eyes wide, mouths open. “Are you serious?” Joanna said incredulously.
“Very. Lent is over, so we are free to wed. And there are some compelling reasons for not waiting until we get to Acre. Do we really want Philippe lurking in the shadows, looking like a disgruntled vulture eager to pick my bones? And an army encampment is not the ideal site for a royal wedding. I could probably think of a few more reasons for wedding here and now,” he added playfully, amused by how easily he could make Berenguela blush. “But more to the point, I cannot think of any reasons why we should not wed in Cyprus.”
“Well, I can.” Joanna was regarding her brother in dismayed astonishment.
“That is two days hence, Richard! How could we possibly prepare for a royal wedding in so little time?”
“How hard could it be? I assume Berenguela did not intend to get married stark naked, so she must have a suitable gown in her coffers. I thought we’d have her coronation at the same time.” Richard glanced over at his mute betrothed and smiled. “I daresay you’ll be the first and the last Queen of England ever to be crowned in Cyprus, little dove.”
“But what about food? And entertainment? And—”
“I have complete confidence in you, irlanda, am sure you’ll do just fine. But it is only fair that we let the bride decide.” They’d been conversing in French. Richard switched now to lenga romana, a language more familiar to Berengaria. “So . . . what say you, Berenguela? Do you want to marry me on Sunday?”
Berengaria well knew what response was expected of her. For twenty-one years, she’d been taught that a highborn young woman must be demure and dutiful in the presence of men. She must keep her eyes cast down and not speak out of turn. Above all, she must be chaste and modest and guard against impure thoughts. The proper answer would be to defer to Richard as her lord and husband, to say she’d be guided by his wishes in this, as in all matters. But Joanna and Queen Eleanor were not at all demure or submissive, and it was obvious that he loved them dearly. She hesitated, sensing that she was at a crossroads, and then, disregarding the lessons of a lifetime, she followed her heart. Looking up into his face, she said, softly but clearly, “I would very much like to wed you on Sunday, Richard.”
CHAPTER 17
MAY 1191
Limassol, Cyprus
Berengaria was astonished by how much Joanna had been able to accomplish in so little time.She’d had the inspired idea to seek the assistance of the wives of the Italian merchants, who were delighted by the prospect of a royal wedding and eagerly volunteered the services of their cooks and household servants. After their shipboard ordeal, the women took particular pleasure in appropriating the Cypriot emperor’s personal effects. Isaac’s reputation for luxurious living was borne out by the contents of coffers and cupboards: finely woven linen tablecloths, gold and silver plate, gem-encrusted cups, ivory salt cellars, Venetian glassware, a silk baldequin canopy, silver-gilt candlesticks, and costly, exotic spices, all of which would be put to good use. It had been decided that the wedding ceremony and coronation would be held in the chapel of St George, and the guests would then return to Isaac’s palace for the revelries. The floor of the great hall was now covered with fragrant rushes, and scarlet flowers were everywhere, garlanding the doors and windows, floating in the ewers of scented water that would be provided for guests to wash their hands between courses.
Berengaria had no false pride, well aware that her experience in Navarre could not compare to Joanna’s, for the lavish hospitality of the Sicilian court had been famed far beyond its borders. She was thankful, therefore, that the other woman had taken over the wedding preparations. She was touched, too, that Joanna took care to consult her on every decision. There would be three courses, each with five dishes; did Berengaria think that would be adequate? One of the Venetian cooks suggested a risotto of rice and chicken baked in pomegranate juice; did Berengaria agree? Did she want a Lombard stew of pork, onions, wine, and spices? What about a fruit pottage with strawberries and cherries? Berengaria gratefully approved the bountiful menu: oysters, roast venison, sturgeon eggs which Isaac had imported from the Black Sea, haunches of the native sheep called agrinon, egg custard, blancmange, fried eels, and salmon in jelly.