Isabella narrowed her eyes. ‘It shall be so. I shall do all I can to help them.
When I saw him wearing the chain and the ring, I could not believe my eyes. I thought of my sisters-in-law. Do you remember when you visited us you gave them costly gifts of jewels. They gave them to their lovers who foolishly wore them at Court― flaunted them that all might know of their relationship with these foolish women. My father saw them. He was furious. You know angry my father can get.’
‘I never knew any who could be so coldly ruthless.’
‘My dear aunt, he arrested those two brash young men. Do you know what happened to them?’
Marguerite shook her head. She did not want to hear but Isabella was determined to tell. ‘They were flayed alive and my sisters-in-law were sent to prison. They are still there.’
Marguerite covered her face with her hands. She has grown very soft here, thought Isabella. But then she always was. It was good that she married an old man who, wicked though he no doubt was, was ready to be a good and faithful husband to a docile wife.
Isabella knew what her aunt’s advice would be, she would tell her to be a docile wife, that she must accept her husband’s peculiarities; she must hope that he would not ignore her altogether and that she would, in due course, bear the heir to the throne.
But there was nothing docile in Isabella’s nature. She was not like her predecessor Berengaria who had meekly waited for her husband’s attention. She wondered what had happened to that gentle Queen. She had died neglected and there had never been any children to comfort her.
It was unfortunate that Edward was the man he was. She hated to think how he had deceived her and how she had allowed herself to become enamoured of him. She would not sit by quietly and wring her hands.
Gaveston― and Edward― had better beware.
She had seen very little of Edward since that meeting with him and Gaveston. Edward was evading her, which was typical of him. He hated conflict and he knew that she was deeply offended. She had time to overcome her shock and rage in some degree and could plan more calmly what action she could take.
Her first impulse had been to go to her uncles and demand to return to France, but she knew that would not be permitted. She was Queen of England and that was what her father wanted her to be, so here she must remain.
When she next saw Edward alone she was aloof and cool. He pretended not to notice this and behaved as though he had not neglected her and everything was as it had been before her discovery.
‘My dear,’ he said, ‘the coronation is approaching.’
‘So I am be crowned your Queen?’
‘But of course.’
‘I thought you might have reserved that honour for Gaveston.’
He looked at her uneasily and laughed as though they shared a joke.
‘He is making the arrangements,’ he said quickly. ‘There is no one who can manage these matters better. You will have the most splendid coronation, I promise you.’
‘This Gaveston― has he estates outside England?’
‘He is rich. He has estates in Gascony.’
‘Of course, he is a Gascon. He must sigh for his native land.’
‘Oh, he is happy enough here.’
‘I doubt it not but the happiness of others must sometimes be considered besides his, I daresay.’
‘The people are very happy. They are looking forward to the coronation.
Lancaster says they took to you at once. They do not always, you know. The people can be very unkind. Do you know the Londoners nearly killed my grandmother once because they were displeased with her?’
‘It is only when kings and queens have complete power that they can afford to offend the people. I suppose that is something we should always remember.’
‘It was what my father always said.’
‘He was a wise man and it is never easy to follow such. People make comparisons. To follow a strong man one must be seen to be as strong.’
‘My father’s shadow has always haunted me.’
‘I doubt not that it will be more than his shadow that haunts you if you do not mend your ways.’
‘Isabella!’
‘Yes,’ she cried suddenly her anger rising. ‘I have no intention of being set aside for your paramour.’
‘I― I don’t understand.’
‘You understand very well. Everyone knows of your relationship with this man. It is unnatural. It must stop.. You have a queen now. It is our duty to produce an heir.’
‘I know― it is what I want.’
‘Then dismiss this man and behave as your people expect.’
Edward realized for the first time that his wife was by no means the meek girl he had been telling Perrot she was. She was a virago facing him now. She clenched her fists, her eyes blazed and she trembled with rage.
‘I will not have people talk. I will not be your neglected wife awaiting your pleasure. I will not endure this insolent fellow. Do you hear that? I shall see my uncles. I hear there are many in the country who do not care for this man Gaveston. You will banish him as your father did― or it will go ill with him, I promise you.’
Edward was dumbfounded. He had come to discuss the coronation and the beautiful clothes she would wear and to tell her how she had enchanted his people with her grace and beauty. And this had happened.
He hated trouble. He turned abruptly and left her.
The barons had arrived at the palace for an audience with the King.
Lancaster, Pembroke, Lincoln and Warwick were among them.
They had come, they said, to speak of the approaching coronation with the King as they had heard disturbing reports of it.
Edward, fresh from his interview with Isabella, received them cautiously.
Lancaster was the spokesman. ‘My lord,’ he said, ‘we are made uneasy by rumor.’
‘You should not allow yourself to be made uneasy by rumour, cousin. If you do, you will never have a moment’s peace.’
‘We have had little since we have heard of the Queen’s displeasure, my lord.’
‘The Queen’s displeasure! What means this?’
‘It has been brought to our notice that her royal uncles are not pleased with her treatment here and it is certain that they will carry ill reports to her father, the King of France.’
‘The King of France has enough to concern him in his own kingdom.’
‘His daughter’s welfare must be one of his main concerns.’
‘Do not believe it, cousin. The King of France concerns himself only with his own advantage.’
‘His daughter is part of that, my lord. We have come to ask you that the Earl of Cornwall be sent out of the country.’
Edward was scarlet with rage.
‘You must be mad. Why should I banish the Earl of Cornwall?’
‘Because he is a disruptive presence and he has displeased the Queen and her uncles.’
‘The Queen must conform to our ways,’ mumbled Edward.
‘This is a matter to which she will not become reconciled. We have come here to tell you that we will not have Gaveston at the coronation.’
‘Not have him at the coronation― my coronation! It is he who has made all the arrangements. They are almost complete. The coronation is to take place in a few days. What do you mean, you will not attend?’
Warwick, foaming at the mouth with suppressed anger, said: ‘We are not alone, my lord. We represent a large company. We were with your father when he banished Gaveston. We want you to do as your father did.’
‘I am heartily sick of being compared with my father.’
‘It is understandable,’ said Warwick wryly.
‘I will rule in my own way. I will brook no interference.’