‘They will trump up some charge against me doubtless and have my head to grace the Bridge.’
‘I beg of you, do not talk so. They shall all be hanged before I’d allow it.’
Gaveston said sadly: ‘Little King, would you be able to stop it?’
The Queen burst upon them. She was afraid for the child. She said: ‘Come, let us not wait here. Let us get away without delay. If we go to Tynemouth we could take ship for Scarborough and that will give us time to think.’
‘Isabella is right,’ said Edward. ‘Let us go, Perrot.’
In due course, they arrived at Tynemouth and there Edward at once ordered that a boat be made ready for them.
‘We will rest one night and be gone tomorrow. The tide will be right and carry us to safety.’
Isabella returned to her bedchamber, leaving the friends together.
She wondered what the barons would do to Gaveston when they captured him, for capture him they would in time.
She thought of his enemies and chiefly of Lancaster. She had quite a fancy for Lancaster and he for her. She had heard that his marriage was not a happy one. Alice de Lacy had brought him his earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury but little happiness. She did not like her husband and made no secret of her feelings.
He shrugged her dislike aside and it was said took many mistresses. He was the most powerful baron in the country and Isabella was attracted by power. She could never love her husband. He was too weak and that streak in his nature which made him the doting slave of Gaveston nauseated her.
Lancaster would lead the barons against Gaveston and because Edward had allied himself with his friend, that meant against Edward.
What a fool he was, this man to whom they had married her! Could he not see that he was placing his throne in jeopardy? They were fools― both him and Gaveston. They seemed to be blind to where their folly was leading them. Why could not Gaveston have behaved with decorum? Why did they have to flout their relationship so it was obvious to all? Why had Gaveston have to display his questionable wit and poke fun at men who were far more powerful than himself?
How had Edward become so utterly his slave?
Never mind. One day it would be different. If this child she carried was a boy― She slept fitfully that night, for her sleep was troubled by dreams and vague stirrings throughout the castle; and in the morning she understood the reason for these disturbances.
When her women came to her for her toilette, she knew at once that something was wrong.
‘You had better tell me without delay,’ she commanded grimly.
‘My lady, the King has left. He and the Earl of Cornwall were off before dawn.’
She did not answer. she did not want the women to know how angry and humiliated she felt.
She waited.
‘My lady, they say that the Earl of Lancaster is but a few miles from the castle and marching this way― come, they say to take the Earl of Cornwall. The King was beset with anxiety and he and the Earl left without delay.’
So they had gone and left her to face his enemies. How she hated them― Edward as much as Gaveston! What did Edward care for her, the wife who was about to bear his son? Nothing mattered to him as long as Gaveston was safe.
‘So,’ she said, ‘The Earl of Lancaster is close to the castle.’
‘Surrounding it with his men, some say, my lady.’
‘It is all they say and some say. You had better help me to dress. I must be ready for the King’s enemies when they call on me.’
How well she hid her seething anger! How dared he! What were they thinking, these servants? So this is how he treats his wife. He has no thought for her at all. All that matters to him is his lover, Gaveston. He should pay for this one day. Oh yes, one day the humiliation he had piled on her should be paid for in interest. One this child was born― and if it were a boy― Oh God, let it be a boy! Then Edward, her faithless husband, should beware.
She was dressed. The cold glitter behind her eyes if anything added to her beauty. She was maddened when she saw that glowing reflection, that outstanding beauty which had set the minstrels singing at her father’s Court, because it had no effect on his husband. Why had they not married her to a man!
‘Now,’ she said, ‘I would hear what is happening.’
It was Lancaster who made her aware of that. The castle could offer no resistance. Moreover the Queen was not sure that she wished it to.
Lancaster walked straight into the castle and when he learned that the King had flown with Gaveston during the night he asked for an audience with the Queen.
He bowed low and kissed her hand. His eyes told her that he thought she was a remarkably beautiful woman and as such he did homage to her.
‘My lady,’ he said, ‘I beg you to forgive me for this intrusion.’
She smiled and thought: Why was Lancaster not the King? I should not have complained if he had been my husband. It could so easily have been so. His father had been a brother of Edward the First and he was therefore first cousin to Edward her husband. He was royal; he was powerful and rich; and he was fully a man.
‘Intrusion?’ she lifted her brows and turned her head towards the window where she could see Lancaster’s private army was encamped about its walls. ‘It is a mind way of expressing it. Have you and your men taken the castle?’
‘My lady, while you are here, I would never allow that. We came for the traitor Gaveston who has broken his word and returned to England and who is under excommunication.’
‘I would I could deliver him to you. He and the King left shortly before your arrival.’
‘So he has slipped through our fingers. Never fear. We shall catch up with them.’
‘The King is with him, my lord.’
Lancaster nodded gravely. ‘That is a pity, but if it is so, then must he take the consequences.’
‘What do you mean? Have you come against the King?’
“My lady, I have come to take Gaveston.’
‘And what if the King will not give him up?’
‘Then we must perforce take him even so.’
‘This could mean― war?’
‘War for a worthless adventurer? Nay, let us hope it will not come to that.
But we are determined to have Gaveston. So you did not leave with them.’
‘No.’ She could not hide the venom in her voice. ‘They did not think to save me from their pursuers. They thought only of themselves.’
‘There is no need for you to fear.’ He had taken a step toward her. ‘ I would protect you against all who would harm you.’
‘You are a good friend and cousin.’
‘My lady, I would serve you with my life. Depend upon this: no harm shall come to you while I am near to protect you.’
‘Thank you, my lord Lancaster. In protecting me, it may well be that you protect your future King.’
He smiled slowly. ‘Is that so, my lady? Then we should rejoice.’
‘Thank you, cousin.’
He took her hand and kissed it. ‘I will rid you of Gaveston,’ he said. ‘I promise you that he shall not live much longer to torment you.’
She gave him her hand. ‘I will remember that, cousin,’ she said.
He bowed and left her, his eyes lingering on her as though he found it difficult to take them from her.
When he had gone, she listened to the sounds in the castle.
They were searching for evidence of where the pair had gone.
They would soon discover that they had left by sea. They must be calling at Scarborough. So Pembroke and Warenne were marching north and Lancaster would march south.