The Courts of Love - Jean Plaidy [239]
I had not seen my daughter Eleanor since she was nine years old, and she was now thirty-eight and had borne Alfonso of Castile eleven children. I wanted to spend a few months at her Court grooming the granddaughter I should choose to be the future Queen of France. So my journey was necessary, and discomforts must be forgotten once more. Perhaps, once I had brought this to the desired conclusion I could settle down to the peace of Fontevrault.
I left Poitiers and traveled down to Bordeaux. Unfortunately my way led through the land which belonged to the Lusignan brothers. I remembered passing this way once before, when Henry and I were about to part. It all came back to me so vividly . . . how I had been riding with Earl Patrick when we had been waylaid by Guy and Geoffrey de Lusignan who had killed Patrick and tried to make me their captive. I had escaped but it had been one of those alarming incidents which one never forgets. And as I was thinking of this I noticed a party of horsemen riding toward us. They surrounded us, and to my horror I saw that what had happened before was about to be repeated.
I demanded to know in whose name they dared obstruct us. Then a man rode up to me. He was obviously the leader—a very handsome, elegant person. He bowed low and said that he was Hugh le Brun de Lusignan and he would offer me hospitality for the night.
I thanked him and said I had a long journey before me and I must ride on.
He smiled at me in a rather impish fashion and said: “My lady, I am afraid you have no choice. I shall insist on giving you the comforts due to your royal person.”
With horror I realized that he intended to abduct me.
This would be for a different motive than in the past. They were not now attempting to force me into marriage. This would doubtless mean ransom. I looked around at my retinue. We were in no position to repulse them. We had been foolish to ride into Lusignan country without sufficient protection. I saw there was no help for it. To my fury I was forced to ride beside my abductor, Hugh le Brun, to his castle.
There I was housed in the finest apartments. He was determined to treat me with the utmost respect. At the table he insisted on serving me himself.
I said: “You are a bold man, Hugh le Brun. Has it occurred to you that, though you have the advantage now, it will not always be so?”
“I wish your ladyship no harm.”
“Then why behave in this uncouth manner?”
“Because I wish myself much good.”
“You mean you will demand a ransom. Since King Richard was held by his jealous enemies there have been those who have developed a taste for this sort of thing. Do you intend to ask a ransom from my son the King?”
“No, my lady, from you.”
“Then you had better tell me.”
“What I want is the county of La Marche.”
I was astounded by his impudence. Henry had seized La Marche from the Lusignans some years earlier. Richard had fortified it. It was an important stretch of land.
“You are talking nonsense.”
Hugh le Brun lifted his shoulders and smiled. “It seems that Your Ladyship likes my castle.”
“I find little to admire in its owner.”
“Perhaps time will change my lady’s views.”
“I believe that would only strengthen my dislike.”
“Then it is a pity, for if you do not give me La Marche you will be here a very long time.”
I was dismayed. I lay awake at night thinking of the implication of this. How should I reach Castile? What would happen to the match I so desired? One must settle this matter quickly for when matrimonial arrangements are allowed to hang fire they have a way of evaporating.
I was frustrated and angry. For two days I fumed against Hugh while he remained charming and unmoved.
At length I saw that I could be here for a very long time unless I gave way to his demands. So, cursing the fate which