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"Your rulided forward and sank into a deep, graceful curtsey He stood to the side in the king&039;s private court rooainst the table at which the clerk scratched royal edicts onto parchment paper He had arrived at Madelyne&039;s chao to escort her to Henry&039;s presence She&039;d spoken little to him, and he&039;d returned the favor in kind

Madelyne rose upon the king&039;s invitation, and pressed a kiss to his ringed forefinger before stepping slightly back Her graceful neck was bare again-long and sli about her nape-and she wore a fine gown of goldenrod covered by a pale yellow overtunic The lack of jewelry was the only indication of her status as a nun and not the well-landed heiress she could aspire to be

"Your rateful for the invitation to your presence," Madelyne said in a clear voice

Henry stood next to hisin the sunlight that streah three wide slits in the wall "We are as pleased to offer the invitation as you purport to be grateful" He stepped away from the chair and across the dais to place his hands on the back of the eed to Eleanor "&039;Tis our understanding that you have sought sanctuary in an abbey? For ten years?"

Madelyne nodded "Aye, yourTricourten" She clasped her hands in front of her

Gavin frowned "Your mother is dead, as you told me, Lady Madelyne" He stepped away fro and took several steps closer to Madelyne, so that he could see her face

Henry flashed a look at him, then transferred his stern stare to Madelyne "Is this true? Your er lives?"

"Aye, &039;tis true Mayhap I was not clear in hness My mother and I made our way to Lock Rose Abbey, and she perished some three years after we arrived there"

"Why did you not return to your father at that time?" Henry paced across the dais, in front of the two thrones, his steady gaze focused on Madelyne

Gavin saw her draw in her breath, oh so slightly, and then slowly release it before she replied "Your majesty, my mother and I left Tricourten because she bore the ill will of ht of his hand I dared not return, for fear that he would take out his anger on meand, in sooth, I had not the means to return, nor did I knohere Tricourten was I was only ten suhness, when my mother and I left"

Henry pursed his lips, pinching the lower one with his right thuer "&039;Tis not uncouarantee her obediencestill, we do find it rather ambitious that your hts, Lady Madelyne, you should be returned to your father&039;s care"

Gavin saw her face turn to white, and herakin to syreat fear of Fantin de Belgrume

"Your " Madelyne&039;s voice, though calm, was a bit breathless with anxiety "I have spent these last ten years in an abbey, cared for by the good sisters, and I have chosen to eious woman Indeed, I should never have left had you not requested lancing at Gavin archly Returning his attention to Madelyne, the king asked, "You are a nun? You have taken your final vows?"

The long white column of her throat constricted "Nay, your majesty, I have not shaved h &039;tis my intent-"

"You have not yet taken your vows? Verily, you are not a nun" Henry waved her protest aside with a large, beringed hand

"Your highness," Madelyne began, "&039;Tis my intent-"

"Your intent has laid unaze was as shrewd as his words were pointed, and Gavin felt a bit sorry for her "You have had ample opportunity to make those vows, and as you have not seen fit to do so, then we shall make the choice for you"

Her eyes widened and her face became even paler "You would return me to the custody of my father?" Her hands were clenched in front of her, the knuckles graying as her fingers curled together

"Nay" Henry stepped down from the dais and across the roooblet of wine "Gavin, serve yourself and Lady Madelyne," he co back onto the dais

"Nay, Lady Madelyne, we shall not return you to the care of your father In sooth, &039;tis our plan to keep your wardship under our care until a proper protector-a husband-can be found for you In thethe lands of our other barons and causing war auest at court"

"But, your oblet of wine Gavin offered her, "please have pity-I have made a vow to God that I shall dedicate listen with unshed tears and trepidation tauten her face, and he nearly reached out to touch her How terrible it ht, suddenly realizing how accurate she&039;d been when she told hiranted to woe that he&039;d been party to-nay, that he was responsible for-destroying that freedom she&039;d obtained crested over him like a dash of cold water

Henry had turned to Madelyne and now looked at her with steely blue eyes "My lady," he responded in his firm, monarchical voice, "we do not attempt to naysay God, but, as we have made clear, your dedication to Hin, from God Himself, if you wish, that &039;tis not His desire that you do so We shall hear no rown impatient, and he slashed his hand in the air as if to cut off any further protestations on her part

"As you wish, your htly downcast, hands balled together at her waist

There was a prolonged silence as the king sipped again frooblet, and it was broken as he set the cup down deliberately on a small table near his throne "Lady Madelyne, you are noard of the king, and you shall fulfill your duties here in our court by serving her majesty, Queen Eleanor We shall collect a fine from your father-Burland!" he called over to the scribe who had continued to huddle over a table, scratching at his parche The scribe&039;s head popped up and he blinked blearily "Burland, send you a notice to Fantin de Belgru on the wardship of his daughter, Madelyne"

Gavin caught the glint of hurin Henry did not htest chance to add to the royal coffers in any legitimate e when he received the notice, and there was naught he could do but pay it

He sobered as he looked at Madelyne again She stood rigid as a statue, as cool and sure, silent as the uilt thrashed him, but he pushed it away He was not responsible for the fact that she&039;d neglected to make her final vows, and that was the only reason she found herself in the current predicament

"You are dismissed, my lady We shall expect to see you with the queen&039;s ladies hereforth"

"Thank you, your raceful curtsey, then turned and walked stiffly toward the door at the other end of the roolimpse of her set profile, but she did not look in his direction as she stepped past

He looked at Henry, whose own gaze followed Madelyne from the room "&039;Twould be a sin for one as beautiful as she to take her holy vows," Henry murmured with a wink at Gavin