The Follies of the King - Plaidy Jean - Страница 25

When her women came to her for her toilette, she knew at once that

something was wrong.

‘You had better tell me without delay,’ she commanded grimly.

‘My lady, the King has left. He and the Earl of Cornwall were off before

dawn.’

She did not answer. she did not want the women to know how angry and

humiliated she felt.

She waited.

‘My lady, they say that the Earl of Lancaster is but a few miles from the

castle and marching this way? come, they say to take the Earl of Cornwall. The King was beset with anxiety and he and the Earl left without delay.’

So they had gone and left her to face his enemies. How she hated them?

Edward as much as Gaveston! What did Edward care for her, the wife who was about to bear his son? Nothing mattered to him as long as Gaveston was safe.

‘So,’ she said, ‘The Earl of Lancaster is close to the castle.’

‘Surrounding it with his men, some say, my lady.’

‘It is all they say and some say. You had better help me to dress. I must be ready for the King’s enemies when they call on me.’

How well she hid her seething anger! How dared he! What were they thinking, these servants? So this is how he treats his wife. He has no thought for her at all. All that matters to him is his lover, Gaveston. He should pay for this one day. Oh yes, one day the humiliation he had piled on her should be paid for in interest. One this child was born? and if it were a boy? Oh God, let it be a boy! Then Edward, her faithless husband, should beware.

She was dressed. The cold glitter behind her eyes if anything added to her beauty. She was maddened when she saw that glowing reflection, that

outstanding beauty which had set the minstrels singing at her father’s Court, because it had no effect on his husband. Why had they not married her to a man!

‘Now,’ she said, ‘I would hear what is happening.’

It was Lancaster who made her aware of that. The castle could offer no

resistance. Moreover the Queen was not sure that she wished it to.

Lancaster walked straight into the castle and when he learned that the King had flown with Gaveston during the night he asked for an audience with the Queen.

He bowed low and kissed her hand. His eyes told her that he thought she

was a remarkably beautiful woman and as such he did homage to her.

‘My lady,’ he said, ‘I beg you to forgive me for this intrusion.’

She smiled and thought: Why was Lancaster not the King? I should not have complained if he had been my husband. It could so easily have been so. His father had been a brother of Edward the First and he was therefore first cousin to Edward her husband. He was royal; he was powerful and rich; and he was fully a man.

‘Intrusion?’ she lifted her brows and turned her head towards the window

where she could see Lancaster’s private army was encamped about its walls. ‘It is a mind way of expressing it. Have you and your men taken the castle?’

‘My lady, while you are here, I would never allow that. We came for the

traitor Gaveston who has broken his word and returned to England and who is under excommunication.’

‘I would I could deliver him to you. He and the King left shortly before your arrival.’

‘So he has slipped through our fingers. Never fear. We shall catch up with them.’

‘The King is with him, my lord.’

Lancaster nodded gravely. ‘That is a pity, but if it is so, then must he take the consequences.’

‘What do you mean? Have you come against the King?’

“My lady, I have come to take Gaveston.’

‘And what if the King will not give him up?’

‘Then we must perforce take him even so.’

‘This could mean? war?’

‘War for a worthless adventurer? Nay, let us hope it will not come to that.

But we are determined to have Gaveston. So you did not leave with them.’

‘No.’ She could not hide the venom in her voice. ‘They did not think to save me from their pursuers. They thought only of themselves.’

‘There is no need for you to fear.’ He had taken a step toward her. ‘ I would protect you against all who would harm you.’

‘You are a good friend and cousin.’

‘My lady, I would serve you with my life. Depend upon this: no harm shall

come to you while I am near to protect you.’

‘Thank you, my lord Lancaster. In protecting me, it may well be that you

protect your future King.’

He smiled slowly. ‘Is that so, my lady? Then we should rejoice.’

‘Thank you, cousin.’

He took her hand and kissed it. ‘I will rid you of Gaveston,’ he said. ‘I

promise you that he shall not live much longer to torment you.’

She gave him her hand. ‘I will remember that, cousin,’ she said.

He bowed and left her, his eyes lingering on her as though he found it

difficult to take them from her.

When he had gone, she listened to the sounds in the castle.

They were searching for evidence of where the pair had gone.

They would soon discover that they had left by sea. They must be calling at Scarborough. So Pembroke and Warenne were marching north and Lancaster

would march south.

Edward would have to deliver Gaveston to them or there would be civil war.

Thank God for the child. If it were only a boy, she could look forward to a future with excitement. She was heartily tired of Edward and it was more

humiliating because if he had cared for her she might have loved him. It would be hard to find a more handsome man. It was maddening and humiliating that he had left her to her fate in order to escape with Gaveston. How was he to know that his enemies would not regard themselves as hers too? Yet he had left her, pregnant as she was, to face them. What man worthy of the name would do that?

If she had a spark of affection for Edward it was over now.

She thought of Lancaster? if she had not been a queen, if she had not to

bear the King’s son? she had seen in his expression as he looked at her that he found her infinitely desirable.

He had a reputation for his affairs with women. It was understandable. He

had disliked Alice his wife and she, him. This had been a marriage of

convenience if ever there had been one. He had little to complain of, though. No doubt Alice had. It had brought him the earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury.

What had it brought Alice? The Queen wondered about her and whether she had taken a lover.

If only? thought the Queen. How easy it would have been with a man like

Lancaster. He had shown her clearly that he would count himself fortunate if he beckoned to him. They would be discreet? but there was no discretion that

could save her from scandal. And she had the heirs to the throne to produce.

Isabella was a voluptuous woman but she was an even more ambitious one.

She wanted power through her children. She wanted to humiliate the man

who had humiliated her. Perhaps more than anything she wanted revenge.

???????

She was safe at Tyneside. Lancaster had promised her that no harm should

befall her. He would rid her of Gaveston, he had said. It was a promise which she knew he would do his best to keep. She felt at ease. Her women said that the child was certain to be a boy. The wise old goodies could tell by the way she carried it. She was careful of herself. Nothing must go wrong. She must produce a healthy child. And if by the time of its birth Lancaster had kept his word and rid her of Gaveston who knew what would result?

She must have more children. They would not be born in love, of course.

Never, never would she forgive Edward for his last insult. That he should leave her and their unborn child to his enemies was too much to be borne. How was he to know that his enemies might be her friends?

It was necessary, her women said, to take exercise. It could be bad for the child, so she took to walking in the fields and woods about the castle and it was here one day that she met the boy Thomeline. Poor wretched little orphan. He was half-naked and dirty and frightened and yet so desperate that he dared approach the Queen and beg for alms.