Lionheart A Novel - By Sharon Kay Penman Page 0,22

against King William’s father and spent years in gaol, that he is so ugly men call him the ‘monkey,’ that—”

“Alicia, by now you ought to know better than to believe anything Emma or Bethlem says. Yes, Tancred was born out of wedlock, but he is of good blood; his mother was the daughter of a lord. And yes, he did rebel against William’s father. But he was pardoned by Queen Margarita and served William loyally during his minority and afterward. He is a brave soldier and a capable administrator and I believe he truly cares about Sicily. He is not a man to maltreat a woman, least of all Joanna, his cousin’s widow.”

“Thank you, Lady Mariam,” Alicia said gratefully. “But . . . but you did not deny that Tancred looks like a monkey?”

“Well, there you have me,” Mariam admitted, “for poor Tancred has been cursed with a face that would scare a gargoyle,” and they both laughed, a moment that would mark a turning point for Alicia. From then on, she viewed the Lady Mariam as an ally, and she jettisoned the last of her brother Arnaud’s values, adopting the beliefs of Joanna’s Sicily as her own.

THE RAINY SEASON began in the autumn and when Tancred of Lecce’s ship dropped anchor in Palermo’s harbor at dawn on December 11, a steady, chill rain had been falling for days. Undaunted by the winter weather, he hastened to a council meeting with Matthew of Ajello, the Archbishop of Monreale, and the highborn lords of the realm. Despite the dynastic nature of the Sicilian kingship, Tancred was elected king by unanimous consent, for those who disapproved, such as the Archbishop of Palermo and his brother, had not been invited. That evening Tancred, his fourteen-year-old son Roger, and a military escort rode to the royal palace for a task that was both necessary and unpleasant. Tancred was not looking forward to it, but he refused to delegate it to others, for honor demanded that he be the one to tell the queen; he owed her that much.

As they approached the Joharia, Tancred noticed that Roger’s steps were lagging, and he found himself torn between amusement and impatience, for he understood Roger’s reluctance. The boy was totally besotted with Joanna, could not speak to her without blushing, squirming, and stammering.

“Roger,” Tancred said, putting his hand on the boy’s shoulder. When Roger met his eyes, he felt a surge of parental pride, for his son was all that he was not: tall and well formed. “Would you rather wait here whilst I speak with the queen?” He thought it was only fair to offer Roger that choice, for Matthew of Ajello had also begged off from accompanying them, using his gout as an excuse to avoid facing Joanna, whom he’d always liked.

Roger was silent for a few moments and then shook his head resolutely. “No, Papa, I will come with you.” Tancred smiled and they continued on.

JOANNA WAS AWAITING THEM in the royal audience chamber, accompanied by her seneschal, her chaplain, several of her household knights, and her ladies Beatrix and Mariam. She had already heard of the day’s events, and while she was not happy that Tancred should claim the crown that belonged to Constance, she knew there was nothing she could do about it. She did not know Tancred very well, but what she did know was to his credit: He’d served William loyally and had distinguished himself in William’s disastrous military campaign against the Greeks. She could only pray that he was up to the challenge and would be able to restore peace to their island kingdom.

Refusing Joanna’s polite offer of wine and fruit, Tancred wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. “Madame, I have come to tell you that I have been chosen by the lords of this realm to rule as king. The election was held this afternoon, and the coronation will take place after Epiphany, at which time I shall name my son the Duke of Apulia.”

Although Joanna liked Roger, it still hurt to think of him bearing the title that had so briefly belonged to her infant son. “My congratulations, Roger,” she said with a smile before turning back to his father. Tancred’s cool formality was a change from past occasions when he’d affably chatted with “Cousin William” and his “lovely lady.” She wondered if he felt as uncomfortable as she did. Taking her cue from him, she addressed him now as “My lord,”