It was plain enough that the Despenser was himself anxious about something, too. The man was exceedingly on edge. Not at all like the man whom Baldwin remembered from before his trip to France. The pressure of the realm’s uncertainty was getting to him as well. Probably because of the number of his enemies who had been exiled and now lived safely in France, he reflected. A man could not continue to make enemies without one day reaping what he had sowed.
‘Baldwin? Are you all right?’
‘Simon, I need to think,’ Baldwin said with frowning concentration. ‘I need to think very carefully.’
It was just then that the servant came to ask Baldwin to join the King in his hall.
Nicholas was tempted to run straight to the King and demand to know what in Christ’s name had happened to the oil, but a moment’s reflection told him that this was not necessarily a good idea.
The King was no longer his friend. If Nicholas were to go to the King and demand to know what had happened to his oil, he may find himself in an unpleasant position. However, he need not be so blunt. And maybe he need not go to the King himself? There must be another man to whom he could speak in this great abbey. Someone who could assist him. A man who could speak for him, present his case and beg on his behalf.
All he needed to do was to find the man.
Chapter Fifteen
Simon and Baldwin had met the King before when they had been to Thorney Island, where the palace of Westminster stood. There the King had been a forceful character, strong-willed and cunning. But then, too, he had had his wife nearby, and he was the undisputed commander of all England. Now his wife was away in France, he was distracted, and petulant at the thought of the price the King of France would levy for the return of any of his estates in France. That was a thorn in his side, a thorn that twisted and stabbed no matter what he plotted.
He was still remarkably handsome, though. His longish face was strong and deceptively masculine, his eyes clear blue, his hair clean and blond, his beard smartly trimmed. About his powerful frame was a tight-fitting blue cotte, and there was a fur-trimmed cloak over his shoulders.
All this Baldwin took in as he entered and made an elaborate bow. It was the rule that common men and those of lower classes should bow and remain bent, eyes downcast, in the King’s presence. Only those who merited some regard were permitted to stand.
Clearly, Baldwin did not deserve such respect, then, for the King made no suggestion that he and Simon should stand straight.
His tone was peremptory. ‘Sir Baldwin. I am told by the good bishop that you have a personal message for me from my good lady wife. I would be most grateful to hear it.’
Baldwin closed his eyes, wondering for an instant whether he should be blunt or persuasive, but then the little speech which she had given him came back to him, and he began to speak.
‘Your royal highness, I was called to the Queen and asked to bring you this message. She said that her brother King Charles would not be content to allow you to keep your French possessions without formally paying homage to him as your liege-lord for those territories. She has attempted to propose alternatives to him, but her sole victory so far has been to extend the length of the truce. She finds this deeply shaming, and would return at once to your side, were it not possible that there could be another solution.
‘Your lady, her Majesty Queen Isabella, is fully seized of your feelings of disgust for the suggestion that you should travel abroad to show subservience to your equal. For this reason she would like to propose that another take your place in paying homage.’
‘Yes? And who would she suggest? My falconer? My fewterer? My chief steward?’ the King demanded sarcastically.
‘Your lady the Queen suggests that because you are reluctant, rightly, to travel to France, perhaps you could create another who would be more fitting.’
The King frowned. ‘“Create” another? What is that supposed to mean?’
‘Queen Isabella begs that you consider a different route. If you elect to rest all your French assets upon your son Edward, you can then send him to France in order to pay homage for his lands held under the French King. If you settle your French territories on your son, he could then go in your place, my Lord,’ Baldwin persevered. ‘Earl Edward could have the Agenais, Montreuil and the other lands given to him, and then he could go to France to pay homage for them to the French King.’
‘Let my son go there?’ the King wondered with a frown of incomprehension. ‘How will that help me, or the Crown?’
‘You will have divested yourself of responsibility in that regard, so the French King, your brother-in-law, will have no recourse against you. If he withholds the lands from their new master, the Earl of Chester, your son, he will be reviled throughout Christendom for such unwarranted cruelty. The French King naturally looks upon you as his equal and rival. That is surely one reason why he wishes you to go to him. It would humiliate you to do so, and it would only serve to enhance his position in the world to have you bend your knee to him. Both must be attractive to him,’ Baldwin said. ‘But if he were unkind to his own nephew, your son, he would squander any advantage. Treating an English earl in such a manner would not win him any friends.’
The King was tempted to gape. He had an almost unbearable urge to turn to Hugh and ask his thoughts, but he knew that to turn to Hugh at this moment would be to appear weak.
‘There is more, my Lord,’ Baldwin said. ‘The Earl is also the King’s godson, I believe? If he were to mistreat his own godson, he would be despised throughout Christendom for his lack of chivalry. He cannot be so base to your son.’
King Edward had a fluttering in his breast, and he could feel the muscles of his belly growing taut with expectation, but he made no sign. That she could have thought up this! The woman whom he had treated with such little regard recently, was yet capable of a stroke of genius like this!
Genius, he had called it, and genius it was. The boy could go over to France as a duke in his own right, give up his homage, and, by so doing, leave Edward more perfectly secure than ever. If he disliked it, as Baldwin had said so clearly, King Charles could do nothing without embarrassing himself and showing that he was acting in bad faith.
‘Are these your words or the Queen’s?’
Baldwin allowed himself a smile. ‘My Liege, I would not dare become embroiled in such matters of state. This is something so far beyond my capabilities, I would not wish to speak my own mind.’
‘You have been to Paris. You have met my brother-in-law, King Charles?’
‘Yes, my Liege.’
‘So what is your opinion?’
‘In my opinion, I think the lady is quite right. Her brother would be most content to see you embarrassed, and to have you taken to him to pay homage would enhance his own standing. Others would look and see a king paying him homage. That can only serve to benefit him.’
‘But?’
‘But if you were to send your son, having just made him Duke of all the French territories, that would confirm your independence, retain the French territories under the English crown, and protect the revenues from those lands. I feel sure that King Charles would feel entirely unable to embarrass your son, his nephew and godson. Would he wish the world to see him take advantage of a lad little more than a boy? That would indeed shame him.’
‘Perhaps. Bishop? Do you have anything to add to this?’
‘I would only say that this knight is an astute observer of human nature, King Edward. I would commend his advice to you.’
The King nodded, and then glanced at Simon. ‘What of you, Bailiff? You have a good mind, I think. What do you make of this suggestion?’