dignity, confident that the children would like her.
They came into the room – Philippa eight years old and very much aware that she was the eldest; Elizabeth four years younger but already showing signs of a somewhat tempestuous nature and Henry who was not yet two years old in the charge of his nurse.
‘My dears,’ said Blanche to the two girls, ‘this is Lady Swynford who would like to be your governess.’
Elizabeth ran forward and stood looking up at Catherine. Philippa remained still watching her silently.
Catherine held out her hand. Elizabeth took it. Then Catherine knelt so that her face was on a level with the little girl’s.
‘I hope you will like me well enough,’ said Catherine.
Philippa came forward and took her sister’s hand.
‘I like her,’ said Elizabeth.
Philippa said nothing but there was approval in her silence.
Then young Henry finding that he was not the centre of attraction made them all aware of his displeasure in his usual lusty fashion.
‘He is a spoilt boy,’ said Philippa to Catherine.
Catherine went to Henry and picked him up in her arms.
They looked steadily at each other and then Henry’s face broke into a beautiful smile.
It was clear that he, like his sisters, had taken a fancy to the beautiful new governess.
Catherine Swynford is an enchantress, thought Blanche.
There was bad news from Bordeaux. The health of the Black Prince so seriously affected at the battle of Nájara, far from improving, was steadily growing worse. Moreover Pedro of Castile had shown himself to be a dishonourable ally. He had kept none of his promises.
Edward had remained in Valladolid for some weeks during the hottest of the weather while he was waiting for the payment due to him for coming to Pedro’s aid, but Pedro had made constant excuses. Dysentery had struck the army and many had died of it. The Prince himself had been badly affected and some had even suggested that Pedro might have bribed one of his spies to poison him. Pedro’s reputation being what it was, this seemed a possibility.
The fact was that it had been a mistake to help Pedro back to his throne for he was a worthless ally and it would have been better to have left his bastard brother in control.
Because of his health Edward needed his brother’s help. He wanted John to come to France for he feared that Charles of France would take advantage of the situation so John must make preparations to come out at once.
John consulted with his father. The King was showing signs of his age. He had never recovered from the shock of Lionel’s death and he was worried about reports of Edward’s health. He was tormented too by Alice Perrers for while he deplored his infidelity to the Queen he could not resist Alice.
‘You must leave us, John,’ said the King. ‘Edward needs you. I should like you to tell me exactly how he is. I fear Joan is over anxious. She has always seen Edward so strong and healthy. She is afraid because he has this unfortunate illness. It will pass, I feel sure. But see for yourself, John, and tell me the truth. Alas, my son, you must once more leave your sweet wife. I know what it means to be torn from the side of one’s wife and children …’
Poor old man, thought John, he was over anxious to tell people what a good husband he was now that he was so no longer.
‘I will prepare at once to leave for Bordeaux,’ he said. ‘And rest assured, I will let you know exactly how I find things there.’
He sought out Blanche. She would be sad because of the coming parting, but she would understand, of course, that it must be so.
Her women told him that she was with the Queen.
Ah yes, he thought. Poor mother. She could not last long now. Every time he saw her he was aware of the change in her. She had lost the healthy rosy colour which had been with her all her life until the last year or so. Now there was an unhealthy yellowish tinge to her skin; and the dropsy was growing to such an extent that she
They came into the room – Philippa eight years old and very much aware that she was the eldest; Elizabeth four years younger but already showing signs of a somewhat tempestuous nature and Henry who was not yet two years old in the charge of his nurse.
‘My dears,’ said Blanche to the two girls, ‘this is Lady Swynford who would like to be your governess.’
Elizabeth ran forward and stood looking up at Catherine. Philippa remained still watching her silently.
Catherine held out her hand. Elizabeth took it. Then Catherine knelt so that her face was on a level with the little girl’s.
‘I hope you will like me well enough,’ said Catherine.
Philippa came forward and took her sister’s hand.
‘I like her,’ said Elizabeth.
Philippa said nothing but there was approval in her silence.
Then young Henry finding that he was not the centre of attraction made them all aware of his displeasure in his usual lusty fashion.
‘He is a spoilt boy,’ said Philippa to Catherine.
Catherine went to Henry and picked him up in her arms.
They looked steadily at each other and then Henry’s face broke into a beautiful smile.
It was clear that he, like his sisters, had taken a fancy to the beautiful new governess.
Catherine Swynford is an enchantress, thought Blanche.
There was bad news from Bordeaux. The health of the Black Prince so seriously affected at the battle of Nájara, far from improving, was steadily growing worse. Moreover Pedro of Castile had shown himself to be a dishonourable ally. He had kept none of his promises.
Edward had remained in Valladolid for some weeks during the hottest of the weather while he was waiting for the payment due to him for coming to Pedro’s aid, but Pedro had made constant excuses. Dysentery had struck the army and many had died of it. The Prince himself had been badly affected and some had even suggested that Pedro might have bribed one of his spies to poison him. Pedro’s reputation being what it was, this seemed a possibility.
The fact was that it had been a mistake to help Pedro back to his throne for he was a worthless ally and it would have been better to have left his bastard brother in control.
Because of his health Edward needed his brother’s help. He wanted John to come to France for he feared that Charles of France would take advantage of the situation so John must make preparations to come out at once.
John consulted with his father. The King was showing signs of his age. He had never recovered from the shock of Lionel’s death and he was worried about reports of Edward’s health. He was tormented too by Alice Perrers for while he deplored his infidelity to the Queen he could not resist Alice.
‘You must leave us, John,’ said the King. ‘Edward needs you. I should like you to tell me exactly how he is. I fear Joan is over anxious. She has always seen Edward so strong and healthy. She is afraid because he has this unfortunate illness. It will pass, I feel sure. But see for yourself, John, and tell me the truth. Alas, my son, you must once more leave your sweet wife. I know what it means to be torn from the side of one’s wife and children …’
Poor old man, thought John, he was over anxious to tell people what a good husband he was now that he was so no longer.
‘I will prepare at once to leave for Bordeaux,’ he said. ‘And rest assured, I will let you know exactly how I find things there.’
He sought out Blanche. She would be sad because of the coming parting, but she would understand, of course, that it must be so.
Her women told him that she was with the Queen.
Ah yes, he thought. Poor mother. She could not last long now. Every time he saw her he was aware of the change in her. She had lost the healthy rosy colour which had been with her all her life until the last year or so. Now there was an unhealthy yellowish tinge to her skin; and the dropsy was growing to such an extent that she
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