‘He has imprisoned your sister.’
Richard’s face turned pale. ‘For what reason?’
‘She has opposed Tancred. He is a usurper, she declares.’
‘If he will give me her dowry back, which is what I have come to claim, I should have no quarrel with him. But if he has imprisoned my sister by God he shall free her.’
‘I thought that was what you would say, and I trust this matter will not delay your stay in Messina.’
‘I shall certainly see that my sister receives her dues,’ said Richard. ‘I will send a message at once to Tancred demanding her release and the return of her dowry. By God’s eyes, if the man does not free her and return her dowry I will take the whole of Sicily from him.’
‘Send to him then without delay. I have no doubt that he, trembling, awaits your commands.’
In her apartments in the Palermo palace Joanna knew that great events were on the way. Tancred had come with all speed to Palermo and her guards had suddenly become more respectful.
From one of the women who were in attendance she heard that the English fleet had arrived at Messina and that the King of France was there with his, which had been considerably battered by the storm. When it seemed that Richard’s arrival was imminent, Tancred had apparently thought it wise to leave Messina for Palermo.
And Richard would soon be here – the handsome invincible brother. She exulted at the thought. She spent long periods watching from the window expecting to see him riding into Palermo any day.
It was not long before she received news.
Early one morning the guards told her that she was to prepare at once for a journey. She was going to Messina and she was free.
‘So it would seem that King Richard has arrived,’ she said.
‘That is so, my lady,’ was the answer. ‘He is now at Messina and wants you to join him there.’
With what joy did she ride across the country to Messina. Foolish Tancred, to think he could flout the sister of a man like Richard, of whose power the whole world must be aware.
Messina lay before her; she sent riders ahead to tell her brother that she would soon be there. She wanted their greeting to be public so that all might recognise his power. The people would know that Tancred had imprisoned her but that Richard only had to appear and she was set free.
It was as she had planned. There he was riding out to greet her, more magnificent than ever. He embraced her while the people looked on; and then they rode side by side to the villa of the Knights of St John where she would stay until a residence worthy of her rank was made ready for her.
‘It is an act of God,’ she said soberly, ‘that you have come at this time. If you had not who knows how long I might have remained Tancred’s prisoner.’
‘I should have come to your rescue when I heard.’
‘But you might have been in the Holy Land and I a prisoner for a year or more while awaiting your arrival. Suffice it that you have come and I am free and I thank God for my good brother.’
‘I have a further score to settle with Tancred. You arrived in Sicily with a good dowry. I want to know what happened to that golden table, the silk tent, the galleys and the golden plate.’
‘Tancred has taken them as he has everything that was mine and William’s.’
‘My first task was to free you, sister,’ said Richard. ‘My second will be to regain the treasure. Your husband left a legacy to our father and as he is dead I shall claim that. I need all the money and treasure I can lay my hands on for the Holy War.’
‘I shall pray for you, Richard.’
‘Doubtless we shall need your prayers.’
‘The King of France is your ally in this venture?’
‘Aye, he is my ally . . . I think.’
‘You are not sure?’
‘There must necessarily it seems be rivalry between kings.’
‘I have heard that a great friendship exists between you two.’
‘It has its uncertainties,’ he said shortly, and Joanna sensed that he did not wish to speak of it.
‘You will ere long see our mother, I doubt not. She is at this moment in Brindisi with Berengaria, the Princess of Navarre.’
There were tears in Joanna’s eyes. ‘Forgive my emotion. But a short time ago I was a prisoner and now this is too much joy too suddenly. I have often thought of our mother when she, like myself, was a prisoner. I can sympathise with her more readily now.’
‘Her imprisonment is over as yours is.’
‘And all thanks to you, Richard. How grateful she must be, as I am.’
‘Think not that I should allow my mother and my sister to be ill-treated if there was aught I could do to prevent it.’
‘Thank you, Richard. A thousand thanks.’
‘Come, let us talk of other things. I will tell you of my adventures.’ He described to her how he had arrived at Marseilles and found his ships not yet there and in great impatience he had gone on without them. Hence the fleet’s arrival at Messina before him. He told her of how he had tried to take the poor man’s hawk and nearly lost his life.
‘If you had what would have become of us?’ she cried.
‘Oh, I am not so easily disposed of. We have heaven’s blessing on our crusade. I have evidence of this. My sailors have told me that when a great storm blew up off the coast of Spain, they prayed to God and there appeared on the seething waters a vision of St Thomas à Becket of Canterbury. “Have no fear,” he told them, “for God has appointed me guardian of this fleet and if you repent of your past sins and commit no more, you will have a prosperous voyage.” And the men took heart and soon the storm abated and they came safely to Marseilles.’
‘God is on your side, Richard.’
‘So must He be when we are engaged in his holy war.’
They had arrived at the house and servants came out to welcome her.
Having made sure that everything was there for her comfort Richard left for the Villa de Muschet.
The next day Richard called to see his sister and with him he brought the King of France. Philip was clearly impressed by her beauty and charm and they talked long and earnestly together.
Philip wanted to know where she would go when he and Richard left for Acre. She was not at all sure, she told him, but she was hoping to join her mother.
This raised a certain awkwardness because Philip would know that Queen Eleanor was with Berengaria and he would wonder how there could be a marriage between Richard and the Princess of Navarre when he was betrothed to his sister Alice.
Philip knew this but he was determined to be courteous and the unfortunate subject of Alice was allowed to lapse. Joanna would be naturally curious to learn how the matter was to be resolved but she could see that she could not raise it when Philip was present.
As for Richard he knew that Philip was waiting for the opportune moment to bring up the matter of his betrothal; and then he could be sure that it would be the King who was bargaining and he, Richard, could not hope to escape lightly, nor would Philip allow him to if he could help it – great friends though they were.
Richard said hastily that he had no intention of leaving Messina until he had settled the matter of Joanna’s dowry.
‘Which could delay you for some time,’ Philip pointed out.
‘Then delay there must be for I’ll not allow this avaricious fellow to take what is mine.’
‘I believe,’ said Philip to Joanna, ‘that your brother cares not if I take Acre without him.’
‘You will need my help,’ said Richard, ‘as I shall need yours. We may be assured that the place will be well fortified.’
‘If we delay too long the winter will be upon us.’
‘Still, I shall not allow Tancred to flout me.’