‘Yes, madam,’ Alienor said wryly.
The lines around Matilda’s lips grew more pronounced. ‘I fought with everything I had to keep my claim to England and Normandy alive. Now it is Henry’s task to continue that fight and take the crown that is rightfully his as it was rightfully mine.’ She looked at Henry with intensity. ‘And it is ours to help him in that endeavour.’
Alienor was not intimidated by the Empress’s autocratic tone. Providing Matilda did not meddle in the affairs of Aquitaine or come between her and Henry, she was prepared to keep a diplomatic peace. ‘I will give him all the help he needs,’ she replied.
Following the meal, the family retired to the Empress’s personal chamber for a less formal family gathering. Alienor was reminded a little of Louis’s apartments in Paris because much of the decor took the form of crosses, prayer books and religious objects. Her mother-in-law was devout and paid more than just lip service to God.
She was aware of Henry’s brothers in her periphery. Geoffrey had made his peace and everyone was being civil, but it did not mean Alienor had forgiven him for his attempt on her, or that she could bring herself to like him. If a dog bit you once, you didn’t give it a second opportunity. No one mentioned his bid to abduct her, but the awareness created tension and the atmosphere between Geoffrey and Henry bristled with hostility. William, the youngest, was pleasant enough towards her, but was overshadowed by Henry’s vibrant charisma. It was as if all the parental fires had gone into forging the first bright child, and only the tail end of the comet and the detritus had been left to flesh out the others.
‘You say you did not spend much time with your half-brothers?’ Alienor said to Emma. She was becoming increasingly fond of the young woman, who, despite her quiet demeanour, had a playful side and a keen perception.
Emma shook her head. ‘Only at some of the Easter and Christmas gatherings, and mostly they had no time for me, and – and when they did, I tried to avoid them.’
Alienor raised her brows.
‘I was our father’s only daughter and even if baseborn, I could claim his attention in ways they could not. They would pull my hair and taunt me when they thought Papa wasn’t looking.’ She gave a small grimace. ‘But sometimes he was looking, and then they would be in trouble, and I would have to avoid them even more.’
‘They will tease you at their peril now you are part of my household,’ Alienor said firmly.
Emma flushed. ‘I would not have you think that I am a complainer or a teller of tales – nor that I cannot stand up for myself.’
‘I think none of these things. I am glad of your company, but I protect those who serve me.’
‘I do not want to cause trouble between you and my brother,’ Emma said swiftly. ‘He has been as kind to me as often as he has been unkind.’
‘One does not cancel out the other,’ Alienor replied, but smiled to give Emma reassurance. ‘You have not caused trouble. I well know the ways of men, even if I do not have brothers.’
‘The ways of men?’ Henry arrived at her side and lightly took her elbow. ‘What is this?’ His tone was jocular, but there was a wary look in his eyes.
‘I was asking your sister how it felt to be the only girl amid a passel of brothers.’
Henry grinned. ‘Privileged,’ he said. ‘In all senses of the word.’
‘You used to pull my hair,’ Emma said. ‘And throw frogs at me.’
‘And give you rides on my pony and take you round the stalls in Angers to buy ribbons and pastries.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘As I told my lady duchess, you were kind to me too.’
‘And as I told Emma, now she is in my household,’ Alienor said, ‘she may anticipate ribbons and pastries and never again have to worry about the hair-pulling and frogs.’
Henry gave her an amused look. ‘Do I consider myself warned?’
Alienor arched her brows. ‘That is for you to decide, husband.’
He started to reply, but then his gaze fixed upon a travel-worn man in early middle age who had followed an usher into the room. His fur-lined cloak was draggled with rain.
‘Who is that?’ Alienor asked.
‘My uncle Reginald, Earl of Cornwall.’ Henry’s good humour vanished and he became as alert as a terrier. ‘What is he doing here?’
Alienor had heard Henry speak with affection of his uncle, who was a mainstay of his support in England. He was bastard-born to one of old King Henry’s numerous concubines and staunch to the Empress’s cause. The weather was vile and for the Earl to have made the hazardous sea crossing meant there must be serious news.
The Earl went straight to his half-sister the Empress and knelt to her. Alienor immediately noticed the strong resemblance to each other in the sharp grey eyes and the jut of the chin.
Matilda kissed him and raised him to his feet. He turned then to greet his nephews and Alienor. She felt the rasp of his beard as he kissed her cheek in formal greeting. His touch was icy.
‘What has happened?’ Henry demanded, cutting to the meat of the matter.
Taking a cup of spiced wine from a servant, Reginald went to stand near the fire. ‘The defenders of Wallingford are desperate,’ he said. ‘If you do not come now, we shall lose our foothold in England. We have nothing left to give and if you leave it until the spring, it will be too late. Even stalwarts such as John the Marshal are finding it difficult to hold on. We are close to victory, but we stand in peril of losing all we have fought for. Stephen is isolated and vulnerable, because of the death of his wife, who was his backbone, but her death also means he has thrown himself into a final effort to bring us down. We need you. I would not have crossed the sea at this time of year unless the summons was beyond urgent. You know how much I hate water.’
Without hesitation, Henry nodded. ‘I will come,’ he said. ‘I will begin preparations immediately and sail the moment I am ready.’
Alienor felt a glimmer of pride for her young husband. He saw a difficulty and addressed it head on. She also noticed how older men deferred to him. He had their confidence and it came not just from attitude but from deed.
Colour was gradually returning to Reginald of Cornwall’s complexion and his strained expression had relaxed a little. ‘The Earl of Leicester is eager to talk with you and may be brought to either keep away from the dispute or change allegiance. The same with Arundel, but they will not make a move unless you come in person. There is much concern over the notion of accepting Stephen’s heir as the future king.’
‘No surprise there,’ Henry said, curling his lip.
‘You need to prove yourself a viable alternative once and for all,’ said his uncle. ‘This is the point at which you succeed or you fail.’
‘I have not failed yet,’ Henry replied, ‘and I do not intend to now. That is not the future I have planned for my dynasty.’
Henry stayed up late, planning with his knights and retainers. Alienor went to bed and fell into a heavy sleep, but woke up when he returned in the early hours. She immediately felt nauseous and had to rush to the latrine where she stood over the hole, heaving, retching and bringing up bile.
Clad in shirt and braies, Henry hastened over to her and held back her hair from her face. ‘What is wrong?’ he demanded. ‘Shall I fetch your women?’
‘Nothing is wrong,’ Alienor gasped when she could speak. ‘Indeed, I suspect everything is very right.’ Her stomach was still quivering, but she managed to stand up. ‘Will you bring me a cup of wine?’
He did so, pouring one for himself too by the light of the single lamp. She sipped slowly, taking her time. Henry watched her with anticipation in his eyes, waiting for her to speak, although she suspected he must know the reply.
‘It is early days yet, but I think I am with child,’ she said. ‘I have missed two fluxes and have been feeling unwell for a few days now. It would seem on the eve of your going that our prayers for an heir have been answered. I certainly hope I am not being sick for any lesser reason.’