Lady of the English - By Elizabeth Chadwick Page 0,41

harvest, it mounts the vine where the clusters of grapes are growing. It knows which are the ripest and knocks them down, then it descends from the tree and spreads itself out on the grapes, then folds itself up on them, round like a ball.

When it is well charged and has stuck its prickles into all the grapes, it carries them home to its children.’” Adeliza first laughed at the charming picture the words created in her head, but then sobered. That was a tale to tell to infants, and she could imagine the actions to the story, but it 102

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had religious significance too, the hedgehog being a symbol of the Devil carrying off men’s souls.

As Herman paused for breath, Henry blew into the room like a storm. He had been hunting and the scent of horse and sweat surrounded him in a pungent miasma. His grey hair stood on end where he had pulled off his hat and he was clutching a half-crumpled piece of parchment in his clenched fist. Adeliza could almost feel the anger steaming off him like hot vapour. “My dear lord, what is it?” Swiftly dismissing Herman, she went to him.

“Read for yourself,” he snarled, thrusting the parchment at her. “My daughter is in Rouen and the Angevin whelp has repudiated their marriage.”

Adeliza gasped in shock. “But why?” As she read the words, she covered her mouth with her hand. “Dear Jesu, why would he do that?” She raised her eyes to him in bewilderment.

“Now read this.” He handed her another letter. “The messengers almost clashed on the road. It’s from Angers.

Geoffrey says he has sent her away because she is wilful and disobeys and insults him at every turn.” Adeliza made a small sound in her throat.

“He says he will not stand for any more and until she learns the error of her ways and is willing to yield to his authority, he will not take her back.”

Adeliza bit her lip. “She did not want this match. I think she still grieves for the position she had before.”

“But it was her duty to see her new marriage succeed. I will have my children fulfil their obligations, because they owe me the very breath in their bodies.” His lips were so thin and tight with displeasure that they had almost disappeared. “I will have my son-in-law know his duty too. If he is not man enough to control his wife, then in what other ways is he not a man?” Breathing hard, Henry snatched the letters out of her hand. “I want you to go to Normandy.”

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“Me?” Adeliza stared at him in trepidation.

“I cannot leave England to deal with this stupidity. I have too much business. I will send envoys to Geoffrey while you deal with my daughter. I want you to find out what has happened, and then do your best to effect a reconciliation.” Inwardly she quailed. “What if I cannot? What if it has gone too far for that?”

He gave her a sharp look. “I trust to your skills, my dear. It is the task of a queen to be a peacemaker. Indeed, smoothing the path is one of the most important duties she can perform.

If you cannot give me a son, the least you can do is bring my daughter back into the fold.”

Adeliza tried not to flinch but felt as if he had struck her. “As you wish, sire,” she said feeling lightheaded. “I will have my baggage packed immediately.” She darted him a look. “Will you write to her too?”

“Indeed, this very minute.” He stumped from the chamber, his tread hard with temper and assertion. Adeliza shivered and pressed her hands to her temples, then pulled herself together and ordered her women to begin packing. If she kept her thoughts on practical matters such as what she needed to bring and how long the journey would take; if she stayed on the surface, she could cope.

ttt

When she arrived in the courtyard, cloaked for her journey, Will D’Albini was standing at her palfrey’s head. The horse had been groomed until its hide shone like silk and he was talking softly to the beast and stroking its nose. He wore a sword at his hip and his fur-lined travelling cloak was pinned at his shoulder by a round gold brooch. As one of several young knights at court and a deputy to his father’s office, the task of escorting Adeliza had