The Bastard King by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy [Jean Plaidy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2012-06-28T04:00:00+00:00

Adelisa in Love

IT WAS A year he would never forget. He was no longer young, being thirty-eight years of age. It had been a hard life mostly spent in fighting. He often said it was small wonder he was a great soldier since he had spent most of his life following that profession and there had been little time for anything else.

Often he talked to Matilda of how he would like to see the Duchy develop. There were so many better ways of living than fighting. He wanted to improve the farming lands; he wanted to set up glassworks; he admired fine works of gold or silver and wished to help the creators of these, but his greatest enthusiasm was for architecture.

‘Do you know, Matilda,’ he often said, ‘when I have to burn some grand castle I feel a pang of sorrow. I would like to see fine castles, cathedrals, dwellings, all over the land.’

‘And all in your possession, my lord,’ Matilda reminded him.

‘’Tis so. My mother used to say that once I had acquired something I never wished to let it go.’

‘And why should you, if it were hard-won?’

‘Matilda, has it ever struck you how alike we think, we two?’

‘Why should we not think alike? We are working towards the same goal.’

‘’Twas a happy day for me when I gave vent to my ill-humour and rolled you in the mud.’

‘And showed me a strong man. None but a strong man would have done for me.’

He, who was never demonstrative with any but her, took her hand and kissed it.

‘You have given me so much happiness in my home and my family.’

He liked to talk about their sons. Richard was his favourite, Robert hers.

There was, however, a little discord between them over Robert. Her first-born, her darling. Was he beginning to mean more to her than William himself? Richard of course was a good boy. He learned his lessons and was a credit to his tutors; he rode well; he was of a sweet and docile temper; he was handsome too, more like his father in looks than either Robert or little William.

The girls did not count in the same way as the boys. William had fiercely wanted boys and she had wanted them because she must show William that never could he be disappointed in her. Cecilia, Adelisa, Constance and Adela – four charming girls who stood in great awe of their father and of whom he was very fond, although he was not the man to show this. Cecilia was devout and Adelisa loved stories of romance; the others were too young as yet to show much preference for anything.

Of the boys they talked constantly.

Richard was the safest topic, for William could not find fault with him; but Robert who was now twelve years old was already showing signs of rebellion. He had all the spirit of his parents but he was more reckless than William had ever been and was constantly boasting of what he would inherit, and that he was going to be Duke of Normandy – which was rather irritating to his father.

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