The Passionate Enemies Read Online Free Page A

felt so secure – although of course he must expect further trouble in Normandy – and then at the height of his triumph the White Ship had foundered and he had lost his son and heir.
    So here he was brought back to the melancholy fact which was after all the reason for his visit to the Bishop of Salisbury.
    Roger was waiting to greet him at his palace and at his side was Matilda of Ramsbury, Roger’s mistress. Matilda was a very beautiful woman and the King eyed her with approval. He did not blame Roger in the least for openly keeping such a mistress although there was a law that members of the clergy were not to marry and many who had done so before this law had been brought into force, had been excommunicated,driven out of their livings and forced to beg for their bread.
    This had caused the late Queen much distress and her pleading for the displaced clergy had irritated her husband who could do nothing about the matter, for it was one of the conditions of his reconciliation with the Church. What had aroused the Queen’s indignation was the fact that rich and powerful churchmen like Roger openly kept their mistresses, flagrantly ignoring the demands of their calling; and Roger’s nephew Nigel, who had been made Bishop of Ely, was married and made no secret of it.
    Henry had never been able to make his wife understand the necessity for compromise. Matilda was too good; that had been her great failing. Well, now she was dead and here was another reason why he must consult with Roger without delay.
    â€˜It does me good to see you, my friend,’ said the King, and kissing the beautiful Matilda warmly, he added: ‘And you too, my dear. I see that you have taken good care of my friend.’
    They went into the palace talking merrily and everyone was relieved to see the good mood of the King.
    There was a splendid banquet, for Roger lived in good style, and minstrels entertained them for a while but the Bishop was well aware that the King was impatient to talk seriously and so it was not long before he had carried him off to his private chamber.
    â€˜Roger,’ said the King, ‘I am beset by my cares. You know full well how I have felt since the tragedy.’
    â€˜Alas, my lord.’
    â€˜I must get an heir. If my daughter Matilda were not in Germany I should make all swear fealty to her, but a woman, Roger! How would a woman fare?’
    â€˜If any woman could rule a realm that woman would doubtless be the Empress, my lord. She showed great spirit and was indeed what one would expect a daughter of yours to be.’
    â€˜The country needs a man. Why has God so forsaken me, Roger, by taking my only son?’
    â€˜God works in a mysterious way,’ said Roger piously, remembering briefly that he was a member of the Church.
    â€˜You think I should accept this Divine decision. You think I should appoint – say, my nephew, as my heir?’
    Stephen! thought Roger. God forbid. He knew that Stephenwould not favour him. Certainly it must not be Stephen.
    â€˜Nay, my lord, I don’t think you should despair.’
    â€˜How so? When I have no son . . . to follow me and no wife by whom I could get one.’
    Roger understood his lord. He wanted him to suggest he do what Henry had already made up his mind to do. Well, that suited Roger. Get the King married; let him get a child and that child be educated by the Church, which meant the Bishop of Salisbury. He would be moulded into a future king with a correct appreciation of Roger and his family. There was Roger’s son, Roger le Poer, born of his dear Matilda; there was his nephew Nigel, already Bishop of Ely; and there was another nephew Alexander, and Roger had the bishopric of Lincoln in mind for him. Roger wanted a powerful ring of the members of his own family, all dabbling in state affairs, all working for the administration under the King of course, who would bring not only good to the country but to the family as