The Fatal Crown(10)

“My name is Heinrich,” he said. “A familiar name, so you will feel right at home.”

She nodded. “Thank you—Heinrich.”

There was a long silence.

“What are your thoughts, mein Kind?”

“I was thinking that it will not take me four months to learn German or chess,” Maud replied.

He burst out laughing, and the harsh expression on his face instantly vanished. “Ach, here is material one can work with! Granddaughter of the Conqueror, you and I are going to get along very well. Very well indeed.”





Chapter Three


Italy, 1120


NINE YEARS LATER, MAUD, now a young woman of eighteen, climbed into a gold-curtained litter drawn by four white palfreys. As she settled back against the cushions of the litter taking her back to the stone palace where she and the Emperor stayed while in Rome, she felt flushed with triumph, having just successfully presided over her second court case. It was a mild afternoon in early December and the litter curtains had been left open to provide a splendid view of deep blue skies, narrow sun-dappled streets, and iron-gated palazzos.

Early this morning the Emperor, who was indisposed, had sent her to the ecclesiastical court to judge a dispute between two priests involving the theft of church property. Maud had often acted as her husband’s representative at various social functions concerning the Imperial Empire, but this was only the second time he had given her the authority to try a case all by herself. She was so excited she could hardly wait to reach the palace and tell him how well she had done.

“Bella, bella madonna,” called an Italian courtier as the litter passed him. He placed his hand over his heart, rolling his eyes heavenward as if he would expire merely at the sight of her.

Maud blushed furiously, then quickly turned away repressing a smile. She found the Romans so extravagant, so excessive, one could scarcely believe a word they said. She settled the green headdress more firmly over the coils of her russet hair, and looked down at the sleeves of her green gown flowing out of the turned-back cuffs of her gold-embroidered green tunic. Was she truly beautiful? Maud wondered, putting slender ringed fingers to her flushed cheeks. There were times, looking at herself in her silver mirror, when she thought she was not uncomely, with her arched nose, pewter-gray eyes, and creamy skin touched with amber.

Her former nurse, now chief woman attendant, Aldyth, often told her that true beauty came from a gentle demeanor, a modest nature, obedience, and attention to matters of religion. Anything else was vanity. As Maud possessed none of these sterling qualities, Aldyth often reminded her, how could she hope to become beautiful? But for the past two years, Maud had become aware that men’s eyes often followed her: at the Imperial court, while she rode in an open litter, even attending holy services. The Emperor did not appear to notice, being far more interested in her varied accomplishments, most of which he had taught her himself.

From the moment Maud arrived in Germany he had taken charge of her education. She had been fearful that after her marriage at thirteen she would be relegated to the company of her women and doomed to a tedious life of weaving tapestries, managing servants, and childbearing. But, to her great relief, life continued as before.

The street suddenly opened onto a large square and the litter was forced to stop while a train of pack mules ambled by. It was market day and in the cobbled square peasants had set up their stalls of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and cheese.

While Maud waited for the mules to pass, she found herself remembering the first time the Emperor had become a husband instead of a beloved mentor. Even before the wedding ceremony at thirteen, she had been well prepared by Aldyth for what was to happen, but the Emperor had not attempted to consummate the marriage until she was sixteen. It had happened one winter night in Speyer. He was dressed in the heavy woolen nightshirt he wore winter and summer, with its carefully placed hole through which his member had attempted to enter her while he avoided any other contact with her flesh. He had extinguished all the candles so that she had not been able to catch even a glimpse of him. There had been a brief spasm of pain and then it was over so swiftly Maud was not entirely sure what had occurred.

From then on he exercised his conjugal rights infrequently. Sometimes Maud wondered if his habits were rather strange, unlike other men, according to the gossip she had picked up from her women, but had finally decided that his role as a religious leader was bound to make him different.

The mule train passed and the litter continued across the square and down another street, so narrow and twisted that a group of black-robed priests and monks had to press themselves against the wall so that the horses could squeeze by.