No grander gift could he have given me. These were not the actions of a cruel man. He was kind, yet far too experienced, already touched by life, and I was little more than an inexperienced girl.
“Matilde,” he said as slid closer.
Here was a man of three and thirty years, a stranger who wanted me for his wife. The awareness tightened the growing knot in my stomach. When he spoke to me, it was with an expression of tenderness and a yielding voice. Instead of arrogance, I beheld genuine interest. Gone was his over-confidence; he had shown me a subtler side of his character. Still, a tinge of uncertainty prevailed. I must decide whether it was because of him or the uncertain future ahead.
“I promise you will never lament marrying me, Matilde. We are meant to be together, and if you search your heart, you will also realize it.”
Before I could dispute what he said, Heinrich gave me a curt bow then left the chapel. I minded his every step until he disappeared into the dark recesses of the nave. Time would provide my answers. It was not until I rose and left the chapel that it occurred to me—I had not learned much about him.
THE EVENING MEAL progressed with the same tension as the one at midday. After Compline, as if in a dream, I returned to my cell. A familiar quiet had settled over the abbey. As I prepared for bed, I mulled over the day’s events. Worries soon turned to fatigue, but when sleep came, it was disturbed with perplexing dreams.
The creak of the door-latch woke me. Sister Ricburg entered. The candle she carried cast a dim light.
Her sudden and unexpected presence alarmed me. “How did you get away? You are not permitted in the private quarters.”
“I waited for the sisters to fall asleep then stole away. I must talk with you.” She placed the candle on the table next to my bed and bit her lower lip to still its quiver.
“If someone finds you here, they may denounce you in the Chapter House and you will have to confess.” Everyone dreaded Chapter where the sisters met once a week. They sat in a long narrow room in strict order according to the date they made their vows. Grandmother read aloud from the rulebook and discussed matters concerning the abbey and its residents. At the end of the meeting, the nuns were required to confess their sins or report the sins of others. The experience was humiliating, one to be avoided.
Sister Ricburg gave me a pleading glance.
I kept my voice to a whisper. “Tell me what is wrong.”
“Oh, how can I expect you to understand?”
“We are friends. You can tell me anything.”
After a pause she said, “There are times when I regret my vows.”
Her response bewildered me. I thought she was content. Life in a convent was safe, especially for one marred by an unsightly birthmark which had caused her to be ostracized in the outside world. Here at the abbey she was protected, yet I noticed her strain. “I am confused. All those years before you took final vows, and you said nothing. Have you discussed this with my grandmother?”
“No, I have kept my feelings secret.”
Sister Ricburg possessed all I desired—to be a nun and live in an abbey. Yet she was unhappy. Wealth and position required me to make an advantageous marriage. If we could reverse places, we might both be happy.
“Because of my mark, my parents tasked me with keeping the sheep and goats. I spent hours each day in the meadow behind our home, free with the feel of the sun on my face, but here, I feel trapped. Everything is uncomfortable—not being able to leave the cloister, the discomfort of the hair shirt beneath my habit, waking in the middle of the night to pray. I am here because I am a burden to my family. Papal dispensation to release me from my vows is impossible for poor families like mine. You will soon marry and leave, and my life will become even more miserable.”
“But you told me how unhappy your life was before you came to the abbey, how people jeered at you, and kept you away from breeding women for fear their children might be born similarly marked. They called the stain on your face the mark of the devil. Have you forgotten that? Here, under Grandmother’s love and protection, it is not so bad.”
She stood against the candlelight; her shoulders slumped. Unsure how to console her, I lifted my bedcovers and she climbed in. With her head on my shoulder, she wept until sleep overtook her.
As I listened to her steady breathing, the irony of our lives struck me. Marriage to Duke Heinrich would bring many opportunities, but it meant I must leave the abbey life I adored. Poor Sister Ricburg, who loved the sun and light, could not leave these cloistered walls. With these considerations churning in my head, I drifted off, my slumber agitated.
WHEN I AWOKE, I was alone. Sad for Sister Ricburg, I rose groggily to dress. Grandmother fetched me and we walked to the Calefactory where Heinrich awaited us. Tension sharpened his features, but when I gave him the tiniest of smiles, he relaxed. With a grin, he stepped back and pointed to the table that spanned the length of the room behind him.
It was laden with treasures. Gold and silver goblets circled gem-encrusted pitchers. Bolts of silks and furs cascaded over the table’s edge onto the floor. Pendants, necklaces, and earrings, studded with an array of colorful gems, lay on red silk cloths. My hand flew to my lips in awe.
His face was vibrant with delight. “All for you, Matilde. I hope you are pleased.”
“You are most generous…this is far beyond my expectations.”
Pleased, he lifted a parchment from the table. “A donation in your name to this abbey; a rather sizeable one.” As excited as a child, he raised one intricate item after another to describe them to me.
These were my betrothal gifts—tracts of land, incalculable riches, and promises of repairs to the abbey. Charm and gentleness laced Heinrich’s every word. I was suddenly excited about my future, but at the same time, I recalled my dreams had forewarned that my life would have its share of great strife.
I FOLLOWED GRANDMOTHER to her chamber where a warm bath awaited me. Sister Ricburg trailed us, her silence proof of a troubled mood. The aroma of lavender, handpicked from the abbey’s gardens, emanated from the water. After shedding my garments, I submerged myself, indulging in the warmth.
Sister Ricburg waited on the edge of the bed. Grandmother sat on a chair beside the bath staring at the water as she dipped and re-dipped a cloth, squeezing its water over my shoulders. I lingered in the bath until the water turned cool, overwhelmed by thoughts of new duties and obligations. With a nudge, Grandmother beckoned me from the bath, helped dry me, and then invited me to sit near the brazier. She opened the door and with a wave of her hand, invited two lay sisters inside. Between them, they carried a scarlet mantle and laid it on the bed.
My breath caught in my throat! It looked exactly like the one in my dream. Lined and trimmed in ermine, the garment’s flowers and birds, embroidered in golden thread, shimmered. Pearls, amethysts, and rubies decorated the silver clasp.
“Another gift from Lord Heinrich.” Grandmother lifted a delicate under-gown from a nearby chair and slipped it over my head and shoulders. Made of fine linen with a rounded neckline, it fell to my ankles. Its long sleeves snug from forearm to wrist, ended in a floral border.
Next, Grandmother raised the over-gown. I marveled at the exquisite embroidery on the front and back. Its neckline and wide sleeves emphasized the decorative wristbands of the under-gown. Bands of blue braided linen embedded with sapphires and emeralds adorned sleeves and hem. Sunlight streamed in from the window, making the garments sparkle with my every movement.
Grandmother placed the mantle over my shoulders then stepped back to appraise me. “It is a fine garment, Matilde. The color intensifies your brown eyes and enhances your hair’s golden highlights. There is something else I have saved to give you.” She withdrew a pendant from the purse suspended on the girdle around her waist. A brilliant sapphire the size of a large grape dangled from a chain of heavy twisted golden links. “Your grandfather gave this to me on the day we were wed. When I entered the abbey after his death, I kept the pen
dant in reserve for you.” She hung it around my neck and kissed my cheek. “Think of me when you wear it and remember how deeply I love you.”
Touched by the gift, I embraced her.
“Walk confidently into your future, for you shall receive many blessings.” She swept some lint from my shoulder. “Because your mother isn’t here, it falls to me to tell you of your duties.”
“What duties?”
“The responsibilities of the marriage bed. Lord Heinrich will share your bed and take pleasure from your body.”
My cheeks burned and I glanced away, for I had heard tell of the carnality between a man and woman.
“You must submit to his demands. It is God’s way of blessing you with children. A physical yearning for a woman’s flesh drives men, so you must remind him of days when lovemaking is banned by the Church. Should he persist and ignore Church laws, there is little you can do. You will have to submit, but if that happens it will be his sin alone.”
With every word, my cheeks reddened. I was much relieved when she finished.
“There is one last thing. I have received approval to release Sister Ricburg from the cloister, to live with you so she can aid you in your future duties.”
My heart soared! Comfort in an uncertain future! I glanced at Sister Ricburg. She tried to disguise her elation, but her face glowed with happiness.
At last, the three of us departed for the Calefactory. With each tentative step, my anxiety grew. Soon I would leave the days of my idyllic childhood behind.
Iron hinges creaked as Grandmother eased open the door. Heinrich fell silent at my appearance. My senses absorbed every detail. Time no longer mattered. A vast chasm into a new life waited to be crossed. I summoned my confidence and strode forward.
His mouth agape, Heinrich observed my progress toward him. The golden embroidery and gems of my scarlet mantle sparkled by the light of the tallow candles. Despite my trembling limbs, I held my head high and made my way to his side. He walked with me to the table and helped me sit.
With quill in hand, I read each word on the sheets of parchment before me, gripped by a need to understand the exact cost of my marriage. No one dared interrupt as I read the terms.
Heinrich’s bride price to me was richer than anything I could have imagined. Five hundred gold coins, the town of Walhausen, and a quarter of his wealth for my sole use. I was to receive three hundred gold coins for every son I birthed and one hundred for each daughter.
For my dowry to Heinrich, my father gave Heinrich lands at Engern, three hundred coins of silver, a large silver bowl, twenty sets of linens to cover a large bed, ten golden serving platters, and a stallion from his stable.
I dipped the quill in the inkwell, and hesitated, aware that the moment I wrote my name, I would be married. My throat felt parched, but I gathered my composure as I formed my maiden name for the last time. Matilde Immeding. Forever more I would be Matilde Liudolfing. Those simple strokes bound me forever to a man I hardly knew. I returned the plume to the tabletop with a pang of regret; today I would leave my past and beloved grandmother behind.
Heinrich rested a hand on my shoulder. “I am happy,” he whispered. He helped me rise and escorted me to the doors. “We will leave immediately for Walhausen. Pack what is most important. Everything else, I shall provide.” After those words, he grinned and left me.
Ignoring the tension gnawing at my stomach, I returned to Grandmother’s chambers with stoic dignity.
THUS, I BECAME a married woman with the responsibilities of a duchess. Grandmother and Sister Ricburg helped me change into suitable travelling clothes for my first tour of the duchy as its new duchess. Most of my belongings were already packed. As I dressed hastily in the new clothes and thick-soled shoes Heinrich had provided, I marveled at the array of gifts. He and my father must have been in lengthy discussions to prepare so much in so little time.
The light rain had stopped, but the sky remained gray. The fresh scent of damp earth floated on the cool breeze. Grandmother and a group of nuns followed Sister Ricburg and me into the courtyard where Heinrich waited with his entourage. Sister Ricburg covered her birthmark with her veil; the trembling of her hands revealed her excitement. I wished my heart could be as light as hers was, yet the knowledge we would be together brought me comfort.
The Duke of Saxony’s standard, a black falcon centered on a bright gold background, snapped in the gusts of air. Each man in his troop of guards waited beside their mounts. At my emergence, Heinrich’s expression brightened.
“I hope I did not delay you for too long.”
“I would wait a lifetime for you.” Heinrich led me to his waiting men.
Sister Ricburg trailed behind me.
“This is Franco, commander of my personal guards.” Heinrich slapped a fine-looking, barrel-chested soldier on the back. “Franco once saved my life after an enemy fighter pinned me to the ground and could have killed me with the next thrust of his sword.”
This image of my husband in the heat of battle warred with my impression of the enigmatic man before me. How little I knew of him; how much I had yet to discover.
“I am honored to serve you, Domina.” Franco’s deep voice conveyed kindness.
I beamed at him as Heinrich grasped my elbow and introduced me to the remaining men: Transbert, Cuno, Petrus, Nidhard, Mudric, Gunter, and Baldric, all men he trusted who greeted me with interest and pleasant smiles.
One final parting remained. I flung myself into Grandmother’s loving arms, wishing for the moment to last forever, but Heinrich was anxious to set forth, so I reluctantly released her.
Grandmother wiped a tear from my cheek. “Remember…I love you more than life itself. Go with God.” She maintained her dignity while she fought back tears.
“I’ll always carry you in my heart.” Head held high, I turned and made my way to my husband.
He lifted me onto a pretty dappled-gray mare while Cuno assisted Sister Ricburg onto a bay gelding. Baggage carts and servants waited in a long line. As we prepared to ride off, I turned for one last glimpse of Grandmother. Surrounded by her charges, she stood motionless beneath the dismal sky. The sight would remain etched in my mind for the rest of my life. I wiped away my tears and waved one final time. Heinrich gave the order to ride forth. With my face set bravely forward, I resisted the urge for one last look.
THE SUN WAS at its highest when I first glimpsed Walhausen, nestled in a peaceful river valley surrounded by fields of green rolling pastures. Heinrich halted our retinue at the crest of a hill. After helping me dismount, he led me to a large rock, lifted me onto it, and leaped up beside me.
“This is Walhausen, your town. What do you think of that?”
The sun warmed my shoulders as I examined the sight. An old Roman road led through the town. Earthen ramparts topped with palisades surrounded it. At its center loomed a solitary timber church encircled by numerous single-storey structures. “It is a most generous gift. I pray I’ll be worthy of it.” My voice trembled and I longed for the day when I would feel more at ease with him.
Pleased, he swept me into his arms. Lowering his head, he moved his lips tenderly over mine in a brief kiss. He pulled away, searching my expression to judge my reaction.
Beneath his studious contemplation, I felt myself blush.
“Come.” Heinrich helped me off the rock. “It is time for the Duchess of Thuringia to make her grand entrance.”
Words seemed inadequate, and my stomach quivered with anticipation. With Heinrich’s aid, I remounted and we set off. At our arrival, people abandoned their work and lined the way to catch a glimpse of us as we rode towards a fortress at the other end, a square castle keep made of earth and stone looming from its center.
The clatter of our horses’ hooves thudded across a wooden bridge, beneath the gatehouse, and into the bailey. The moment Heinrich’s feet touched the ground, family and friends surrounded him, greeting him with kisses and pats on the back. When he broke free, he helped me alight. I
thanked him with a smile and turned to face the crowd of strangers.
A man hastened forward to greet me. He bore a strong resemblance to Heinrich, but with graying hair.
Heinrich leaned over and whispered to me. “Here comes my father, Otto.”
Otto, the Duke of Saxony stood before me. I curtseyed and when I rose, his mouth widened into a grin as he kissed my hand. “Welcome, Matilde.”
I marveled at his colorful attire. His violet over-tunic, ornamented with amethysts, garnets, and embroidery, blazed beneath the sun. Rings sparkled from every finger. In the lines of his creased face, and the warmth of his expression, I sensed his intelligence and genuine kindness. Instantly, I warmed to him.
Heinrich noticed me studying his father and laughed. “Now you know why they call him Otto the Illustrious; an epithet well-earned and a source of great pride.”
They exchanged a manly embrace, pounding each other on the back. Otto then escorted us into the castle keep. Servants met us, and we ascended a circular staircase to the third storey where we parted from Heinrich and his father who entered chambers across from us.
My room held an ornate bed with two eagles carved into the headboard, two night tables, and an empty wooden tub. From the window I could see the wooded slopes of the Harz Mountains. Melodious birdsong mingled with the fresh mountain air that wafted into the room.
A trio of maidservants entered with ewers of warm water to fill the tub. After helping me undress, I submerged myself in the warm scented water. The warmth soothed my saddle-weary muscles as I washed away the journey’s grime.
When I finished, it was Sister Ricburg’s turn. She removed her veil, careful to keep her head lowered. The maidservant recoiled at the sight. Her discomfort was evident in her drooping expression. A surge of protectiveness coursed through me. Deliberately, I rose from my chair near the brazier, and placed a kiss on the mark on her cheek.
The Prophetic Queen (Women's Biographical Historical Fiction): The Tumultuous Life of Matilde of Ringelheim Page 3
