The Lion of Justice - Plaidy Jean - Страница 53

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It seemed that her mother was always trying to make up to her for being the elder and not a boy. Her father, of course, while affectionate towards her, could not hide his greater interest in William. It was for this reason that Matilda must always assert herself, and with her nature that was not difficult.

‘You will be your grandfather over again.’ said her father.

Her grandfather had been the great William the Conqueror. She like to hear of his adventures. He was a man to be proud of, but listening to an account of his exploits only made her wish all the more that she had been born a boy.

She was however not going to allow that fact to affect her. She was going to show everyone that even though she might be a girl she was as good as any man.

William had not hidden in his usual place and there were sounds of arrival from a little way off. Who was visiting them?

She forgot the game and went to see.

There was a retinue of very rich-looking men. Their clothes were colourful but strange and they spoke in unusual tones.

Her father and her mother were there to greet them and so they must be very important people.

She heard a shout of triumph. Someone had found William. That was the signal to go back to the Cotton Garden. She ignored it. She always liked to know what was going on. She kept her ears and eyes open. Then she could talk to the others as though she had very special knowledge.

She did not go back to the Cotton Garden but watched the visitors instead. Her father was talking with one of them and leading him into the palace, her mother with another.

They were ambassadors from abroad. How she would love to know who they were and what they had come for.

It must be wonderfully exciting to be a King and have such people come to talk to you.

She felt a fresh resentment because that silly little William would be the next King of England while she, Matilda...what would she be?

* * * * *

Matilda was not long in discovering the object of the strangers’ visit.

Later that day her mother sent for her.

The two Matildas were so unlike each other that they would never have been taken for mother and daughter. The Queen often thought the one thing we share is our name and that is not really mine. But it was so long ago that she had been Edith that even she had come to think of herself as Matilda.

The Queen held out her hand and Matilda came to her and kissed it.

Matilda thought her mother quite handsome in a meek kind of way which would never be her daughter’s. She looked as though she had become resigned to life. Young Matilda had heard that she had been brought up in an abbey and how her Aunt Christina had tried to make a nun of her. I should like to see anyone try to make a nun of me! thought Matilda with eyes flashing. But her mother was so meek she wondered often why the ogre Christina had not succeeded. The Queen wore her favourite colour blue and her mantle was scarlet. The blue kirtle had gold buttons and her fair plaits hanging over her shoulders ended in ringlets.

The dress was formal and her daughter guessed that it had been donned because she knew that the important visitors were coming.

‘Now, my daughter,’ said the Queen, ‘I have something very important to say to you.’

‘Has it anything to do with the visitors?’

‘You saw the visitors?’

‘Yes, we were playing hide and seek and I came into the courtyard near the stables to look for William.’

Why was it that Matilda was always in some strategic position at important moments, wondered her mother.

‘Then you may have guessed that they have come on an important mission.’

‘Yes, my lady.’

‘It concerns you.’

Matilda’s eyes sparkled. ‘How?’ she cried. ‘What does it mean? Oh, my mother, what does it mean?’

The Queen smiled and laid her hand on her daughter’s head. ‘This may come as a great surprise to you.’

‘That they came about me? No, my lady...’

‘You believe yourself to be of great importance I know.’

‘I am the daughter of the King,’ replied Matilda proudly.

‘You are shrewd beyond your years. A very great honour is about to befall you. You are asked for in marriage.’

‘In marriage? Oh, my mother! Who wants to marry me? I shall not take him unless he is the greatest King in the world but that is my father and I cannot marry him. It will have to be the second greatest king. Who is that?’

‘Matilda, Matilda, you are too hasty and too proud. But you have reason to be proud for the Emperor Henry V of Germany is asking for your hand in marriage.’

‘Oh, my mother, I shall be an Empress!’

‘That is so, my child.’

‘And is an Empress as great as a Queen?’

‘Some would say greater.’

Matilda clasped her hands together and raised her eyes in ecstasy. ‘When shall I be married?’

The Queen smiled. ‘My dear child, you are seven years old.’

‘But the Emperor wants to marry me.’

‘People do not marry at seven.’

‘Then why does he ask for me?’

‘It is the result of friendship between our countries. Your father is now the Duke of Normandy as well as King of England and that means that he will have influence in Europe and his friendship is important there. So the Emperor wants this alliance.’

‘Will he wait?’

‘He is prepared to do that.’

‘For how long?’

‘Until you are of an age to marry.’

‘But when will that be?’

‘My dear daughter, are you so anxious to leave us?’

‘Oh, no, my lady, but to be an Empress...’

‘I see you love the prospect of honours more than your family.’

Matilda considered this. ‘I love you and my father.’ she answered. ‘But it is not fair that I am a girl and not my father’s heir. I would be a better ruler than William.’

‘You must not say such things. William is little more than a baby. Your father would be most displeased. You must try not to be so ambitious Matilda; it is not becoming.’

‘How can one try to be what one is not, my lady?’

‘Every one of us must curb the weaknesses in our nature.’

Afraid that in a short while her mother would be suggesting they kneel and pray if she did not change the conversation Matilda said hastily, ‘I will try, my lady. What is the Emperor like?’

The Queen hesitated.

‘He is older than you are.’

‘How old?’

‘He is forty years older.’

‘Forty years! Then he is an old man for I am seven. That makes him forty-seven.’

‘He will be kind and gentle because he is old.’

Matilda lifted her shoulders philosophically. ‘Still,’ she said, ‘he is an Emperor and much can be forgiven him for that.’

The Queen shook her head over her daughter. She was a true Norman—ambitious and already showing signs of that love of possessions together with the quick temper which were an inheritance from her paternal grandfather.

Most children would have collapsed into tears of horror at the thought of marriage with a man forty years older and the Queen had been prepared to soothe the child and tell her that it would be many years before she must leave them.

But Matilda was no ordinary child. As soon as she had heard that she would be an Empress she was completely contented with her lot.

From then on she gave herself new airs. She was no longer the King’s daughter merely; she was the Empress Matilda.

* * * * *

Anselm was very ill and it appeared that he had not long to live.

The Queen sent kind messages in which she assured the Archbishop the King joined. Henry however did not view the imminent death of his Primate with any real dismay.

He needed money badly. The war in Normandy had proved expensive; it seemed very likely that he would soon have to make an expedition to that troubled land. It was hardly possible that the barons would not take an opportunity of rising against him; they would use the young Clito as an excuse. So that was something for which he must be prepared.

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