‘He did, my lady, before he found you. Then he had eyes for no one but you.’
She laughed. ‘Is he really as wicked as they say, think you?’
‘More so,’ was the answer.
‘Come, prepare me for the banquet. It will be such as we have never had before. It is not often that we entertain a king here.’ She could scarcely wait to see him again.
In the banqueting hall he sat beside Hugh. He was pleased, he said, that Hugh was now in possession of La Marche. ‘Oh, you stole a march on us, my good Hugh,’ said the King waggishly. ‘How dare you imprison my mother and then force her to give up La Marche?’
‘It seemed the only way of getting a decision, my lord. And I promise you it is better for your territories to live in peace than to wage perpetual war on one another.’
‘And you will see that there is peace here, my lord Count. You have done well to make a truce with Angoulême. And where are the Count and Countess? Did they not hear that I wished them to present themselves?’
‘They will arrive tomorrow, my lord. ’Tis the soonest they could get here. They sent word that they would leave at once on receiving your orders.’
‘Then that is well. I may rest here and enjoy your hospitality for a few days instead of making the tedious journey to Angoulême. Ah, I see there your little bride-to-be. She is charming. I will have her sit on my other side and that will show everyone in what high esteem I hold you.’
He beckoned to her and she came to stand before him, bowing in a most delightful way. He had been right. He had never seen a girl like that before. Twelve years old. What would she be like when she was eighteen? He knew instinctively that there was one who could give pleasure such as he had never known before.
‘Come, my little one,’ he said, ‘sit beside me.’
He took her hand, his hot fingers pressing it firmly. He drew her towards him and held her there for a moment. ‘You must not be overawed by one who wishes you as much good as I do. Come, be seated.’
His hands touched her as she sat.
The venison was carved. As the highest ranking nobleman present, Hugh stood behind the King’s chair and served him. This ceremony was one which appealed to the King for there were moments during it when Hugh must actually kneel before him. It was good for the little one to see the man they had chosen for her husband kneel to one who was so much greater. John knew that power was one of the most potent ingredients of sexual attraction with some females. Many an otherwise virtuous woman had surrendered to him because he was the King’s son, King’s brother and later the King. Rank could be a powerful aphrodisiac. He picked out dainties from his platter and fed them to the lovely child beside him. Now and then he would look at Hugh. ‘You see, my lord, how I am determined to honour you.’
The meal over, the minstrels played. Isabella had been brought up to love music and taught to sing and play, and when John was asked if he would care to hear her sing for him he replied that this would give him great delight.
So she sang for him a song of love and longing. By God’s ears, he thought, I would never want to leave my bed were she put in it.
Twelve years. What a delectable age! And never known a man yet. He would be the first. He must be. He would be ready to give a great deal for that one.
He wished that she were the daughter of some poor knight whom he was visiting, so that he might say: ‘Your daughter pleases me. She shall share my bed this night.’
This was different. What if he abducted her? He would have the whole of Aquitaine rising against him. Angoulême would unite with the Lusignans and all hell would be let loose. Have her he must, and he would, but he would have to be more subtle.
The song had finished.
‘I trust it pleased you, my lord,’ she said.
‘I have rarely been so pleased,’ he answered her.
’Tis true, he thought. And she is excited. What passion is in that exquisite little body, just begging to be awakened. My task, good Hugh, not yours. This child shall be my bedmate … and soon, for I shall go mad if there is too much waiting. I want her now while she is twelve years old, untouched and yet eager to be. What a combination of pleasure awaits me.
Her parents would be here the following day. He would have a proposition to make with them.
Others sang. They bored him. He watched Isabella. Every now and then their eyes met; he would smile at her and there would be her answering response.
How irksome the waiting was.
He retired for the night and she went to her bedchamber. She scarcely slept. She was thinking of him all the night.
The next day she walked in the gardens of the castle with her attendants. She looked up and saw him at a window, watching her. She shivered afresh even though it was warm and sunny.
When she went up the stone staircase to her apartment he was waiting there, close to the door. No one else was in sight.
‘Isabella,’ he whispered.
‘My lord!’
He held out his hand and she put hers into it. Then she was seized and held against him. As his hands caressed her body she began to tremble.
‘You excite me,’ he said, ‘as I never was excited before. Do I excite you?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ she answered.
He kissed her then again and again. She was gasping but making no attempt to protest or escape.
‘You are warm-hearted,’ he said. ‘I sense it. You long to experience the sweets of life.’
‘Oh yes, my lord,’ she murmured.
‘As yet no man has known you.’ Then he laughed and whispered: ‘’Twill not be for long. There’s joy in store for you.’
‘My lord, I hear someone on the stair.’
‘Do you then?’ he answered. ‘So part we must … and you are for me, forget it not.’
‘I am betrothed to Hugh,’ she answered.
‘Remember this. It is the custom of kings to have their way, sweetheart. And this king is more determined to have his than most.’
He released her then and she ran to her room. She looked at the patches on her skin where he had kissed her.
She knew that something very exciting was about to happen.
Her parents arrived the next day. How delighted they were to see her!
Her mother wished to know if she were happy in the Lusignan household.
‘Very happy, Mother,’ she said. ‘Everyone is kind to me.’
‘And you are behaving as we would wish, daughter?’
‘I think so, Mother.’
Her father embraced her.
‘The Lusignans are delighted with you,’ he told her. ‘Hugh told me so. You are a good child.’
‘Yes, Father. The King of England is here.’
‘It is for that reason that we owe this visit.’
‘Yes, Hugh told me.’
‘Have you been allowed to see the King?’
‘Yes. I sat beside him at supper. Then I sang to him. He was most gracious.’
‘That is well. I hope you were not too forward.’
‘The King did not seem to think so.’
Her parents looked at her apartment and spoke to the young girls who attended her. The Countess wanted to assure herself that they were suitable to wait on her daughter.
Then they went down to the hall where several other heads of noble families were assembled that they might do homage to the King their suzerain.
When the ceremony was completed John said he would like to walk in the gardens and he invited the Count and Countess of Angoulême to walk with him.
He said that he was delighted by the friendship between their house and that of the Lusignans. ‘It is always good,’ he commented, ‘to see these family feuds ended.’
‘It was an excellent idea to unite the families through the betrothal of Hugh the Brown and our daughter,’ agreed the Count.
‘Ah, your daughter. She is enchanting.’