‘If you do not go,’ went on the King, ‘Edward will think I hold you against your will.’
‘Does he say that?’
‘No. He implies that the reluctance is on your part.’
‘How right he is! Oh Charles, you do not know how I have suffered through
those Despensers.’
‘You have mentioned it now and then sister,’ replied Charles with increasing coolness.
Oh God help me, thought Isabella. He is going to send me back.
‘You want me to leave do you?’ she asked bluntly.
‘My dear sister, you have been long here. Your business is settled. It is
natural that you should return to your husband.’
‘You mock me. My husband! You know what he is.’
‘You and your son should return to your home.’
‘He asks that you send us, does he? In what terms?’
‘He asks why there is the delay in your returning and mentions that you have been away long enough.’
‘Charles, I am afraid.’
‘You Isabella― afraid! I know you are many things but I am surprised to
find you afraid.’
‘They will kill me if I go back,’ she said quietly.
‘Kill you? My sister. They would have to answer to me if they did. I do not think they would wish that.’
‘Charles, it would not seem like murder. But it would be. The Despensers
hate me. You know what it was like before I came. I was almost their prisoner.
That is what they wish. Oh, they will not cut off my head. Nor will they give me a dose of poison which immediately removes me― but they will kill me
nevertheless. They will imprison me and slowly they will take my life away from me.’
‘Isabella, you over-excite yourself.’
‘Would you not be over-excited brother if you were faced with murderers?
Let me stay here, only a little longer I promise you. I will make plans― but I cannot go back to Edward and the Despensers yet.’
She had fallen to her knees and raised her eyes supplicatingly to his. She was very beautiful and she was his sister and they were the only two left of their father’s children. Charles himself felt none too secure with the Templars curse hanging over him.
He raised her and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
‘Do not be so dramatic, Isabella. Certainly, you may stay a little longer. I will write something to Edward. But you must not get up to mischief. Do you understand?’
‘Mischief?’
‘There are rumours. I have heard that you are over-friendly with Roger de
Mortimer.’
‘What calumnies! Of course I am friendly with the English here in France.’
‘You have gathered a good many about you.’
‘Indeed why should they not speak with me? They are unhappy about the
King even as I am.’
‘I would not wish my court to be the plotting ground.’
‘Dear Charles! You are going to be my good brother. I promise you that I
shall make my plans for departure and as soon as I can bring myself to do so I shall leave.’
‘And when you go take your malcontents with you.’
‘And you will write to Edward.’
‘And tell him that your departure has been temporarily postponed but that
within a few weeks you will be making your plans to leave.’
―――――――
The King of France was frowning over a letter he had received from the
King of England. A few weeks had passed since he had told Isabella she might remain a little longer, but so far she had said nothing about her departure.
Very dear and beloved brother, wrote Edward,
‘We have received and well considered your letters― It seems
that you have been told, dearest brother, by persons whom you consider worthy of credit that our companion, the Queen of England, dare not return to us, being in peril of her life, as she
apprehends from Hugh le Despenser. Certes, dearest brother, it cannot be that she can have fear of him, or any other man in our
realm. If either Hugh or any other living being in our dominions
would wish to do her ill, and it came to our knowledge, we would
chastise him in a manner which would be an example to all others―
We also entreat you, dearly beloved brother, that you would be
pleased to deliver up to us Edward our beloved eldest son, your
nephew― We pray you to suffer him to come to us with all speed for
we have often sent for him and we greatly wish to see him and speak
with him, and every day we long for his return―
Charles’s brow was wrinkled. The letter was genuine enough and although
he despised Edward as an incompetent ruler, he could not believe he was
capable of plotting the murder of his wife. Whereas he could believe of his sister that she was concerned in some mischief.
And whatever it was, he wanted no part in it. He felt weak in health, lacking in vitality; he doubted he would ever get a son and heir. The curse of the Templars sat heavily upon him and he was not going to look for trouble outside his realm.
Isabella would have to take her problems elsewhere.
By the same messenger there were letters for Isabella and young Edward.
Isabella, with Mortimer beside her, read hers aloud.
‘Lady, Oftentimes have we sent to you, both before and after the
homage, of our great desire to have you with us, and of our grief at
heart at your long absence; and as we understand that you do us
great mischief by this, we will that you come to us with all speed and without further excuses.
Before the homage was performed you made the advancement of
that business an excuse and now that we have sent by the honourable
father, the Bishop of Winchester, our safe conduct to you “you will
not come for fear and doubt of Hugh le Despenser” whereat we
cannot marvel too much―
And, Certes, lady, we know for truth, and so know you, that he
has always procured from us all the he could for you, nor to you have
either evil or villainy been done since you entered into our
comradeship― and we are much displeased, now the homage has
been made to our dearest brother, the King of France, and we have
much fair prospect of amity, that you, whom we have sent to make the
peace, should be the cause (which God forfend) of increasing the
breach between us by things which are feigned and contrary to the
truth. Wherefore we charge you as urgently as we can, that ceasing
from all pretences, delays and false excuses, you will come to us with all the haste you can. Our Bishop has reported to us that our brother, the King of France has told you in his presence “that, by the tenor of your safe conduct, you would not be delayed or molested in coming