ere long see our mother, I doubt not. She is at this moment in Brindisi with Berengaria, the Princess of Navarre.’
There were tears in Joanna’s eyes. ‘Forgive my emotion. But a short time ago I was a prisoner and now this is too much joy too suddenly. I have often thought of our mother when she, like myself, was a prisoner. I can sympathise with her more readily now.’
‘Her imprisonment is over as yours is.’
‘And all thanks to you, Richard. How grateful she must be, as I am.’
‘Think not that I should allow my mother and my sister to be ill-treated if there was aught I could do to prevent it.’
‘Thank you, Richard. A thousand thanks.’
‘Come, let us talk of other things. I will tell you of my adventures.’ He described to her how he had arrived at Marseilles and found his ships not yet there and in great impatience he had gone on without them. Hence the fleet’s arrival at Messina before him. He told her of how he had tried to take the poor man’s hawk and nearly lost his life.
‘If you had what would have become of us?’ she cried.
‘Oh, I am not so easily disposed of. We have heaven’s blessing on our crusade. I have evidence of this. My sailors have told me that when a great storm blew up off the coast of Spain, they prayed to God and there appeared on the seething waters a vision of St Thomas à Becket of Canterbury. “Have no fear,” he told them, “for God has appointed me guardian of this fleet and if you repent of your past sins and commit no more, you will have a prosperous voyage.” And the men took heart and soon the storm abated and they came safely to Marseilles.’
‘God is on your side, Richard.’
‘So must He be when we are engaged in his holy war.’
They had arrived at the house and servants came out to welcome her.
Having made sure that everything was there for her comfort Richard left for the Villa de Muschet.
The next day Richard called to see his sister and with him he brought the King of France. Philip was clearly impressed by her beauty and charm and they talked long and earnestly together.
Philip wanted to know where she would go when he and Richard left for Acre. She was not at all sure, she told him, but she was hoping to join her mother.
This raised a certain awkwardness because Philip would know that Queen Eleanor was with Berengaria and he would wonder how there could be a marriage between Richard and the Princess of Navarre when he was betrothed to his sister Alice.
Philip knew this but he was determined to be courteous and the unfortunate subject of Alice was allowed to lapse. Joanna would be naturally curious to learn how the matter was to be resolved but she could see that she could not raise it when Philip was present.
As for Richard he knew that Philip was waiting for the opportune moment to bring up the matter of his betrothal; and then he could be sure that it would be the King who was bargaining and he, Richard, could not hope to escape lightly, nor would Philip allow him to if he could help it – great friends though they were.
Richard said hastily that he had no intention of leaving Messina until he had settled the matter of Joanna’s dowry.
‘Which could delay you for some time,’ Philip pointed out.
‘Then delay there must be for I’ll not allow this avaricious fellow to take what is mine.’
‘I believe,’ said Philip to Joanna, ‘that your brother cares not if I take Acre without him.’
‘You will need my help,’ said Richard, ‘as I shall need yours. We may be assured that the place will be well fortified.’
‘If we delay too long the winter will be upon us.’
‘Still, I shall not allow Tancred to flout me.’
Philip shrugged his shoulders. He devoted himself to Joanna and told her about his little son Louis whose welfare gave him so much concern and how his heart was torn between the desire to lead a campaign into the Holy Land and to be at home to govern his kingdom.
‘You see,’ he explained,
There were tears in Joanna’s eyes. ‘Forgive my emotion. But a short time ago I was a prisoner and now this is too much joy too suddenly. I have often thought of our mother when she, like myself, was a prisoner. I can sympathise with her more readily now.’
‘Her imprisonment is over as yours is.’
‘And all thanks to you, Richard. How grateful she must be, as I am.’
‘Think not that I should allow my mother and my sister to be ill-treated if there was aught I could do to prevent it.’
‘Thank you, Richard. A thousand thanks.’
‘Come, let us talk of other things. I will tell you of my adventures.’ He described to her how he had arrived at Marseilles and found his ships not yet there and in great impatience he had gone on without them. Hence the fleet’s arrival at Messina before him. He told her of how he had tried to take the poor man’s hawk and nearly lost his life.
‘If you had what would have become of us?’ she cried.
‘Oh, I am not so easily disposed of. We have heaven’s blessing on our crusade. I have evidence of this. My sailors have told me that when a great storm blew up off the coast of Spain, they prayed to God and there appeared on the seething waters a vision of St Thomas à Becket of Canterbury. “Have no fear,” he told them, “for God has appointed me guardian of this fleet and if you repent of your past sins and commit no more, you will have a prosperous voyage.” And the men took heart and soon the storm abated and they came safely to Marseilles.’
‘God is on your side, Richard.’
‘So must He be when we are engaged in his holy war.’
They had arrived at the house and servants came out to welcome her.
Having made sure that everything was there for her comfort Richard left for the Villa de Muschet.
The next day Richard called to see his sister and with him he brought the King of France. Philip was clearly impressed by her beauty and charm and they talked long and earnestly together.
Philip wanted to know where she would go when he and Richard left for Acre. She was not at all sure, she told him, but she was hoping to join her mother.
This raised a certain awkwardness because Philip would know that Queen Eleanor was with Berengaria and he would wonder how there could be a marriage between Richard and the Princess of Navarre when he was betrothed to his sister Alice.
Philip knew this but he was determined to be courteous and the unfortunate subject of Alice was allowed to lapse. Joanna would be naturally curious to learn how the matter was to be resolved but she could see that she could not raise it when Philip was present.
As for Richard he knew that Philip was waiting for the opportune moment to bring up the matter of his betrothal; and then he could be sure that it would be the King who was bargaining and he, Richard, could not hope to escape lightly, nor would Philip allow him to if he could help it – great friends though they were.
Richard said hastily that he had no intention of leaving Messina until he had settled the matter of Joanna’s dowry.
‘Which could delay you for some time,’ Philip pointed out.
‘Then delay there must be for I’ll not allow this avaricious fellow to take what is mine.’
‘I believe,’ said Philip to Joanna, ‘that your brother cares not if I take Acre without him.’
‘You will need my help,’ said Richard, ‘as I shall need yours. We may be assured that the place will be well fortified.’
‘If we delay too long the winter will be upon us.’
‘Still, I shall not allow Tancred to flout me.’
Philip shrugged his shoulders. He devoted himself to Joanna and told her about his little son Louis whose welfare gave him so much concern and how his heart was torn between the desire to lead a campaign into the Holy Land and to be at home to govern his kingdom.
‘You see,’ he explained,
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