Marjorie Bowen

“ Ysabeau frowned and turned away.
"It amuses you to thwart my pleasures," she answered. She suddenly flung the net at Jacobea. "Take them and begone."
The chatelaine of Martzburg, knowing something of the Empress, was surprised at this sudden yielding; looking round, however, she learnt the cause of it. The Margrave of East Flanders had entered the hall. She caught up the rescued butterflies and left the chamber, while the Empress sank into the window-seat among the crimson cushions patterned with sprawling lions, pulled a white rose out of her belt and set her teeth in the stem of it. ”

“ Jacobea told him of the encounter in the forest; he marked that it was the day of the great tourney, the day when he had last seen Dirk; he remembered certain matters he had uttered concerning Jacobea.
"If he has been tampering with you," he cried wrathfully, "if he dares——"
"Then you know somewhat of him?" she interrupted in a half horror.
"Ay, to my shame I do," he answered. "I know him for what he is; if you value your peace, your soul—do not heed him."
She drew away. "But you—you—— Are you in league with him?"
Theirry groaned and set his teeth. ”

“ Theirry kept his eyes fixed on her until he left the C chapel, and a slow colour crept into his cheek. When the last courtier had glittered away out of the low arched door, Jacobea bent her head and rested her cheek against the top of the high prie-Dieu; her yellow hair, falling from under her close linen cap, hung in a shimmering line over her tight blue velvet gown, her hands were interlaced beside her cheek, and her long skirt rippled over her feet on to the stone pavement. ”

“ The Empress stared at him. "I did not think you considered that."
"I must. I am the Margrave now."
Ysabeau turned her head and fixed her eyes on the palace garden.
"There is no lady worthy of your rank and at the same time free," she said.
"You have an heiress in your train, Princess—Jacobea of Martzburg—I have thought of her." ”

“ She bit her lips to keep them still.
"Certes," answered Balthasar wonderingly. "A knight must have a wife besides a lady—since his lady is ofttimes the spouse of another, and his highest thought is to touch her gown—but a wife is to keep his castle and do his service."
The Empress twisted her fingers in and out her girdle. ”

“ And she leant across the gold and red cushions towards him. "Certes, you shall have your long straight maiden. I think her heart is as chill as yours."
He moved away from her. "Ye shall not mock me, Princess," he said fiercely. "My heart is hot enough, let me be." ”