The King of Thieves: Read Online Free PDF Page B

heh? So, take me to the unfortunate fellow, and
     we shall see what may be discerned.’
    Château du Bois
    The Queen waved her ladies away when Lord John Cromwell was announced. Only little Alicia was permitted to remain when Lord
     John and William de Bouden entered. There was no need of a chaperone with these men.
    William gave her a curious look, and she felt a cold hand clutch at her heart, suddenly fearing that somehow her husband had
     changed his mind and ordered her immediate return to London. But then she saw that there was an odd stillness about him, as
     though he was listening to Lord John with his entire soul.
    ‘Your Royal Highness,’ Cromwell began, ‘I have received some news from England. It is not all good, I fear.’
    ‘Continue.’
    ‘The King has discussed the position here with his council, and they have concluded that the best means of resolving all the
     issues, is for him to come here himself.’
    ‘The King? My husband will come here?’ Queen Isabella gasped. ‘But how will he do so? Will he leave the realm under the control
     of our son?’
    ‘My Lady, I do not know more than this,’ Lord Cromwell said. He was quiet a moment, and then looked down at the ground, frowning.
     ‘But …’
    The Queen maintained her silence, but motioned to Alicia to fetch the jug of wine from the sideboard. Alicia floated over
     the floor, a graceful figure in all she did, and soon both men were sipping from large goblets.
    Lord Cromwell pursed his lips, and then looked up with some sort of resolve in his eyes. ‘My Lady, I think you will beordered to return to England upon his arrival.’
    Aha! she thought. ‘I fear you are right. And I shall be forced to return to my prison, guarded by those set to watch over
     me.’
    ‘I think that would be a great shame, my Lady. Further …’ His eyes slid towards William, and the Lord appeared to take
     some courage from the impassive man at his side. ‘Further, I think it would be a mistake. You are crucial to our negotiations
     with your brother.’
    That was why she was here. To ensure a continued peace with her brother, King Charles IV. After the little war last year,
     King Charles had confiscated all the English territories in France. It was Isabella’s job to try to win them all back. And
     she had all but succeeded. All that was needed now was for the King to pay homage to the French King for those lands which
     were held under feudal tenure. The rest didn’t matter. And until the King came to pay homage, the Agenais would remain under
     the control of the French King for now, while the courts decided what should happen to it.
    The French had set the date of the
assumptio
of the Blessed Virgin Mary * – one month exactly from today. That was the date when he was supposed to be here in France, to perform the formal homage
     at Beauvais.
    But she was sure that he would not come. He was sly, as she knew all too well; cunning enough to escape this. To perform full
     homage to another King would imply that he was little more than a vassal to the French. A man who might be called ‘King’,
     but who in reality held his crown not because it had been bestowed by God, but because he was permitted to do so by his superior.
     King Edward would never tolerate such a climb-down.
    ‘I shall be delighted to see my husband again, of course,’she said carefully. Lord John was still the man set to guard her during her journey here, not selected by her, but by Despenser
     and her husband.
    ‘We have heard that he is to delay his journey. The date for him to meet with your brother is now to be two weeks later, on
     the Feast Day of St John the Baptist. * ’
    The hand was at her heart again. Did he mean that she was to return at once, then? But no! That would be too cruel. She would
     not go yet. To voluntarily return to a prison would be …
    ‘My Lady, I do not think you should return. You should remain here. There is much still to do, and it would be wrong for