The Follies of the King - Plaidy Jean - Страница 13

‘Magnificent!’ cried Edward.

The King took a ring from the box. It was set with rubies and diamonds

matched the chain. Philip put the ring on Edward’s finger.

‘A token of our friendship,’ said Philip. ‘You are my son now.’

Edward was astounded at the magnificence of the gift and he immediately

wondered what Perrot would think of them. Perrot loved rubies almost as much as he loved diamonds!

Phillip was in a generous mood, which was unusual with him, and added a

special significance to the gifts. There were more of these to come for he had acquired so much booty from the Templars that he could well afford to part with some of it. He produced a belt and two fine brooches all set with glittering jewels and some bales of linen and velvet.

It was a token of friendship and the knowledgeable agreed that Phillip’s

generosity meant that he intended to rule England through his son-in-law.

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‘My father loves you,’ said Isabella.

They lay on their bed together, his arm about her, her lovely hair loose about her shoulders. Now and then she paused in her conversation to kiss him lightly on the lips or brow. He smiled benignly at these caresses. She was a beautiful and passionate girl and it had not been as difficult as he had thought it might be to do his duty by her.

‘How shall I like England?’ she asked.

‘You will love it.’

‘Because it is beautiful or because you will be there?’

‘For both reasons,’ said Edward.

‘Will the people love me?’

‘How could they help it?’

‘The French can be difficult. They are quickly angered. There are riots now and then and people speak against the royal family.’

‘This happens now and then. But when the people see you, they will love

you.’

‘Do they love you?’

‘So far, yes.’

‘You think they will change?’

‘They are fickle. They will tell you my father was the greatest of kings now that he is dead, but they did not always so while he lived.’

‘But they love you in spite of the fact that you are alive.’

‘I am a new King and they have not yet learned to hate me. At this stage

they blame others for my shortcomings. Perrot? for instance. They blame him.’

‘Perrot?’

‘Oh? he is just one of the knights. The Earl of Cornwall, in truth.’

‘Why do they blame him?’

‘They must blame someone. Now let me tell you what I have done for you.

We shall go to Westminster Palace. You will see what I have ordered to be done and it is all to please you. I have had the gardens returfed and trellises built and flowers planted just for you. And I have had a new pier built which shall be called the Queen’s Bridge.’

‘All for me.’

‘Yes, for you. You will find I am ready to do a great deal for you.’

She kissed him again and again? light butterfly kisses first.

His arms tightened about her.

Oh, yes, it was certainly a great deal easier than he had believed possible. He wondered if Perrot had found it equally so with his bride.

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The Dowager Queen of England came into her niece’s chamber and, as she

indicated that she wished to speak to her alone, Isabella’s attendants

disappeared.

‘It is nothing much,’ said Queen Marguerite. ‘I merely thought that as what is happening to you is so like what happened to me‚ we might have a little chat.’

‘My dearest aunt, you were very happy in England were you not?’

‘I was completely happy. Your husband’s father was good to me. I was

afraid when I left France. You are not afraid, Isabella?’

Isabella shook her head.

‘That is well, dear niece. You are young and beautiful and strong-willed. I was young but that is where the comparison ends.’

‘Oh, but Aunt Marguerite, you were always very pretty and still are.’

‘There are some in our family who have outstanding beauty. You are one.

Your father was another and so was my sister Blanche. Edward had heard of her charms and wanted to marry her. Then your father changed his mind and I was sent in Blanche’s place. It was not a good beginning. But Edward never showed his disappointment. He said afterwards how glad he was that I came instead of Blanche. It was a very happy marriage. But then Edward was a good husband?

a loved his family dearly. I wonder if?’

‘If my Edward will be the same. Dear lady, do not worry. I shall be.’

‘Yes, you will see to that. Of course Kings have such power and so many

seek to please them. Often they are tempted?’

‘Tempted?’

‘To? take lovers.’

Isabella laughed. ‘There shall be none of that. Why, my lady, Edward is a

meek man. He is a man who would not seek trouble. Never fear, I shall know how to deal with him.’

‘Of course you will, my dear.’

‘You are looking uneasy. Tell me, is there some scandal in Edward’s life of which I have not heard? I shall ask him. I shall demand a full confession.’

‘Oh no, no? You must not do that. All will be well. I was just over

anxious? nothing more. Pray forget what I said.’

Dear Aunt Marguerite! She was rather a simpleton, but she had the kindest

heart in the world. She was merely trying to warn her young niece of the ways of men.

Isabella kissed her warmly.

‘There is one thing you must know,’ she said. ‘I am able to take care of

myself? and Edward.’

The Dowager Queen nodded eagerly. Of course it would be all right, she

assured herself. Now that he had a young wife, this regrettable liaison with Piers Gaveston would cease.

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It was time to leave for England. The young bride said farewell to her

parents who had solemnly placed her in the care of her two uncles, Charles de Valois and Louis d’Evreux.

‘If you need advice on any matter, my child,’ said her father, ‘go to your uncles. They will tell you how to act.’

She promised that she would do this and Phillip seemed satisfied.

The journey across the Channel in spite of the bleakness of the February day was a calm one. Isabella stood on deck beside her new husband and watched

with some emotion the approaching white cliffs. She glimpsed the castle high on the hill, that almost impregnable fortress which she had heard called the key to England.

Her eyes shining with happiness she grasped Edward and told him that she

knew that the happiest time of her life lay ahead of her.

He kissed her hand and murmured that it was going to be his joy to make her so. She did not know how lightly he spoke and that the excitement in his eyes was not there because he was bringing home his bride but because soon he

would see Gaveston.

There were crowds waiting to greet them. Isabella could see the banners as they came in; she heard the shouts of the people. This was indeed a royal

welcome.

Edward took her hand as they went ashore. She heard someone say, ‘she is

indeed a beauty.’ Then the crowds took up the cry: ‘Long live Isabella the Fair.

God bless our Queen.’

She felt intoxicated with joy. She was a Queen; she had a handsome

husband whom she could love; her new people admired her and welcomed her

warmly to her new land. It was everything she had imagined.

This was happiness.

There was a sudden silence in the crowd. A man had stepped forward. He

was clearly of great importance for he was surrounded by extravagantly clad men who were in attendance. He was like a king himself— even more magnificent.

He must be an Emperor, she thought, or some ruler of even greater rank than the King himself.

His cotehardie glittered with jewels and the purple velvet cloak, surely a royal colour— was trimmed with miniver. He was dark-eyed, very handsome,

lithe and graceful.

‘My lord,’ he cried and then he and the King were embracing as though their reunion was the sweetest thing in the world