She was going to comment on the meager food portions but decided it might be wiser not to. “Arthur gives her a certain allowance, doesn’t he? Or rather, the nation does. I mean, she is a member of the royal family.”
“Arthur cannot always be relied on to send it when he should.” Again he looked around; no one was paying them much attention. “I miss France. Part of me would like to go back there to live.”
“Being a queen’s-” she groped for a neutral word, “advisor can’t be a terribly hard life. Especially when the queen is so completely separated from the rest of England.”
“Be careful what you say.” His tone was hushed and urgent. “You’d be amazed how many ears she has. Even for me.”
"She doesn’t trust you? I thought the two of you were…” She let the sentence hang unfinished.
“We are.” He said it a bit too quickly to be convincing. “I love her, and she loves me. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?”
She was supposed to love her husband, but it seemed wise not to say so. “You know, I’m still hungry. Breakfast was… frugal, wasn’t it?”
He moved very close to her and spoke softly. “I know a good inn in town. Let me take you there for your noonday meal.”
“Why, Lancelot, I’d love that.”
“And in the meantime, would you like to… wrestle?” His tone made clear that he was not talking about exercise.
“Uh… no thank you. I’m spent.” She forced herself to smile. “But lunch would be lovely.”
“Oh.” He sounded part puzzled, part disappointed. He looked up at the sun. “Two hours. Meet me here, not inside. ”
“Of course.”
Looking around suspiciously, he joined a group of knights who were fencing on the opposite side of the courtyard.
Brit couldn’t help smiling. So there was trouble in Corfe, and it wasn’t just financial. And Lancelot wasn’t exactly being discreet. With luck, this would be easier than she’d expected.
“So Arthur has a proposition for me?”
Guenevere sat in serene majesty at a large wooden table in the library. Once again, Merlin wondered at the relatively few books there. He decided to play with her for a while.
“I went for a walk on the roof earlier this morning. And imagine my surprise-there are ravens living here. They’re almost as tame as the ones I take care of at Camelot. It makes me feel quite at home.”
“The townspeople say they’ve always been here. But I’ve never found them very friendly.”
“One of them came right up to me.”
She was growing testy, which pleased him. “So what does my husband have on his mind? Is he planning to send me the money he promised?”
“I’m afraid I don’t mix in financial affairs, Guenevere. But I’ll ask him, if you like. Are you certain you remember the due date correctly?”
“Quite certain. Merlin, are you going to tell me what you’re doing here?”
“Why, I came for the view. Corfe has the loveliest harbor in England.”
“View, be damned. You said you’ve brought some kind of scheme from Arthur. I want to know what it is.”
He clucked his tongue. “Really, Guenevere, you haven’t got the hang of diplomacy at all.”
“Nothing connected with Arthur is diplomatic. He is trying to starve me out of the country. I’ve had to ask my father for a loan.”
So that was what he was doing at Corfe-if she was being truthful. “How is your father? I don’t believe I’ve seen him.”
“He is not feeling well. He has gout, and moreover, ocean travel never agrees with him.”
“What a pity. But was that him we saw chatting with Lancelot and Mark last night?”
She glared and refused to rise to it. “What does my husband want? What new plan has he hatched for making me miserable?”
He had strung her out long enough. He leaned back in his chair and turned expansive. “A reconciliation.”
“A-? Are you trying to be funny?”
“I assure you I’m perfectly serious. You have an important birthday next autumn, I believe.”
“I turn forty, yes.” Her eyes narrowed.
“Arthur would like to make it a national holiday.”
For a moment she didn’t seem to know how to react. Then suddenly she burst into laughter. “Of all the grotesque jokes. I’ve only just turned thirty-nine, and he ignored the occasion completely. Really, Merlin.”
“I’m perfectly serious. And so is he.”
“Why would he want to celebrate my birthday? Is it so important to him to announce to the whole country how much younger he is than his wife?”
“I can’t vouch for his motives. But he wants to invite people from every court in Europe. It would boost England’s image internationally. But of course it would require your cooperation.”
She pretended to brush a gnat off her sleeve.
“Guenevere, did you hear me?”
“I did.” She examined her fingernails. “And I am properly impressed at Arthur’s cheek. Was this thing your idea?”
“The king has more than enough ideas of his own.”
She took a deep breath. “So Arthur needs me. And is willing to admit it.”
“For this, at least. What do you say?”
“I’ll have to think. And I’ll have to consult with my own counselors. And my father. It’s so fortunate he’s here just now.”
“And will you ask Mark?”
“Mark is gone.”
Trying to sound casual he asked, “What did he want here?”
“Foolishness.”
“Of what sort?”
“Is it possible Arthur does not know what his military commander gets up to?” She grinned like a predatory wolf in a children’s story. “You may tell Arthur I’ll consider his scheme. But I will need time.”
“We’ll have to start planning soon, you know. The invitations will have to go out by early spring. Arthur would like an answer as soon as possible.” He looked at her, wearing a mask of innocence. “Now, if you can.”
She stood. “I cannot. You may tell him I’ll take it under consideration. No more.”
“That is your final word?”
“For now, yes it is.”
“Very well, then. I’ll tell him. But he won’t be happy.”
She walked to the door then turned and grinned at him again. “If I don’t agree to go along with this-will it hurt him?”
“I expect so. And all of England-including you. You must understand, his ambitions are not for himself but for the country.”
“Yes. Of course they are. But does he really want the crowned heads of Europe to see what bumpkins inhabit this island?”
“That is not a proper sentiment for a queen of England.”
“No, I suppose it isn’t.” Her grin grew even wider. “Nevertheless…”
“Needless to say, the main festivities would be held here at Corfe. That means an influx of money. Impressing the rest of Europe would require that we put on the best face possible.”
She tried not to let her reaction show, but her eyes flashed for a second. “Precisely how great an influx?”
“That is open to negotiation.”
“Negotiating with Arthur. He would enjoy placing me in a position where that would be necessary.”
“From what I’ve seen, Guenevere, it may be necessary already.”
She flashed a politician’s smile. “When will you be leaving? ”
“Tomorrow, I imagine.” Quickly, he added, “With Your Majesty’s permission, that is.”
“The sooner, Merlin darling, the better.”
“I’m hungry. Can we get something to eat?”
Nimue and Pete ambled about the castle’s perimeter. Merlin had coached her in ways to draw the boy out, as he had Brit. Petronus seemed to enjoy talking; she expected it to be easy.
“I think the refectory’s closed.” He sounded slightly abashed by the fact.
“Really? At Camelot we eat all the time.” Quickly she added, “Eat and exercise. No one wants to grow fat.”
“Is the food good there?” He was a boy in his mid-teens; that much was quite clear.
“It’s quite wonderful. Succulent beef, aromatic breads of all kinds, the most wonderful honey cakes…” She grinned invitingly. “All the time.”