The Lion of Justice - Plaidy Jean. Страница 47

‘I have vowed to myself that I will not leave here without you.’

She turned to Gerald who was hastily throwing on some clothes.

‘This hot-headed young fool will do us an injury,’ said Nesta.

‘We are safe here,’ said Gerald. ‘He can never break down the door. It is especially made for attack such as this. It is of iron.’

There was silence from without.

‘He has gone away,’ said Gerald.

But this was not so.

They heard Owen’s voice suddenly. ‘If you do not come out I will burn you out.’

‘You cannot.’

‘I will. I will set fire to this room. I will burn you out like rats.’

‘He cannot mean this.’ said Gerald.

‘He does. He is a young man gone mad!’

She set about pulling up some of the floor boards for she knew that under the chamber was a passage through which her husband could escape.

‘Come then.’ he said.

‘Nay.’ she answered, ‘if I do not go out he will burn down the house. There are the children to consider.’

So Gerald concealed himself and Nesta unlocked the door and stepped out as Owen stood there, a blazing firebrand in his hand.

‘You are mad.’ she cried.

‘Yes.’ he answered, handing the burning brand to one of his men. ‘Made mad by my desire for you.’

With that he forced her into the bedchamber. He saw the disarranged bed and as he flung himself upon her he said: ‘So your gallant husband has escaped me. Never mind. I have that for which I came.’

‘This could cost your life.’ she told him.

‘It was worth it.’

‘You’ll not say that when the irons enter your eyes.’

‘I would say it if they flayed me alive.’

‘You are a young fool.’

‘I love you, Nesta. No woman will do for me but you.’

‘So you would take me by force?’

‘If the need arose. But it did not. You were willing. Don’t deny it. Now I shall take you away with me.’

‘Abduct me!’

‘You do not think I came here to stay.’

‘There will be trouble, Owen.’

‘Let there be.’

‘You are not considering what this could mean.’

‘Come away with me and you will see.’

‘If I refuse?’

‘Then I must needs bind you and carry you off.’

‘I will come.’ she said, ‘on one condition.’

‘Name it.’

‘That I bring my boys with me and those of my husband’s previous marriage.’

‘What do you want with them?’

‘Two of them are mine and the others are their playmates. I want them with me.’

‘They shall come. See how I indulge your whims.’

‘Well, do you intend to carry me off now or spend the night in this bed?’

‘Not the whole night,’ he answered.

* * * * *

‘There is trouble in Wales,’ said the King.

Matilda raised her eyebrows. Real trouble, she wondered, or just the desire to see the lady of Carew Castle?

‘And you must needs go to settle the matter, I doubt not?’

‘That is so. Two houses are warring together.’

‘Can they not settle their own differences?’

‘My dear Matilda, you know that aught that happens in this country is my concern.’

She did not ask what the trouble was but she noticed that he went off with that expression of expectancy which she had begun to associate with his visits to Wales.

It was not long before she learned the truth. Nesta again I Sometimes she wished she could see this woman for herself. At others she was glad that she could not. She knew that the rest of his mistresses were in truth of little importance in the King’s life. Not so Nesta.

Her attendant and friend Gunilda whispered to her that the war which was being waged on the Welsh border was due to a woman. She did not mention the woman’s name but Matilda knew.

‘Why should they be quarrelling over this woman?’ she asked.

‘Her cousin came and abducted her. He was so maddened by his love for her that he was ready to risk his life. His father is furious with him and the lady’s husband enjoys great favour since...since...since...’

Matilda said: ‘I understand. This woman is another Helen of Troy.’

Another Helen! she thought; and how can I hope to compete with her?

Henry came back from Wales—reluctant she knew to leave this Circe.

‘So you have settled this matter of war in Wales?’ she asked him.

He had, he told her.

‘And the lady is returned to her husband?’

He nodded, still smiling, the magic of those hours spent with Nesta still clinging to him.

At such times Matilda went to her nursery and there she stayed with her children. They soothed the hurt which would never quite heal. In time she promised herself she would forget the ridiculous romantic dream that had once seemed reality to her. She would live for the children.

Triumph in Normandy

In Normandy Robert was fulminating against his brother. He had been tricked out of his pension, he declared. He had been plied with wine and then lured into relinquishing it. He would be revenged.

Henry, listening to such reports, was delighted. He wanted Normandy. He could never forget his father’s deathbed prophecy that he should have all that his brothers had and more. The Conqueror had meant of course that Henry would have England and Normandy.

Normandy, he hold his ministers, was in a state of wild disorder. The country was ruled not so much by his brother as by barons like Robert of Belleme who terrorized the countryside. To take Normandy would be an act of clemency. It would be tantamount to a Holy Crusade. The people of Normandy deserved the good rule which those of England enjoyed under their Lion of Justice.

He decided first to put out tentative feelers. Would Robert be prepared to sell him Normandy? To offer a pension would be a little ironical at the moment when Robert was just considering himself cheated out of the one he already laid claim to; but Robert could always be tempted by money. He was always in need of it because when he had it he squandered it on gifts given in unwary moments, or on extravagant clothes and living, and women of course.

‘Robert is ruler in name only.’ he said, knowing that his remarks would be carried back to the Duke.

Robert was incensed when he heard this and railed bitterly against his trickster brother.

Henry’s ministers warned him that to buy Normandy, even if Robert agreed, would mean excessive taxation. The money would have to come from somewhere.

Less taxation would be needed to pay Robert a sum of money than to make war in Normandy, Henry pointed out. The people would be made to see this.

‘The people might think that life is becoming good in England so why consider Normandy.’

‘Because Normandy was my father’s Duchy. Because men such as Robert of Belleme are ruining it. Because Robert is unfit to rule. And because I want it.’

That was a good enough reason for Henry; and as Robert was not ready to come to terms with him, he prepared to go to war.

* * * * *

The people hated the taxes but they remembered Robert of Belleme who had briefly terrorized the countryside. Henry had made sure that they understood what this war was about. He had delivered his people from the wicked Baron and banished him to Normandy where he expected his brother to act as he had. But Robert had not done this. He had been unable to. Consequently Robert of Belleme flourished. He had the ascendancy over Duke Robert and it could be said that he ruled Normandy. He would very soon be turning his eyes to England. Before he was in a position to do that Henry was going to make war on Normandy. He was going to take it from his brother; he was going to set up there the just laws he had made in England and crush the Bellemes forever. The people must decide that they would willingly pay their taxes (for their taxes would be taken no matter what methods must be employed) remembering the threat of Robert of Belleme.

The people paid their taxes with less trouble than had been anticipated. And in a few months the King was ready to set sail for Normandy.