traveling to Edward's royal holdings, appointing
trustworthy men to positions of authority, and meting out just
punishment to those who had committed unconscionable
crimes."
"Sir Rodger, wil you do that here at Pershore?"
"My lady, I am honor-bound."
Rosamond remembered the last time he had said those
words to her, and how coldly she had rejected him. She knew
it would be ungra-
62
cious of her if she did not thank him. "Sir Rodger, I appreciate
your help in bringing the Pershore staff under control." She
doubted that he was helping her because he cared for her.
Most likely he wanted to improve the value of the property he
would gain through marriage to her. Clearly, he had become
an authority figure to the servants, but Rosamond did not want
him to try to assume authority over her, for she was certainly
not wil ing to submit to his wishes. She lifted her chin,
determined to show him they were equals. "There is no
reason why we cannot be friends, my lord," she said loftily.
Rod smiled at her, but he was careful not to touch her. Before
he was done, she would crave his touch. He silently vowed
they would be far more than friends, more even than husband
and wife; they would be lovers. "Later today, once your horses
have been recovered and Dymock is safely locked up, I wil
ride to Worcester Castle, which is only seven or eight miles
from Pershore, and bring back a staff who wil soon have your
household restored and running efficiently. I wil also bring
men-at-arms who wil guard your property and hold it secure in
your name."
"Sir Rodger, are you sure Worcester wil lend us their people?
"
Rod laughed. "Worcester is a royal castle, and I am a royal
steward. I have the authority to use Worcester's resources as I
see fit."
"Forgive my ignorance, my lord." The tone of her voice
deliberately held an edge. "Wil it be possible for you to return today?" Rosamond did not wish to reveal the anxiety she felt
at the thought of staying at Pershore without him.
"I wil leave Griffin with you—you may entrust him with your life, and I promise to return today, no matter how late the hour."
Relief washed over her, but determined to hide it, Rosamond
said cool y, "Thank you, my lord. I sincerely appreciate your
aid in this matter."
******************
At Kenilworth, Simon de Montfort was experiencing some
anxiety of his own. Rumors were beginning to reach him that
King Henry had no intention of returning to England in time for
the February Parliament, and without the king's presence
there could be no Parliament. Earl Simon had many
informants who traveled with the king's court in
63
Europe, and it took only four days for merchant vessels to sail
from the Continent and bring messages to England.
The institution of regular sessions of Parliament was the first
and foremost of the Provisions of Oxford, but obviously it was
the provision that stung Henry's colossal pride the most. Until
now, cal ing a session of Parliament had been solely the
king's prerogative. He had had time to recover from the panic
that had made him sign the Provisions, and now he wanted to
rule personal y once again, without a council dictating to him.
Simon was furious. He knew Henry would use the French
treaty as a last-minute pretext for not returning in time for
Parliament. So before the king wrote to the justiciar, the
marshal, and his other nobles, asking for a postponement,
Earl Simon decided to forestal him and write to the nobles
himself, summoning them to London for the Candlemas
Parliament in February. He assured them that Lord Edward
Planta-genet, heir to the throne, would be at his side.
Simon hoped Rodger de Leyburn would return to Kenilworth
soon. That persuasive young man would be indispensable in
helping him to convince Lord Edward to replace the king in
Parliament, if Henry did indeed refuse to return in time.
Alyce de Clare was furious that de Leyburn had taken himself
off without so much as
trustworthy men to positions of authority, and meting out just
punishment to those who had committed unconscionable
crimes."
"Sir Rodger, wil you do that here at Pershore?"
"My lady, I am honor-bound."
Rosamond remembered the last time he had said those
words to her, and how coldly she had rejected him. She knew
it would be ungra-
62
cious of her if she did not thank him. "Sir Rodger, I appreciate
your help in bringing the Pershore staff under control." She
doubted that he was helping her because he cared for her.
Most likely he wanted to improve the value of the property he
would gain through marriage to her. Clearly, he had become
an authority figure to the servants, but Rosamond did not want
him to try to assume authority over her, for she was certainly
not wil ing to submit to his wishes. She lifted her chin,
determined to show him they were equals. "There is no
reason why we cannot be friends, my lord," she said loftily.
Rod smiled at her, but he was careful not to touch her. Before
he was done, she would crave his touch. He silently vowed
they would be far more than friends, more even than husband
and wife; they would be lovers. "Later today, once your horses
have been recovered and Dymock is safely locked up, I wil
ride to Worcester Castle, which is only seven or eight miles
from Pershore, and bring back a staff who wil soon have your
household restored and running efficiently. I wil also bring
men-at-arms who wil guard your property and hold it secure in
your name."
"Sir Rodger, are you sure Worcester wil lend us their people?
"
Rod laughed. "Worcester is a royal castle, and I am a royal
steward. I have the authority to use Worcester's resources as I
see fit."
"Forgive my ignorance, my lord." The tone of her voice
deliberately held an edge. "Wil it be possible for you to return today?" Rosamond did not wish to reveal the anxiety she felt
at the thought of staying at Pershore without him.
"I wil leave Griffin with you—you may entrust him with your life, and I promise to return today, no matter how late the hour."
Relief washed over her, but determined to hide it, Rosamond
said cool y, "Thank you, my lord. I sincerely appreciate your
aid in this matter."
******************
At Kenilworth, Simon de Montfort was experiencing some
anxiety of his own. Rumors were beginning to reach him that
King Henry had no intention of returning to England in time for
the February Parliament, and without the king's presence
there could be no Parliament. Earl Simon had many
informants who traveled with the king's court in
63
Europe, and it took only four days for merchant vessels to sail
from the Continent and bring messages to England.
The institution of regular sessions of Parliament was the first
and foremost of the Provisions of Oxford, but obviously it was
the provision that stung Henry's colossal pride the most. Until
now, cal ing a session of Parliament had been solely the
king's prerogative. He had had time to recover from the panic
that had made him sign the Provisions, and now he wanted to
rule personal y once again, without a council dictating to him.
Simon was furious. He knew Henry would use the French
treaty as a last-minute pretext for not returning in time for
Parliament. So before the king wrote to the justiciar, the
marshal, and his other nobles, asking for a postponement,
Earl Simon decided to forestal him and write to the nobles
himself, summoning them to London for the Candlemas
Parliament in February. He assured them that Lord Edward
Planta-genet, heir to the throne, would be at his side.
Simon hoped Rodger de Leyburn would return to Kenilworth
soon. That persuasive young man would be indispensable in
helping him to convince Lord Edward to replace the king in
Parliament, if Henry did indeed refuse to return in time.
Alyce de Clare was furious that de Leyburn had taken himself
off without so much as
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