My dear Countess,
I own, I was both surprised and pleased to receive your letter. In truth, nothing could give me greater joy than to call you “friend”! Triston speaks of you with the greatest fondness. I regret that I have not yet met his brother, who remains at the Young King’s court, but Triston says that you and Etienne grew up almost as brother and sister. If so, then surely that must only add to the bond between us, as well. I, too, look forward to the day when you and I may meet!
Your nephew, Perrin, does well. I do not know if you are aware that there were some dark days between him and his father after his mother’s death, but all seems to be mended now. Triston has not fostered him yet, I think because of the days he feels were lost between them and which he hopes to make up before he sends him away to begin his training as a page. In the meantime, Perrin continues his lessons from Triston’s chaplain, Father Michel, learning to read both Latin and French, as well as arithmetic, and even geography! I do not know what Triston hopes he will do with such knowledge as that one day. I think perhaps he secretly wishes that Perrin could attend the thriving cathedral school they are calling the University of Paris when he is older, where they are said to teach such things as geometry, astronomy and rhetoric! But that is where clerks and younger sons go to try to make their fortune, not a rich knight’s heir. And Triston is rich now, thanks to my inheritance, though he maintains his modest ways. There is no choice but for Perrin to follow the traditional path towards a future knighthood of his own, though I am sure that Triston hopes to place him with some man who will agree to let Perrin continue his studies. Suffice it to say that you would be more than proud could you see your nephew now.
Pray tell the Earl you husband how I appreciate him sparing one of his own men to bring me your letter. I do not wish to make him linger away from your husband’s service longer than is necessary, so I will end this now.
Your devoted Cousin,
Lady Siriol de Brielle
Lady Siriol de Brielle
Sent from Vere Castle in Poitou
The twenty-first day of September in the year of our Lord, 1179
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