A Court Of Roses and Thistles

Chapter 9. A Stanley.

Richard Thomas

I had just finished my morning mass before I went about my daily stroll. I found myself needing more and more air away from the crowded court as days passed. This morning in town I remember it to be market day; the best day of the year for business. My father didn't care if I was out in public on the busy streets; my wellbeing was of no importance to him. I could defend myself better than most the king's soldier could anyway. I wasn't trained in royal behaviours but diplomacy, rather than sitting at the Royals table, they sat me with the smartest men at court. At first, I thought it was to try and keep an eye on their talking's but I quickly began to absorb their vast amount of knowledge. They taught me the wars of the mind, not in the wars of a field. It remains my greatest strength. That being said, I was still built like an Ox and tall just like my farther. There was the fear of bringing the sickness back to the King, but no one believed it targeted the royals. In fact, the king believed it to be a disease for the poor in the capital and the poor believed it to be the King who brought it in the first place. I knew it was never God's way of cleaning up London, nor did the king bring it back but this private belief did little to dispel rumours. I was walking through the palace door, lost in thought when I heard a whimpering sound behind me.

"Oh, Richard," Lady Redding, I wondered what she wanted. She was always kind to me; we had always found comfort in courting one another. I had also preferred to keep my whoring to women I could trust; like Lady Redding. I was always sure to be a careful man.

"Sir Thomas." I corrected her on her lack of formality out in open. "You forget yourself My Lady" I sympathetically stated, Lady Redding was a married woman; she couldn't be seen using my birth name. I could not have her carelessness ruin both our reputations.

"Sir Thomas, I apologise," She bowed her head of rouge silk "I have been meaning to find you for a while." She glanced toward me with large, childlike mahogany eyes. "I believe my husband and I are going away for rather a long time... you see your father, the King, has offered us an estate in the West, and that kind of offer you just cannot refuse." I could feel the pain she felt in her voice. Whilst she was a comfort to me, it was probably best our parting. If we continued, we would carry much potential risk that we had henceforth been lucky to avoid. I had known this lady for many years, we had become adults together. Sighing, I ghostly smiled as I reached for her dainty hand.

"Lady Redding, I am so pleased for you. And, you are right. It is simply an offer that cannot be refused... You shall be missed." I kissed the back of her snow-like wrist. Then with a simple nob and a lingering touch, I headed toward the doorway; leaving her sorrowful in the stone corridor. I cannot deny that I found comfort in bed with the Lady but I was somewhat indifferent to her departure. It simply felt like a friend moving away. I was used to this kind of behaviour, all us men at court were.

After my encounter with Lady Redding, it had taken me around half the hour to reach the heart of town. With it being the market day, the streets were brimming with people. There were women with straw baskets and the morning gossip on their minds. Dark oak stalls hung from people's homes. Fresh bread and barley interrupted my senses of smell. A handsomely dressed minstrel helped me re-gain focus from the nostalgic reminiscing of Lady Redding and I's time together. He had a flute embedded with silver as children could be seen dancing around him playfully. The songs were happier than the courts own musicians. I couldn't help but smile. Maybe it was the commoner blood that flowed through my veins or the many tedious years I had spent in the castle, but I enjoyed the whole atmosphere of the scene before me.

It did not take long for my eyes to fall upon a very familiar-looking door. Excitement growing, I pushed open the door to the best pub in the capital: The Old King's Head.