The Star of Lancaster Read Online Free PDF Page B

astonishment so did the boy.
    He stood beside the great Duke who did not display any surprise at this strange behaviour.
    Apprehensively she curtseyed, wondering how she was going to explain.
    The Duke lifted her up in his arms and said: ‘Why, Mary, you have grown since we last met. You have already made the acquaintance of Henry.’
    Henry!
    The boy was smiling at her.
    ‘We met outside the castle, my lord father,’ he said. ‘So . . . we came in together.’
    It was bewildering. The boy whom she had thought to be some humble squire was in fact the son of the great John ofGaunt – more noble than she was. She was overcome with shame. What had she said to him!

    It was all something of a joke now. He had come to the castle with his father who had been anxious to see his ward and to discover how she was getting on at Pleshy.
    The Countess said: ‘When my lord Lancaster heard that you were coming here he thought it would be an easy way of assuring himself that you were well and happy. It was so much easier than going to Pleshy.’ She lowered her voice. ‘And you know he and his brother are not on the most amicable of terms.’
    ‘It is a pity when there is conflict in families,’ said Mary.
    ‘But always inevitable. This young Henry of ours is a fine young sprig of the royal branch, do you not think? He was the cause of the trouble between the brothers. Knight of the Garter and already Earl of Derby! I am not surprised that his father dotes on him. He will be a good companion for you while you are with us, Mary.’
    ‘I have my cousins.’
    ‘Yes, but I am sure you will find Henry more amusing.’
    It was true, she did.
    At first she had reproached him for the way he had behaved in the forest.
    ‘It was but a game,’ he said. ‘I could not resist it. I saw you as we arrived. You were just entering the forest – which was forbidden, I am sure. I came to guard you.’
    ‘It was deceitful not to say who you were,’ she retorted.
    ‘Oh dear. I had forgotten they are going to make a nun of you, are they not?’
    ‘ They will not make anything of me if I do not wish it.’
    ‘Then I’ll tell you something. You are not going to be a nun.’
    ‘How do you know?’
    ‘Because you will never agree to shut yourself away from the world. You like it too much.’
    ‘My future is not yet decided.’
    ‘It will be soon,’ he told her, and there was laughter in his eyes.
    He wanted always to be with her.
    ‘You neglect my cousins sorely,’ she reprimanded.
    ‘They do not mind. They are but children.’
    ‘And how old are you?’
    ‘Soon to be fifteen.’
    It was indeed a few years older than she was, but he never seemed to notice that difference.
    She could play as good a game of chess as he could. They would often be seated together in a corner of the great hall, their heads bent over the chess board. Sometimes the great Duke himself would stand by watching the game – applauding a good move. He seemed very contented to see them together.
    She would sing to him, playing her guitar as accompaniment. His voice would join with hers; they were in perfect harmony.
    The Countess said they must sing together for the company after supper and when they did so, she noticed the eyes of the great John of Gaunt glazed with emotion. He clearly had a great affection for his son and she could understand it for she was discovering that she had too.
    The days passed too quickly. She knew that she would have to go back to Pleshy very soon and when she thought ofreturning to the old way of life she felt depressed. Perhaps Henry would come to see her at Pleshy; but if she became a nun they would not be able to meet very often.
    They rode out together with a party but Henry always contrived that he and she escaped. She fancied that their elders realised this and were amused rather than displeased by it.
    Then one day when they had escaped from the party and were riding in the forest they came to the clearing where they had sat on