Free Here Be Dragons - 1 by Sharon Kay Penman Page B

handsomely. Richard had wasted no time in investing his younger brother as Count of Mortain; John's marriage to Avisa of
Gloucester was to take place on August 29, and Will had heard that Richard meant to bestow upon John the incomes from the English counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Nottingham, and Derby. Will thought Richard had been surprisingly generous, and said as much to John.
"That," John said cheerfully, "is because I amby the vagaries of fateBrother
Richard's heir. And Richard's more peculiar proclivities do make it at least likely that I'll be the only heir."
Will sighed, feeling much like a parent with a loved but wayward child. "Bear in mind, lad, what Scriptures say about coveting," he said mildly, and John laughed.
"What we need to do now, Will, is to get Richard to find an heiress for you ere he goes galloping off to find martyrdom in Messinaor was it sainthood in
Syria? Can you believe the man, Will? He's not even set the date for his coronation yet, and all he can talk about is how he cannot wait to risk his life in some infidel hellhole. I truly think he must be mad," John said, with such sincerity that Will had to laugh.
"If you can coax Richard into giving me a landed wife, I'll be much in your debt. But now we do need to talk. I rode in from Fontevrault
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ith Geoffrey He's right bitter, John, like to say that which would be better left unsaid I thought I'd best get to you first, tell" "My lord7 My lord, your brother"
Geoffrey did not wait to be announced, but shoved the servant side, and strode into the chamber "I do want to talk to you, John "
"How lucky for me," John said coolly, signaled to the servant to pour them wine "What shall we drink to, Geoffrey7 Your good fortune7 Did he tell you, Will, that Richard has ordered the canons of York to elect Brother Geoffrey as their Archbishop7 Of course, there is still a minor matter of taking vows, but that is a small price to pay to become a prince of the Church, is it not7"
"I rather thought I had you to thank for that," Geoffrey said "But that is not why I'm here, and you damned well know it, John I'm going to tell you how our father died, and you're going to listen "
"Am I indeed7" John's eyes had gone very green "I think not If you want to lay blame about, lay it where it belongson Richard's head Not mine If you have anything to say, say it then to Richard1"
"I did at Fontevrault He at least was man enough to hear me out Are you7"
John had half risen from his chair With that, he sank back "Say what you have to say and then get out "
"Gladly " Geoffrey reached over and, without asking, helped himself to one of the wine cups "I would to God I knew what Papa saw in you He kept faith to the end, you know Even your cowardly flight from Chmon did not open his eyes
Almost to the last, he kept expecting you to come back, even worned about you, if you can credit that'" "Geoffrey," Will said uneasily, "this does serve for naught " "Keep out of this, Will On July third, Tours fell, and Philip and
Richard summoned Papa to Colombieres He was sick unto death, made it only as far as the Knights Templars at Ballan But when he sent word to Philip, Richard insisted he was malingering, playing for time By then he could barely stay in the saddle, but he refused a horse litter, somehow got himself to Colombieres
Even Philip was moved to pity at sight of him, even Philip, offered to spread a cloak on the ground for him But he would not agree He was too proud, you see
" Geoffrey's voice had thickened, he drank, keeping his eyes all the while upon John
"They told him he was there not to discuss terms, but to yield to their demands They dared to speak so to him, and he could do nothing about it Then they told him what they wanted He must do homage to Philip for nis lands in
Normandy and Anjou, accept Philip as his overlord He must pay Philip twenty thousand marks, must have all his barons swear fealty to Richard, must promise not to take vengeance
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upon those