‘Indeed it does not. I rejoice for you, my lord. You have been bold and your boldness is rewarded. Have you any children?’
‘Yes, Matilda and I have a fine family. Would my son could inherit my title and lands. Our laws can be ridiculous at times. Would you not think that if two people were suited it should be the easiest thing in the world to untie the knot?’
‘Alas my lord,’ sighed the lady. ‘You are not the only one who is in this position. I can think of one who is far less happier than yourself. What think you it is like to be married to Lancaster?’
Warenne nodded gloomily as though there was no need for words.
‘I had no wish for the match,’ she went on. ‘It was made for me. My father thought it good for me to be allied with Lancaster and Lancaster had his eyes on Salisbury and Lincoln.’
‘They greatly enriched him.’
‘They did not make him more acceptable to me. I would I could be free of him. You at least my lord are not forced to live with a partner you so dislike.’
‘No, I left my wife. I went to Matilda and we share a home. I found someone who I could love and cherish.’
‘And I―’ said the Countess and stopped short.
Warenne allowed a short time to pass in silence.
‘I talk too freely,’ said the Countess.
‘My lady, you may talk to me as you will and I promise what you say will go no further than these four walls.’
‘It is a great relief to talk― and to someone who has suffered similarly.’
She told him how she had been riding one day and had met a man who had helped her with her horse which was in difficulties. They had met again.
‘Charming,’ murmured Warenne.
‘We are in love,’ she said, ‘but what hope is there for us? What chance have we of happiness?’
‘That is how Matilda and I used to talk and then we learned that opportunities have to be seized, that if one is bold enough, fearless enough, most things are possible.’
‘You left your wife and sent up house with Matilda. It was easy for you.’
‘My dear Countess,’ replied Warenne. ‘Would you have the courage to do what I did?’
She was looking at him with shining eyes.
‘I am a woman,’ she answered. ‘It is not so easy.’
‘True, but still not impossible. Matilda did it.’
‘You mean, I could― if I were brave enough― leave this place― leave Lancaster and set up house with Ebulo le Strange.’
‘You could. Who is this man? I know him not.’
‘You would not. He is merely a country squire.’ Her voice softened when she spoke of him. ‘Oh how I long to share his house, to live quietly― to live in harmony, to have children―’
‘Then go to him.’
‘My lord of Surrey, can you really mean that!’
‘Yes,’ cried Warenne, ‘go to him.’
‘How could I? Could I take my servants with me― his servants? Would they come― How could I trust them?’
‘Go without servants.’
‘What would Lancaster do to him? Lancaster is the powerful man in the country.’
‘His power is waning. He is a fool. He had everything― all the power a man could have but he has not been clever enough to use it. Now he is fast losing it.
If you want to leave Lancaster, now is the time.’
‘I would do it, but I fear for Ebulo. He would trump up some charge against him. Ebulo is nothing but a humble squire. Lancaster’s power may be waning but he is the King’s cousin still.’
‘If you were given shelter in one of my castles, somewhere where Ebulo could visit you in secret, none need know that he was involved.’
‘My lord, you think of the most outrageous acts.’
Warenne’s eyes were sparkling. All the mischief of his nature was uppermost. He liked the Countess. He liked attractive women. She was charming and when she talked of her lover she was quite beautiful. He liked to help lovers, particularly those for whom life was not running smoothly. And what a truly marvelous way of attacking Lancaster. It was so much better than marching on Pontefract and engaging in battle.
‘It is necessary to be outrageous to win happiness,’ he said.
‘Then― what, my lord?’
‘You and I will leave here tomorrow. We will go off as though to the hunt.
Take with you what jewels you can. Have you a few trusted attendants, those who will serve with their lives? Let them pack other valuables and be ready to follow you with a saddle horse.’
‘Are you truly serious?’
‘If you are, my lady. Let us plan this with care and who knows perhaps tomorrow you will have left Lancaster forever.’
Alice de Lacy clasped her hands and said: ‘I believe Providence sent you to Canford, my lord Surrey. For it is true that I could not have endured this state of affairs much longer.’
‘Then― tomorrow, dear Countess, we cut the knot. We shall escape together and ere long you will be making arrangement for your lover to be with you.’
‘What can I say to you?’ she asked. ‘How thank you?’ Then a shrewd look came into her eyes. ‘You have your reasons. Perhaps you dislike Lancaster as much as I do.’
‘I dislike him, my lady, as much as I love to help a lady in distress.’
It was a good enough answer.
It had to come, she told herself. And now is the time.
By this time, the Queen was pregnant again. Her plan was working well. She had young Edward, now aged six years old and sturdy; there was John aged two and now another child coming. John was not quite as healthy as his elder brother but perhaps he only seemed a little delicate because Edward was so lusty; however, his health gave no real cause for concern. She was gathering together her little family.
It was irksome that there should be so much delay, but inevitable. Each day she despised Edward more but she could remind herself that in time she would be free of him. There would come a day when they would part, when she would make him pay for all the humiliations he had heaped on her; and that day would be worth waiting for.
She cherished news from France because her hopes were fixed on her native land. Louis le Hutin was dead. His Queen had borne a son shortly after his death, a boy, Jean, but he had died within seven days. Poor little King of France who never knew that he had inherited a crown! Her brother Philip was now King. He was called The Tall because of his unusual height. People said that the curse of the Templars was working in the royal family of France. It had killed first her father a few months after it had been uttered and now her brother Louis and his infant son. She knew that the people were asking themselves what other disasters were awaiting the family of the man who had destroyed the Knights Templars. Isabella had no great hopes of her brothers. They were weak. It would have been different if her father had lived.
Still, she would wait and when the opportunity came she would be ready to seize it.
A great deal was happening in the country. Everyone was talking now of the abduction of the Countess of Lancaster by John le Warenne Earl of Surrey and Sussex.
What an extraordinary affair that was. Of course she had long known that Alice de Lacy disliked her husband and had refused to live with him as his wife.
Poor Lancaster! Why had she ever admired him? She might at one time have been tempted to take him as a lover; that would have been if she had not been determined that no one should cast suspicion at her until she was in a strong enough Position to withstand such an attack; and she was determined that no one should dare whisper that her children might not have been sired by the King.