barons in order. England needs a strong King, Edward. You are going to be a strong King. I have heard it said that it is a pity you are not older and that the crown is on your head.’

‘But my father has many years before him yet.’

‘Dear love, it is your father of whom I must speak. That is why I hedge and prevaricate because I cannot bring myself to say it.’

The boy was suddenly firm, giving a hint of what he would be when he

came to the throne. ‘You must tell me. It is not fitting that I of all people should be kept in ignorance.’

‘So thought I as I wrestled with my conscience. You shall know. Your father is not like your grandfather. Your grandfather was a good and faithful husband.’

‘My father is unfaithful to you!’

She nodded. ‘Not with women. Dear Edward, you must have heard of

Gaveston. He was the love of your father’s life while he lived. Those who cared for this country’s well-being took him out to a hill and cut off his head. Then he was replaced by Hugh le Despenser. You are old enough to know what

humiliation I suffered.’

‘Oh, my dear mother!’

‘I knew your sympathy would be for me. For years I endured this

humiliation. I even forced myself to bear children because I thought it was my duty to provide heirs for the country. Now my life is in danger. If I go back to England, the Despensers will kill me.’

‘They would never dare!’

‘They would do it subtly, as I have tried to explain to my brother. Edward, if we return to England now, in a few months time you will have lost your

mother.’

He turned to her and put his arms about her. She embraced him fiercely.

‘You will not let that happen to me, my son.’

‘I would kill any who attempted to harm you.’

‘So thought I. Cursed was I in my husband but blessed am I in my son.

Edward, I have good friends here. You know how they rally round me. Good

men all. They knew what was happening in the court. They understand the

power of the evil Despensers. I must stay here for as long as I can. Will you bear with me? Will you turn from your father’s pleas?’

‘I swore to obey him.’

‘Yes, dearest son, but it will not be your father whom you are obeying, it will be the evil Despensers. He is in their power. They have woven a spell over him. Trust me, dear son. Trust me? just for a little while and then I will prove to you the truth of all I have told you.’

She leaned against him and wiped her eyes. Edward was overcome with

emotion. That his clever, beautiful mother should be so treated was

unendurable!

‘You will stand with me, dear Edward,’ she pleaded.

‘Dear Mother,’ answered the boy, ‘I will defend you against all who come

against you.’

‘All?’ she asked.

‘All,’ he replied fervently.

‘You have made me so happy,’ she told him, and when she had taken her

leave of him went straight to Mortimer.

‘Edward will be with us,’ she said. ‘He will never stand against me.’

‘That is good work,’ said Mortimer. ‘Now let us be patient while we look to the future. We must find some means of raising an army. My spies from

England tell me that the country grows more and more angry against the

Despensers. If we could land with a reasonable force we should be welcomed.’

‘It will come,’ said Isabella firmly. ‘Meanwhile, as you say, patience.’

FOUR SISTERS OF HAINAULT

It was an uneasy situation, thought the King of France. He was gratified in a way that his brother of England was in an uncomfortable position, but from the first days of the marriage it had been clear that Edward preferred handsome young men to his beautiful wife. Isabella’s French relations had been quite angry about it at the time. They had known of the existence of Gaveston of course but had believed that once the King was married to a beautiful woman like Isabella, that side of his nature would be suppressed.

On the other hand Charles had no wish for his court to be used as the centre of rebellion. He wanted peace and such a situation could so easily erupt into war. Edward was writing more and more letters; they were coming every day.

He was quite dearly growing restive.

In the last one he had referred to Mortimer and there was a hint that Isabella and Mortimer were lovers.

We would wish you to remember, that we have at different times signified to you by letters, how improperly your sister, our wife, has conducted herself in withdrawing from us and refusing to return at our command, while she so notoriously has attached her company and consorts with our traitor and mortal enemy, the Mortimer?

That could mean one thing. Isabella and Mortimer were carrying on an

adulterous intrigue in his court.

Edward was growing more and more determined and, doubtless on the

advice of the Despensers, had informed the Pope of the most unsatisfactory state of affairs. The result of this was that the Pope had written to Charles— he would never have dared to write to Charles’s father so, but the monarchy had grown debilitated since Jacques de Molai had been burned to death and uttered the Curse— declaring that excommunication would be considered if he kept his

sister at his court where it was rumoured she was living in adultery with Roger de Mortimer.

This frightened Charles. Excommunication allied to the curse would be the

end of him.

He would write to Isabella. He knew her wiles too well to try to convey

what he must do verbally.

Accordingly Isabella received a note from her brother in which he

commanded her to leave his kingdom without delay or he would be forced to

make her go.

She was filled with rage when she read her brother’s command. That he

should behave so to her and not even see her, shocked her deeply.

‘I do not believe he will force me out,’ she said to Mortimer. ‘He would

never have the courage. He is getting weaker every day. I have a feeling my brother will not last very long.’

‘The Pope is threatening him with excommunication.’

‘Let him threaten. We will delay a while yet.’

During the following evening Isabella received a visitor. It was her cousin Robert d’Artois. He came in great haste and wished to speak to her urgently and privately.

No sooner were they alone than he said: ‘I come to warn you, fair lady.

There is a plot to take you and the young Prince prisoner and to send you back to England without delay.’

‘You mean my brother?’

Robert nodded. ‘I could not resist my desire to come and tell you, though it would cost me my life doubtless if the King knew I had done this. He has said that the only way to avoid trouble is to force you to leave. You are therefore to be put in restraint and sent back to England.’

‘When?’ she asked.

‘Tomorrow. You have little time.’

‘Oh Robert, how can I thank you for this?’

‘You know I would serve you with my life.’

She put her arms about him and for a moment he held her in a passionate

embrace.

‘Dearest cousin,’ he said, ‘you know full well what you mean to me, and

have for some time.’

‘You have always shown yourself a friend?’

‘A friend? a mild way of describing my feelings! I know Mortimer has

your heart and you his. But my feelings for you are so deep, and so tender that I will say to you, Fly? Fly with him now. Tomorrow may be too late. Make for one of the independent states. There you may well find refuge until you can gather together the army you need.’

‘Oh, my cousin, how can I thank you?’

‘It is I who thank you for allowing me to serve you.’

Such devotion was stimulating.

She went at once to Mortimer. They must not hesitate, she said.

They would go during the night, replied Mortimer. She, he and young