Read Online The Follies of the King by Jean Plaidy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jean Plaidy
Ads: Link
they have not yet learned to hate me. At this stage they blame others for my shortcomings. Perrot― for instance. They blame him.’
‘Perrot?’
‘Oh― he is just one of the knights. The Earl of Cornwall, in truth.’
‘Why do they blame him?’
‘They must blame someone. Now let me tell you what I have done for you.
We shall go to Westminster Palace. You will see what I have ordered to be done and it is all to please you. I have had the gardens returfed and trellises built and flowers planted just for you. And I have had a new pier built which shall be called the Queen’s Bridge.’
‘All for me.’
‘Yes, for you. You will find I am ready to do a great deal for you.’
She kissed him again and again― light butterfly kisses first.
His arms tightened about her.
Oh, yes, it was certainly a great deal easier than he had believed possible. He wondered if Perrot had found it equally so with his bride.
* * *
The Dowager Queen of England came into her niece’s chamber and, as she indicated that she wished to speak to her alone, Isabella’s attendants disappeared.
‘It is nothing much,’ said Queen Marguerite. ‘I merely thought that as what is happening to you is so like what happened to me‚ we might have a little chat.’
‘My dearest aunt, you were very happy in England were you not?’
‘I was completely happy. Your husband’s father was good to me. I was afraid when I left France. You are not afraid, Isabella?’
Isabella shook her head.
‘That is well, dear niece. You are young and beautiful and strong-willed. I was young but that is where the comparison ends.’
‘Oh, but Aunt Marguerite, you were always very pretty and still are.’
‘There are some in our family who have outstanding beauty. You are one.
Your father was another and so was my sister Blanche. Edward had heard of her charms and wanted to marry her. Then your father changed his mind and I was sent in Blanche’s place. It was not a good beginning. But Edward never showed his disappointment. He said afterwards how glad he was that I came instead of Blanche. It was a very happy marriage. But then Edward was a good husband― a loved his family dearly. I wonder if―’
‘If my Edward will be the same. Dear lady, do not worry. I shall be.’
‘Yes, you will see to that. Of course Kings have such power and so many seek to please them. Often they are tempted―’
‘Tempted?’
‘To― take lovers.’
Isabella laughed. ‘There shall be none of that. Why, my lady, Edward is a meek man. He is a man who would not seek trouble. Never fear, I shall know how to deal with him.’
‘Of course you will, my dear.’
‘You are looking uneasy. Tell me, is there some scandal in Edward’s life of which I have not heard? I shall ask him. I shall demand a full confession.’
‘Oh no, no― You must not do that. All will be well. I was just over anxious― nothing more. Pray forget what I said.’
Dear Aunt Marguerite! She was rather a simpleton, but she had the kindest heart in the world. She was merely trying to warn her young niece of the ways of men.
Isabella kissed her warmly.
‘There is one thing you must know,’ she said. ‘I am able to take care of myself― and Edward.’
The Dowager Queen nodded eagerly. Of course it would be all right, she assured herself. Now that he had a young wife, this regrettable liaison with Piers Gaveston would cease.
* * *
It was time to leave for England. The young bride said farewell to her parents who had solemnly placed her in the care of her two uncles, Charles de Valois and Louis d’Evreux.
‘If you need advice on any matter, my child,’ said her father, ‘go to your uncles. They will tell you how to act.’
She promised that she would do this and Phillip seemed satisfied.
The journey across the Channel in spite of the bleakness of the February day was a calm one. Isabella stood on deck beside her new husband and watched with some emotion the approaching white
‘Perrot?’
‘Oh― he is just one of the knights. The Earl of Cornwall, in truth.’
‘Why do they blame him?’
‘They must blame someone. Now let me tell you what I have done for you.
We shall go to Westminster Palace. You will see what I have ordered to be done and it is all to please you. I have had the gardens returfed and trellises built and flowers planted just for you. And I have had a new pier built which shall be called the Queen’s Bridge.’
‘All for me.’
‘Yes, for you. You will find I am ready to do a great deal for you.’
She kissed him again and again― light butterfly kisses first.
His arms tightened about her.
Oh, yes, it was certainly a great deal easier than he had believed possible. He wondered if Perrot had found it equally so with his bride.
* * *
The Dowager Queen of England came into her niece’s chamber and, as she indicated that she wished to speak to her alone, Isabella’s attendants disappeared.
‘It is nothing much,’ said Queen Marguerite. ‘I merely thought that as what is happening to you is so like what happened to me‚ we might have a little chat.’
‘My dearest aunt, you were very happy in England were you not?’
‘I was completely happy. Your husband’s father was good to me. I was afraid when I left France. You are not afraid, Isabella?’
Isabella shook her head.
‘That is well, dear niece. You are young and beautiful and strong-willed. I was young but that is where the comparison ends.’
‘Oh, but Aunt Marguerite, you were always very pretty and still are.’
‘There are some in our family who have outstanding beauty. You are one.
Your father was another and so was my sister Blanche. Edward had heard of her charms and wanted to marry her. Then your father changed his mind and I was sent in Blanche’s place. It was not a good beginning. But Edward never showed his disappointment. He said afterwards how glad he was that I came instead of Blanche. It was a very happy marriage. But then Edward was a good husband― a loved his family dearly. I wonder if―’
‘If my Edward will be the same. Dear lady, do not worry. I shall be.’
‘Yes, you will see to that. Of course Kings have such power and so many seek to please them. Often they are tempted―’
‘Tempted?’
‘To― take lovers.’
Isabella laughed. ‘There shall be none of that. Why, my lady, Edward is a meek man. He is a man who would not seek trouble. Never fear, I shall know how to deal with him.’
‘Of course you will, my dear.’
‘You are looking uneasy. Tell me, is there some scandal in Edward’s life of which I have not heard? I shall ask him. I shall demand a full confession.’
‘Oh no, no― You must not do that. All will be well. I was just over anxious― nothing more. Pray forget what I said.’
Dear Aunt Marguerite! She was rather a simpleton, but she had the kindest heart in the world. She was merely trying to warn her young niece of the ways of men.
Isabella kissed her warmly.
‘There is one thing you must know,’ she said. ‘I am able to take care of myself― and Edward.’
The Dowager Queen nodded eagerly. Of course it would be all right, she assured herself. Now that he had a young wife, this regrettable liaison with Piers Gaveston would cease.
* * *
It was time to leave for England. The young bride said farewell to her parents who had solemnly placed her in the care of her two uncles, Charles de Valois and Louis d’Evreux.
‘If you need advice on any matter, my child,’ said her father, ‘go to your uncles. They will tell you how to act.’
She promised that she would do this and Phillip seemed satisfied.
The journey across the Channel in spite of the bleakness of the February day was a calm one. Isabella stood on deck beside her new husband and watched with some emotion the approaching white
Similar Books
