‘It is time the people were taught a lesson,’ said Eleanor.
Richard frowned. Once he would have been firmly on the side of the barons. He realised with a sudden horror that there might come a time when it would be necessary to take sides.
‘Henry,’ begged Richard, ‘I pray you explain to the Queen. I have never seen the people in such a mood as they are now. It is unwise … unhealthy … and unsafe for us all.’
The Queen listened and shrugged her shoulders. The people of England, she declared, were so ungrateful. They had a King who would be good to them if they would but mend their ways. They had a Queen who had given them the finest family of children ever seen.
‘They should rejoice in Edward,’ she said. ‘He grows every day. He is taller than all his companions, our dear, dear Longshanks. Do you know Burnell is constantly reminding me of how he always said Edward would outgrow his childish ailments. He is saying I told you so to me. But I like him for it. He is a good man. He loves Edward as his son.’
Richard said: ‘I pray you go carefully that there may be a kingdom for Edward to rule when his time comes … which I trust will be many years yet.’
‘You are in a serious mood today, brother,’ said the Queen.
‘Some of us must be serious at some time,’ replied Richard.
And he began to ask himself whether he would always be able to stand beside the King.
Chapter XI
THE SAD LITTLE BRIDE
There were several boys in the royal nursery, but Edward was the leading spirit and always had been. He was eleven years old, very tall for his age and, although his hair had darkened a little it was still very fair. His cousin, Henry, although four years older was of a more gentle nature. Henry was also handsome, but less so than Edward as he was less tall. Henry was a good friend and cousin and they shared most things.
In the royal nurseries were also the de Montfort cousins. Their father, Simon de Montfort, and their mother, Edward’s Aunt Eleanor, were in Gascony where Simon had undertaken the government at the King’s request. After Henry’s outburst about Simon’s seduction of his sister he had been ashamed of himself for so blatantly lying and in giving him the governorship of Gascony (a turbulent province which he had been unable to manage) he was getting rid of him and at the same time offering him the olive branch. So with their parents away the de Montfort children were the wards of the King.
The de Montfort boys – Henry who was a year older than Edward, Simon who was two years younger and Guy four years younger – were a wild element in the establishment, always urging their cousins on to disobedience. The eldest of the group, Henry, son of Richard of Cornwall, was a restraining influence and as he was the senior by three years (Henry de Montfort being next in seniority) his influence was great.
Then there were the two girls, Margaret who was a year younger than Edward and Beatrice three years younger than Margaret. Then came Edmund the youngest of all – five years old and only rarely in the company of the others.
Margaret – although at this time she knew nothing of it – had at the age of two been betrothed to the son of King Alexander of Scotland who was a year younger than herself.
There had been and still was an uneasy situation between England and Scotland and at the first sign of disaster the Scots were ready to overrun the border. The suggested marriage had therefore been of great importance to Henry and even after the formal betrothal there had been a further outbreak of trouble and in the settlement of this it had been agreed that the marriage should take place as soon as the children were old enough.
As she played with her little sister Beatrice and her brother Edmund – for it often happened that Edward excluded them from the manly games he played with his companions and even kind cousin Henry of Cornwall could find no place for them – Margaret had no idea that change was so near to her and that the happy life in the royal nurseries was coming to a close for her.
It was one summer’s day when the Queen came to the nursery and seeing the young children at the window seat looking out onto the fields where the boys were performing all manner of equestrian tricks, Eleanor decided to talk to Margaret.
They turned to her and threw themselves into her arms. Eleanor loved all her children dearly and, although Edward was her favourite, they all knew this and accepted it as right, for there was something very special about Edward. That did not mean that she had not unlimited affection to shower on all her children.
‘My lady, look at them,’ cried Margaret. ‘Look at Edward. He has cast aside the reins. See. He holds his hands above his head.’
‘I see. What a noble figure he makes. How fortunate you are, my darlings, to have such a brother.’
But while she watched and marvelled at his skill she was filled with apprehension on account of his daring.
‘I shall ride like that,’ Edmund told her.
She kissed him and said: ‘Why, little son, you will ride exactly like Edward. Perhaps Edward will teach you.’
‘Cousin Henry might,’ admitted Edmund.
‘First you must go on with your lessons, my darling. Beatrice, my dear, take Edmund to the schoolroom and bring me your books. I want to see how you progress. Margaret, stay here with me.’
Margaret was delighted. There was nothing the children liked better than to have their mother to themselves.
When they were alone Eleanor drew her daughter closer to her.
‘Margaret, you are going to be married, my child.’
Margaret was silent. Her lovely eyes round with wonder regarded her mother.
‘Yes, my dearest. You are going to marry the little King of Scotland. Think of that. You will be a queen.’
‘Shall I wear a crown?’
‘You will wear a beautiful crown. I am sure you will be very happy.’
‘Where is he then?’
‘He is in Scotland.’
‘When will he come here?’
The Queen was silent. ‘My dearest, he will not come here. A bride goes to her husband.’
‘Shall we all go to Scotland then?’
‘We shall all go with you to York where you will be married. Then you will go with your husband to Scotland.’
‘I won’t go unless you and my father and Edward and Henry … and Beatrice …’
‘My dear, you are the daughter of the King and Queen. That is a very important thing to be. It means that when you marry you can make peace between nations and that is what your father wants. I want it too and so must you.’
‘I do, but I want us all to make peace and all be together.’
‘You are very young, but daughters of kings and queens must grow up quickly. You will do your duty and be a good wife to the King of Scotland as I was to the King of England. You know what a happy time I had with your dear grandmother of Provence and my dear father whom you have never seen and your Aunt Sanchia …’
‘They are all here.’
‘They were not at first. I came alone and I had not seen your father before our marriage. Then we met and we loved each other for ever and we had you dear children and ours was the best marriage in the world and there will be one other like it – that of my darling little Margaret and the King of Scotland. Then we shall all meet … often. I promise you, my darling. I shall insist that we travel north and you will travel south … and we shall be together. And you will show me your dear children whom you will love as I love you all … and you will wonder why you were ever afraid.’
‘But I don’t want to leave you and my father and …’
‘No, of course you do not. Little brides never want to and then they find so much more happiness than they ever dreamed of.’