The Follies of the King - Plaidy Jean - Страница 40

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magnificently Walter Reynolds had presided.

How she despised him as she listened! What a fool he was! At this time

when the people were suffering from the disasters of the harvest how could he spend so much money on the burial of the man whom the people had hated more than any other!

Did he not see how precarious his position was? Had he forgotten what had

happened to his grandfather King Henry III and his great grandfather King

John?

Edward was a fool? a weak fool.

She stroked his hair. She must have children. What would her position be

without children? She had her stalwart young Edward but he was not enough.

Children were so delicate? particularly it seemed were boys. Her powerful

father was dead— the victim, they said, of the curse of Jacques de Molai. She could look for little help from her family. Her brother Louis, called le Hutin because he quarrelled with everyone, was ailing. It was being said throughout France that none of the sons of Philip the Fair could prosper because of what their father had done to the Templars. Isabella shivered to contemplate what that awful scene must have been like with the Grand Master calling his curse on the royal house of France as the flames consumed him. His Queen was with child and there were fears that the curse might prevent her producing a healthy male child which was so urgently needed.

No, there was no hope of help from Louis.

Isabella must stand on her own, and now she knew that Lancaster was a

weak man, she would have to look for other support if ever she was going to save herself from the humiliation the King had made her suffer.

But she would never forget.

In the meantime the more children she had the higher her hopes. Desperately she needed a son.

That was why she made herself charming to Edward, and he, obtuse as he

was, believed her attitude towards him meant that she cared for him.

???????

The Queen was pregnant and, though the King was pleased with this, and

when the Queen rode out through London the people cheered her, their

resentment against him was growing.

It was the old trouble— King against barons, and there was always the

danger that this would break out into civil war. Only a strong King could keep the barons at bay and Edward was scarcely that.

What had angered him most about Lancaster’s high-handed manner was the

fact that he had succeeded in robbing him of his friends. The departure he most regretted was that of Hugh le Despenser. Despenser, a man of more than fifty years, had served Edward the First well and he had been ready to the same for his son. At Edward’s coronation he had carried part of the royal insignia and from that time had shown himself to be the King’s man.

When the barons had stood against dear Perrot, Hugh le Despenser had been

the only one of them who had given him his support. That was something

Edward would always remember.

Of course a great many cruel things had been said against him at the time.

They said he was avaricious and that he thought by currying favour of the King and his favourites he would be well rewarded. They were strong, those barons, and they dismissed him from the council.

But there was something very resilient about Hugh. It was not long before

he was back. The King was delighted to see him and presented him with the

castles of Marlborough and Devizes. When Gaveston was murdered it was Hugh who was beside the King, trying to offer that comfort which no one could really give. Hugh understood perfectly and the King was fond of him.

They used to talk a great deal together. Hugh hated Lancaster.

‘Forgive my anger, my lord,’ said Hugh, ‘for I speak of your cousin, but I would I might challenge him to combat. With what joy would I run my sword

through that arrogant body.’

‘Ah, Hugh,’ replied the King, ‘you are a true friend to me. And God knows, I have little left to me. When Perrot was alive?’

Then he would tell Hugh about the wonderful life they had had together and the King found he could laugh again over the wit of Piers Gaveston with

someone who could understand it.

Then Bannockburn where Hugh had been with the army in the debacle and

afterwards, when Lancaster was saying who and who should not serve him,

Hugh was one of those who were dismissed.

‘To be a King and not a King,’ mourned Edward. ‘I would be happier as one

of my poorest subjects.’

Hugh le Despenser had a son named Hugh like himself. Young Hugh was a

most beautiful young man? one who came as near to Perrot in that respect as anyone could come in the King’s eyes, and young Hugh had now become his

chamberlain.

Strangely enough he had been sent by Lancaster, for this beautiful youth had allied himself, against his father, to the barons.

It was a pleasure to talk to him, for he was amusing and gay. He was light-hearted, cheerful and whenever he was given a present he would be so delighted that it gave Edward great pleasure to bestow gifts on him.

Isabella had watched the King’s growing absorption in young Hugh le

Despenser with increasing irritation.

It is going to be Gaveston all over again, she thought. Why was I married to a creature like this?

There were times when she had difficulty in controlling her fury. She hated Edward; yet she was tied to him. She longed for a strong and passionate man, someone who would work with her, who was ambitious and above all, aware of all she had to give. Yet here she was married to one whom she considered only half a man, but he happened to be a king and as she wanted power as much as adoration and affection she had to walk very carefully. If this child she carried was a son, she would have made another step forward. She must have sons.

She saw what was happening so clearly. She understood these people around

her as Edward never could.

The elder Hugh le Despenser had sent his son to the barons. The artful old schemer! She understood it might well be because he thought one of them

should be in either camp. ‘You, my son,’ she was sure he had said, ‘will go to the barons and support them, while I stand beside the King. Then whichever way the tide turns one of us will be in the safe ship. Our estates will be saved and it should not be impossible for the winner to rescue the loser.’

Sound reasoning and worthy of the wily old Despenser.

Then bumbling Lancaster had stepped in. Young Hugh was a presentable

fellow, one who could well find favour with the King. Let him go into the royal household, keep his eyes open and report anything worthy of note to his

masters. He should make a good spy for the Lancastrian party.

Clever! no doubt Lancaster thought.

Old fool, thought Isabella. It can’t be long before even Lancaster sees what he has done.

And to think that she had once thought of throwing in her lot with him! Oh, how clever she was to wait, to play her game cautiously!

She would have a few more children by Edward— and there must be no

doubt in anyone’s mind that they were royal children— and then they would

see.

In the early part of August she returned to Eltham Place there to await the birth of her child and to her great joy on the fifteenth of that month a boy was born.

There was great rejoicing and the child was christened John.

He was known as John of Eltham.

???????

There was another year of famine. Rain had fallen continuously throughout

the summer; the fields were marshlands and the crops once more were ruined.

The people declared that it was not the French who were cursed, but the

English.

‘This would never have happened in Great Edward’s day,’ was the constant

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