The Courts of Love - Jean Plaidy [108]
People talked of the incident and that was how it reached my ears. It really was amazing—the terms those two were on. Henry seemed as though he could not have enough of the man’s company. It was almost like a love affair.
There was a strong vein of humor in Henry’s character. He liked to make a bizarre situation. This was apparent when he came up with an idea for young Henry’s betrothal.
He said to me: “It is time young Henry was betrothed. I have the very bride for him.”
“Who?” I asked.
He looked at me slyly. “Louis has a daughter. It is clear to me that he will never have a son. He couldn’t get one with you, could he? And look you, you manage very well to get them with me. But he does have a girl through this new marriage of his . . . Marguerite. I want her for Henry. And then . . . as there will not be a male heir, in due course Henry could have the crown of France.”
The audacity of the suggestion so took me aback that I could find no words.
“I think he might be persuaded,” went on Henry.
“His daughter to marry my son!”
“There is no blood tie between them, although you and he were once husband and wife . . . apart from that remote one which you used to get free of him. It is a piquant situation.”
“He would never agree.”
“I believe he would. His Marguerite has a chance of being Queen of England, our Henry of being King of France. Why, it is irresistible.”
“It seems vaguely incestuous to me.”
“That is because you have such stern morals in these matters, my love.”
I recognized this as an oblique reference to Raymond of Antioch, but was too astounded to resent. I was trying to contemplate what Louis would feel when confronted with such an outrageous suggestion.
“It is a good idea,” went on Henry enthusiastically. “I can see a union between France and England. Between us, in the family, we already have a large part of France. I see no reason why we should not take over the whole country.”
“Louis would not even see us if we went to France. Think how embarrassing that would be.”
“I have already thought of it and I have made up my mind how I will start this matter. I shall send an ambassador to Louis. I shall choose someone who can present the case in all its reasonableness, who can charm and persuade in the most graceful manner possible.”
“Who could do that?”
“Becket of course.”
“Becket! Would this be the task of a chancellor?”
“It would be if I made it so.”
“And do you think Louis would for a moment entertain such an idea?”
“He will . . . the way Becket will present it.”
I could not stop thinking of the audacity of the idea. I wondered what Louis would think of his daughter’s marrying my son. How he had longed for a son. And no sooner had I left him than I produced one. It must have seemed ironic to him, hurtful too. People must say that he was incapable of getting sons. How disappointed he must have been when, after all his efforts in his new marriage, the result was only a girl.
No. He would never agree. At first I thought Henry was joking. But no. He was very serious about the matter.
Becket came to see me. He told me he was to go to France on this very delicate mission of which I would be aware. I was well acquainted with the French Court and he would be glad of my advice on certain aspects of his visit.
I explained to him that the French Court was more elegant than the English; the French would not be impressed if he traveled without some state. This seemed to please Becket. I had an idea that he was rather fond of ostentation. He liked to assume grandeur. Understandable, I thought, in one who came from humble beginnings.
He asked me about Louis, and I thought back to the days which I had spent with my former husband.
I said: “Louis is a good man at heart. He is timid, no great soldier, no diplomat; there is nothing subtle about him. He should have been a man of the Church, so it may be you have something in common, my lord Chancellor.”
I smiled to myself. I could see no