Free Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

presence.
    “But you had us all swear an oath to uphold her as your heir?”
    Robert’s statement was a question. “Is she not then to rule?”
    Henry raised one bushy silver eyebrow. “Indeed I did have you swear, but how many will keep their word? I am not so fond a father that I have lost my wits. It seems probable that the queen and I are not going to be blessed with heirs. Matilda bore 55
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    a child to her first husband, so I know she is capable, and I hope that with a different spouse she will be fruitful. My intention is to raise my grandsons to follow in my footsteps. Should I die before they are grown, they will have their mother as a regent, and she in turn will have the backing of her close family.
    Robert, I am looking to you to be an adviser and protector to your sister and her children, should it be necessary, and I expect Brian to back you to the hilt.”
    Brian swallowed. The tension in the chamber was palpable.
    “And my sister’s husband?” Robert asked, his complexion red with pleasure. “Will he not desire to play his part?”
    Henry shook his head. “His part will be to provide her with children and military support. He will not have a say in ruling my lands.” He clenched his fist on his knee and his voice developed a harsh note as his gaze shifted between the younger men, calculating, watching narrowly for their response. “I have decided she will marry Geoffrey, heir to Anjou.”
    For a moment Brian forgot to breathe, then sucked a swift gulp of air over his larynx and turned his shock into a cough.
    “But he is only a boy,” Robert said with widening eyes. “It’s scarcely a moment since he was taking suck!”
    “That is the point,” Henry replied. “He can be moulded and as such he can grow accustomed to the notion that he will not wear a crown.”
    Brian steadied himself. “What of your daughter? What will she say about marrying a raw youth, the son of a count, when she was once empress of Germany?”
    “She will do as she is told,” Henry said curtly. “I am her father and she will obey my will. She will not be disparaged. Geoffrey’s sire is to take the throne of Jerusalem through marriage to King Baldwin’s daughter, and there is no higher kingdom on earth than to rule over God’s own city. When Fulke of Anjou goes to his marriage, then Geoffrey will take the title of count.”
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    “But he will still not be of equal status with her, or her first husband.”
    Henry sent Brian a dark look. “Were you when you married Maude of Wallingford?”
    Brian recoiled from Henry’s unsubtle reminder that he had raised him from the dust and that a major part of that raising had been to wed him to Maude when he was a youngster—although he had still been several years older than Geoffrey of Anjou.
    “My daughter will understand the necessity,” Henry said.
    “This match will secure my southern border and prevent Anjou from uniting with France. Instead, it will be woven into my sphere. When Matilda bears a son, he will be heir to England, Anjou, and Normandy. This is for the greater good. It is not about Geoffrey of Anjou’s status, and, as I have said, his sire is to become king of the holiest city in Christendom.”
    Robert tugged on his upper lip. Brian could see the advantages in terms of cold strategy, not least that Anjou would no longer be an ally of France. But serving Henry’s requirements was going to be hard for Matilda with all her pride.
    Robert said casually, “I thought at one time you were considering my cousin Stephen as your successor.”
    Henry gave him a measuring look. “A prudent man keeps more than one horse in the stable, but there is always one he prefers to ride.” He extended his hand and his voice softened.
    “You are the son I would have chosen to wear England’s crown if circumstances had been different. This is the nearest I