The Lion of Justice - Plaidy Jean - Страница 55

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He took an opportunity while in England to go to see Nesta.

Voluptuous as ever, she was delighted to welcome him.

The trouble with Owen seemed long ago. The war was over and she had returned to Gerald of Windsor and had become, so Henry heard, the mistress of the Constable of Cardigan while she continued to live with Gerald.

Whatever lovers she had she would always be pleased to see the King, and on this occasion she had something of special importance to say to him.

It concerned their son Robert. She was proud of the boy. She told Henry he should be proud of him too.

‘I'll warrant he is the most kingly of all your sons.’

When he saw the young fellow he was inclined to agree with her, and heartily wished Robert had been Matilda’s son.

‘You must promise me to find an heiress for him,’ said Nesta. ‘Robert has all the virtues except a fortune. But as he is the son of the King of England that ought not to be denied him.’

‘I think I know the woman for him.’

‘Who is that?’

‘Mabel, daughter of Robert FitzHaymon, Lord of Glamorgan.’

‘She seems a likely choice.’

‘Indeed she is. Her father has just died and she is his sole heiress.’

‘Of considerable wealth?’

‘Indeed his wealth is considerable. She will own all the lands and honours of Gloucester which my brother Rufus bestowed on her father for services rendered. These lands came to our family through my mother who confiscated them from a certain Saxon gentleman named Brihtric Meaw. It was said that when my mother was young she fell in love with this young

Saxon and offered him her hand which he refused. When she became Queen of England she took his lands from him and he died soon after...in prison.’

‘She must have loved him dearly!’

The King laughed. ‘She loved her pride even more so. That will teach you, my dear, not to refuse the requests of sovereigns.’

‘When have I ever?’

‘I will say that you have been generous to this one from our first meeting.’

‘Tell me more of Robert’s heiress.’

‘I have told you that the lands and honours of Gloucester are hers. What more could you ask?’

‘And they shall be Robert’s.’

‘I promise that they shall.’

‘And this is one of the promises that you will keep?’

‘Have I ever not kept my promises to you?’

‘You have not come to see me as often as you promised for a start.’

‘Only state matters could keep me from you.’

‘Well, since your visits are so rare and becoming rarer, let us settle this matter of Robert’s future now.’

‘It will be simple,’ he said. ‘Mabel’s father left her in my care when he died. I am her guardian. I will tell her that I have found a husband for her and that shall be Robert. Let him ride back to Court with me. There is no reason whatever why the marriage should not take place without delay.’

‘Presuming the lady is agreeable.’

‘You are not suggesting that she will attempt to disobey her King.’

‘So she will have no choice in the matter. I do not pity her. She could not find a more worthy husband in the kingdom than our handsome Robert.’

And when the King rode back to Westminster his natural son Robert rode with him.

* * * * *

Henry was so proud of his son—who looked a little like Nesta and had inherited a modicum of her charm—that he made no secret of their relationship.

Matilda knew he had natural children. There were plenty more of them who would need a start in the world, so Matilda would have to grow accustomed to seeing him bring them forward.

He told her what he proposed for Robert. The boy needed a rich wife and one who could bring honours to him.

‘I shall give him Glamorgan’s heiress Mabel. I pray you summon the girl to your presence and tell her that we have a husband for her.’

Matilda said: ‘Do you think such a great heiress will accept this young man as a husband? He has no fortune, I believe, and he is a bastard.’

Her lips quivered as she said that word and Henry laughed aloud.

‘There is a great difference, my dear, between a commoner’s bastard and a king’s. The only rank above a king’s illegitimate son is his legitimate one.’

‘We shall see if the young lady agrees with you.’

Henry’s temper rose suddenly. ‘I tell you Mabel Fitz-Haymon is going to marry my son Robert and be glad to. You will inform her of this fact.’

The Queen accordingly sent for the heiress. The girl, although but sixteen, was as Matilda expected, a haughty young woman. She knew that she had been one of the greatest heiresses in the country and now that her father was dead, was the possessor of great wealth.

‘The King has asked me to speak to you.’ said Matilda. ‘He is your guardian and he wishes to place you in the hands of a husband who will care for you.’

‘I am able to take care of myself,’ replied Mabel. ‘And when the time comes I shall doubtless marry.’

‘The King appears to think that that time is now. He has chosen his son Robert as your husband.’

‘Robert, my lady? Do you mean the son of Nesta of Wales and the King?’

‘I do.’

Mabel laughed scornfully. She was bold for her years. She said: ‘My lady, I must ask you to tell the King that the ladies of my family do not marry Dastards.’

‘Do you indeed wish me to give this answer to the King?’

‘I do indeed.’

‘You know it will displease him.’

‘Then displeased he must be for that is my answer.’ Matilda herself was not displeased to do so. It would show the King the general opinion of his philanderings and that the children he had so thoughtlessly scattered about his kingdom were not regarded with any respect by the noble families of the land.

* * * * *

When he heard Mabel’s reply the King narrowed his eyes and the sudden rush of colour to his face told Matilda that he was angry.

He said: ‘Send for the maiden. I will speak with her.’

She came defiantly and not in the least fearful. Matilda trembled for her. Evidently she did not know how fierce the wrath of the King could be.

‘Now.’ he said, ‘the Queen has told me that you do not care for the match I have arranged for you.’

‘My lord King.’ answered the bold girl, ‘I care for it not in the least. I cannot marry a nameless person.’

‘I do not ask you to.’

‘Then I am mistaken. I had thought that you were offering to me Robert the bastard.’

‘I offered you my son Robert.’

‘A bastard nevertheless.’

‘You foolish girl, do you know that the greatest man of his age—my father whom all men honour—was a bastard?’

She held her head high. ‘I can only tell you, my lord, that the ladies of my house do not marry men of no name.’

‘Then I will give my son a name. He is Robert Fitzroy and do you know a greater name than that?’

‘Whatever the name, sir, he has no wealth. No lands. Of what use is a name however honoured without these?’

‘You are a shrewd maiden, I see. A true daughter of your father. So shall you be to me. For I like your boldness. I have decided to endow my son with the lands and honours of Gloucester, and from this day he shall be known as Robert of Gloucester.’

‘The lands of Gloucester were my father’s...they are mine...’

‘While the King pleases to allow you to hold them.’

‘But...’

‘Come, my clever girl. You have not lost your lands for I am giving you the chance of sharing them with Robert of Gloucester.’

There was no avoiding the King’s ultimatum and shortly after that interview both Henry and Nesta were delighted to see their son united in marriage with the heiress of Gloucester.

It was a happy day for Matilda when her brother Alexander, King of Scotland, visited Henry’s Court. The fact that her uncle Edgar had been against Henry in the battle for Normandy had upset her deeply, and she had been grateful for Henry’s leniency towards him. He might so easily have imprisoned her uncle as he had his brother. It was a relief therefore that Alexander should come in friendship.

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