The Prince of Darkness Read Online Free PDF

distrust him.’
    Her lips curled. ‘One hears that there was once such a great friendship between them that men marvelled.’
    John came closer to her, leering slightly. ‘Ah, that friendship. Our brother – yours in law, mine in blood – is a man of many parts.’
    ‘It would seem so.’
    ‘He has not been over-good to you, my dear Constance.’
    ‘One learns to be wary.’
    ‘You and I have a great deal in common,’ said John.
    ‘Is that so?’
    ‘Indeed yes – both having been married … after a fashion … and not married, one might say.’
    She raised her eyebrows and studied him coolly.
    He went on: ‘You know I went through a form of ceremony with Hadwisa of Gloucester. It was what my brother wished. He had just taken the throne and he thought her lands would be a way of providing for his young brother without making demands on his purse.’
    ‘Had you no wish for the match?’
    ‘You should see Hadwisa.’
    ‘I gather you are not pleased with your wife.’
    ‘Shall I say that she is as different from you as one woman could be from another.’
    ‘That would tell me little.’
    ‘Except that you being so attractive, she would necessarily be the opposite.’
    She shrugged her shoulders impatiently.
    He went on: ‘It was sad for you, dear Constance, whenGeoffrey died so unexpectedly. Who would have believed it possible when he was playing in a joust?’
    ‘Those jousts were too realistic. They were more like actual battles than a game.’
    ‘’Twas so and Geoffrey loved them. And he left you with Eleanor but a baby, and Arthur on the way.’
    ‘My children have always been a great comfort to me.’
    ‘And an anxiety. Admit it.’
    ‘When great inheritances are entailed that is inevitable.’
    ‘’Tis sad for women. More so than for men. I know how you suffered through Ranulf de Blundevill.’
    He saw the expression flit across her face – one of hatred and revulsion; and it titillated his senses to think of this fine woman forced to marry a man she hated. He wondered what had taken place between them and thought of himself with Hadwisa in the first days of their marriage when he had struck terror into his poor shrinking bride and had thus obtained the only pleasure he ever had from her.
    How different from Hadwisa was Constance. On the death of Geoffrey she had been forced into the marriage by her father-in-law Henry, the King at that time; but she had no intention of submitting to such indignity as Ranulf would have forced on her. She had run away from him and returned to Brittany where the people rallied round her and showed their intention to protect her from a man she hated; as for the King of England, he was at that time too busily engaged elsewhere to enforce his will.
    She was a strong woman, Constance. She had ruled Arthur’s duchy for four years with great strength of purpose and during that time she had endeared the Bretons to her to such an extent that they were ready to defend her and their heir from all invaders.
    ‘I’ve always admired you, Constance,’ said John. ‘I was so pleased when I heard you had escaped from that beast Ranulf. But you do not regard him as a husband, do you? That is how it is with me. You see we are in like case.’
    ‘I doubt Hadwisa ever caused you the anxiety the Earl of Chester caused me.’
    ‘I have the advantage of being a man, dear sister. You are a woman and women need men – good men – to look after them.’
    ‘Some of us are not so ill-equipped that we cannot look after ourselves.’
    ‘And you are one of those rare women. Ah, Constance, how I rejoice that we are good friends. Do you?’
    ‘In a world fraught with dangers it is always good to have friends.’
    She hoped that she did not betray the fear which had come to her. What was John implying? Why had he come here? Could it really be that Richard was considering making a match between them?
    Horrifying thought. This monster – for she knew he was that – wasted his time