encountering along the way. I didn’t
miss my mother at all, nor anyone else for that matter!”
    “Better tell that to Alicia,” Simon said. “She might find some comfort
in it. I can’t deny that I will miss him, too, but there is no one I would
rather send him to than my uncle of Leicester. His methods of training are
known to be the best in England, and also the fairest. Alicia would tear my
head off if anything happened to the boy. I am well aware that some abuse goes
on, if not amongst the pages and squires, then sometimes amongst the knights
and the young pages. De Noyesville’s son was quite ruined after his encounter
with one of de Mauvoisin’s knights. The child was never right again.”
    “I heard that story but I confess I didn’t give it much credence. You
know what hotbeds of gossip castles can be.”
    “This wasn’t merely gossip, my friend; this was proven, and Jacques de
Verneil was nearly degraded as a result.” Simon looked fierce as he spoke. “He
was lucky to have had powerful friends to intercede for him. I would have felt
no compunction about stripping him of his knighthood had it been my child he
had interfered with!”   Simon loved
his children with a fierceness that was quite unprecedented amongst his noble
friends, who marvelled at his ferocity on the battlefield and his tolerance at
home.
    “Well,” said Geoffrey. “I suppose I had better go and make myself ready
and see if that lazy scoundrel of a groom has followed my orders. I must say
I’m not looking forward to meeting Gauthier this afternoon. He was always
bigger and stronger than I, even when we were playing at jousting.” He turned
to leave.
    “Good luck,” said Simon, giving him a friendly smack on the back. “But
not better than mine, I hope. I want to win this tournament. Perhaps we’ll meet
in the finals tomorrow!”
    Giving him a cheery wave he went to look for his squire. He hadn’t gone
more than a few paces in his search for him when his attention was caught by a
familiar sound. He could clearly hear it over the din from the lists.
    “Papa! Papa!” Who could mistake that voice? It fairly squeaked with
excitement. A small boy emerged from the crowd, followed closely—too
closely for his brother’s liking—by Guy and his