Free The Red Rose of Anjou by Jean Plaidy Page B

René’s attempted conquests done them? He was wise perhaps after all. It was only the opinion of the others and the need to submit to the laws of chivalry which had sent him out to fight. If he had obeyed his own inclinations he would have stayed at home, painting, writing music, singing to delighted audiences and building roads and bridges which he had always wanted to do. His great idea was to turn his towns into seats of culture, to which people came from all over the world to see fine paintings and hear good poetry and music.
    He had plans for Angers which would need a great deal of reconstruction as would the whole of Anjou when it was finally taken out of the hands of the English.
    They went to the castle of Angers and from there to Tarascon for René was also the Count of Provence and he had responsibilities in that part of the country as well as in Anjou.
    For a few months Margaret felt she could forget everything but the joy of being united with her parents. But there were sorrows in the world which could not be ignored.
    Her brother Louis had died suddenly of dysentery. The news was a shattering blow for they had been planning that he should come and join them.
    It was a household of mourning. René became more and more absorbed in his painting. Isabelle decided that it was no use trying to persuade him to set out on any more ventures which would inevitably end in disaster.
    Life went on quietly until emissaries from the Duke of Burgundy arrived at the castle.
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    After a long consultation with the messenger from the Duke of Burgundy, René and Isabelle sent for Margaret. This concerned her and she was old enough now to be prepared for what must be inevitable.
    That René was uneasy was obvious. Isabelle was less so but then she was always more politically minded than her husband.
    ‘Margaret my child,’ said René, ‘as you know our visitors have come from the very noble Duke of Burgundy and he has put a certain proposition before us.’
    Margaret’s heart began to beat rapidly. She guessed what the proposition must be.
    ‘The Duke has suggested an alliance which would certainly be good for us.’
    She waited for him to go on and he hesitated. He had no desire for such a union. Isabelle might say it would be advantageous and in any case they dared not offend the Duke of Burgundy, but René did not want to see his daughter married to an old man. Margaret should have someone young and beautiful like herself.
    He sighed. He must not be foolish. He had been foolish so many times.
    ‘He suggests that you should give your hand in marriage to his nephew Charles, Count of Nevers.’
    ‘I see,’ said Margaret.
    ‘He will be a good husband. He has already proved that to his first wife. It will be good for us to form such a close alliance with the House of Burgundy and the great Duke himself wishes the match to take place. In fact it is he who has proposed it. I think we should rejoice in this. Your marriage has long been a subject which has absorbed your mother and myself. Now here is the solution.’
    He was looking at her anxiously, wanting her not to be upset by the proposal. She knew this and she smiled at him reassuringly although she was feeling very uneasy.
    She had often thought of marrying, but a middle-aged husband did not fit in with her dreams. She had visualized someone young and handsome, someone who needed her to lean on, someone like her father—clever, charming, pleasant to be with and yet at the same time needing her care. A middle-aged Count, a nephew of great Burgundy, did not fit in with her dreams.
    ‘It is really a very good match,’ said René.
    ‘Yes, my lord, I suppose it is.’
    ‘What an important lady you will be. Countess of Nevers.’
    ‘I am a Princess already.’
    ‘A Princess... Yes, your father is a King. It is rather a hollow title but a King nevertheless. They are asking a dowry of fifty thousand livres.’
    ‘You will never be able to pay that!’ cried Margaret with