The Lion of Justice - Plaidy Jean (список книг txt) 📗

He talked earnestly to Matilda. ‘Oh, what a comfort it is to me to know that I can leave the country in such worthy hands.’

She was eager to show herself worthy.

‘There is one whose services I could wish were at your disposal, my dear. Anselm. He is a stubborn man but a good one and would be of use to you. All this time we are without an Archbishop of Canterbury. It is not seemly.’

‘But you are still in disagreement with him.’

‘I shall see him and we may come to some understanding. It would please me if he returned to England and was at your side to support you during my absence. My sister Adela is very anxious for me to see him. So I will call on her at Blois and if I can succeed in breaking down his stubbornness I will send him back.’

‘Yes,’ said Matilda, ‘he is a good man.’

At a solemn ceremony Henry invested Matilda with the Regency and Matilda went with him to Dover to see him embark.

He embraced her warmly as he said farewell.

‘Always remember, Matilda,’ he said, ‘that I was happy in my marriage.’

She cried out in alarm: ‘You talk as though you are not coming back.’

‘Nay, do not say such things. My men would think them unlucky. Of course I shall return. You forget my father’s prophecy. I am to have more than either of my brothers. This is what he means. Normandy will be mine as well as England. Have no fear, Matilda, I shall return.’

‘I shall wait for you.’

‘I can trust you with my crown, my heart and my life.’

And at least she knew that at that time he would not have substituted her for Nesta.

* * * * *

In the castle at Blois Henry’s sister Adela received him joyfully.

Adela was the fourth daughter of the Conqueror, who had married Stephen of Blois and Chartres. She had inherited the family ambition and believed that if Henry conquered Normandy it would be to the advantage of the family. Robert was charming in his way but he was unfit to rule, while Henry had proved himself to possess his father’s flair. She was proud of Henry and she knew their father would have been.

Adela liked to have a hand in affairs and she it was who now contrived the meeting between Anselm and Henry for she knew that it was not advisable for the Archbishop of Canterbury to be in exile and such a state of affairs could lead to the excommunication of Henry which would not be a good thing.

She had arranged entertainments for her brother while he was at the castle but Henry was eager to begin the first stages of his campaign against his brother and did not intend to stay long. He did not wish Robert to have too much time to amass an army. Not that he believed he could very easily for he would lack the money. But men such as Robert of Belleme would be determined to drive Henry back and they were the real enemies.

Adela understood immediately and told him that she could arrange for a meeting between himself and Anselm at the Castle of L’Aigle the very next day.

‘Then let it be so.’ said Henry.

After that he could enjoy an evening in the company of his sister and her family.

She was about four years older than Henry and because of this apt to play the big sister. Henry remembered well how angry she had been when Simon Crispin, the Earl of Amiens, had rejected her.

Simon had been a handsome young knight at the Conqueror’s Court and the match had been arranged to everyone’s satisfaction in the first place. But as the time for the wedding grew near, Simon had gone into deep melancholy, and much to the fury of the family had declared that he could not marry because he had chosen the monastic life.

Poor Adela, she had raged—for like most of the family she had inherited their father’s temper—but she was soothed when Stephen of Blois was found for her, although Henry did not believe she had ever really recovered from the slight she considered Simon Crispin had subjected her to. As a result she had grown very dominating but Henry quickly showed her that she could not treat the King of England as her little brother.

There was no doubt that she admired his achievements in England and that she eagerly seized on all news she could get of her brother’s country.

‘Henry,’ she said, ‘I am so eager for you to meet the children. I am rather proud of them.’

Of course, Henry said, he must meet them. He was interested in his nephews and nieces.

They were brought to Henry and he found pleasure in talking to them. He was particularly interested in the third son, Stephen, who was about seven or eight years old. He was such a handsome, bright little fellow.

‘Well, young sir,’ said Henry, ‘what are you going to be when you grow up?’

Stephen said he would be a soldier and a king like his Uncle Henry.

‘Why so?’ asked Henry. ‘Do you think then that it is such a great thing to be a king?’

‘Yes.’ said Stephen. ‘I would like to be a king like you.’

Henry was delighted. ‘That is a bright boy.’ he told Adela.

‘I have been wondering if he could be brought up in England.’ suggested Adela.

Henry considered this. ‘I would consult Matilda.’

Adela raised her eyebrows.

‘Does she dictate these matters?’

‘I look after the State; she looks after the home.’

‘This would be a matter of State.’ said Adela.

Henry smiled at his sister.

‘You need have no fear that I would not look after my nephew’s interests.’

‘There might be members of her family whom she would put before him.’

‘You do not know Matilda. Her interests are mine.’

‘I can think of some fields in which her interest—or her knowledge—may not penetrate.’

‘Now, Adela, you play the censorious sister. Desist, I pray you. I am as I am and Matilda knows this well. If she accepts this, you assuredly must.’

‘A court follows the morals of its king.’

‘Then those who follow me will be discreet and brook no interference from their families.’

‘Guard your temper, Henry. You look just like our father when you frown! Do you remember how we used to tremble when we saw that look on his face?’

‘I remember well and as I am so like him those who perceive my frown perforce should tremble.’

‘Come, no quarrels. This is a reunion to which I have long looked forward. Will you, in due course, take my son Stephen into your court? Will you look to his future which could be greater in England than it is in Blois? Henry, will you do this for your sister?’

‘If she asks I may well. If she demands, most certainly I shall not.’

‘Then she asks most humbly.’

‘Her request is granted.’

‘In a few years then my Stephen shall join your Court to be brought up with your Matilda and little William.’

‘That affair is settled,’ said Henry.

* * * * *

In the castle of d’Aigle Anselm awaited the King.

Henry went forward and took his hands in his.

By the saints, he thought, the man has aged.

‘Anselm,’ said the King, ‘it has been a long time since we met.’

‘On your insistence, my lord.’

‘We have had our differences. Should we not try to solve them?’

‘I have always wished to solve them.’

‘So have I. But you must admit, Archbishop, that you have been somewhat intransigent.’

‘The Church would say that of you, sir.’

‘Oh, the Church and the State, this perpetual quarrel.’

‘The Church must claim its dues, my lord.’

‘And so must the Crown. Let us speak seriously and frankly together. For settle our differences we should. You have excommunicated several of my bishops; you have even threatened to censure me.’

‘With just cause, sir.’

‘That I cannot admit.’

‘And therein lie our differences.’

‘Which must be settled. It is not meet that an archbishop should desert his flock. That must not be allowed to continue. You are lacking in your duty if not to me, to those who need you.’

Anselm replied that he knew this to be so but while the Church and the State were in conflict he could not return.