child …’
Henry’s expression was wretched. He could hear Hubert’s voice. ‘It is time the foreigners left. The people do not like to see them in the country. There are many who look for the posts …’
But she wanted it. It was necessary to her happiness.
‘Come,’ said Henry, ‘it is a matter which we need not decide yet.’
She shook her head. ‘You cannot deceive me, Henry, I know. It is already decided. I will have to tell them tomorrow that I have spoken to you … and you are against us.’
‘No … no … you do not understand.’
‘Alas, I do.’
She stood up sadly. He was beside her.
‘Eleanor, you want this very much, do you?’
‘I want it more than anything. It was all so wonderful … to be here with you … happy … your Queen. Well, now it is not so … That is all.’
‘Nay,’ cried Henry, ‘they shall stay, I promise you. My love, you shall keep them as long as you wish.’
Her face was illumined with joy as she flung her arms about his neck.
‘Careful,’ said Henry. ‘Would you strangle the King of England?’
‘Nay. I would comfort him, cherish him and love him for ever.’
It was the first victory for the Queen of England.
Chapter IV
MARRIED BLISS
W hen Eleanor told her Uncle William that the King had promised her she should keep her Provençal attendants as long as she wished to, he was amazed and delighted.
‘You surprise me,’ he cried. ‘This is unheard of.’
She laughed at him. ‘Henry is anxious to please me. He says there is nothing he can deny me.’
‘My dear child, you have great power in your hands. We must make sure that you use it in a proper manner.’
‘Have I not done so?’
‘Perfectly. Perfectly. There will be a great test … soon.’
‘Yes, Uncle?’
‘I wish to stay here. You need me. There is much good we can do … to Provence and Savoy. Our family are going to bless you, Eleanor.’
‘I shall do everything I can.’
‘Imagine their pride in you at your father’s Court. I believe this could mean the end of poverty for him. I am sure Henry would be eager to help him. Look how he gave up the dowry he was asking for. He does not regret it. I know. There are so many of us there who could do well in England. Your Uncle Boniface might come. Who knows … Here there are innumerable opportunities for those who know how to take them. We must take them, Eleanor.’
‘Naturally I wish to do everything I can to help.’
‘You have not done badly so far, dear child. But it is a beginning. If I could stay here … perhaps there would be some appointment … some high office in the Church.’
‘That would be wonderful, Uncle.’
‘Well, let us see what we can do. Do not mention my staying here just yet to Henry. There will be opposition, you can depend upon that. But you and I together will overcome that. Do you not agree?’
She was flushed with success. It had been so easy to get Henry to agree to her attendants remaining. Of course a high post for her uncle would be a more delicate matter … but it was a challenge she would enjoy.
It was amusing, exhilarating and gratifying to show everyone what influence she already had over her husband and it would be her aim to gain more and more.
When Henry saw her delight in the company of her uncle he determined to share it. He was so happy in his marriage that he wanted everyone to know how he appreciated his Queen. Not only was she very beautiful but her love of literature, her ability to write, to sing and understand music accorded so well with his own nature that he assured himself that he had found the perfect wife.
Like him, she wanted children and he was certain that before long such a union as theirs would be fruitful. In those first months he was in a state of such euphoria regarding his marriage that he was completely happy. He wanted to give her everything she asked.
Eleanor, basking in the approval of her husband and the uncle whom she had been brought up to respect,
Henry’s expression was wretched. He could hear Hubert’s voice. ‘It is time the foreigners left. The people do not like to see them in the country. There are many who look for the posts …’
But she wanted it. It was necessary to her happiness.
‘Come,’ said Henry, ‘it is a matter which we need not decide yet.’
She shook her head. ‘You cannot deceive me, Henry, I know. It is already decided. I will have to tell them tomorrow that I have spoken to you … and you are against us.’
‘No … no … you do not understand.’
‘Alas, I do.’
She stood up sadly. He was beside her.
‘Eleanor, you want this very much, do you?’
‘I want it more than anything. It was all so wonderful … to be here with you … happy … your Queen. Well, now it is not so … That is all.’
‘Nay,’ cried Henry, ‘they shall stay, I promise you. My love, you shall keep them as long as you wish.’
Her face was illumined with joy as she flung her arms about his neck.
‘Careful,’ said Henry. ‘Would you strangle the King of England?’
‘Nay. I would comfort him, cherish him and love him for ever.’
It was the first victory for the Queen of England.
Chapter IV
MARRIED BLISS
W hen Eleanor told her Uncle William that the King had promised her she should keep her Provençal attendants as long as she wished to, he was amazed and delighted.
‘You surprise me,’ he cried. ‘This is unheard of.’
She laughed at him. ‘Henry is anxious to please me. He says there is nothing he can deny me.’
‘My dear child, you have great power in your hands. We must make sure that you use it in a proper manner.’
‘Have I not done so?’
‘Perfectly. Perfectly. There will be a great test … soon.’
‘Yes, Uncle?’
‘I wish to stay here. You need me. There is much good we can do … to Provence and Savoy. Our family are going to bless you, Eleanor.’
‘I shall do everything I can.’
‘Imagine their pride in you at your father’s Court. I believe this could mean the end of poverty for him. I am sure Henry would be eager to help him. Look how he gave up the dowry he was asking for. He does not regret it. I know. There are so many of us there who could do well in England. Your Uncle Boniface might come. Who knows … Here there are innumerable opportunities for those who know how to take them. We must take them, Eleanor.’
‘Naturally I wish to do everything I can to help.’
‘You have not done badly so far, dear child. But it is a beginning. If I could stay here … perhaps there would be some appointment … some high office in the Church.’
‘That would be wonderful, Uncle.’
‘Well, let us see what we can do. Do not mention my staying here just yet to Henry. There will be opposition, you can depend upon that. But you and I together will overcome that. Do you not agree?’
She was flushed with success. It had been so easy to get Henry to agree to her attendants remaining. Of course a high post for her uncle would be a more delicate matter … but it was a challenge she would enjoy.
It was amusing, exhilarating and gratifying to show everyone what influence she already had over her husband and it would be her aim to gain more and more.
When Henry saw her delight in the company of her uncle he determined to share it. He was so happy in his marriage that he wanted everyone to know how he appreciated his Queen. Not only was she very beautiful but her love of literature, her ability to write, to sing and understand music accorded so well with his own nature that he assured himself that he had found the perfect wife.
Like him, she wanted children and he was certain that before long such a union as theirs would be fruitful. In those first months he was in a state of such euphoria regarding his marriage that he was completely happy. He wanted to give her everything she asked.
Eleanor, basking in the approval of her husband and the uncle whom she had been brought up to respect,
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