The Bastard King by Jean Plaidy Page B

vacant eyes looking up at him as though he were one of the gods or heroes of the Northlands?
    â€˜Gallet,’ he said, ‘you are welcome . . . you old fool.’
    Gallet understood in spite of the fact that he was such a fool.
    â€˜You’ll have a fine sparrow-hawk for me to train, Master?’ he asked.
    â€˜Welcome, Gallet,’ said William. ‘It pleases me to have you in my service.’
    But days were not to be spent in sport and family pleasures. He was at peace here, but his realm was in turmoil. Loyal men were fighting for his inheritance. Although he could not join them he must do as they wished, which meant he must go back to the schoolroom as well as perfect himself in arms.
    He must resume his studies under Uncle Mauger, which did not please him. But although he was no longer a child, he was not yet a man, and he must tolerate this cynical tutor who was reckoned to be one of the most learned men in the Duchy. Raoul de Vacé, the Constable and Regent of Normandy, was also his tutor, and William was expected to give as much attention to learning as he did to the study of arms. He would never be as good a scholar as he would be a man of action, that much was clear; but a leader could not be ignorant; as Mauger said, rulers must be acquainted with the past for then they would be aware of the mistakes of theirpredecessors and could profit from their knowledge, so avoiding the same errors themselves. There was wisdom in that and in spite of his dislike for his uncle, William had to admit that he was a wise man.
    His stepfather’s son by a previous marriage came to the castle as a companion for William. He was Raoul de Tancarville to whom William took an instant liking. It was pleasant to have a companion. His sister Adeliz, although he was fond of her, could clearly not join in his lessons and pastimes as a member of his own sex could.
    He had not been at Conteville a week when his cousin Guy arrived. What a joy it was to see him! Guy was the son of Duke Robert’s sister and they were friends from the old days.
    He said: ‘I am to take lessons with you, cousin. It will be as it was at Falaise.’
    William was delighted. He realized that was what he wanted, to get back to the happy days at Falaise, to forget the horror and misery he had witnessed, to sleep peacefully in his bed at night, his quarrels to be arguments with Guy and Raoul, his battles a round of fisticuffs about which they laughed afterwards.
    There was one occasion when he bloodied Guy’s nose. The incident followed one of those moments when William – as he did now and then – remembered that he was Duke and their master.
    â€˜Remember,’ he had said to Guy, ‘that I am older than you.’
    â€˜By not much,’ retorted Guy. ‘Besides, I’m my mother’s legitimate son. You are a bastard.’
    That hated word! William’s fiery temper, as easily aroused as it ever was in spite of his efforts to restrain it, flared up and Guy was sent sprawling on the cobbles of the courtyard.
    Guy was on his feet, in a devilishly irritating mood, dancing round William, from a safe distance chanting: ‘Bastard! Bastard! William the Bastard!’
    He could have killed Guy, for in that moment he hated his cousin. He might have done so too if his stepfather had not parted them.
    â€˜Now, William! Now, Guy! What is this?’
    William glared at Guy as though daring him to say that word which was the cause of the quarrel. Guy said nothing.
    â€˜Two boys who cannot guard their temper,’ said Herlwin sadly. ‘When will you grow into men?’
    William was sorry he had lost his temper. Osbern and Thorold had always told him he must restrain it if he was to govern well.
    Then Mauger came out to the courtyard and said that as a penance they should do an extra Latin exercise.
    Side by side they sullenly sat in the schoolroom. Outside the sun was shining. They should have been