Free The Queen from Provence by Jean Plaidy Page A

said, with a certain smugness which irritated Eleanor, was what she would have to find out, and what she would accept because it was her duty to do so. Louis it seemed was a paragon of virtue. She could not ask for a kinder, more loving husband, if only …
    There. She had betrayed herself. If only what? Eleanor wanted to know.
    ‘If only we could be alone more often. She is always there.’
    ‘You mean Queen Blanche?’
    ‘Of course she is his mother, and he thinks that she is wonderful. You see he was only twelve when his father died and she made a King of him, he says. He always listens to her. I know she is very clever and it is right that he should do so. But she tries to separate us. Sometimes I think that she is jealous of me.’
    ‘Of course she is. She wants her beautiful son all to herself. Thank Heaven Henry has not a mother living at the Court.’
    ‘She is far away and from what I hear she leads her new husband a dance. Yes, you should be thankful, Eleanor, that Isabella of Angoulême will not be living at your Court. Though it would please us mightily if she decided to leave Lusignan for England.’
    ‘We shall see that she remains in Lusignan. I would not endure what you do, Marguerite. If I were you and sure that Louis loved me, I would say it was time for his mother to retire into the background.’
    ‘You would not,’ said Marguerite, ‘if your mother-in-law was Queen Blanche.’
    ‘So your Louis is afraid of her.’
    ‘No, no. But he is so kind, he would never hurt her. He listens to her but if he does not agree with her he goes his own way. He is greatly respected. He is so eager to govern well. He will be a better king than even Philip Augustus. He cares about the people. He gives much to the poor. Sometimes, after Mass, he goes into the woods and there sits on the grass and asks any, however humble, to talk to him and tell him what they think. He listens to what they have to say. He wants to hear if they consider there are injustices in France. I have seen him do this even in Paris in the gardens of our palace there. He does not greatly care about his dress. I have often seen him in a coat of that stuff I hate … half wool, half cotton. They call it tyretaine. He goes hatless, too. He says that he wanted to make the people see him as a man … not a king.’
    ‘That is not the way to win the people’s respect.’
    ‘He thinks it is and they do respect him. What do you think he said to me when I complained that he did not look like a king?’
    ‘He said he would dress richly to please you, I doubt not.’
    ‘He said something of the sort … but with a difference. Everything Louis does is not what is expected. “To please you, Marguerite,” he said, “I will dress in extravagant garments. But if I dress to please you you must dress to please me. That means that you will wear simple garments and give up your splendour.”’
    ‘And that I see you declined to do.’
    ‘’Tis clear is it not?’
    ‘At least he does not command you to cast off your silks and jewels.’
    ‘Louis would never command that. He likes people to have freedom. I tell you, Eleanor, there is no man like him in the whole world. France is fortunate to be ruled by such a King.’
    ‘Who is ruled by his mother.’
    ‘That is not true. But she is clever … and she would be beside him.’
    ‘In your place?’
    Marguerite was silent.
    ‘When I reach England,’ said Eleanor, ‘I shall govern with my husband.’
    ‘If he will allow you to do so.’
    ‘I shall make sure that he does,’ vowed Eleanor.
    Marguerite looked at her steadily. Knowing Eleanor she believed that she would.

Chapter III
    THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND
    T he crossing was stormy but Eleanor discovered with relief that she was not a bad sailor. It would have been undignified to have arrived in her new country wracked by the seasickness which had affected some of the company. Her uncle was beside her as they stood on the deck watching as the ship