The Lion of Justice Read Online Free

keep a few studs for that purpose,’ laughed Rufus.
    â€˜My lord’s young brother might be of use.’
    The young man laughed.
    â€˜What then?’ asked Rufus. ‘Has he added another to his tally? I hear he was giving a good account of himself with the Lady Nesta of Wales.’
    â€˜Exceeding good, my lord, and they say the lady grows larger each day.’
    â€˜It keeps the young rake out of mischief,’ said Rufus. ‘But I have to keep my eyes on master Henry. It may surprise you, my friends, but he occasionally takes his thoughts from the ladies’ bedchambers and dreams of the battlefield.’
    â€˜As my lord knows to his cost.’
    â€˜We could have finished him at Mont St-Michel but for my elder brother. Robert is a fool. There was not a drop of water in the castle; they were dying in the fortress for lack of it, and what did my chivalrous brother Robert do? He sends him water – and not only water, but wine for his board. I could have killed him when I heard. “This is our brother,” he said, and he looked at me with those rather mournful eyes of his. He is very beautiful and he was my mother’s favourite, you know. He was always vain and hates the fact that his legs are too short. My father used to jeer at him. Curthose he called him. My father thought there was only one perfect man in the world – himself. And those of us who did not resemble him were poor things in his opinion. But when Robert rebelled against him and Richard died he turned to me. Richard was the first favourite. He looked like a Norman, you see. The rest of us had the Flanders touch . . . except Henry. He has a Norman look – tall and with that fine curly hair. I doubt not it is that which brings him so much favour in the ladies’ bedchambers. But I was telling you that we could have been rid of Henry but for Robert. And what has he ever done but bring trouble and bastards into the realm?’
    The young man laughed obediently.
    â€˜Come, my fine friend, what is there to laugh at? I am a man beset by brothers, and now Henry has squandered his patrimony and roams the countryside seeking consolation in robbing ladies of their virtue since he cannot rob me of my throne, and I doubt not his soul is stained purple with the sin of fornication. Listen.’
    There was a commotion below the window. Riders were approaching.
    â€˜Messengers, mayhap. What now?’ said Rufus. ‘No evil news, I trust, to spoil the pleasant evening I had planned for us.’
    The messenger was brought into his presence.
    Rufus dismissed the man with the customary command, ‘Go and refresh yourself,’ and read the dispatch.
    Then he said, ‘Edgar Atheling has arrived in England with his sister’s brood.’
    â€˜What will you do, my lord?’ asked his favourite friend.
    â€˜That, my dear, remains to be seen,’ he answered. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Rest assured I shall have them under close surveillance.’
    William Rufus opened his eyes and sleepily surveyed his bedchamber. It had been a riotous night and, as usual after such festivities, morning came too soon. Sunlight filtering in through the narrow slit of a window shone on to the stone recess seat cut into the wall, but because this was a royal bedchamber it contained some modem luxuries such as the faldestol on which he sat when he entertained guests in his bedroom, letting them make do with the wall seats or the floor. A velvet drapery was thrown over it at the moment. His eyes went to the chest with its fine carving; in this were kept his clothes, and although he slept on a bag of straw this was placed on a bed the frame of which was elegantly carved.
    In the early mornings he let his mind wander over state affairs. He was thinking at this time about the Atheling who had taken refuge in his country. Edgar had always amused him – pretty youth. He would never be a king though. He was not made