Isabel the Fair by Margaret Campbell Barnes

Author:Margaret Campbell Barnes [Barnes, Margaret Campbell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Published: 2016-02-29T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

After all, Isabel saw Roger Mortimer before he left for Wales — hurriedly, soon after dawn, with the horses of his retinue champing impatiently outside in the street. Almost peremptorily he had sent Ghislaine to waken her. “I owe your Grace thanks for warning me about Eleanor of Glare’s marriage contract,” he said without preamble when she came to him. The torches had not been lit and he was standing in the shadows so that she could not well see his face, but he spoke in the half-angry way of a man who hates being beholden to anybody.

Her composure was ruffled as only he could ruffle it. “And that is why you are hurrying home to the Welsh border? Aymer de Valence says that you and my uncle have succeeded in persuading a strong party to use force if necessary to banish the Despensers,” she said, feeling how history was repeating itself and hurrying over the inept words like any nervous serving wench.

“What else did the King expect me to do, with Gilbert’s inheritance divided at my very doorstep between two men who hate me!”

His anger against her husband was like a tangible thing in the shadowed room and he made no effort to hide it, seeming to take her partnership for granted. She made no protest, but came and seated herself nearer to him on the deep window seat. “De Audley, the other Clare girl’s new husband, I should have thought is negligible,” she said, as if considering a tactical position which personally concerned her. “And in any case you did not seem to mind when Piers Gaveston had Margaret’s lands.”

“Gaveston did not hanker after political power. He wanted the glitter of possessions so that he might enjoy life. You of all people should know that this Hugh Despenser is the most ambitious man in England. And it is my lands, my castles, by which he thinks to climb.” Mortimer came nearer to her, resting one foot on the window step, beating fist into palm to emphasize his words, and yet retaining a quality of stillness which empasized his strength. Although he achieved more than most men his economy of movement matched his economy of words. “A Mortimer’s command was heeded throughout Wales. We practically ruled the country, and in return kept the King of England’s borders. I could have made a mort of trouble when Robert Bruce and the Black Douglas kept him busy in Scotland. Yet we kept faith with England. But now — ”

“Pembroke has no cause to like this redistribution of land either.”

Mortimer laughed harshly. “Pembroke will come in with me and Hereford and Berkeley, whose castle guards the Severn Valley. But do you suppose I shall allow it to happen?”

“Men say you know how to hold what is yours.”

“And if the King provokes me to it I shall know how to take what is his.” He did not move or touch her, but his eyes looked into hers so boldly that she knew it was not only Edward’s kingdom of which he spoke.

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