‘Lady, I have been sent to ask if you are well.’
She swallowed down her terror. ‘You may tell him that I am very well. I am dead — to the world and to him.’
The King inclined his head when the messenger approached, and listened with a stony countenance as he heard Blanche’s message. But when he understood that there was a gift too, a fleeting consternation passed over his face. And then, when he took the little draw-string bag and opened it, he saw the ruby rosary.
‘It is a pretty thing,’ he murmured to himself. He took it out and admired it for a moment. The messenger was staring with open admiration. ‘You like it?’
‘My Liege, it is so … so beautiful …’ the man stammered.
‘Take it. I gave it once to a whore. It is worthless.’
1 The Death Ship of Dartmouth
2 Saturday 2 February 1325
3 Sunday 17 February 1325
4 Monday 18 February 1325
5 Wednesday 20 February 1325
6 Saturday 23 February 1325
7 Thursday 28 February 1325
8 Monday 4 March 1325
9 Tuesday 5 March 1325
10 Saturday 9 March 1325
11 Friday 15 March 1325
12 Monday 18 March 1325
13 Tuesday 19 March 1325
14 Campball was an ancient form of football which was more like modern rugby.
15 Wednesday 20 March 1325
16 Thursday 21 March 1325
17 Saturday 23 March 1325
18 Saturday 30 March 1325
19 Sunday 31 March 1325
20 Wednesday 3 April 1325
21 Thursday 4 April 1325
22 Friday 5 April 1325
23 Saturday 6 April 1325
24 Sunday 7 April 1325
25 Monday 8 April 1325
26 Friday 12 April 1325