The Courts of Love - Jean Plaidy [231]
“I intend to live a long time yet.”
“Long enough to get an heir and see him climb to manhood. But Richard, Berengaria must return.”
“Yes,” he said, “you are right.”
But I knew he would shelve the matter. He did not want a wife.
Our tour was successful. The people clearly rejoiced in such a handsome King. What a difference appearances made! And with his reputation they were proud of him.
I thought: We must keep it so.
After leaving Canterbury we came to St. Albans, and from there we went to Winchester where Richard was crowned again. That was a splendid ceremony.
There were certain castles which had been passed over to John because people believed that Richard was never coming back. These had to be retrieved. Those who had rallied to John were now required to come forth and beg forgiveness of Richard. He forgave them freely. Richard had never been really vindictive; he had been away for a long time, and they had thought him dead, he reasoned—well, they had given their allegiance to his brother because of this. If they gave it back to him, they would be forgiven for having strayed. It was understandable.
Then to Nottingham to receive more penitents.
Having traveled through England, he must now visit Normandy, where there had been a great deal of unrest. John was in France, and it would be as well to see him and let him know that, now his brother was back, there must be no more dallying with treason.
I was to be with him. I wanted to see the meeting between him and John. I greatly feared strife in the family.
I traveled down to Portsmouth with him, but although it was April the weather was too rough for a ship to sail, and we had to wait nearly three weeks before setting out.
Then to Caen first, where we planned our journey.
It was amazing and gratifying to see how those who had been ready to defect to John were only too happy to come back to Richard now they saw him. It might have been that John was getting such a terrible reputation that they had all been afraid to defy him. He was already showing himself to be cruel and sadistic, and naturally if he were about to be King they did not want to upset him.
John must now know that he was beaten. He came secretly to my apartments, for he wanted to see me alone, he said.
As soon as we came face to face, he fell on his knees and buried his face in my skirts.
I said to him coolly: “You thought it wise to come to me.”
“I have been a fool, dear Mother. Please understand. I meant no ill. But the country needed a king. I have been a wicked brother to Richard. You cannot blame me more than I blame myself.”
I said: “Get up. At least you admit your fault. Your brother Richard is the noblest of men. You should be proud to be his brother.”
“I am. I am.”
“And serve him with your life.”
“I will. I will.”
I was not so foolish as to believe him. He was repentant now because he was afraid of Richard, of course; and when the next opportunity to betray his brother came, he would seize it with both hands.
“I do not know what I must do to show my repentance,” he went on. “Perhaps I should run my sword through my heart.”
I fancied he was looking covertly at me to see what effect this statement had. I was scornful but I was thinking: There must be a reconciliation . . . a public one. But we shall have to watch Master John. He is bound to be up to mischief sooner or later.
I said: “Get up off your knees and talk sense. As for taking your life, that is the coward’s way. I will not have any son of mine a coward.”
“But I have sinned. I should be punished. Richard hates me. You must hate me.”
“I think Richard does not respect you enough to hate you,” I said. “He looks upon you as his feckless young brother.”
John smirked. I think that was the impression he was trying to give.
“Mother,” he said. “Dearest Mother, please tell me what I must do.”
“Go now. I will speak to your brother. It may be that he will find it in his