The Revolt of the Eaglets (22 page)

One day when he visited her she had disturbing news.

‘My lord,’ she said, ‘I believe I am pregnant with your child.’

He felt a mingling of horror and pleasure. Something would have to be done now. What? How could he write to the King of France and tell him that he had got his daughter with child? How could he tell Richard that his affianced bride was about to be a mother?

He looked at her and drew her to him holding her fast so that she might not see the expression in his face.

He had known that there was this possibility and had refused to look it straight in the face. He knew that when it happened there would be some change in his way of life, for Alice could not stay at the palace and bear a child which would be known to be his. And even if it were not – what a scandal there would be if the affianced bride of his son Richard should be in such a condition, when she had not been married and nowhere near her affianced husband for years.

How much was whispered already? His visits to this palace would have been noted. There must be many who were aware of his relationship with Alice. It was true that none would dare expose the secret for fear of his anger, but they would whisper of it.

‘What must I do?’ asked Alice.

‘Leave this to me, my dearest,’ he said.

She was happy to do that. What a wife she would make! She did not ask how or where or why. She was just content to leave it to him, so sure was she of his ability to solve all her problems.

He turned the matter over in his mind. If he could divorce Eleanor now … and marry Alice … But there was no time. He imagined the difficulties there would be in the way of his divorce. He just could not do it. If only Alice were not the daughter of the King of France how easy it would be! Just another bastard to add to the many he had already fathered. But the daughter of the King of France! The betrothed of his son! This was a very delicate situation.

Alice clearly must not stay at the palace. It would be quite impossible for her to have the child there. Where then could she go? She must be whisked away before her pregnancy became obvious. And where to send her?

If only he could marry her. But how could he? There was only one way in which he could and that would be if Eleanor were to die.

That was impossible. If she died mysteriously he would be immediately suspected. It would be Thomas à Becket all over again. And what of Aquitaine? That would go to Richard and he himself would never be accepted there. That was quite out of the question. Moreover he was not that kind of murderer. He could kill a man in battle; he could have people put to death if they offended him, but he could not murder his wife.

He smiled wryly. He remembered so much about her. He had been enamoured of her once. What a tigress she was – and a great lover! They had had some good times together in the early days. Something bound them together even if it was only hatred. He liked to think that she was still on the Earth – best of all in a prison of his choosing.

Dearest Alice, he thought, as much as I would like to make you my wife that is not the way. I would this had not happened and that we might have gone on in the old manner until such a time as I could devise a plan. Now we have to formulate one with all speed.

He studied the problem from all angles and it seemed to him that he could find only one solution.

He set out for his Palace of Woodstock.

Rosamund was, as ever, delighted to see him.

He embraced her warmly and told her how as ever she gave him great comfort. She quickly realised that he had not come to spend a few peaceful days in her company. He had a problem and he thought she could help him.

‘There is something I have to tell you, Rosamund,’ he said. ‘Let us walk in the gardens for there we can be quite alone.’

Through the paths with their carefully tended bushes they walked arm in arm.

‘I need your help in this matter, Rosamund. It concerns the Princess Alice.’

He was aware that she flinched. There had been rumours then and they would have reached her! Who else would have heard?

‘She is a comely creature and in something of a predicament at the moment. She is with child.’

‘My lord!’

‘Yes,’ said the King ruefully. ‘This has happened and of course there would be a great noise about it if it were known.’

‘She is betrothed to Richard!’

‘Richard of course must not know.’

‘But she is to be his bride!’

‘That marriage may never come to pass. You know how it is with these betrothals. There was the betrothal of John to that other Alice. What a pother there was about the castles I gave him. Why, that started a war. And now look you, that little Alice is dead and John has no affianced bride.’

‘They were but children, but Richard and Alice …’

‘Yes, yes. But the fact is she is with child and I do not wish this to be known.’

‘How then, my lord, can this matter be kept secret?’

‘Oh come, Rosamund, it is not the first time a child has been born in secret.’

‘At Westminster!’

‘Nay, she must leave Westminster. There is the Bower here. That once proved a secluded spot. It could again.’

‘You are sending Alice to the bower?’

‘And I wish you to go with her to care for her and keep her company. You will do this, Rosamund?’

‘If it is your wish.’

‘God bless you, sweetheart. I knew I could trust you with my life.’

‘And she is to be kept here in secret?’

‘You will know how to do that. I shall let it be known that she has left the palace for a while to journey to the North. She will set out and come here and stay here. You will look after her and have with you but a few of your most trusted attendants. Those who once guarded our secret well. Let them know discreetly that they act so for the King’s pleasure and that if they should chatter or act with indiscretion they will rouse his anger. Keep her here. Cherish her. And let her bear her child in peace.’

‘And when the child is born?’

‘You may leave that to me. I shall arrange for it to be brought up in a state worthy of it. You will do this for me, Rosamund?’

‘As you know, I live to serve you.’

‘Oh, it was a happy day for me when I came to your father’s castle.’

He did not stay long. He had to get back to Alice, to let her know that he had made arrangements for her. She had nothing to fear. His dear good friend Rosamund Clifford would care for her; and he trusted Rosamund as he could none other.

As he rode back to Westminster he felt elated. There was no situation he could not master. Even this one of getting his son’s betrothed with child was not beyond him to solve.

He wanted to marry Alice. He would then legitimise the child, for it was unlikely that the marriage could take place before the birth. He must marry Alice, for the time was coming nearer and nearer when Richard would demand his bride and how could he go on making excuses to retain her?

Back at Westminster he sent a secret message to Rome inviting the papal legate Cardinal Huguzon to England. There were certain matters which he could discuss only in person. Mainly there was the conflict between the Archbishops of York and Canterbury. Of late there had been some controversy as to which should be regarded as the primacy of England. It was a matter which only the King and the Pope’s emissary could work out.

This matter Henry would discuss but the real reason for his desire to see the Cardinal was of course a possible divorce from Eleanor that he might marry Alice.

Rosamund had successfully hidden her feelings from the King but she was a very sad woman.

How different everything might have been if the King had not come riding to her father’s castle on that fateful day. Then she had been Alice’s age and she had thought him the most wonderfully perfect knight she had ever beheld. And so she had continued to regard him.

Before she had met him she had believed a husband would be found for her and she would be married and bring up her children as her parents had theirs. How different it was to be the mistress of a king.

And of course the time must come when she would be discarded. She had always feared that, although Henry had sworn eternal fidelity. It had come now. She had understood by the manner in which he had spoken of Alice and of his great concern for the Princess, that she had been displaced.

It was a fearful situation. Alice was so young and already with child by him, and she, the daughter of the King of France and betrothed to the King’s son Richard! What would happen if this secret were discovered?

She knew that she must do everything in her power to prevent that. She must suppress her jealousy; she must look after the child, who was innocent enough. Did she not know how easy it was to succumb to the wiles of Henry?

And here she was, no longer young, the woman who had sinned and had not even the love of her partner in sin to sustain her.

He cared for her still, in a way, but that would only be as long as she served him well, she knew. Once he had loved the Queen and now he hated her.

She must repent of her sins and the only way she could do this was to go into a nunnery. She had been thinking of this for some time. Her children were growing up. They were no longer of an age to need her. The King would do well by them for he was fond of his children, and more so of those born out of wedlock for they had been more faithful to him than his legitimate sons. She would care for the Princess Alice, bring her safely through her pregnancy and when the child was born and the Princess able to return to Westminster, Winchester or wherever she could appear with grace, Rosamund would tell the King of her decision to retire from the world.

He could not deny her this when she had done so much for him. Nor, she was sure, would he wish to. Sadly she acknowledged the fact that he would doubtless be glad to see this neat end to their romance.

The King received Cardinal Huguzon with many honours. He was determined to show him that he had the utmost respect for him and his master.

How good it was, he said, of the Pope and the Cardinal to accede to his request to have this troublesome matter settled. As the Cardinal knew there had been conflict between Canterbury and York since the sainted Archbishop Thomas à Becket had gone into exile. The King believed that it was time the matter was settled.