The Queen from Provence (13 page)

‘You are right, my little love. There is nothing I would not give you.’

Now was the moment. Her heart was beating fast. Dare she? Was it too soon? Perhaps she should have asked Uncle William first.

‘You must not make rash promises, Henry, which you might not be able to keep.’

‘I … not be able to keep my promises! Why, my dearest, have you forgotten that I am the King?’

She understood him. He was very anxious that everyone should remember that. He was one to assert his royalty which must mean that within him he sensed some weakness. Henry was no fool. He was clever, but sometimes such cleverness as his was a hindrance rather than a help. In his heart he would know of his inadequacies and would do his best to hide them or deceive people into believing they did not exist. Hence his desire that all should recognise his royalty; hence his sudden quick temper when he thought himself slighted, his affability when he thought he needed a man’s friendship.

‘No, I do not forget,’ she answered. ‘But your barons are formidable men.’

‘Did you think so?’

‘Yes, I did.’

‘Were any disrespectful to you?’

‘None. They accept me as their Queen, I know well. I shall be happy here when I am used to it. I am thankful that I have some friends about me.’

‘They will soon be longing for the blue skies of Provence.’

‘They would never wish to leave me …
never
.’

‘My dearest!’

She put her arms about his neck. ‘Henry, will you do one thing for me?’

‘Anything … but do not make it little.’

‘Perhaps it is not little. My women are a little afraid, Henry. They have heard rumours.’

‘Rumours? What rumours?’

‘That they may be sent away.’

‘Oh … in due course. When they go you shall select those you would like to replace them.’

‘Yes … that is what they feared. I reassured them, Henry. I told them that you were so good and kind to me, and that was why I loved you so dearly. I said you would never make me unhappy by sending them away.’

Silence. Her head against his chest so that she could not see his face. She waited with trepidation. This was more than sending away a few attendants.

At last he spoke, stroking her hair as he did so.

‘My dearest, it is the custom you know. The people do not like foreigners at Court. Oh, I know they are not foreigners to us, but they consider them so.’

‘You mean … you would send them away!’

She broke free from his arms and sat down on the bed, and covered her face with her hands.

He was beside her, his arm about her.

‘Eleanor, understand this …’

‘No,’ she said. ‘There is no need to say more. I was wrong. It is not as I thought. I must tell them that I was mistaken …’

‘Mistaken? What do you mean?’

‘I told them that I could never be really happy if they went and that when I told you, you would let them stay.’

‘Oh, my dearest child …’

Henry’s expression was wretched. He could hear Hubert’s voice. ‘It is time the foreigners left. The people do not like to see them in the country. There are many who look for the posts …’

But
she
wanted it. It was necessary to her happiness.

‘Come,’ said Henry, ‘it is a matter which we need not decide yet.’

She shook her head. ‘You cannot deceive me, Henry, I know. It is already decided. I will have to tell them tomorrow that I have spoken to you … and you are against us.’

‘No … no … you do not understand.’

‘Alas, I do.’

She stood up sadly. He was beside her.

‘Eleanor, you want this very much, do you?’

‘I want it more than anything. It was all so wonderful … to be here with you … happy … your Queen. Well, now it is not so … That is all.’

‘Nay,’ cried Henry, ‘they shall stay, I promise you. My love, you shall keep them as long as you wish.’

Her face was illumined with joy as she flung her arms about his neck.

‘Careful,’ said Henry. ‘Would you strangle the King of England?’

‘Nay. I would comfort him, cherish him and love him for ever.’

It was the first victory for the Queen of England.

Chapter IV

MARRIED BLISS

W
hen Eleanor told her Uncle William that the King had promised her she should keep her Provençal attendants as long as she wished to, he was amazed and delighted.

‘You surprise me,’ he cried. ‘This is unheard of.’

She laughed at him. ‘Henry is anxious to please me. He says there is nothing he can deny me.’

‘My dear child, you have great power in your hands. We must make sure that you use it in a proper manner.’

‘Have I not done so?’

‘Perfectly. Perfectly. There will be a great test … soon.’

‘Yes, Uncle?’

‘I wish to stay here. You need me. There is much good we can do … to Provence and Savoy. Our family are going to bless you, Eleanor.’

‘I shall do everything I can.’

‘Imagine their pride in you at your father’s Court. I believe this could mean the end of poverty for him. I am sure Henry would be eager to help him. Look how he gave up the dowry he was asking for. He does not regret it. I know. There are so many of us there who could do well in England. Your Uncle Boniface might come. Who knows … Here there are innumerable opportunities for those who know how to take them. We must take them, Eleanor.’

‘Naturally I wish to do everything I can to help.’

‘You have not done badly so far, dear child. But it is a beginning. If I could stay here … perhaps there would be some appointment … some high office in the Church.’

‘That would be wonderful, Uncle.’

‘Well, let us see what we can do. Do not mention my staying here just yet to Henry. There will be opposition, you can depend upon that. But you and I together will overcome that. Do you not agree?’

She was flushed with success. It had been so easy to get Henry to agree to her attendants remaining. Of course a high post for her uncle would be a more delicate matter … but it was a challenge she would enjoy.

It was amusing, exhilarating and gratifying to show everyone what influence she already had over her husband and it would be her aim to gain more and more.

When Henry saw her delight in the company of her uncle he determined to share it. He was so happy in his marriage that he wanted everyone to know how he appreciated his Queen. Not only was she very beautiful but her love of literature, her ability to write, to sing and understand music accorded so well with his own nature that he assured himself that he had found the perfect wife.

Like him, she wanted children and he was certain that before long such a union as theirs would be fruitful. In those first months he was in a state of such euphoria regarding his marriage that he was completely happy. He wanted to give her everything she asked.

Eleanor, basking in the approval of her husband and the uncle whom she had been brought up to respect, was very pleased with her lot; and when she thought how it had been brought about by the cleverness of Romeo de Villeneuve – and herself of course – she never failed to marvel. There were frequent communications with her family and Romeo wrote to her too. She and Uncle William read these despatches and what she wanted more than anything was to bring good to her family which meant not only Provence but Savoy, the home of her ambitious uncles.

Between the doting of her husband and her uncle Eleanor felt herself to be a very cherished person indeed. It often happened that when Eleanor and Henry were alone together Uncle William would join them. Then they would discuss state matters, so close to Uncle William’s heart, and he would put forth his point of view to which Henry listened with something like reverence.

Within a few months of her arrival in England friends began to come from Provence and Savoy. Eleanor was so delighted to receive them that Henry had to be too; and when she suggested that they should be given posts, how could he disappoint her by refusing?

It seemed at that time that there was only one shadow on their happiness: Eleanor’s inability to become pregnant.

Henry soothed her. ‘You are but a child my love,’ he told her. ‘We are apt to forget your youth because of your wisdom, but it is true. Don’t fret. We shall succeed in time. Then I’ll swear you will have the finest sons and daughters. They must be so … if they resemble you.’

Such devotion seemed somewhat fatuous to the Court. Some sought to take advantage of it and one of these was Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester. Simon had decided to try his fortunes in England which, because of the lands which his father had held, and which the King had allowed him to retain, and because of the title of Earl of Leicester which had come to him, he felt might be more profitable than France. Twice he had sought advantageous marriages – and both with wealthy middle-aged widows, the Countesses of Boulogne and Flanders. On both occasions the King of France had frustrated his hopes. So it was understandable that he had turned his back on France. Henry had been kind to him; under the influence of the Queen Henry was becoming more and more inclined to smile on foreigners, especially those who could ingratiate themselves with the Queen. Simon was considered a foreigner by those Englishmen who were eager not to have strangers poaching on their land. Recently he had started to have very high hopes. His rather prominent dark eyes glistened at the thought. Of course it would be frowned on. It would not be easy; but the King’s sister Eleanor was a very determined young woman and once she had made up her mind it would be hard to divert her. It was a wild dream perhaps … but who could say that it might not come true. In the meantime he must join William de Valence and show that he would be a good supporter – because if he were to advance it would more likely be through the foreign influence than that of the English.

William de Valence had already a following in the country but his ambitions were growing rather too big for him to control. It was not possible for this state of affairs to pass unnoticed. There were whispers. ‘What is happening at Court?’ ‘Is it true that there are secret meetings between William de Valence and his friends?’ ‘Can it be that these foreigners are trying to rule our country? This is due to the Queen. The foreigners came with her. The King receives them to please her and they are making a puppet of him.’

When the Queen rode out in the streets sullen looks came her way. Someone daringly shouted at her: ‘Go home. We don’t want foreigners here.’

It was shattering to her. She had believed that everyone must be charmed by her good looks.

The King had not been with her when it had happened and she had gone at once to him, almost in tears.

He had soothed her. ‘It must have been a madman,’ he said. ‘People of good sense must love you.’

‘It was not only what was shouted. It was the way they looked at me … as though they hated me.’

‘Oh, the people are fickle. Hosanna one day … crucify Him the next.’

‘I don’t want them to crucify me. I want them to love me.’

‘I shall command them to,’ declared the uxorious husband.

But it was not as easy as that.

Richard called on his brother. He said that he wished to speak to him entirely alone.