The Queen from Provence Page 5

  Henry looked impatient. ‘Tell me more of Provence.’

  ‘The Count is proud of his daughters. Who would not be? Having secured the King of France for one of them he will look high for the others.’

  ‘And how does Eleanor compare with Marguerite?’

  ‘I heard it said in the castle that she was even more beautiful. In truth because of this she was always called Eleanor la Belle.’

  ‘Give me the poem. I will read it.’

  ‘Then I will leave you to it, Henry. I shall be interested to know what you think of it.’

  ‘Rest assured I shall tell you.’

  As soon as he was alone the King glanced at the poem. The handwriting was exceptionally good and only slightly childish. It was written in the Provençal dialect and through their mother Henry and his brother and sisters had some knowledge of this so he was able to read it with ease.

  It was charming, delightful, fresh … and full of feeling. It was true, the child was a poet.

  Richard admired her. He was regretting his marriage more than ever. Had she been of more lowly birth he would have done his best to make her his mistress. Henry knew Richard. But of course that was something the Count of Provence would never allow.

  She was beautiful – golden haired with brown eyes. He pictured her clearly. Soft skin, fine features, her youthful figure perfect in every detail. Richard was a connoisseur of women and he had thought her the most beautiful child he had ever seen. Her sister was already Queen of France. That was an interesting situation.

  Why had he not heard of Eleanor before he had gone into negotiations with Ponthieu?

  Still, he was not yet bound to Joanna. There was still time.

  The idea obsessed him. Eleanor la Belle. The delectable thirteen-year-old child. He wanted a young girl, someone whom he could mould to his ways. He would have been afraid of a mature woman. Most kings of his age would have had several bastards scattered about the country by this time. Not Henry. He was shy with women; he did not want wild amorous adventures. He wanted a wife whom he could love; someone who would look up to him, and he felt this was certain to be a young girl; he wanted children; fine sons. That was necessary to the well-being of the nation. Richard might think that the succession was safe through him but that was not what Henry wanted. His own son must follow him and this beautiful young wife would provide that son.

  He was already disliking Joanna and half in love with Eleanor.

  But it is not too late, he told himself.

  He sent for Hubert.

  ‘I have changed my mind,’ he said. ‘Have the messengers returned from Ponthieu?’

  ‘Not yet, my lord,’ replied Hubert.

  ‘I have decided against the marriage.’

  ‘My lord!’ Hubert looked aghast.

  ‘It is unsuitable and I have found the bride I want. She is Eleanor, daughter of the Count of Provence.’

  Hubert found refuge in silence. He was thinking of the negotiations which had been going on with Ponthieu and the difficulty of breaking them; but he said nothing; the memory of the occasion when he had attempted to warn the King for his own good was too vivid. He would never fall into that trap again.

  ‘She is cultivated and beautiful. Her sister is the Queen of France. You will see, Hubert, that that fact alone makes the marriage desirable.’

  ‘It makes an interesting situation, my lord.’

  ‘And a politically strong one.’

  ‘It could be of great service in our dealing with France, my lord.’

  ‘So thought I. I want a message to be sent to the Count of Provence without delay.’

  Hubert nodded. ‘And the embassy to Ponthieu, my lord?’

  ‘We will deal with that in due course. In the meantime let us consider the Count of Provence.’

  ‘We shall tell him of your desire and ask what his daughter’s dowry will be.’

  ‘That will take time.’

  ‘Such matters always do.’

  ‘There is no need to tell me that. I am well aware of the delays in other negotiations.’

  ‘Which, my lord, you will now be glad did not come to fruition.’

  Henry laughed, friendly again. ‘You are right, Hubert. I hear that Eleanor of Provence is … incomparable. Now, we will make ready, with as much speed as possible. You understand me.’

  ‘Perfectly, my lord,’ said Hubert.

  Before the day was out courtiers were on their way to Provence. Henry waited in an agony of impatience.

  This must not go wrong as all his projects had before.

  He must have Eleanor. He pictured her – the perfect wife – beautiful, talented, enchanting. All would envy him his bride and none more than his brother Richard.

  There were many qualities which made the prospect enticing and not the least of Eleanor’s attractions was Richard’s clear appreciation of her charms.

  No one could deny that a marriage between the King of England and the sister of the Queen of France was a good proposition, so Henry had no difficulty in persuading his ministers that in changing brides he was scoring a political advantage. It was true that not only had he made overtures to the Count of Ponthieu but he was also in the process of getting a dispensation from the Pope as in royal marriages there was always the question of consanguinity to be reckoned with. However, he was determined. So he sent messengers to Ponthieu and to Rome to cancel those negotiations and summoning the Bishops of Ely and Lincoln to him he told them that he wished them to leave at once for Provence with the Master of the Temple and the Prior of Hurle and there lay his proposals before the Count of Provence.

  The Bishops, aware of the political significance of the proposed match, were eager to set out at once; but when they heard that Henry would want a large dowry with his bride they were dubious as to his obtaining this.

  ‘The Count of Provence is greatly impoverished, my lord. It will not be possible for him to raise the dowry for which you ask.’

  ‘It is surprising what a father can do for his daughter when the marriage is as grand as this will be.’

  ‘If he has not the means … my lord …’

  ‘Doubtless he will find a way. I should enjoy being there to see his delight when he knows your mission.’

  ‘It will be great, but when he hears what you ask it may well be that he will have to refuse your proposal on his daughter’s behalf.’

  ‘I am eager to have Eleanor as my bride, but I see no reason why I should allow her father to elude his obligations.’

  ‘We will put your proposals to him, my lord.’

  ‘When can you leave?’

  ‘This day.’

  ‘I am glad of that. I eagerly await the outcome. I want it known throughout the land that I am to be married. There will be great rejoicing.’

  He watched the embassy depart and prayed for a good wind that there might be no delay crossing the sea.

  His brother Richard came to him smiling secretly.

  He had arranged this, he told himself. Young Eleanor, if she was crowned Queen of England, would owe her crown to him.

  There was great excitement in Les Baux when the embassy from England arrived.

  Eleanor watching them could scarcely wait until her parents summoned her. She had recognised the visitors as coming from England but having heard that arrangements between the King of England and the Count of Ponthieu were progressing, she could not believe that the visit concerned her.

  When she was summoned to her parents’ chamber her heart was beating wildly. It could not be. Perhaps she had been mistaken. Perhaps the visitors had not come from England after all. They were not from the Court of France – that much she did know.

  Her mother took her into her arms and embraced her, while her father watched with tears in his eyes.

  ‘My dear daughter,’ he said; ‘this is a great day for us.’

  She looked eagerly from one to another.

  ‘Is it something that concerns me?’ she asked.

  ‘It is
,’ said her father. ‘An offer of marriage.’

  ‘We never thought there could be anything to compare with Marguerite’s … but it seems there is.’

  ‘England?’ she whispered.

  Her mother nodded. ‘The King of England is asking for your hand in marriage.’

  Her head was whirling. It had worked then. Richard of Cornwall and the poem! It was incredible.

  Romeo had come into the room. He was smiling complacently. No wonder. Once again they would owe their good fortune to him.

  She could not entirely believe it. It was like a dream coming true. It was too neat. Marguerite Queen of France. Herself Queen of England. And largely because of the clever juggling of Romeo de Villeneuve. If she had not written that poem … if she had not – on Romeo’s advice – sent it to the Duke of Cornwall … No, it was too much to believe. It was what she had wanted more than anything. Marriage with England was the only one which could possibly compare with Marguerite’s. And it had come to pass.

  ‘You may well be bewildered,’ said the Count. ‘I confess I feel the same.’

  ‘But,’ she stammered, ‘I had heard he was betrothed to Joanna of Ponthieu.’

  ‘A marriage is no marriage until it has been solemnised. Everything is over between England and Ponthieu. Negotiations have ceased, the offer has been withdrawn. The King’s messengers, and they are men of great standing, tell me that he is so eager for this match that he wishes there to be no delay.’

  ‘What does it mean?’ said Eleanor. ‘That I shall leave at once? Should I prepare?’

  ‘My dearest, are you so eager to leave us?’ asked her mother almost reproachfully.

  ‘Oh no, dear Mother. But I would know what is expected of me.’

  ‘You are not afraid …’

  ‘Afraid? Ever since Marguerite went I knew that I should. I doubt she was ever so happy before her marriage as she was after – although no one could have had a better home.’

  ‘It’s true,’ agreed the Count. ‘And that is how I would have it. If you find the happiness at the Court of England that Marguerite has at the Court of France, I shall be content.’

  ‘I shall. I know I shall.’

  ‘Well, my dear,’ said the Count, ‘we came to prepare you. We now have to talk of the terms which are a necessary part of contracts like this. But we wanted you to know at once what this mission is about, so that you can prepare yourself for a new life.’

  Her mother took her into her arms and kissed her tenderly.

  ‘I am proud of my girls,’ she said.

  When she had left her parents she went straight to the schoolroom where her sisters were awaiting her.

  They looked at her expectantly as she entered. That something very important had happened was obvious and Sanchia who remembered Marguerite’s departure was very apprehensive.

  ‘What is it?’ she cried, as soon as her sister came in.

  ‘It is an embassy from England. The King of that country is asking for my hand in marriage.’

  ‘Eleanor!’

  Her sisters stared at her with wondering eyes and she was silent for a moment savouring their admiration.

  ‘It’s true,’ she said. ‘I think he must have heard of me through his brother.’

  ‘Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the most handsome man I have ever seen,’ sighed Sanchia. ‘Wouldn’t you rather marry him, Eleanor?’

  ‘He is not a King.’

  ‘He would be if his brother died.’

  ‘Oh Sanchia, don’t be so … young. The King of England is not going to die. I am going to marry him and be the Queen. It is every bit as good to be the Queen of England as it is to be the Queen of France.’

  ‘It’s better really,’ said Sanchia, ‘because Richard will be your brother.’

  Eleanor laughed with happiness and excitement.

  ‘I shall have such a grand wedding … There has never been a wedding as grand as the one I shall have. I shall be a Queen. You have seen Marguerite in her crown; mine will be bigger, more glittering … full of stones that are far more precious.’

  ‘How do you know?’ demanded Beatrice.

  ‘Because I do. I wanted to marry the King of England and although he was almost married to someone else … all that changed and I am to be his Queen. It’s like magic. It is magic. And yet I planned it …’

  They were looking at her expectantly and she took their hands and led them to the window seat.

  Her eyes were brilliant. She started to describe the English Court to them just as though she were writing a poem. She told them of her husband. He was rather like Blandin the Cornish knight. He was ready to do all sorts of impossible tasks to gain her hand.

  ‘What sort of tasks?’ demanded Beatrice.

  So she sat there in the window seat and talked of some of the tasks Blandin had had to perform to win the hand of the fair Princess Briende. Only in this case instead of being Blandin and Briende it was Henry and Eleanor.

  While she was weaving her stories, there were more arrivals at the castle.

  From the window Eleanor saw three of their uncles riding into the courtyard in great haste. They had clearly heard the news. They were Uncle Peter and Boniface and William who was Bishop Elect of Valence. These were her mother’s brothers. She had had eight and all of them were ambitious, adventurous and their mission in life was to advance the fortunes of the House of Savoy. The importance of the present occasion was implied by their immediate arrival.

  The girls watched their parents greet their uncles and Eleanor eagerly awaited a summons to appear when she expected to be congratulated; they would be delighted with her for being the means of bringing so much honour to the family.

  But the summons did not come. There was a sombre air about the castle – almost a desperation – and it began to dawn on Eleanor that something had gone wrong.

  All through the day the uncles were with her parents. There was no feasting in the great hall as there should have been on such an occasion; early next morning the Countess sent for Eleanor. Her expression was gloomy and she was clearly very depressed.

  ‘My dear child,’ she said, ‘you must not just yet think too much about this English marriage.’

  ‘What has happened? Oh pray tell me quickly,’ begged Eleanor.

  ‘The King of England asks for such a dowry as your father cannot possibly provide.’

  ‘You mean he wants to be paid to take me.’

  ‘It is customary for brides to bring a dowry to their husbands, my dear.’

  ‘Do you mean that we cannot afford this marriage?’

  ‘That is what we fear, Eleanor. You see it is a great marriage … as important as that of Marguerite.’

  ‘The King of France did not ask for a dowry.’

  ‘No. He was content with your sister and knew full well that it was not in your father’s power to provide it.’

  Eleanor stared blankly at her mother. She saw her beautiful dream evaporating.

  Wild thoughts came into her mind. ‘Perhaps I could go to England. If I could see the King, speak with him … let him see me, know me …’

  ‘My dear child,’ said her mother quickly, ‘that is out of the question. Do not despair. It may well be that you would be happier in another marriage.’

  ‘I shall not,’ she cried. ‘If this fails I can never be happy again.’

  ‘You talk like the child you are,’ said her mother. ‘If there is no marriage I shall not be sorry. It will give you time to grow up … to learn something of the world … what marriage means …’

  Eleanor was not listening.

  Of course, she was telling herself, it had been too good to be true. It was like one of her epic poems. Real life was rarely like that.

  Her uncles were not men to relinquish such a prize without a fight. Messengers went back and forth to England. The Count of Provence found it quite impossible to meet the demands of the King of England while the King of England felt that what he asked was small indeed compared with the
honour which he was bestowing.

  ‘This King of England would seem to be a most mercenary man,’ said the Count.

  The Countess agreed. ‘Perhaps after all it would not be such a good marriage. It would be asking too much to expect another bridegroom like Louis.’

  ‘Louis is not only a king but a great man,’ replied the Count. ‘His goodness shines from his face. I would reckon Marguerite lucky to have such a husband if he were the humblest count.’

  ‘It is clear that Henry of England is of a different nature. It is to be expected. Remember his father.’

  The Count smiled at her affectionately. She was telling him not to be depressed because this marriage would not take place. So she had made up her mind that it would not. Henry had entered into several negotiations and it was significant that none of them had ever come to fruition.

  ‘It might well be,’ said the Count, ‘that Henry is a man who likes to contemplate marriage but when the time approaches for it to take place he shrinks from it.’

  ‘Do you really think this?’

  ‘It would seem so. There have been so many plans. He is no longer young. In fact I feel he is a little old for Eleanor.’

  Oh yes, they were comforting themselves.

  But the uncles were reluctant to give up in view of what was involved, and negotiations went on. A gleam of hope came when Henry reduced the amount for which he was asking.

  ‘It is still too much,’ said the Count. ‘Even what he asks now is far beyond my means.’

  ‘He will come down further,’ Uncle Boniface assured him.

  ‘And I,’ replied the Count with dignity, ‘do not care for this bargaining over my daughter. She is a princess, not a piece of land to be bartered for. I tell you this, Boniface, grand as I am well aware this marriage is, I am beginning to have had enough of it.’

  As far as he was concerned he would have put an end to the haggling, but the uncles were determined to continue with it.

  Richard was amused by the prolonged arguments. Because he felt himself to have been the cause of the proposed marriage, he was eager to see it carried through. Eleanor was an unusual princess; he knew that his brother would be delighted with her; moreover she would be grateful to him and since he was often in disagreement with the King it could be good to have an ally in the Queen.