Read Online Epitaph for Three Women by Jean Plaidy - Free Book Online
Authors: Jean Plaidy
Ads: Link
Bedford that he wished to be his friend.
For instance he did not go to the burial of the late King and the proclamation of the new one. That would have been asking too much of him. He did not wish to be seen taking second place to Bedford. But he admired Bedford; he would be a more staunch ally than that murderous Dauphin, now doubtless calling himself King of France.
Burgundy was surprised one day to find that Bedford had called on him. He glanced from a window and saw the Duke below. He must have arrived most informally. He was talking to someone, and he seemed animated and pleased.
He noticed then that Bedford’s companion was Anne. Burgundy studied his sister as though seeing her for the first time. She has a stately air, he thought; and she is comely. It struck him that Bedford seemed to think so too. He was talking to Anne with the utmost respect and somehow gave the impression that he regarded her as a very great lady.
That pleased Burgundy. So he should, of course; but he must not forget that Bedford was a very important man. Many would say the most important in France at this time.
Anne was eighteen. There had been offers for her but their father had always been too occupied with other matters to give them the consideration they deserved. There is time, he used to say; and as Anne showed little enthusiasm for them they had been set aside. He supposed it was now his duty to find a good match for Anne.
He went down to greet Bedford, trying to hide his wariness as he wondered what had brought the Regent to him in this informal manner.
‘I have long wished to talk with you,’ said Bedford. ‘There are several matters of importance which I want to lay before you.’
Anne inclined her head towards Bedford and smiling at him said she would leave him with the Duke.
Bedford’s eyes followed her as she disappeared.
‘Your sister is a charming and gracious lady,’ he said.
‘Oh, yes, I agree. It is good of you to come to see me. Have they taken your horse? Have you friends with you? Have they looked after you?’
‘Only a party of six. They are in the stables now. I do not imagine my affairs will take long.’
‘Then come in. You must refresh yourself.’
‘Thank you, my lord.’
‘You have come from Paris?’
Bedford nodded.
‘You will take wine now. I hope you will dine with us.’
‘I will take a little wine. Then I will be off. I want to be on my way before nightfall.’
Wine was brought and looking into his goblet Bedford began: ‘I would ask your advice. This country is in a sorry state.’
‘The country has fought a bitter war … and lost,’ said Burgundy.
‘I sometimes wonder if any country ever truly wins. War brings hardships.’
‘ ’Twere a pity your brother … and those before him did not consider this before making war on France.’
‘Alas, it was not only the English who were making war in France.’
The Duke nodded gloomily.
‘We want to undo the effects of war as quickly as we can. I want to bring prosperity back.’
‘You have yet to face the Dauphin who calls himself King Charles VII.’ Burgundy’s face grew dark when he mentioned the Dauphin’s name and Bedford noticed that with pleasure. There was a hatred there which would never pass. Bedford rejoiced in what had happened on Montereau Bridge; it had made Burgundy the Dauphin’s enemy for ever and any enemy of the Dauphin must be a potential friend for the English.
‘We will deal with him, my lord Duke. He is a nuisance, nothing more. I have no great respect for that young man.’
Burgundy was silent.
‘The currency has been greatly debased,’ went on Bedford. ‘I want to encourage trade. Rouen has been sadly battered.’
‘The siege all but destroyed it,’ agreed Burgundy.
‘Aye, a great and valiant people. My brother had deep respect for the citizens of Rouen.’
‘I know it. They would have fired the city rather than surrender it.’
‘And he was lenient with them. Like the great
For instance he did not go to the burial of the late King and the proclamation of the new one. That would have been asking too much of him. He did not wish to be seen taking second place to Bedford. But he admired Bedford; he would be a more staunch ally than that murderous Dauphin, now doubtless calling himself King of France.
Burgundy was surprised one day to find that Bedford had called on him. He glanced from a window and saw the Duke below. He must have arrived most informally. He was talking to someone, and he seemed animated and pleased.
He noticed then that Bedford’s companion was Anne. Burgundy studied his sister as though seeing her for the first time. She has a stately air, he thought; and she is comely. It struck him that Bedford seemed to think so too. He was talking to Anne with the utmost respect and somehow gave the impression that he regarded her as a very great lady.
That pleased Burgundy. So he should, of course; but he must not forget that Bedford was a very important man. Many would say the most important in France at this time.
Anne was eighteen. There had been offers for her but their father had always been too occupied with other matters to give them the consideration they deserved. There is time, he used to say; and as Anne showed little enthusiasm for them they had been set aside. He supposed it was now his duty to find a good match for Anne.
He went down to greet Bedford, trying to hide his wariness as he wondered what had brought the Regent to him in this informal manner.
‘I have long wished to talk with you,’ said Bedford. ‘There are several matters of importance which I want to lay before you.’
Anne inclined her head towards Bedford and smiling at him said she would leave him with the Duke.
Bedford’s eyes followed her as she disappeared.
‘Your sister is a charming and gracious lady,’ he said.
‘Oh, yes, I agree. It is good of you to come to see me. Have they taken your horse? Have you friends with you? Have they looked after you?’
‘Only a party of six. They are in the stables now. I do not imagine my affairs will take long.’
‘Then come in. You must refresh yourself.’
‘Thank you, my lord.’
‘You have come from Paris?’
Bedford nodded.
‘You will take wine now. I hope you will dine with us.’
‘I will take a little wine. Then I will be off. I want to be on my way before nightfall.’
Wine was brought and looking into his goblet Bedford began: ‘I would ask your advice. This country is in a sorry state.’
‘The country has fought a bitter war … and lost,’ said Burgundy.
‘I sometimes wonder if any country ever truly wins. War brings hardships.’
‘ ’Twere a pity your brother … and those before him did not consider this before making war on France.’
‘Alas, it was not only the English who were making war in France.’
The Duke nodded gloomily.
‘We want to undo the effects of war as quickly as we can. I want to bring prosperity back.’
‘You have yet to face the Dauphin who calls himself King Charles VII.’ Burgundy’s face grew dark when he mentioned the Dauphin’s name and Bedford noticed that with pleasure. There was a hatred there which would never pass. Bedford rejoiced in what had happened on Montereau Bridge; it had made Burgundy the Dauphin’s enemy for ever and any enemy of the Dauphin must be a potential friend for the English.
‘We will deal with him, my lord Duke. He is a nuisance, nothing more. I have no great respect for that young man.’
Burgundy was silent.
‘The currency has been greatly debased,’ went on Bedford. ‘I want to encourage trade. Rouen has been sadly battered.’
‘The siege all but destroyed it,’ agreed Burgundy.
‘Aye, a great and valiant people. My brother had deep respect for the citizens of Rouen.’
‘I know it. They would have fired the city rather than surrender it.’
‘And he was lenient with them. Like the great
Similar Books
