Piers did not put it to him as her idea, of course. He didn’t want to give him a reason to reject it. When the two had been married for a while, he might reveal its origins, but not until then. The Lady Constance was brought to them in the great hall, and her face was as parched and pinched as Piers remembered as she sat down opposite them, but it lit up when Fitz newly created title of Duke of Umbridge was mentioned. Piers didn’t even think that she was dismissed or curtseyed to them before she turned tail and left to run upstairs to her daughter to share their turn of good fortune. The entire keep could hear Josettes squeal of delight, and all Piers could think was that it was nice that she wasn’t too terribly heartbroken after losing him. Luckily, King William had a sense of humor, and all he did was turn to Piers and laugh about the vagaries of women, as he was well known to be demonstrably in love with his wife, Matilda. But he wasn’t above teasing Piers about his wedding night.
