Lord Liar Part 56

"Very well, my lord. I am a man of my word, and so you shall have her to wife. And I think I shall not need to question your loyalty again, shall I?"

"No, your grace," Ranulf answered, but he was looking deeply into Aldyth's eyes.

A week later, when Ranulf was recovered enough to walk with only a little stiffness in his gait, they were married-again, thought Aldyth with amus.e.m.e.nt--in front of the king.

Now, as she lay in their second marriage bed, basking in the glow of satisfaction after Ranulf had just made love to her, he arose and brought out a letter.

"I was not lying when I told Rufus he would never have cause to doubt me," be told Aldyth, sitting on the side of the bed and holding out the parchment scroll. She recognized the seal of Prince Henry and read the letter aloud.

"To my va.s.sal Ranulf of Kingsclere, greefmgs. I would not have you ignorant, my lord, of the plans regarding the throne of England, even though these plans, it seems, must be consigned to the misty future. I know you have been poised to a.s.sist me, should I have judged the time to be right to take the throne that we agree should be mine, but I have studied the situation from across the Channel and must conclude that the time is not right. My eider brother Rufus has gained the support of the English people and they have rallied to his standard in a way I would not have thought possible.

"I see little chance of success with the mood of the people being as it is, and much to lose by too precipitorn action. But time is on my side, my lord.

With my brothels lack of inclination toward marriage and Robert's lack of steady, effective effort, I shall eRuZ!ly be England's king, if G.o.d wills it. And then not' forget your loyalty, Lord Ranulf. But I I not have you put your life in jeopardy for me time, Ranulf, or have you delay indefinitely those things that would make you blessed I speak specifically of the winsome Lady who is much too good for you, you know.

give her babes, or by lshsll think about doing so.

of Avranches and the Cotentin, and King of England and Duke of the letter, especially at its audacious end- looked up at her bare-chested husband.

is he not? " Ranulf said with a bitter- came by courier only this morn, decided much the same on my own, when [ to come aft I'd stood ready to help him for her, running a hand through her bed will no longer put my trust in princes, Aldyth. What-a feel I was to do so, when they follow no law but their own. Though I will be pleased if Henry is our king one day, no matter who sits the throne, I intend to stay as far from court as I am allowed. You are all that matters to me, Aldyth, you and our babe."

She caught his hand and kissed it, then pulled him down beside her.

"Ah Ranulf .... " She would be sure to make it worth his while.

Au orNo by which Bishop Ode rejoined the rebels behind i Rochestex Castle is historical fact, but they were long. The garrison, discouraged by the disease, swarms of flies and, above all, the from Duke Robert in Normandy, surrendered : Their lives were spared, and they were al horses and arms.

William Rufus also revolt in 1095.

was ttol[tgtand' s probably not her worst, either. Wh'fie md stubborn and did not provicl England build the magnificent Westminster Hall.

Hemry was, indeed, king eventually, but he years, until 1100. Rufus died in a huntt the New Forest while out with Henry and one . Thexe were whispers that it was no accident, fled and Henry departed immediseized the royal treasury and had him Only after he was safely crowned did he body decently buried. Duke Robert, from a crusade, returned to find his 'on the throne.

Henry paid him a pension for six years and then defeated him in the battle of Tinchebrai. He thus gained his brother's dukedom of Normandy and kept his brother a prisoner for the last twenty-eight years of his life.

In spite of his ruthlessness, Henry had been looked upon as a great king.

Called the

"Lion of Justice" for his stem but fair laws, he preferred arbitration to battle. There were no baronial rebellions during Henry's reign, for Henry left no doubt as to who was king.

He married the great-niece of the English King Edward the Confessor, Edith, whom he called Matilda. They had a daughter, Matilda, and a son, William, who would have been the heir, but he drowned in the

"White s.h.i.+p" disaster.

Henry's wife had died, too, so the aged Henry married again in hopes of an heir, but he died before Queen Adelicia could conceive. He made his headstrong daughter, Matilda, heir to his throne, but his choice was not popular and she had to contest the throne with a cousin, Stephen of Blois.

Stephen seized the throne and ruled from 1135-54, but Matilda's son, Henry 1I, succeeded him by the terms of their treaty while Matilda still lived.