Page 141 of A Most Forgettable Girl

She gave a watery chuckle. “Well, I am not likely to argue with you on that score. She was rather awful, wasn’t she? I will own I was put quite out of humor with her. Indeed, I’ve decided I no longer want to be the Queen’s favorite after all,” she declared, her eyes kindling. “She presented what I said to her in the worst possible light and made me sound quite ridiculous, as if I did not know you at all, and I find I cannot forgive her for it. Besides, it is not at all what I thought it would be like.”

“You mean, being a lady-in-waiting?” he enquired.

She nodded. “Strange to say, Mistress Bartree is probably the only one I shall bother to maintain a friendship with in future. Some of them are pleasant enough, but they already have their own particular friends, and no room for me. I find I do not care enough to try anymore. I have my own friends after all.”

“Well, I do not mind if you are not the Queen’s favorite, but I would rather you did not become the King’s,” James admitted, angling a wry look her way. “He called you Hilde again, I noticed.”

“He did,” she acknowledged, “but I think in truth it is Hal who is his new favorite. Though King Wymer is definitely warming up to you now.” She shot a speculative look his way. “I believe in spite of everything, you will end up with the post of Royal musician.”

“Yes, though if I do, it will be at least partly due to his partiality for you Paynes. Wymer has not heard one note of my compositions to my knowledge.”

“No, but he said he thought you were sensible and a man of honor even if you were an artist.”

A smile tugged at James’s lips. “High praise indeed. But the only reason he thinks that is because I had the good sense to hold on to you. I heard what he said at our wedding feast. He thinks me fortunate indeed to have got my hands on you.”

Gunnilde’s eyes opened wide. “I do not think I am at all the sort of woman to catch his eye!” she spluttered. “Besides, he is quite devoted to the Queen.”

“These days he is,” James corrected her. “But it has not always been so.”

“That was before my time.” Gunnilde shrugged.

“Well, if he starts to get too fond, we may have to retreat into the country.”

“To Wycliffe Hall?”

“Yes, I suppose.” He spoke without enthusiasm.

“If you get terribly successful, we might be able to buy a second residence and live there instead.”

He propped up on one elbow. “That might not be such a bad idea,” he said slowly.

“Did you mean what you said about needing me to inspire you?”

“I don’t think you realize how wearied I felt of everything before you,” he said frankly. “How irritable and tired. And now I feel quite different. I feel...invigorated. Inspired. Like I could write anything, so long as you were at my side. Somehow when you describe even palace events, they sound more vivid, more real to me.”

She liked that. Really liked it. “Just think...” He waited patiently for her to finish her thought. “Think of all the pieces you could write, of all the royal events you could commemorate with me there to inspire you. Maybe I will propel you to success after all.”

“There is no ‘maybe’ about it,” he answered sanguinely. “You are my salvation. Even if they do not appoint me royal musician, I suspect we will be inundated with patrons and requests.”

“Sure to be,” she agreed, “after the huge success of ‘I Cannot Show the Love I Owe.’ And the scandal of today, of course.” She bit her lip. “Everyone is sure to be talking of it for months and months to come. James?” He turned his head to look at her. “You are not worried about becoming a figure of ignominy and scandal anymore, are you?”

He shook his head. “No, I’ve decided I rather like it.” Gunnilde gasped as he rolled her onto her back and shifted over her. “After all, what did I expect? Marrying one of those horned temptresses the bishop warned us all about.”

Gunnilde started to laugh, but as his lips descended on hers, he soon put a stop to that.

Epilogue

Five Months Later

Tranton Vale Tournament, Payne Manor

Carefully, Gunnilde adjusted the draping of her veil over her new double-horned headdress. Lately, she had been experimenting more with headdresses than hairstyles. Her new friend Lady Schaeffer had introduced her to some wonderful artisans. Horns were still very much her signature style though.

Settling back into her seat, she glanced down in satisfaction at the new jeweled girdle encircling her waist. It was James’s latest gift to her and flashed with an array of beautifully colored stones. Since he took up his position as royal musician, the Wycliffes’ monetary woes were a thing of the past.

His handsome allowance alone would have been enough to sustain them in comfort, but on top of that he had been inundated with requests and new commissions from his fellow courtiers. Even the Bishop of Badsbury had communicated his desire for a new piece of music. James had added him to a long list.

She squeezed James’s hand as the combatants entered the field, and he turned to look and smile at her. “Here they come.” The crowd cheered as the two knights saluted the so-called “royal box.” The Paynes had never had a “royal box” before. Until the previous year they had not even had a stand designated for the family to watch proceedings. Everyone had just sat on benches.