The Knight's Courtship

Poitiers, France
Spring 1174

"...married for money, bred for heirs,

She wept in shadow, burdened by cares."

Ivy Rutherford read her new poem aloud, hoping the freshly penned words would touch the hearts of the jaded court ladies who filled Queen Eleanor's garden bower. She took a calming breath before continuing her recitation.

"Til a Knight arrived, his honor well-proved, Who spied her tears and his soul was moved. Love's keen lance soon pierced her heart — "

Lady Gertrude snorted as she patted the head of her obnoxious little lapdog. "I'll bet that's not all love's lance pierced."

Feminine twitters rippled among Eleanor's courtly crowd, which was gathered in the shade of the vine-covered wooden arbor for their afternoon entertainment.

Ivy stared down at the costly parchment, the words she had labored over crumpling slightly with her tightened grip as laughter erupted from the queen's cronies. Eager to put the awkward moments of reading her new creation behind her, she continued as soon as the noise abated.

"And Venus revealed her comely art — "