Free A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver by E. L. Konigsburg Page A

has decided that we should marry Young Henry to Marguerite immediately. The Vexin must be ours. If this new wife of Louis’s, this Adele, presents Louis with a son, Louis will find that he has not enough land or enough wealth to divide it with the Plantagenets.”
    “Has Henry found a priest who will perform the ceremony?”
    “Certainly he has. All will be done in accordance with the law. You know that Henry has more respect for the law than he has for promises. That is why he is insisting on this marriage. As long as Marguerite and Henry are only engaged, the Vexin is only a Capet’s promise to a Plantagenet. As soon as they are married, Marguerite and the Vexin are legally ours.”
    “And then?” I asked.
    “And then after the young couple is married, Henry will dismiss the Templars from the Vexin and take over its fortresses. Since Young Henry is but five and Marguerite is but two, you stand no chance of being rushed into great-grandmotherhood. After the marriage the children will be returned to their nursery to finish growing up.”
    “Speaking of their growing up, how is Thomas Becket, Eleanor?”
    “He is as beautiful as ever, Mother Matilda. He does well whatever task is asked of him. If he had been born a cow, he would have spurted pure cream.”
    “I see you care for him as little as ever.”
    “I would like him more if Henry liked him less.”

10
     
    I ARRANGED TO ATTEND Easter court in France to help Eleanor and Henry celebrate ten years of marriage. Ten very successful years.
    Henry called Thomas to France, too.
    Henry, being a great believer in having people renew their oaths of allegiance, wanted Thomas to convene court in London. He wanted all the barons and the bishops of England to pledge support to Young Henry to remind them that when he passed from the scene, there was another Henry Plantagenet waiting.
    “Buy him a little crown and some royal robes; it will help remind the English that he is a future king. And, Thomas, I want you as my chancellor to be the first to kneel and pay homage.”
    Thomas Becket answered, “I consider it an honor to pay homage to so young and fair a prince. And I shall be happy to be the first to do so. But the homage paid by the king’s chancellor weighs as a penny to a pound compared to the importance of the homage paid by the Archbishop of Canterbury.”
    “But there is no Archbishop of Canterbury at the moment. You know, that, Tom. Thibault died several months ago, and the Pope has not yet chosen someone to take his place.”
    “That is true, sire,” Thomas Becket said. “Too bad. But I shall be happy to be the first to kneel to Young Henry.”
    Henry smiled. “Tom, what if … what if … the Archbishop of Canterbury and my chancellor were one and the same person?”
    “Oh, I am flattered, my king. But a man cannot wear two hats at the same time.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Henry said. “If I can wear two crowns, surely you can wear two hats. Think about it, Thomas.”
    Thomas said, “My taste in hats is too fancy for a bishop’s miter, my lord.”
    “Tastes change.” Henry smiled.
    Thomas bowed and left the room. He was no sooner gone than Eleanor and I both pounced on Henry.
    Eleanor first. “What makes you think, dear husband, that you will be able to appoint Thomas as bishop. The Pope guards his right to appoint all bishops, and he certainly will not allow you to appoint one as important as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Pope’s eye in England. My former husband, Louis, once tried to appoint only some minor bishops, and it brought nothing but trouble. He lost the bishops and considerable prestige.”
    Henry answered, “Your former husband, your Louis, did not work
within
the law. I shall. I shall only
suggest
to a few important people that Thomas Becket be named Archbishop of Canterbury.”
    “Suggest to some and bribe others. Is that it, Henry?” I asked.
    “Oh, Mother, don’t call it bribery. Call