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Authors: Jean Plaidy
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Edward.
‘What of those who have sought refuge in England? There are many of them.’
‘Oh, many of them.’
‘You must hunt them out. You must not allow them to pollute your country.’
‘Oh no, they shall not,’ replied Edward; he was not thinking of the Templars. He was wondering how Perrot was faring and whether he was having trouble with the barons who had been so jealous about the Regency.
‘Arrest them. Bring them to trial. Make them confess their abominations. It is the only way.’
‘Oh yes, the only way.’
‘Put them to the torture. Nothing is too fierce for them. You will wring the confessions from them. Then you confiscate their goods. They have managed to build up treasures, I can tell you.’
‘I am sure of it.’
‘Why should that wealth not be used in the service of the country?’
‘Why not indeed.’
‘I shall be interested to hear what comes of this.’
‘You shall be kept informed.’
The King of France looked satisfied. They went into the palace together.
‘I am glad you are of my opinion and that we are in agreement on this matter,’ said Philip.
What matter?
wondered Edward lightly.
What had the old man been talking about?
Isabella joined them.
‘She is upbraiding me for keeping her husband from her,’ said Phillip with a roguishness which did not match his shrewd face.
Isabella took Edward’s arm. ‘Well, I have found you now.’
‘We have had an interesting talk,’ said her father, ‘and we see many things from the same angle. This is a happy time for our two countries.’
Phillip led them into his private chamber and there he took a key from his chain and opened a wooden box with a strong iron lock. From it, he lifted a heavy chain of gold studded with rubies and diamonds of an unusual size and of great beauty.
This he placed about Edward’s neck.
‘A gift to you, my son. An outward sign of our promise to work together.’
‘Magnificent!’ cried Edward.
The King took a ring from the box. It was set with rubies and diamonds matched the chain. Philip put the ring on Edward’s finger.
‘A token of our friendship,’ said Philip. ‘You are my son now.’
Edward was astounded at the magnificence of the gift and he immediately wondered what Perrot would think of them. Perrot loved rubies almost as much as he loved diamonds!
Phillip was in a generous mood, which was unusual with him, and added a special significance to the gifts. There were more of these to come for he had acquired so much booty from the Templars that he could well afford to part with some of it. He produced a belt and two fine brooches all set with glittering jewels and some bales of linen and velvet.
It was a token of friendship and the knowledgeable agreed that Phillip’s generosity meant that he intended to rule England through his son-in-law.
* * *
‘My father loves you,’ said Isabella.
They lay on their bed together, his arm about her, her lovely hair loose about her shoulders. Now and then she paused in her conversation to kiss him lightly on the lips or brow. He smiled benignly at these caresses. She was a beautiful and passionate girl and it had not been as difficult as he had thought it might be to do his duty by her.
‘How shall I like England?’ she asked.
‘You will love it.’
‘Because it is beautiful or because you will be there?’
‘For both reasons,’ said Edward.
‘Will the people love me?’
‘How could they help it?’
‘The French can be difficult. They are quickly angered. There are riots now and then and people speak against the royal family.’
‘This happens now and then. But when the people see you, they will love you.’
‘Do they love you?’
‘So far, yes.’
‘You think they will change?’
‘They are fickle. They will tell you my father was the greatest of kings now that he is dead, but they did not always so while he lived.’
‘But they love you in spite of the fact that you are alive.’
‘I am a new King and
‘What of those who have sought refuge in England? There are many of them.’
‘Oh, many of them.’
‘You must hunt them out. You must not allow them to pollute your country.’
‘Oh no, they shall not,’ replied Edward; he was not thinking of the Templars. He was wondering how Perrot was faring and whether he was having trouble with the barons who had been so jealous about the Regency.
‘Arrest them. Bring them to trial. Make them confess their abominations. It is the only way.’
‘Oh yes, the only way.’
‘Put them to the torture. Nothing is too fierce for them. You will wring the confessions from them. Then you confiscate their goods. They have managed to build up treasures, I can tell you.’
‘I am sure of it.’
‘Why should that wealth not be used in the service of the country?’
‘Why not indeed.’
‘I shall be interested to hear what comes of this.’
‘You shall be kept informed.’
The King of France looked satisfied. They went into the palace together.
‘I am glad you are of my opinion and that we are in agreement on this matter,’ said Philip.
What matter?
wondered Edward lightly.
What had the old man been talking about?
Isabella joined them.
‘She is upbraiding me for keeping her husband from her,’ said Phillip with a roguishness which did not match his shrewd face.
Isabella took Edward’s arm. ‘Well, I have found you now.’
‘We have had an interesting talk,’ said her father, ‘and we see many things from the same angle. This is a happy time for our two countries.’
Phillip led them into his private chamber and there he took a key from his chain and opened a wooden box with a strong iron lock. From it, he lifted a heavy chain of gold studded with rubies and diamonds of an unusual size and of great beauty.
This he placed about Edward’s neck.
‘A gift to you, my son. An outward sign of our promise to work together.’
‘Magnificent!’ cried Edward.
The King took a ring from the box. It was set with rubies and diamonds matched the chain. Philip put the ring on Edward’s finger.
‘A token of our friendship,’ said Philip. ‘You are my son now.’
Edward was astounded at the magnificence of the gift and he immediately wondered what Perrot would think of them. Perrot loved rubies almost as much as he loved diamonds!
Phillip was in a generous mood, which was unusual with him, and added a special significance to the gifts. There were more of these to come for he had acquired so much booty from the Templars that he could well afford to part with some of it. He produced a belt and two fine brooches all set with glittering jewels and some bales of linen and velvet.
It was a token of friendship and the knowledgeable agreed that Phillip’s generosity meant that he intended to rule England through his son-in-law.
* * *
‘My father loves you,’ said Isabella.
They lay on their bed together, his arm about her, her lovely hair loose about her shoulders. Now and then she paused in her conversation to kiss him lightly on the lips or brow. He smiled benignly at these caresses. She was a beautiful and passionate girl and it had not been as difficult as he had thought it might be to do his duty by her.
‘How shall I like England?’ she asked.
‘You will love it.’
‘Because it is beautiful or because you will be there?’
‘For both reasons,’ said Edward.
‘Will the people love me?’
‘How could they help it?’
‘The French can be difficult. They are quickly angered. There are riots now and then and people speak against the royal family.’
‘This happens now and then. But when the people see you, they will love you.’
‘Do they love you?’
‘So far, yes.’
‘You think they will change?’
‘They are fickle. They will tell you my father was the greatest of kings now that he is dead, but they did not always so while he lived.’
‘But they love you in spite of the fact that you are alive.’
‘I am a new King and
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