Free The Prince of Darkness by Jean Plaidy Page A

army for Constance, Arthur and Guy Thouars, could not agree with Philip and there was dissension between them. So greatly did they fear the King of France and his intentions towards Arthur that in a moment of panic they decided to place him temporarily under the protection of John.
    John was delighted. He was in Le Mans at the time and he welcomed William des Roches with open arms.
    ‘Ah, my good lord,’ he said, ‘it pleases me that there are some wise men in the world. This conflict with my own nephew breaks my heart. I have never ill-wished the boy. I would his mother could be made to understand this.’
    ‘I am doing my best to make her do so. The King of France is quite perfidious. I never trusted him.’
    ‘Nor I,’ said John. ‘Where is Arthur?’
    ‘Not far from here. I will bring him to you, my lord, if youwill promise to guard him until such time as he is safe from the King of France.’
    ‘Bring him to me with all speed. I will guard him with my life.’
    John was inwardly exulting. The folly of others was always exciting. They were actually going to put Arthur under his protection! And Constance would be with him. That was highly amusing. He had to be grateful to William des Roches for quarrelling so fiercely with the King of France that he saw Philip was the very essence of villainy beside whom his other enemies seemed like saints.
    From the castle tower John saw the party riding towards the castle – young Arthur between his mother and Guy de Thouars. He was Constance’s paramour, of course. That was obvious. John’s eyes narrowed as he thought of the sport he could have with those two if the opportunity arose, but his main concern must be with Arthur, of course, because Arthur was the great threat to his security and he was the very heart of conflict between them.
    Rubbing his hands he went to greet them.
    ‘My dear, dear Constance,’ he cried. ‘It does me good to behold you. And Arthur! How you have grown, nephew! You are indeed a man. And here is the Viscount de Thouars, your
very
good friend. I thank you, my lord, for taking such good care of my sister-in-law and my beloved nephew.’
    She was wary, that woman. It had been against her judgement that they were here, he was sure. She would never trust him. But how frightened she must be of the King of France to have allowed Arthur to be brought to him!
    Arthur was too young to hide his resentment. He knew John had been crowned King of England and the arrogant youngcreature thought that honour should have been his. It was maddening to think that quite a number of people agreed with him. A dangerous boy, this one.
    That was why he was going to be very welcoming to him.
    Constance said: ‘We wish to shelter here for a short time. Our stay will not be long but if you would give us hospitality for a while we shall be grateful.’
    ‘I want no gratitude for that which can only give me great pleasure. Come into the castle. A feast is being prepared. I want you to know how happy I am to see you. I have always deplored that there should be conflict between us. Now we can talk as friends of any differences which may have arisen between us.’
    Constance exchanged glances with Guy. Any differences! Only the usurpation of a throne! How could she have allowed William des Roches to persuade her to bring Arthur here? She only had to be in John’s company for a few moments for all her suspicions to be aroused. Surely Philip of France would have been the better choice even though there was disagreement between him and William des Roches. She had greatly feared that Philip would imprison Arthur. But what if John did the same? She knew then that she feared the King of England more than she did the King of France.
    She was given a magnificent bedchamber and Arthur had the adjoining one. When they were alone together Arthur said: ‘My uncle seems very kind.’
    She smiled wryly. ‘It is when he is most kind that I trust him least.’
    There was a scratching at