‘It is ever so. While I am there I can keep some sort of order. When I go away they become overbold.’

‘They say you are ruthless, Richard, a cruel ruler. Is that so?’

‘I am determined to keep order if that is what you mean.’

‘Ever after I shall regard you as my brother. You have saved my throne for me.’

‘I do not think you will have more trouble with your rebellious subjects.’

‘Nay. Philip of Flanders knows himself for a defeated man.’

‘Beware of him.’

‘Indeed I shall.’

Philip raised his eyes to those of Richard. How tall he was, how magnificent! he thought. He had never seen a man who gave such a feeling of power.

‘It grieves me,’ said Philip, ‘that you must go. I would have banquets, tournaments to entertain you.’

‘Alas, my lot is not for such entertainments.’

‘You must protect your Duchy. But know this, I am your friend and brother.’

‘I shall remember it.’

The King laid his hand on the Duke’s arm.

‘I shall look to see you soon,’ he said; his voice shook a little. ‘Nor shall I be content until I do.’

Their eyes met and for a few seconds they looked at each other. Then Philip took Richard’s hand and kissed it.

The King had no wish to leave England, but when had he ever been able to follow his own wishes? His presence was needed across the water and he must say farewell to Alice. How she had grown up in the last year! She was no longer a child. He had loved her fresh young innocence but in one way he was glad to see her mature; he was as enamoured of her as ever which might be a sign that he was growing old. Even the lustiest men were slowed down by the years, and fidelity to one woman was something which came with age.

His determination to keep her was as strong as ever. He told himself that he could not in honour allow a woman who had borne his child to become the wife of his son. Moreover, he could be sure that someone would have discovered the secret and be prepared to use it against him. The truth was that he wanted to keep Alice for himself. He wanted to settle down with Alice. He wanted his family around him – a loving gentle wife as Alice would be to him and his sons eager to support him in all he did. Those were the family joys which all men – be they kings or serfs – had a right to. Was he asking too much?

Always statecraft came between him and his desires. He must always ask himself what was good for England or for his dominions overseas before he considered his own personal needs. Now he wished to stay with Alice and he must cross the sea, for there was work to be done. It was imperative that he keep on good terms with her brother, the King of France, and he could best do this by bringing about some sort of treaty between young Philip and the Count of Flanders.

Flanders was in no position to dictate terms and it proved to be not difficult to get a promise from him to make good the damage he had caused.

Aquitaine was very much on the King’s mind and while he was dealing with the French agreement Geoffrey arrived from Brittany. Geoffrey was suave and noted for his gracious manners and it occurred to the King that he would be a good mediator between Richard and those knights who were making trouble in Aquitaine.

‘Go to Aquitaine, my son,’ said the King. ‘Talk to these nobles, study their grievances and try to bring about some understanding between them and your brother Richard. Point out to them that only if there is friendship between them can there be peace in Aquitaine.’

Geoffrey set off. He was a born intriguer and was constantly considering how everything could be turned to his advantage. He had heard some of Bertrand de Born’s songs and believed that the people of Aquitaine would not have Richard but would be willing to set up his brother Henry as their Duke in Richard’s place, so it seemed to Geoffrey that Henry had a good chance of triumphing over Richard and he, Geoffrey, wished to be on the winning side. So instead of following his father’s commands, he intrigued on behalf of Henry, extolling his brother’s virtues and explaining to the nobles of Aquitaine how much happier they would be under Henry than Richard.

The King, meanwhile, having completed the treaty between the King of France and the Count of Flanders turned his attention to Aquitaine. He marched into the Duchy, and called a meeting of those who were in rebellion against Richard for the purpose of coming to terms with them. Since these rebels believed that they were about to depose Richard and set up Henry in his place they refused to come to the meeting.

So it was that because of the intrigues of young Henry and Geoffrey neither side knew what the other was aiming at and there was complete confusion. In the meantime, young Henry had arrived at Limoges where he was greeted as the new Duke. He accepted the people’s homage and then marched on to join his father and Richard, who had no idea what he had done.

Face to face with his father Henry found it impossible to explain that he had been accepted as Duke and when the King told him that he had arrived in time to take part in suppressing those who were in revolt against Richard, he could not find the courage to do anything but join with them.

The people of Aquitaine were naturally bewildered. Henry, whom they had believed was to be their new Duke, was now fighting with his father and brother Richard whose object could only be to put Richard in command.

Young Henry knew it would always be thus. He could never stand up to his father and it was only when the King was far away that he believed he could. He was in a state of great anxiety fearing what would happen when his father discovered his perfidy.

It seemed like a miracle when news reached them that his sister Matilda, who was married to the Duke of Saxony, was on her way to Normandy.

She was in great distress because her husband had been involved in a dispute with the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa who had confiscated his lands and sent him into exile. She and her family had nowhere to go and she implored her father to come to her aid immediately.

The King, desperately seeking affection from the members of his family, was happy to be called on.

He sent for his sons. ‘The rebellion in Aquitaine is crushed,’ he said. ‘There should be little trouble now. I will leave you here and go to Normandy to see what can be done for Matilda and her family.’

Young Henry congratulated himself that he had slid out of a very awkward situation. The King had left for Normandy and young Henry was now free to indulge in secret negotiations with the knights of Aquitaine whose passions and resentments were being whipped up by the songs of Bertrand de Born.

The King was briefly happy to be reunited with his daughter. She needed him, and he longed to be needed. She and the Duke of Saxony had three children – Henry, Otto and Matilda. The King grew sentimental watching them. He played with his grandchildren, and they crawled all over him, tweaked his hair and called him Grandfather. He remembered his mother’s telling him how his grandfather King Henry I had loved him and his brothers – but particularly him; and how men trembled in his grandfather’s presence while he, the baby grandson, had pulled the great man’s nose and had no fear of him.

I would, he thought, my sons had loved me.

As he played with the children he thought of the days when his sons and daughters were in their nursery. What a beautiful child young Henry had been! And he was still very handsome. In spite of all that had happened Henry was his favourite son. How could he help but be proud of such a handsome young man? Henry could charm him when they were together to such an extent that he would forget the promptings of common sense against his better judgement and believe in his son’s affection. Geoffrey was the same in a slightly less charming way but still a boy to be proud of. Richard? Well, there had always been animosity between them, but Richard too was a son of whom any man must be proud. And there was John – no longer so young, being nearly fifteen.