The Queen bowed her head. Indeed it must have done. The future King of
England to marry the daughter of a Count of Hainault! But anything― anything for an army.
‘I should like to discuss this with the Countess,’ went on the Count. ‘She has always been most concerned about our girls’ future.’
‘Do so,’ said Isabella. ‘But remember that this happy state of affairs could only come about if I were successful in ridding the country of the Despensers.’
She did not add: And by deposing the King and setting my son on the throne.
But that was what she meant.
The Count hurried to his wife and they discussed the matter long into the
night.
‘There would never be such another opportunity,’ said the Count.
The Countess agreed. ‘Moreover,’ she added, ‘the girls are all of them
already enamoured of Edward. He is a most attractive boy. I confess I should be very proud for him to become our son-in-law. And then― the crown of
England.’
‘What if the Queen’s attempts to depose the King should fail?’
‘If she had enough men to go against him why should she fail? You know
how matters stand in England. Our friend there tell us that people are turning against the King every day.’
‘Yes, but they are really against the Despensers. If he sent them away―’
‘He never will. The weaker he grows the more he relies on them.’
‘But to be involved in a war against England― for that what it amounts to!’
The Countess was astute. ‘There is a way,’ she said. ‘You could provide the army without being personally involved.’
‘How so?’
The Queen of England wishes her son to marry one of our girls. We agree to this. You will provide the dowry which will be enough for the Queen to raise an army among our people. Then― if aught should go wrong you have merely
supplied a dowry not an army.’
The Count looked at his wife with admiration.
‘It is the answer,’ he said. They were silent for a while, both thinking how glorious it would be on the day when one of the girls became the Queen of
England.
‘It must be Margaret,’ said the Countess firmly. ‘She is the eldest and it is fitting that she should be the first to be married.’
‘It shall be as you say,’ replied the Count.
―――――――
Isabella and Mortimer were overjoyed. The opportunity had come at last.
‘Oh what a blessing,’ cried Isabella, ‘that the Count of Hainault has four marriageable daughters!’
Sir John was ecstatically happy because the matter had been so cleverly
arranged, and immediately set about getting army together.
The fact that the dowry provided by the Count enabled this to be paid for
was not mentioned and neither Edward nor the girls realized that marriage had been discussed.
They carried on meeting frequently and often Philippa and Edward managed
to slip away undetected when they were riding with a party.
He told her a great deal about his youth and that there was trouble at home now because of a conflict between his father and mother. Philippa was most sympathetic. She could imagine how distressing that must be. He said he would like to show her England and that when he went home and all the trouble was over he would insist on her coming there. He would enjoy showing her his
country.
‘You will be King of it one day,’ she said, her blue eyes wide with a kind of wondering admiration.
‘I shall have to wait until my father dies. I mean to be a great King, Philippa.
I am going to be like my grandfather―’
He stopped, remembering that he was repeating what had been said to him
so often and that it was disloyal towards his father. Philippa immediately understood. She and her sisters had become very interested in England since Edward and his mother had come to Hainault and they asked a great many
questions about England. They had gleaned that there was something unusual about the King of England but they did not know what.
‘He is not like your father,’ the Countess had said firmly and left it at that; but she had implied that there must be something very wrong with someone who was so emphatically not like their father.
With Sir John’s exuberance and the determination of the Queen and Roger
de Mortimer the army was ready in a very short time.
The day came when they must leave.
The four girls, all saddened by the departure of the young Prince, stood
beside their mother as the Queen took a fond farewell of them and said that she would never, never forget the kindness she had received from the Count and her dear cousin in her hour of need. She embraced the girls and at last it was Edward’s turn.
He stood before them, startlingly handsome, looking as some noted; already a king.
He took leave of the Count and Countess and then turned to the rosy-
cheeked girls.
He was telling them how much he had enjoyed his stay with them, how he
would never forget their kindness, when he saw that the tears in Philippa’s eyes had started to flow down her cheeks; and then suddenly before she could stop herself she was, sobbing bitterly.
The Prince went to her and laid his hands on her shoulders.
‘Do not weep, little Philippa,’ he said, but she had covered her face with her hands. Then he said: ‘Look at me.’
She lowered her hands and he said: ‘We shall meet again. I promise you.’
The Countess had laid her arm about her daughter’s shoulders while the
Queen thought how informal they were in Hainault. She was glad that Philippa had been so overcome. It was most affecting.
But she was eager to be away.
She had her armies― two of them― the English contingent led by Mortimer
and the men of Hainault by Sir John. She was all set for conquest.
THE QUEEN’S TRIUMPH
THE Queen and her armies had arrived at Dort where they embarked on the
ships which were waiting for them.
With Mortimer beside her the Queen watched the loading of the ships; the
wind caught her hair and with the bush of triumph in her cheeks she had never seemed so beautiful.
‘Gentle Mortimer,’ she said, ‘I have a feeling that God is with us this day.
So much for which I have longed has come to pass. Thank God for Edward who shortly will be our King.’
‘And whose betrothal to one of the giggling Flemish girls has given us our armies.’
‘Forget not, dear Mortimer, that one day one of those girls will be the Queen of England.’
‘You are the cleverest woman on earth as well as the most beautiful.’
‘And you are the wisest man on earth, Mortimer, for joining with me.’
Mortimer left her to supervise his army. The Prince was with him and Sir
John was similarly engaged.
Soon they were sailing away and the coast of Holland was lost from sight.
Alas, a storm arose and some of the ships were badly battered. Then the
Queen was terrified that the elements were going to destroy all her well-laid plans. She prayed to God not to desert her now. For hours the storm raged
delaying their journey— there were moments when she believed this was the
end. But her joy was overwhelming when she at last beheld the coast of England and she went on deck and looked about her. She saw at once that many of the ships had suffered considerable damage, and some of them had actually been smashed to pieces by the fearful tempest. It now remained to get ashore and assess the damage in detail.
It was noon when she had glimpsed the coast but midnight before everything was brought ashore. Although some men and arms had been lost a considerable force remained. Her knights and attendants made a tent for her from carpets and they lighted a fire for her to warm herself. The wind was strong and it was an uncomfortable night but she was relieved to hear from Mortimer and Sir John that the damage and loss had been less than they had at first feared.