The Lute Player: A Novel of Richard the Lionhearted by Norah Lofts

Author:Norah Lofts [Lofts, Norah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction - Historical, England/Great Britain, 12th Century, France, Royalty
ISBN: 9781905806720
Publisher: Tree of Life Publishing
Published: 2009-12-07T05:00:00+00:00

It is quite amusing to reflect that Richard, to whom women were profoundly unimportant—the only woman to whom he cared even to talk was Anna Apieta—should have had his relationship with two of his allies, Philip of France and Leopold of Austria, marred by innuendoes concerning women.

This recurring rumour that he was a lecherous man is understandable. His father’s reputation was evil, his own marriage a disaster. Why that should be only God, Who made them both and brought them together, could explain. She was so beautiful, one would have thought that lust, if not love, would have held him to her for a little, for long enough for him to get to know her and appreciate her worth. Every man who looked at her loved her and most women, too, and women are not usually devoted to one who outshines them in every way. It was surely the most cursed fate that the one man she loved, the man whom she had chosen and fought for, should be impervious to her looks and her qualities.

It may be because she loved him and had neither the skill nor the wish to hide it. There was a perverse streak in him; he could only appreciate what he had to struggle for; the fiercer the struggle, the more value he set on the object. To run to him and say, ‘Here I am, take me,’ was to make oneself negligible to him.

Dear Anna, when you read this, will you be astonished that I noticed how he sought your approval? Will you remember how often on those few occasions when he favoured the ladies with his company he would turn to you and say, ‘What does Anna think?’ or ‘Anna, this will interest you.’ Berengaria, and not she alone—any other of the ladies would have her ears for so much evidence of his notice—but they were for you.

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