We are older now, she promised herself. We are wiser and we shall learn to understand each other.
The meeting was an emotional one for her. He was still very handsome and he behaved as though he were as delighted to be with her as she was with him, and for a few weeks she was very happy; then she began to see less of him because he explained he was busy with state affairs.
The truth was she bored him. She reminded him of her sister-in-law and he had often wondered how Edward could turn a blind eye to all the beautiful women at his Court and remain the faithful husband of plump and homely Philippa.
Joanna was not plump; she was handsome enough in a gentle way but he did not care for gentle women. He liked a certain coarseness, a bawdiness ... he liked a woman like Katherine Mortimer.
Where was Katherine now? Missing him doubtless as he missed her. She had sworn she would not let him go. She would make plans to follow him, she had said, and it would not surprise him if one day she arrived in Scotland.
And then what of Madame Joanna?
An idea occurred to him. He could not wait to put it into practice. He made sure that Joanna noticed how preoccupied and uneasy he was and when she asked what troubled him he admitted that certain matters lay heavily on his mind.
‘It’s the treaty with your brother,’ he told her. ‘There is bound to be trouble over it. God knows I want peace but Edward will impose hard terms for that.’
‘I think he is eager for peace in Scotland.’
‘Doubtless, but on his own terms, and it may well be that some of our Scottish lairds will not take kindly to what he suggests. Edward has always been hard on me. I believe he did not approve of our marriage in the first place.’
Joanna was silent. It was true Edward had not liked the marriage. He had avoided being present at the ceremonies. He had thought she was too young; and later of course she had sensed that he disapproved of David.
‘Of course he is devoted to you,’ went on David. ‘He loves well his female relations. They say his daughters can persuade him to anything. It may well be so with his sister.’
‘Edward has always been very kind to me.’
‘I know it. He always spoke so warmly of you. Now if it were you who had to deal with him instead of me ...’
‘You know, David, that I would do anything ... anything for peace between our two countries.’
‘Would you? No, it is asking too much. Besides I could not lose you now we have just come together.’
You mean ... Go to England ... I negotiate with my brother!’
‘The thought entered my mind. It would mean peace ... a long long truce between our countries. That is what Scotland needs.’
She was thoughtful. ‘I will go to England if you wish it, David.’
‘I wish it for Scotland but not for myself.’
‘We must think of Scotland before ourselves.’
‘It need not be for long. Oh Joanna, you could complete this business in a week. Edward would indulge you ... listen to you. What a happy fate for Scotland to have the sister of the King of England for its Queen.’
‘The sooner I go the better.’
‘The sooner you go the sooner you will be back.’
‘I will leave at once,’ she said. ‘And I promise you I will do all in my power to help this country.’
Before the end of the week she had set out.
It was just in time, David delightedly told himself, for what he had prophesied had come to pass. Katherine Mortimer had arrived at the palace.
How they laughed together! How they revelled in being together! Making up for lost time, David called it.
He did not care what those about him thought or said. Katherine was back with him, and there was no woman who could satisfy him as she did.
They were together night and day and none of the knights or ministers could see him alone.
What will happen, they asked each other, when the Queen returns? David did not concern himself with that question. Katherine was installed as royal mistress, the woman on whom the King doted, who was beside him at all hours and without whose advice he never acted.
David was quite content to live in the ecstatic present.
Edward received his sister kindly and listened attentively to her pleas that he should not treat the Scots too harshly.
He had not been exactly lenient and was demanding a ransom for David’s return and was also presenting him with a bill for his expenses during the time he had been in England.
This was no small sum and Joanna pointed out that she did not see how the Scots could meet it.
When she pleaded with him Edward was deeply touched. She was a good and faithful wife to David who did not deserve such a wife. Both he and Philippa had been deeply shocked by David’s behaviour when he was in England and Edward had discovered that Katherine Mortimer had gone north and was certain that she would now be in Scotland.
His pity for his sister—in which Philippa joined—made him determined to help her all he could so he took pleasure in modifying his terms which pleased her very much for she felt that her journey to England had indeed been worth while.
‘You should stay with us a while,’ Philippa said. ‘It has been a long and tedious journey. You must not plan to leave so soon.’
‘I love to be with you,’ replied Joanna. ‘You have both been so kind to me. But I long to get back and tell David what I have been able to achieve.’
Edward then laid no obstacles in her way and very soon she was on her way to Scotland.
‘Poor girl,’ said Edward to Philippa, ‘I trust she may not find what I fear she may when she gets there.’
Crossing the Border Joanna felt happy. She had come to love the dour land of her adoption. The mountains enchanted her; she had grown accustomed to the climate which was so much harsher than that of the south. If her marriage had not been so beset with disasters she could have been very happy with her husband.
David had charm; he was undeniably handsome; she knew that women admired him. She had noticed their looks in the crowds when they rode out. In Château Gaillard there had been women ... But she preferred not to think of that. He had been such a boy then, an unhappy boy, driven from his own country. What could one expect?
It would all be different now ... so different.
She reached Edinburgh and rode into the castle. She had thought David would be there to meet her.
In her chamber they had lighted a fire for her. She would be cold after her journey. They knew that she felt the cold.
Her women helped her dress. It was a strange homecoming.
She wanted to ask where the King was, but that would call attention to the strangeness. She thought her women were trying to tell her something.
When she prompted them they looked embarrassed and feeling uneasy she left her apartments and went to those of the King. From them came sounds of laughter—a woman’s laughter. Yes, and that was David’s voice.