Westminster Palace the Queen herself went short. Her full dower had never been paid—the best part of it had gone the way of her jewels. Her uncle of Lancaster had promised to look into the matter; meanwhile she must sit and shiver, for even in summer the high stone-walled rooms struck chill.
These days she was restless. She disliked the Ordainers; she was bitter against the King that had made them necessary and now must humble himself. It seemed to her that a vast and dangerous engine had been set up to crack one small nut. Of the true issues involved—the duties of a King and the rights of a people she understands nothing, Margaret thought watching the girl restlessly pacing. She has shrewdness but no wisdom—Between this King and this Queen how shall the country fare?
‘Let the King be what he may,’ Isabella said suddenly, ‘it’s wrong that he must show himself obedient to his subjects!’
‘A King must rule, or be ruled; he must be obeyed or else obey. One or other; there’s no half-way.’ Margaret sighed, remembering that strong man her husband. Yet, she must ask herself, had he shown himself less strong, might not his son show himself less weak? And if great Edward had spent less on his wars, mightn’t his son be in better case now?
The King was home again… and the watchdogs ready and waiting. His courtesy to both Queens was scanted; he dreaded the coming ordeal and his missed Gaveston beyond enduring. If the barons had their way he must go without Piers for the rest of his life. But that was impossible. Without Piers he could not live.
‘He keeps his sweetheart safe in Bamborough,’ Isabella said sharp with disappointment at the King’s greeting. ‘He hopes, no doubt, if Gaveston stay quiet all will be forgotten. But it’s the King that forgets. He forgets the anger of the barons, he forgets the bitterness of Lancaster… and he forgets me.’
‘Madam,’ Queen Margaret said. And then, ‘Child! Beware how you speak. You can do yourself no good and much harm. To the barons the King must give way; but not to others… and not to you. He is still the King. If he desires to punish, punish he will, even though it be the Queen. You’ll get no kindness from him if there’s anger on your tongue.’ She paused; she said, very slow, ‘This could be the time to make a fresh start. Whether he will or no, the King must part with his friend. Gaveston will I think content himself—if his pockets be well-lined; already he has sent for his wife. But the King will not take it easy—love between those two is unequal. He’ll need some comfort.’
‘He’ll not look for it in me! As for Gaveston, how long will he stay away? Until he find a hole in his purse; then back he’ll come smiling to plague us all. As long as the King have gold to stuff into that mouth, that mouth will go on smiling.’
‘He’ll not dare to return. Be satisfied!’
‘How can I be satisfied? I am torn two ways. I pray God for the man’s departure; but I pray it may be by the King’s own will his humiliation is my humiliation. This unnatural love—it sickens me. And you are right—between those two, love’s unequal. It’s the King that loves and Gaveston that endures it—but no longer than he must. He’s already sleeping with his wife…’
‘There at least you should have no quarrel!’
‘But still I have. I’ve no wish to see my husband cuckolded—for that’s what it is! I want him free—even if he cannot turn to me; I want him free of this lying, greedy, vicious fellow!’ She choked upon her anger.
Margaret’s heart was torn with pity. ‘Hatred my child, will get you nowhere.’
X
When he faced his Parliament at last, it had been sitting for several days; his discourtesy did nothing to sweeten the anger against him.
The Ordainers had set out their grievances and remedies… and it was worse than he had feared. He listened in a growing nightmare while they read the endless charges. All his household
These days she was restless. She disliked the Ordainers; she was bitter against the King that had made them necessary and now must humble himself. It seemed to her that a vast and dangerous engine had been set up to crack one small nut. Of the true issues involved—the duties of a King and the rights of a people she understands nothing, Margaret thought watching the girl restlessly pacing. She has shrewdness but no wisdom—Between this King and this Queen how shall the country fare?
‘Let the King be what he may,’ Isabella said suddenly, ‘it’s wrong that he must show himself obedient to his subjects!’
‘A King must rule, or be ruled; he must be obeyed or else obey. One or other; there’s no half-way.’ Margaret sighed, remembering that strong man her husband. Yet, she must ask herself, had he shown himself less strong, might not his son show himself less weak? And if great Edward had spent less on his wars, mightn’t his son be in better case now?
The King was home again… and the watchdogs ready and waiting. His courtesy to both Queens was scanted; he dreaded the coming ordeal and his missed Gaveston beyond enduring. If the barons had their way he must go without Piers for the rest of his life. But that was impossible. Without Piers he could not live.
‘He keeps his sweetheart safe in Bamborough,’ Isabella said sharp with disappointment at the King’s greeting. ‘He hopes, no doubt, if Gaveston stay quiet all will be forgotten. But it’s the King that forgets. He forgets the anger of the barons, he forgets the bitterness of Lancaster… and he forgets me.’
‘Madam,’ Queen Margaret said. And then, ‘Child! Beware how you speak. You can do yourself no good and much harm. To the barons the King must give way; but not to others… and not to you. He is still the King. If he desires to punish, punish he will, even though it be the Queen. You’ll get no kindness from him if there’s anger on your tongue.’ She paused; she said, very slow, ‘This could be the time to make a fresh start. Whether he will or no, the King must part with his friend. Gaveston will I think content himself—if his pockets be well-lined; already he has sent for his wife. But the King will not take it easy—love between those two is unequal. He’ll need some comfort.’
‘He’ll not look for it in me! As for Gaveston, how long will he stay away? Until he find a hole in his purse; then back he’ll come smiling to plague us all. As long as the King have gold to stuff into that mouth, that mouth will go on smiling.’
‘He’ll not dare to return. Be satisfied!’
‘How can I be satisfied? I am torn two ways. I pray God for the man’s departure; but I pray it may be by the King’s own will his humiliation is my humiliation. This unnatural love—it sickens me. And you are right—between those two, love’s unequal. It’s the King that loves and Gaveston that endures it—but no longer than he must. He’s already sleeping with his wife…’
‘There at least you should have no quarrel!’
‘But still I have. I’ve no wish to see my husband cuckolded—for that’s what it is! I want him free—even if he cannot turn to me; I want him free of this lying, greedy, vicious fellow!’ She choked upon her anger.
Margaret’s heart was torn with pity. ‘Hatred my child, will get you nowhere.’
X
When he faced his Parliament at last, it had been sitting for several days; his discourtesy did nothing to sweeten the anger against him.
The Ordainers had set out their grievances and remedies… and it was worse than he had feared. He listened in a growing nightmare while they read the endless charges. All his household
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