Leonard Copeland, then a squire, was
standing beside her, and it had been currently reported that he was
to be her bridegroom.
He had returned from his captivity after the battle of Northampton
exceedingly downcast, but striving vehemently in the cause of
Lancaster, and Hardcastle had heard that the question had been
discussed whether the forced marriage had been valid, or could be
dissolved; but since the bodies of Lord Whitburn and his son had been
found on the ground at Wakefield, this had ceased, and it was
believed that Queen Margaret had commanded Sir Leonard, on his
allegiance, to go and take possession of Whitburn and its vassals in
her cause.
But Pierce Hardcastle had come to Ridley's opinion, that did his
knight but shut his eyes, the Lady Grisell was as good a mate as man
could wish both in word and deed.
"I would fain," said he, "have the Lady Eleanor to look at, but this
lady to dress my hurts, ay, and talk with me. Never met I woman who
was so good company! She might almost be a scholar at Oxford for her
wit."
However much solace the lady might find in the courtesy of Master
Hardcastle, she was not pleased to find that her hand-maiden Thora
exchanged glances with the young men-at-arms; and in a few days
Ridley spoke to Grisell, and assured her that mischief would ensue if
the silly wench were not checked in her habit of loitering and
chattering whenever she could escape from her lady's presence in the
solar, which Grisell used as her bower, only descending to the hall
at meal-times.
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