Percy scrunched forward quickly on his buttocks and seized the outstretched wrist, bringing it to his own nostrils. “Sweet Jesus,” he breathed. “It’s true.” He turned slightly, offering Bruce’s hand to Bigod, but the young Norfolk shook his head, his features stiff.
“I believe it,” he said. “But I mislike it greatly. This whole thing smacks of sin and unknightly conduct.”
“How so?” Bruce asked sharply.
“How can you even ask that question? It is the deepest and most shameful sin to dishonour any woman by decrying her in such a way.”
“Decrying who, John? I named no one, so who have I maligned? No names were involved, nor will any be. I merely spoke of an encounter with three unknown women. I saw nothing. I knew none of them. I only know what happened.”
“And what did happen?” Percy’s voice was low. “Tell us … exactly.”
Bruce shook his head. “I can’t, because I don’t really know what occurred, apart from the obvious. I told you, I was on my back, on the bed, believing myself alone, and I was naked and unthinking. I heard, or felt, a sudden rush of movement, and before I could move I was jumped upon and held down. I had no hope of seeing who they were. They pinioned me, giggling and whispering. One of them lay across my neck, holding my head down. I could smell the scent she used—verbena or some such thing. Two others pulled my arms wide and knelt on them—”
“You made no attempt to fight them off?”
Bruce looked straight-faced at the questioner. “I know you called me a liar, de Bohun, but d’you think me truly stupid, too? They were girls. Women. Three of them. Soft and warm and wriggling. Laughing and whispering. Climbing all over me. Would you have fought them off? You probably would have, now that I think of it. But I?” He paused, as though considering the question, and laughed. “I made the best of it and did nothing. I lay there on my back and enjoyed everything they did to me. I grew excited, as any of you would, rearing up at them in plain sight, and they grew quiet. The measure of their stroking changed, moving down from my chest and belly as though drawn by the sight of what was there in front of them. And then one of them, the boldest, took me in hand … ” He cleared his throat noisily, willing a sudden tremor to leave his voice, then resumed in a calmer tone, his eyes moving from face to face among his spellbound audience. “I think it was the one on my right side, though I cannot be sure. Her hand felt very small, her fingers almost cold. And then there were other fingers there, beside hers. I’ve never been so exalted, and it did not take long. I exploded. The hands withdrew and they watched in silence, not even breathing, as the hardness drained from me. And then I heard a whisper—something I did not catch—and they were gone. I heard their voices dwindling down the staircase.”
Henry Percy shook his head in wonder. “Did you not follow them?’
“Follow them? I couldn’t move. I doubt I would have had the strength to stand, had I tried at that moment. No, I did not follow them. I lay there for a time, my head still muffled in the blanket, reliving all of it and wondering what it meant. And then I remembered that I was supposed to be drilling. I pulled on fresh clothes and a clean tunic, and started putting on my armour. By then, though, I was too anxious to be able to buckle it all up properly and I decided to fasten the straps as I went. I ran into a servant on the stairs and almost killed myself and him … And the rest you know.”
“You saw no sign of any women when you left the tower?”
“God, no! They had been gone for ages by then. I looked, but there were only men in sight.”
“By the Christ, Rob, it might have been a waking dream,” Bigod said quietly, all thoughts of unknightly conduct long since vanished and now replaced with an expression of awe. “It could have been, if you but think on it. You were chilled and in pain, and tired. You fell back on your bed. You could have passed out and been visited by a succubus while you slept. A spirit of lust, immortal and intangible.”
Bruce extended the spread fingers of his right hand again. “Intangible?” he said. “I think not, John. Immortal spirits leave no human scents behind when they depart.”
Percy pointed at the hand. “How came you by that … scent? You made no mention of it.”
Bruce heaved himself to his feet, swaying awkwardly for a moment in the heavily padded armour until he found his balance. “I had no need to mention it, and no one asked.” He waited as they all regained their feet, but before they could move anywhere de Bohun barked, “I’m asking now, then.”