JENNIFER arrived at the king’s castle about noon. Having gotten out, she went up where the drawbridge was but it was up and the castle was surrounded by a moat infested with alligators.
“Hello there.” she cried out.
A hole in the drawbridge open and a porter stuck out his head.
“State your purpose.” he demanded.
“If you please.” said Jennifer, “I would like an audience with King Edward.”
“And you are…”
“Jennifer.” she said, “Jennifer of the House of Parker.”
“And what is this House of Parker?”
“The relatives to Lady Godiva wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia.”
“Stand back.” said the porter, “Do not cross yet.”
Jennifer did. The drawbridge lowered until the end of it settled on the ground thus making it ready for Jennifer to cross.
Jennifer was ready to do so when the porter said “Stand your ground. Do not cross yet.”
Jennifer did. A door behind where the drawbridge was from opened and a man came out to give Jennifer a look. He was amazed.
“You do look like the wife of the Earl of Leofric.” he said.
“Well then, can I have that audience now?” asked Jennifer.
“Does the Earl of Mercia’s family know about you and what you are doing?” asked the man.
“They do.” said Jennifer, “And if you don’t believe me, then have the king send someone to confirm this.”
The man examining Jennifer looked inside and gave a signal to someone to go into the castle for some reason. Minutes later, that someone came back.
“The king says let her in.” he said.
Jennifer was led across the drawbridge and into the castle. Looking around, she saw some men in the courtyard practicing for war in the way common during the Middle Ages. Then she entered the building itself. The interior was just what she imagined: Stone walls draped with tapestries showing pictures like they were telling stories. There were figures in these pictures with names over their heads.
Finally, she arrived in the throne room. There sitting on the throne was the regal figure of the King of England Edward the Confessor.
“You’re majesty.” said Jennifer’s escort, “Jennifer of the House of Parker.”
Jennifer approached the king as if to shake his hand but was held back.
“Excuse me.” she said.
“Child.” whispered her escort, “Where are your manners? This is the king of England.”
Just then, she realized something. She was to show respect to the king or queen of England by either bowing or curtsying. So she curtsied.
“Your majesty.” said Jennifer before her escort cleared his throat. Turning to him, she asked “What?”
“The king has not spoken to you yet.” said her escort.
That’s when Jennifer realized another etiquette: When in the presence of the king or queen do not speak unless spoken too.
“Sorry.” said Jennifer.
Finally, the king spoke up.
“My child.” he said, “Would it be kind of you if you state your purpose?”
“If it pleases you, your majesty.” said Jennifer, “I am Jennifer of the House of Parker. I am related to Lady Godiva, wife of Leofric Earl of Mercia.”
“Step closer so I could see your face.” said the king and she did.
After examining her face, the king said “You do bear a resemblance to Lady Godiva.”
“Thank you sir.” said Jennifer.
“And tell me.” said the king, “How is the earl and his wife? I haven’t heard from him for over year.”
“You haven’t?” asked Jennifer, “Not even when he’s been sending you money he taxed from his people?”
“He’s taxing his own people?” asked the king.
“You mean you haven’t heard about what he has been doing to the people of Coventry?” asked Jennifer, “That’s odd.”
“Well if he is,” said the king, “Why haven’t I received a penny from him?”
“I don’t know.” said Jennifer, “All I do know that is he’s raised taxes.”
“Perhaps he’s doing it to fund more building of churches.” said the king, “Like me the earl and his wife are very religious God fearing people.”
“Well he hasn’t been forwarding the taxes to build the new churches either.” said Jennifer, “He just collects them and keeps them to himself.”
“I don’t believe it.” said the king, “How hard has he been taxing the people of Coventry now?”
“Very” said Jennifer.
She began to tell the king the goings-on in Coventry.
++++++
Meanwhile back in Coventry, Leofric’s henchmen were searching the guestroom when the Earl came in.
“Well?” he demanded.
“Sire.” said one of the henchmen, “We’ve searched and we search but we’ve
come up with nothing.”
Leofric didn’t like this. There must be something that his guest was hiding but what?
And then, he noticed the drawers next to the bed that his guest was sleeping in and asked “Did you search her drawers?”
“It’s locked.”
“Well unlock it.”
“We can’t. We can’t find the keys.”
“She must’ve taken them with her when went to visit the king.” speculated Leofric.
“That’s not all.” said the henchman, “The barn is locked and those keys are missing too.”
“Which means she’s got some well kept secrets in those drawers and the barn too.” Turning to his henchmen he said, “As soon as she returns drug her and get…”
Just then, Godiva entered the room.
“My lord,” she asked, “what are you doing in Jennifer’s room?”
“None of your business.” said Leofric.
Godiva looked around and said “You’ve been searching her room.”
“Like I said. None of you business.”
“My husband.” said Godiva, “This isn’t you. For the past year you’ve changed. Jennifer said that you’re acting like two different people and you’re acting like she’s onto something.”
“And what if she is?” demanded the earl. Just then, his voiced trailed off. “That didn’t come out right.”
Lady Godiva was startled at what her husband said. “What did you say?” she asked.
“Nothing.” said the earl, “Now make like snow and leave me alone.”
“That’s flake off.” said Godiva, “’Make like snow and flake off’”
“Alright. Flake off!”
Godiva looked at her husband and said “You know. I don’t know you anymore.”
At that she left.
The earl turned to his men who were standing around and listening.
“What are all you doing standing around for?” he asked, “Put everything back. Our guest will be back by dinnertime tonight.”
At that, the men complied.
++++++
After his guest left, King Edward said to the captain “Organize a party. As soon as your ready let me know.”
“What are your plans, Sire?” asked the captain.
“To go to Coventry and check on the earl.”
++++++
In the coach, Jennifer went to sleep. When she woke, she saw Jessica Fletcher riding with her.
“I understand that you’ve been investigating Earl Leofric.” she said.
“That’s correct.” said Jennifer, “How did you know?”
“If you are forgetting,” said Jessica, “I do have that TV series called Murder She Wrote and …”
“Mrs. Fletcher,” said Jennifer, “this isn’t a murder investigation, I’m trying to determine what turned such a nice man like Earl Leofric into a monster.”
“I understand my child,” said Jessica, “But you’re using the same methods that are used in murder investigations. Why don’t you do a background check on the earl?”
“How?”
“Ask where he and his wife came from, how they met, go to their places of origin. They may have a family there. You could ask them about him.”
Jennifer mused at this and said “You know that’s a good idea. Thank you…”
She looked to see where Jessica Fletcher was but she was gone. That’s when she woke up for real.
“We’re home.” said a voice. It was the cabbie who opened the carriage door to let his passenger out.
“Thank you.” said Jennifer as she gave a little yawn, “Boy did I sleep.” She was helped out of the carriage and escorted to the earl’s castle as she said “Thank you again.”
As she entered the house she was greeted by the servants and Lady Godiva.
“How was you trip?” she asked.
“It was great.” said Jennifer, “I got to see the king and…”
“And what did he say?” asked a voice.
Both pairs of eyes turned to see Leofric standing there.
Jennifer said “He was asking about you. Did you know he hasn’t receive a single cent from all that money you’ve been taxing your people from for a year now?”
Godiva was shocked at this as Leofric said “That’s none of your concern.”
“Is it?” asked Jennifer, “Hey mister, FYI you’re in the history…” Then her voice trailed off. She forgot that she was in the past and Leofric and Godiva was yet it be in the history books. “Never mind.” she said, “You wouldn’t understand…yet. Now if you both excuse me, I would like to freshen up.” After that she left.
After their guest went back to her guestroom, Lady Godiva turned to her husband and said “You haven’t sent any of the tax money to king for a year?”
“Excuse me.” said Leofric, “But who’s doing the taxing around here, you or me?”
“My lord.” insisted the earl’s wife, “I demand that you either send some of the money to the king or lower those taxes and whatever you already got, use them to repair the churches and the towns.”
“Hey, you’re not the boss of me.” said Leofric, “And I could do whatever I want to do with my money.”
“It’s not your money.” said Godiva.
“Then whose is it, yours?”
“No, it’s the people of Coventry. What if the king sends his men to investigate?”
“I dare him too.”
Lady Godiva looked at her husband wondering what has happened to him in the past year.
++++++
At supper Jennifer asked the couple how they met.
“We met in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.” said Godiva, “My husband earned his
fortune and title in the mutton trade.”
“I did?” asked Leofric, and then he said “Oh yes I did.”
Jennifer was startled at this. It was strange that the earl didn’t remember.
She went on to ask the earl “Do you have a family?”
Leofric was mute on this but Godiva spoke up saying “He has a mother that’s still alive in Shrewsbury. His father is dead.”
“My lady.” insisted Leofric, “Let’s not bring up my family.”
Jennifer mused and said “I would like to meet her.”
“You can’t.” said Leofric.
“Let her go see her.” said Godiva, “A few days in the country won’t hurt her. After all she is on holiday.”
“Holiday?” said Jennifer. And then she remembered that the word “holiday” was an old English definition for “vacation”. So she said “That’s right. I am and I would like to see the countryside.”
“I don’t know.” said Leofric, “You went on a trip today and you want to take another one now?”
“Not now.” said Jennifer, “Tomorrow since you don’t have Amtrak or whatever the equivalent is here in England…yet.”
“Amtrak?” asked Leofric and Godiva.
“Like I said.” said Jennifer, “It doesn’t…never mind.”
“My lord.” said Godiva, “Maybe it would be a good idea for her to meet your
mother. I would like to know how she’s doing since I haven’t seen her in a year
and neither have you.” Leofric paused for a minute. His wife went onto say
“Don’t you want to know how she’s doing?”
“She’s right, you know.” said Jennifer.
Leofric still paused before asking “Do you know you long it will take for you to get there from here?”
“I don’t mind.” insisted Jennifer, “Besides I would like to sightsee the countryside while going to Shrewsbury.”
“Then it’s settled.” said Godiva, “Jennifer after supper you’d better get
ready for bed. You may have to get up very early in the morning if you have to
make the long journey to Shrewsbury. You may have to spend the night there.”
“Good”
“And we’ll ask the house servants to prepare some provisions for you for the
journey.”
“In plain simple English, there’s no truck stops or diners along the way.”
“Truck stops or diners?” asked Leofric and Godiva.
“That’s right.” said Jennifer, “Neither of you have heard of them yet. But
they will become very handy in the future. Now if you excuse me…”
“By all means.” said Godiva. At that Jennifer left.
Left alone, the couple talked among themselves.
“My lady.” said Leofric, “I must protest. To send our guest there…”
“Why?” asked Godiva, “Are you trying to hide something from the world?” Leofric was taken aback by this questioning. “That’s odd.” she went onto say, “You’re acting like you are hiding something.”
“That’s enough, my lady.” said Leofric, “You’re acting like all the peasants in Coventry are acting now since your kinswoman’s arrival here.”
“Am I?” said Godiva, “Do you think our guest is onto something. Something that you don’t want even me your wife to know?”
“This is gone far enough.”
“Is it?” asked Godiva, “What do you want me to do?”
“Make her stop going to Shrewsbury and make her stop pestering the peasants about me.”
Godiva paused for a minute and then she thought of something. “My lord,” she said, “I might not stop Jennifer from going to Shrewsbury tomorrow but if you want her to stop questioning the peasants then lower the taxes and become the man I used to know.”
Leofric looked at her and behaved like he didn’t know how to go back to the man he was. And then he thought of something.
“Do you want me to cut taxes and become the man I was?” he asked.
“Yes.’
“Then I want you to do me a little favor.”
“Name it.”
“That you ride through the streets Coventry on a bareback horse naked.”
Lady Godiva looked at her husband in disbelief. “You want me to expose myself to all the people in Coventry?” she asked, “That’s outrageous.”
“Alright then.” said Leofric, “It seems to me that you don’t have a choice. Tomorrow, while our guest is heading to Shrewsbury, I’m going to hike the taxes more.”
Lady Godiva looked on at the man she once knew and wondered what had become of him in the past year.
End of Chapter 5