The Courts of Love - Jean Plaidy [157]
“My sons, Richard and Geoffrey, form their own opinions and if they have formed such of you which you do not like, do not blame me but look to yourself.”
“I can see that you and I will never agree.”
“Then at last you are seeing some truth.”
With that I left him.
Richard had been waiting for me. He was growing very suspicious of his father and knew how things stood between us. The scandal about Rosamund Clifford had reached his ears and he was ready to spring to my defense. He thought his father uncouth in dress and manners, and I was very touched because he was ready to go into battle on my account.
“You are angry,” he said. “The King has been worrying you.” He looked so bellicose that I laughed.
“I will kill him if he hurts you,” he said.
I laid my hand on his arm. I said: “Do not let him hear you say such a thing. It could be called treason. And, my dearest, I can look after myself. I need no defense.”
“But you hate him. I hate him, too. So does Geoffrey, I think.”
“And your brother Henry is turning against him.”
“John will be the only one who does not hate him,” said Richard. “And he is too young to know. I expect he will, too, when he gets older.”
I said: “We shall have to wait and see. I shall be glad when this Christmas is over.”
“And we go back to Poitiers.”
“You love the place, don’t you?” Richard nodded.
“One day it will be yours, entirely. Your brother Henry longs for the crown but it will never be his while his father lives. Perhaps he hopes that won’t be long. I hope you do not harbor the same thoughts about me.”
Richard was horrified, and I knew his emotion was genuine.
“Please do not talk so, dearest Mother,” he said. “Life would be empty for me without you.”
He meant it. That was how it was between us.
And as soon as possible I left with him and Geoffrey for Poitiers.
It seemed that no sooner had we returned than we received another summons from the King. This time it was to join him in Limoges. The reason for this was ratification of the contract between Humbert’s daughter Alice and John.
It was a long time since Henry had set foot in my province, and I was going to make him aware that he came as my guest—although I had not invited him.
There was a big gathering. Young Henry and Marguerite were there and John, the prospective bridegroom, had been brought forth. There was also Alais, daughter of Louis, who was to marry Richard when she was old enough. Alais was a very attractive girl and I was glad for Richard.
Henry was never happier than when making marriage plans which would bring him gain.
He behaved to me as though we had not had our differences at Chinon.
“I very much want this marriage,” he said. “I know Maurienne is small but it is of strategic importance. It lies south of Lake Geneva and extends almost to the Gulf of Genoa. There one could control Italy. Oh yes, I attach great importance to this.”
All was going well when Humbert seemed suddenly to change his mind. There were Henry’s other sons: Henry, crowned King of England; Richard with Aquitaine; Geoffrey with Brittany; and what had John? His father had called him “Lackland.” Humbert was beginning to wonder what sort of bargain he was making.
Henry was greatly disturbed. There must be no hitch. He immediately added three castles in Anjou to John’s inheritance. Humbert was satisfied, but there was one who was not.
Our newly created King had inherited Anjou, and he was not going to stand by and see his castles given to a younger brother. He immediately rose and declared before the assembly that he would never give up his castles.
The King laughed and turning to Humbert said: “Take no notice of my son. He is but a boy. The castles are John’s. I say so, and my word is law.”
He managed to convince Humbert.
Young Henry was furious. He came to me.
“I am tired of it,” he said. “He treats me like a child. He arranges everything . . . even my friends. I was crowned King and I do not have the rights of the humblest of those about me. I will not endure it. I will not. I am