The Passionate Enemies Read Online Free Page B

well.
    He said therefore: ‘My lord, you could take a wife.’
    The King’s expression lightened. ‘I confess it has been in my mind.’
    â€˜The idea of marriage may be distasteful to you,’ said Roger soothingly, ‘but you will do it, I doubt not, for the good of the kingdom.’
    The idea of marriage distasteful! The thought of a new woman could never be that. Roger knew it but he wanted to placate the King who was not his usual shrewd self. Henry needed wooing from this irascibility which was beginning to be turned on all those about him – even favourites. The prospect of a marriage with a young and attractive woman would help a great deal.
    â€˜Yes,’ said the King, ‘I would marry that I might give the country an heir.’
    â€˜The question arises, whom would you marry?’
    â€˜That is what we must discover.’
    â€˜The bride should be young, my lord.’
    â€˜Well,’ replied the King, ‘I am not so young myself. I have a fancy for a mature woman, one in her late twenties. A widow mayhap who has already proved herself capable of bearing sons.’
    A widow! A strong-minded woman of mature age. A new influence on the King. No, thought Roger. A young girl would be better. A young girl who could be moulded.
    â€˜A young virgin would be more to your taste,’ said Roger.
    â€˜They can be a little tiresome,’ said the King. ‘I am not of an age to do much wooing.’
    â€˜Nay, the girl would be overawed by your rank, by your greatness. Older women can be shrews.’
    â€˜The Queen was never that.’
    â€˜Ah, but you moulded her to your ways. She was a virgin untried in all ways when she came to you. You were able to make of her what you wished.’
    â€˜She had a mind of her own, Roger. She did not agree with me in all things.’ He smiled wryly. ‘The Church for one thing. I can’t tell you how horrified she was when she heard of your living here with your Matilda.’
    Roger nodded. We want no more of that, he thought. Most definitely a young girl for the King.
    And because he had expected that marriage would be a prospect which would soon come into the King’s mind he had already thought of a possible bride for him.
    She was young, some eighteen years of age, a fair virgin of not too grand a house so that she might be overawed by marriage with the King of England and grateful to the man who had helped to arrange it.
    Roger began to talk of the allure of young virgins and he and the King exchanged accounts of their adventures as they had done on other occasions, but with the prospect of marriage before him the King found the talk amusing and stimulating.
    During the discourse Roger mentioned the girl he had had in mind since the question of the King’s remarriage had occurred to him.
    â€˜I hear the Duke of Brabant has a beautiful daughter,’ he said.
    â€˜The Duke of Brabant?’ repeated the King thoughtfully.
    â€˜Some seventeen years of age, a delicious virgin. I have heard her referred to as the Fair Maid of Brabant. She and her family would be overcome with joy to be united with the royal house of England.’
    â€˜What do you know of this maiden, Roger?’
    â€˜Only that she is young, ready for marriage and can trace her descent to Charlemagne.’
    â€˜She does not sound impossible,’ mused the King.
    Roger was amused. Negotiations should begin without delay. The King should have his young bride and this would mean an end to Stephen’s hopes, which was exactly what Roger wanted.
    In the court at Mainz the Empress Matilda was thinking of England. She had done little more since she had heard of the death of her brother William in the White Ship. Often she wished she were home. Often she thought of her cousin Stephen. Was he thinking of her, she wondered, or had he contented himself with his meek little wife? Was he roaming the countryside sporting with mistress