Page 13 of The Favourite

Armenal huffed out a sigh. “Sir Reginald Stimson?” she suggested without enthusiasm.

“Who?”

A look of irritation passed over the Queen’s face. “Sir Reginald is a Doorward for the King,” she answered testily, “and not without distinction.”

Alisander flicked an invisible speck from his sleeve. “Would it not be wiser to choose a courtier of your own rather than one of Wymer’s hangers-on?”

“There are no eligible bachelors attached to my own retinue,” Armenal retorted sharply, “save for—” He saw the moment the idea occurred to Armenal. “—yourself,” she breathed. A gleam entered her gaze as it darted from him to Jane and back again.

“That, of course, is out of the question,” he said smoothly. “But I am persuaded you are now on the right track, Your Majesty.”

“Let us not be so hasty,” the Queen replied, slipping an arm through his. “Instead, let us take a turn about the room together, my dear Bardulf, while Jane recovers her composure.” This critical comment seemed finally to penetrate the fog of misery surrounding Jane, for she averted her tear-stained face and moved quickly aside for them.

Alisander allowed the Queen to tow him in the opposite direction. He dragged his heels a little. It would not do for the Queen to guess she was being maneuvered into this decision.

“Only consider how convenient all round,” she was now rattling away brightly. “Really, I wonder that it has never occurred to me before!” Alisander demurred but without quite as much conviction as the first time. “No, it is true,” Queen Armenal insisted. “And would really work out most conveniently for everyone involved. Do you not think so?”

“Thus far, I have never found it remotely convenient to be saddled with a wife.”

“But really, I do not know how you have avoided it for so long. It is high time you took on some responsibilities.” Alisander gave a murmur of mild disagreement, which the Queen ignored. “Then too, this could be an admirable solution to—er—your own problems,” she said waving a vague hand.

“What problems?” Alisander asked in some surprise.

“Your lack of an estate, of course,” the Queen answered promptly. “Or heir for your title.”

“Oh, that.” He pulled a face. “It is not likely that a refugee from Lascony, such as my poor self, should hold lands in fair Karadok,” he pointed out.

“Your Lasconian lands were confiscated were they not? On behalf of my brother,” the Queen asked with an almost breathtaking lack of tact.

Idly, Alisander wondered if the circumstances of his family’s fall from grace had slipped her mind for the moment. “They were,” he agreed affably. “And my entire family put to the sword.”

Armenal did gasp slightly at his reminder. “Er—yes,” she agreed with a faint wince. “I remember now. Wilhelm has always been very thorough and his trust in Sir Reginald’s judgement was absolute. I rather wonder you did not share their fate.”

Seeing that she did look genuinely curious on this score, Alisander enlightened her. “I was but twelve at the time,” he explained without rancor. “His gracious majesty, King Wilhelm, spared me of any complicity in the conspiracy against him.”

“Hmmm.” Armenal slowly nodded. “You must have caught him on a good day.”

Alisander’s answering smile did not touch his eyes. “As you say,” he replied smoothly.

“It is likely,” the Queen said, briskly dismissing this distasteful topic, “that Wymer could be brought to entail some property on this unfortunate child Jane now finds herself burdened with.” Alisander almost checked his step and Armenal’s eyebrows rose. “Why Bardulf, I do believe this notion displeases you.”

The Queen’s flashes of insight could be discomposing at times. “I do not know that I care to be burdened with the responsibilities of an estate,” he admitted carefully. “Especially one that I would only serve as caretaker.”

The Queen gave a short laugh. “All landowners are merely caretakers, my dear Bardulf. It is entrusted only for a short time, and you cannot take it with you. Besides, to all intents and purposes, it might as well be yours. Us poor women are powerless before the role of father and husband that you would occupy.”

“You envisage me in such a role?” he drawled. “You flatter me.”

“Why not?” Armenal answered coolly. “There are as many disinterested husbands and fathers in noble houses as there are elsewhere.”

“I wonder if I would be …” he mused aloud, casting a glance over his shoulder at Jane, who was now sat hunched in a window seat looking utterly dejected.

“Would be what?” the queen asked in bewildered accents.

“Disinterested.”

She gave a rippling laugh and patted his arm. “My dear Bardulf, there can be no doubt on that score. And that would suit Jane’s purpose admirably, let me assure you. She would not want a devoted spouse dictating her every move. She belongs here at court, by my side,” the Queen continued ruminatively. “It is true that I am most annoyed with her at present, but even I will admit that she has been my most devoted lady-in-waiting up to this point. It would vex me greatly to be without her.”

Alisander nodded. They had reached the other end of the room and turned about. “Still,” he said thoughtfully, “I am not convinced that my own lot in life would be so improved by such a move.”