Free The Follies of the King by Jean Plaidy Page A

struck dumb?’
    ‘My lady, he is a great friend of the King.’
    ‘A great friend indeed! Methinks he had the appearance of an eastern ruler.
    He was more richly dressed than the King or I were, and his jewels― if they are real, they must be worth a fortune.’
    ‘The Earl is a rich man, my lady. Since the King bestowed such titles on him, they say he is the richest man in the kingdom. He is connected with the royal house too, for his wife is the King’s niece.’
    The young Queen seemed slightly mollified. She thought she understood.
    He had recently married Edward’s niece and because of this had titles bestowed on him. His newly acquired honors had gone to his head. This was often so. But he would have to be taught to mend his manners.
    The women, having started to gossip seemed to find it difficult to stop.
    ‘He was Regent during the King’s absence. Some of the barons were not very pleased.’
    ‘Regent! That popinjay!’
    ‘The King thinks him very clever. The King is his great friend.’
    Isabella could not quite understand the meaning of one woman’s expression.
    She was on the point of demanding an explanation but thought better of it. She would speak to Edward.
    What a fanfare of trumpets burst forth as she and Edward entered the hall!
    There had been no time to speak to him as yet for he had only arrived in time to conduct her to the banquet.
    She heart the exclamation of amazement and she knew it was because of her beauty. She saw her uncles exchange gratified glances. Edward pressed her hand.
    All was well.
    She sat beside the King and to her dismay on the other side of him was the Earl of Cornwall. He had changed his elaborate garments for even more splendid ones. Indeed, who did he think he was? The King? Oh yes, she would certainly speak to Edward.
    The Earl of Lancaster was beside her. He was the most important of the barons because he was the son of Edward the First’s brother Edmund and therefore her husband’s cousin.
    She found him excessively dull and it was irritating that Edward should have bestowed so much attention on his neighbor. They were laughing together and clearly had a great deal to say to each other. Of course he had held an important post in Edward’s absence. Perhaps that explained it.
    After the meal, there was music and she played her lute to them for she wanted them to realize how accomplished their Queen was. She knew that she looked very beautiful with her hair falling over her shoulders. She had refused to have it confined with a wimple or any such headdress. It was really very beautiful hair and should be displayed to her new subjects, she believed. So she sat with her lute and sang the songs she had learned at her father’s court and afterwards she and Edward led the dance.
    She whispered to him: ‘You talk a great deal to the Earl of Cornwall.’
    ‘Oh, Perrot! He has always been a close friend.’
    ‘Some were not very pleased.’
    ‘Some will always be displeased no matter what one does.’
    ‘
I
was one of those who felt displeasure.’
    ‘You, Isabella? Oh you will soon be used to Perrot. I want you to appreciate him. I am most anxious for you two to be friends.’
    ‘I like not his arrogant manner and his style of dressing to outdo us all.’
    ‘Oh― that is just Perrot. You will understand.’
    It was difficult to talk seriously while dancing so she did not tell him that she had taken an instant dislike to his Perrot and she thought it very unlikely that she would become his friend.
    Edward was with her for the rest of the evening and she was longing for that time when they should be alone together. Dear Edward, he was so handsome and he hated conflict. He would be ready to do exactly as she told him. It was a very pleasant prospect. One of her first tasks would be to put a stop to the friendship between him and the Earl of Cornwall. She would do it gradually so that Edward would not realize it was happening.
    Now she longed for him to come. She had