The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy Page A

she had hoped for. She was in a happy state of euphoria. The world had taken on a new beauty. Mary had become quite beautiful and her black robes looked more incongruous than ever.
    And I, thought Edith, who had believed I was to be left here without her, that I would have to go on battling with Aunt Christina, with the certainty that if I stayed here I must in time obey, have another chance.
    She was not apprehensive but she felt no rapturous joy. Why should this be? What was wrong with her? William Warren was young, handsome, amiable. He had been courteous and she was being offered escape, and yet she felt a vague depression.
    She wanted to escape, and yet . . .
    What was it? Something she herself could not understand.
    The Abbess came to her cell.
    â€˜So this man has come. Yet another of them.’
    Edith was silent.
    â€˜The King may give his consent. If he does so it will not be easy to prevent a marriage. But if you declared your determination to take the veil . . .’
    â€˜Nay,’ said Edith. ‘I will not take the veil.’
    â€˜When I am dead you will be mistress of Wilton. Think of that. Here in this little world you would command all. Youwould be a ruler. Everyone here would obey you as they do me. If you marry this man, what will your life be? You will be submitted to indignities such as those I have warned you of. You will suffer painful childbearing, which is the lot of women who give way to the carnal desires of men. You still have a chance to escape it.’
    â€˜I do not wish to take the veil.’
    â€˜So you wish to marry this man. You have learned nothing. Have you forgotten your fears of Alan of Bretagne?’
    â€˜The Earl of Surrey is not Alan of Bretagne.’
    â€˜He is a man.’
    â€˜I want time,’ said Edith, ‘time to think.’
    A gleam of hope touched the stern features of the Abbess. So she had not been altogether seduced by the Earl’s good looks.
    â€˜Then think of it.’ said the Abbess. ‘Think of what it means. Remember what will be expected of you. Remember that God once gave you a sign. He is testing you. Do not fail Him.’
    When she had gone, Edith lay thinking of her, and she told herself then: ‘But of course I shall take him. It is just that because of what the Abbess has told me I am afraid. I could love him, I doubt not, in time. And marriage with him would mean escape from Wilton and Aunt Christina.’
    The Abbess fell sick and was obliged to keep to her bed. It so happened that at this time the two suitors called once more at the Abbey. Christina was unaware that they had come, and the two nuns who acted as her deputy, knowing that these men had the sanction of the King and that the object of Eustace of Boulogne was to decide whether he wished to ask for the hand of Mary, took them to the hall and the Princesses came down to see them.
    There was a man in the party who had not visited the Abbey before; and it was his presence which wrought a subtle change. He was older than the Earl of Surrey by some ten years and it was apparent from the first that both the suitors were in awe of him.
    There was an air of authority about him. His black hair, parted in the centre and worn long in the fashion of the day,fell about his shoulders in luxuriant curls, but there was nothing effeminate about him. His eyes flashed imperiously; his mouth was sensual but it could be suddenly hard and cruel. Christina’s trembling deputies knew that they were in the presence of an important personage, and as soon as Eustace demanded that the Princesses be sent for they were brought.
    When they came the stranger was the first to greet them, for both the Count of Boulogne and the Earl of Surrey stood aside for him.
    The Count said, ‘Prince Henry has accompanied us.’
    Both the girls curtsied. They knew that this man was the King’s younger brother and, in the event of the King’s dying before him and