The Lion of Justice - Plaidy Jean - Страница 19

‘It is wrong. It is wrong!’ they cried. ‘No man should enter the Abbey.’

‘Of a certainty no ordinary man should be allowed in.’ said Henry. ‘But I am no ordinary man.’

He laughed aloud when they had gone; he sat close to Edith; he took off her hood and ran his fingers through her hair.

‘How beautiful it is.’ he said. ‘I have dreamed of it.’

‘Why have you come to see me?’ she asked.

‘Because my inclinations first prompted me and then insisted. They would not be denied.’

‘The sisters are right. It is unseemly.’

‘That which is unseemly is often delightful you will discover.’

‘You know that the Earl of Surrey has the King’s consent to become betrothed to me?’

‘I know it.’

‘And...yet you come.’

‘Yes, I come to say it must not be.’

‘Why not?’

'You must know. I want you for myself.’

‘How...how could that be?’

Henry took her hands and drawing her to him kissed her on the lips.

She caught her breath; but she was not horrified, only delighted.

‘Would the King give his consent to our marriage?’

‘Nay. He has promised you to Surrey.’

‘Then how could we?’

‘I do not always ask the consent of the King.’

‘Should not all subjects do that?’

‘I am not his subject. I am his brother.’ He leaned towards her. ‘One day I shall be King of this realm. How would you like to be its Queen?’

She said: ‘I am the daughter of a King and I should be happy to return to the state in which I began my life. But I would not wish it if a man such as Alan of Bretagne were to be my husband.’

He laughed aloud. ‘He came to woo you and you liked him not?’

‘I liked him not.’

‘He is too old for you—my uncle by marriage. I am some ten years older than you. That is acceptable to you?’

She nodded.

‘And .’ am acceptable to you?’

‘I have never seen anyone like you.’

‘That tells me little. It may be that you have never seen anyone whom you found as repulsive.’

‘No, no...’

He was laughing at her. He took her hands suddenly and kissed her fingers.

‘Then,’ he said, ‘you like me well.’

‘Yes,’ she answered. ‘I like you well.’

‘And when I am King you will be my Queen.’

‘I could ask nothing more of life.’

‘Will you be a good wife to me?’

‘I will.’

‘And love me tenderly and bear my children?’

‘I will.’

‘Why ‘twould seem we are married already. Would there were a priest here who would marry us, and a bridal chamber where I could make you my wife in very truth.’

‘There is no priest and no bridal chamber.’

He looked at her, his eyes gleaming. ‘Would we could do without them.’

She was wide-eyed. ‘That is not possible, is it? How could we be married without a priest?’

‘They have taught you much from books and little from life. How could they...in an abbey?’

‘My aunt the Abbess told me what was expected of a wife.’ Her lips trembled suddenly. I...I hated it.’

‘I would tell you a different story. Do you believe me?’

‘Yes, I believe you.’

‘And you would be willing to learn?’

‘With you I would be willing.’

‘And there is no bridal chamber where we can begin our lessons I Alas!’

His eyes were alight with merriment. He looked round the great hall, at the vaulted ceiling, and a glint was in his eyes as though he were wondering how he could carry her off to a cell and there begin the lesson.

‘What if the King will not give his consent?’ she asked.

‘The King will not give his consent.’

‘Then we are doomed.’

‘Never say that, my Princess. Happiness shall be ours. But we must needs wait for it.’

‘I will wait.’

‘You must refuse the Earl of Surrey.’

‘As soon as I saw you I made up my mind to.’

‘And before you had decided to take him?’

‘No. Much as I hate a nun’s life I knew there was something lacking. As soon as I saw you I knew what.’

‘You delight me. We shall be happy together. But we shall have to be careful.’

‘What must I do?’

‘First refuse William Warren.’

‘If I do my aunt will try to force me to take the veil.’

‘My poor little captive Princess I You must refuse to take the veil.’ His hands caressed her body under the rough serge. ‘To think they could condemn you to such a life. You were meant to be loved and love in return. You will be a ready pupil. Oh, I have such delights in store for you, my dearest love.’

She felt she would swoon with delight already. Just to hear him address her in such a manner was enough.

‘I must refuse Surrey and the veil. It will not be easy.’

‘Nothing that is worthwhile is ever easy. Hold off the Abbess. Tell her you are undecided. Tell her you need time to think.’

‘I have been saying that for years.’

‘Then you must perforce continue to do so.’

‘And in time...’

He brought his face close to hers so that his warm breath was on her cheek.

‘I shall be King of this realm ‘ere long and then none shall gainsay me. I shall say the Princess Edith is to be my Queen and I’ll put to hideous death any who attempts to say me nay.’

‘No one would ever dare.’

‘They never would. So, my love, you will tell them that you cannot take Surrey and you feel it is very possible that you will choose the religious life. And you will wait...but not long. Then I shall come and claim you.’

‘I will do it,’ she cried. ‘I will keep myself free for you.’

‘And the waiting must not be long or I shall disguise myself as a wicked baron and take the Abbey; I shall carry off my Princess and begin to teach her how exciting love can be.’

Then he drew her to him and kissed her once more. He wound her plaits about her wrists and pulled them so that he hurt in a manner which excited her. He thrust a hand inside her rough shift and caressed her body.

‘Oh, to divest you of these abominable garments,’ he cried.

‘It shall come to pass. I have vowed it.’

He left her bewildered.

She could not speak to Mary or anyone.

Of only one thing was she certain. She would not marry the Earl of Surrey. She would not take the veil. She would wait for Prince Henry to become the King of England and claim her.

Brothers in Conflict

When Henry rode back from Wilton to Winchester he was feeling more than ever dissatisfied with his fate.

The Princess Edith was not uncomely; her innocence was amusing and she could give him some diversion which he could not find with his many mistresses. Moreover it was time he was married. He was thirty years of age and he wanted sons.

Edith had interested him; he had seen more beautiful women. Nesta, who was his favourite and the Princess of Wales, was one of the most fascinating women of the day; she had a sensuality to match his won and never failed to excite him. She had already borne him a child, and not only with her had he proved himself able to beget strong and healthy boys and girls. It was said that he had more bastards than any man in England.

He had four passions in his life: Women, the hunt, a love of learning – and more than any of these he longed for the crown.

Having seen the Princess and realized that he must achieve his destiny soon, he was more restless than usual.

What bad fortune to be born a third son. And he might have been a fourth son, if Richard had not died in the forest when hunting. What hopes would he have had then? He must needs rejoice in Richard’s death although he had been, as many had said, the best of the bunch. If only Rufus could have a similar accident in the hunting field!

Then he, Henry, would seize the crown without delay. Robert would no doubt claim it but Robert had no hope. The English would not accept a Norman. He, Henry, had been born in England; he had been educated by Lanfranc at Canterbury; he was the natural heir. Moreover Robert was a fool. All his life Robert had been a fool. First he had tried to pit his strength against that of the Conqueror. What hope had he had of succeeding there? Normandy had missed the strict rule of William I. And now, foolish Robert had put it in pawn to Rufus while he went on a Crusade. Men liked Robert; he was affable, generous—far too generous, for he squandered his fortune on those who flattered him—he was extravagant in the extreme; Robert as a man might be charming but as a ruler he was no good.