Part 6 (1/2)
”But you threw a quince at Lady Marmone. Was that my advice?”
”I took it to be so, since you failed to include her in your instructions.”
”Ah hah! Did you want me to name each individual of the castle and in each case name the stuffs with which he or she was not to be pelted?”
Madouc shrugged. ”As you see, Sire, when there is doubt, mistakes occur.”
”And you felt this doubt?”
”Exactly, Sire! It seemed only fair that each of the ladies should be treated alike, and enjoy the same advantages.”
King Casmir smiled and nodded. ”These advantages are subtle. Can you bring them into sharper focus?”
Madouc frowned down at her fingers. ”The explanation might be lengthy, even tedious, so that I would be committing the same fault I deplore in the Ladies Desdea and Marmone.”
”Please make the effort. If you bore us, we will excuse you this once.”
Madouc chose her words with care. ”These ladies are surely genteel but each day their conduct is much like that of the day before. They know neither zest nor surprise nor any wonderful new events. I thought it might be well if they were provided a mysterious adventure, which would excite their minds and reduce the tedium of their conversation.”
”Your motives, then, were totally kind and sympathetic?”
Madouc turned him a dubious glance. ”I suspected, of course, that at first they might not be grateful and perhaps even a bit gruff, but in the end they would be delighted for my help, since they would realize that the world is sometimes unexpected and strange, and they would start to look around them with gay antic.i.p.ation.”
Lady Desdea and Lady Marmone made sounds of incredulity. Casmir smiled a small hard smile. ”So you feel that you have done the two ladies a favor?”
”I have done my best,” said Madouc bravely. ”They will remember this day to the end of their lives! Can they say the same of yesterday?”
Casmir turned to Sollace. ”The princess has made a persuasive case that both Lady Desdea and Lady Marmone will profit from her acts, even though they come in the form of sheer mischief. However, the altruism of the princess must be returned in kind, and I suggest that you make this day memorable for her as well, with the aid of a willow whisk or a light ferrule. In the end, everyone will profit. Lady Desdea and Lady Marmone will find that their lives have been enriched, and Madouc will learn that she must obey the spirit as well as the letter of the royal command.”
Madouc spoke in a voice which trembled slightly: ”Sire, all is quite clear! Her Majesty need not exert herself to make a point which is already well taken.”
King Casmir had already turned away, and spoke over his shoulder: ”Events of this sort often take on a momentum of their own, as in the present case. Her Majesty may well work up a perspiration but will suffer no real inconvenience. You have my leave to go.”
Queen Sollace, with the Ladies Desdea and Marmone, departed the room. Madouc lagged behind. Sollace turned and beckoned. ”Come along-smartly now; nothing is to be gained by sulking.”
Madouc sighed. ”Ah well, I have nothing better to do.”
The group returned to Sollace's parlour. Somewhere along the way Father Umphred emerged from the shadows and fell in be hind.
Sollace settled herself comfortably on the sofa and summoned Ermelgart. ”Bring me three withes from a besom; let them be both stout and supple. Now then, Madouc! Attend me, if you will! Do you understand that your mischief has caused distress to us all?”
”The quinces were quite small,” said Madouc.
”No matter! The deed does not become a royal princess: most especially a princess of Lyonesse.”
Ermelgart returned with three willow withes, which she handed to Queen Sollace. Madouc watched with wide blue eyes and mouth drooping in woe.
Sollace tested the action of the withes upon a cus.h.i.+on, then turned to Madouc. ”Have you aught to say? Words of contrition or humility?”
Madouc, fascinated by the motion of the withes, failed to respond, and Queen Sollace, usually lethargic, became vexed. ”You feel no remorse? Now I know why you are said to be impudent! Well then, Miss Sly-Puss, we shall see. You may approach.”
Madouc licked her lips. ”I do not think it sensible, if I am to be beaten for my pains.”