Free The Bastard King by Jean Plaidy Page B

less old than he had and the reason was that William himself was older. William liked to look at him and admire his strong Norman profile; he was more respectful to William than he had been in the past. The reason was clear. I am now their Duke in very truth, thought William.
    On the other side of him rode Thorold, the mighty Norman who was his bodyguard. He also was respectful; he would not now laugh to scorn the boy who had groaned when he fell from his horse; he would not dare now to command him to ignore his bruises like a man and stop whimpering like a child, mount again and ride.
    Behind him rode others of his vassals: Raoul de Vacé, the Counts de Beaumont, d’Eu, de Meulan and Pont-Audemer as well as Roger de Vielles – the most notable men of Normandy and all come to bring him back to his domain because they wished all to know that they were his loyal subjects.
    Rouen! How beautiful it looked in the sunshine!
    â€˜Ha. I see Rollo’s tower,’ he cried. And how fine was the river with the spires and house on both sides of it.
    He said to Osbern: ‘I’ll warrant my mother is on the highest turret watching for me.’
    Osbern looked at Thorold and he saw the nod which passed between them.
    â€˜The Lady Arlette is no longer at Rouen.’
    â€˜No longer there? Does she not know that I am coming?’
    â€˜She married as was the command of your father. He had chosen Sir Herlwin de Conteville as her husband and when wehad news of the Duke’s death this marriage immediately took place.’
    His face puckered. He could not imagine it. His mother with another husband. Rouen, Falaise no longer her home.
    These changes were hard to bear.
    The people had come out of their houses.
    â€˜Long live Duke William,’ they cried. ‘Long live our little Duke!’
    â€˜How loyal are my people,’ said William with emotion; and he did not notice the looks which Thorold and Osbern exchanged.
    The castle seemed strange and empty without his mother. He had so eagerly looked forward to being with her. He had wanted to see Adeliz; he had looked forward to telling them of his life at the French Court. Those varlets who had often told him to get from under their feet now bowed low at his approach; no one would dare accuse him now of listening to what was not meant for his ears.
    He had gone away a young boy; he had come back a reigning Duke.
    There was perhaps some gratification in this. He felt a great pride when he went to the topmost turret and looked down over the town and across the country.
    â€˜This is mine,’ he said aloud. ‘Mine. All mine.’ And he held out his hands to grasp it. Never, never would he let it go.
    In the great hall of the castle the knights knelt before him, as they had done before and swore fealty to him. They would serve him with their lives and he promised to protect them with his.
    He was indeed their Duke.
    But when the ceremony was over lessons began again and he was expected to go back to his books under the stern eye of Uncle Mauger.
    He protested. ‘Now that I am the Duke I shall have done with lessons.’
    Mauger smiled in his unpleasant, sneering way.
    â€˜My lord is mistaken. The study of language, of history, of literature, is of as much importance to a Duke as how to wield a sword.’
    â€˜I think not,’ said William haughtily. ‘And I shall have my way.’
    Mauger brought his unpleasant, secretive face close to William’s. ‘Take heed, young master,’ he said. ‘You will find less time for your pleasure than you ever did before. You have great responsibilities and such that fools could never shoulder.’
    â€˜Am I a fool then?’
    â€˜You may be if you neglect the priceless gift of learning.’
    â€˜It would seem to me that all that was good has gone and what is bad remains.’
    â€˜There is much that you have to learn, my lord Duke. Come, let us lose no more time in the