Geoffrey said drily.
“My father believed in educating us all.” Robert leaned his elbow on the sideboard. “Why be at the mercy of priests and charlatans when for the sake of a little study you can be armed to the teeth?”
Matilda said, “When you are a woman, having an education makes you realise how much at the mercy of priests and charlatans you are.”
“So are you saying you would rather have remained in ignorance, wife?” Geoffrey asked with a sardonic gleam.
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“I am saying it is twice as important that a woman should be educated, and twenty times as difficult for her to be heard.” She looked round at the menfolk of her family and knew they would never understand, much less want to do so. That her place was above theirs, that she was the only one of them born of a ruling king and queen, was cause for envy, not worship. Had she been male, she could have led the discussion about to begin without a second thought. As it was, although she was a figurehead, they did not expect her to contribute to the dialogue, any more than they expected her to gird on a sword and don a mail shirt.
Geoffrey was here with his army, amply fortified by the two thousand marks Stephen had given to him the previous year. He wanted to talk tactics with Robert, not her.
Matilda cleared her throat. “I have drafted letters to the pope, to my uncle of Scotland, and to my stepmother.” She held up the sheaf of parchments lying by her right hand. “We must lobby the pope to reverse his ruling on Stephen’s right to the crown; I will be working closely with the bishop of Angers on that matter and Brian FitzCount is writing a treatise from a secular perspective on my right to rule.”
“But we need more than words,” Geoffrey said and turned to Robert. “Will FitzCount go so far as to renounce Stephen?”
“Yes,” said Matilda firmly. “He will.” Robert nodded in confirmation. “FitzCount will help however he can. He is being circumspect for the moment but as soon as we set foot in England he will declare for us. We can count Wallingford as ours. Miles FitzWalter has indicated he will come over too, and John FitzGilbert the marshal.
He has control of the Kennet Valley with Marlborough and Ludgershall.”
Geoffrey eyed Robert keenly. “Tell me,” he said. “If Stephen had proved himself a model king and promoted your interests, would you be here today?” 236
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Robert flushed. “I am not proud that I broke my oath to my father and to my sister; indeed I deeply regret it, but sometimes circumstances overtake the best of intentions. I thought perhaps it was God’s will, but I was wrong.” He looked at Henry, who had stepped down off his stool and was now playing with his toy wooden knight and horse on the floor. “I will not renege again.” The company settled around the fire to discuss their plans.
The time was not yet ripe time for an invasion of England; there was still much to be done in the way of preparation and recruiting allies, but the following year seemed a possibility.
“You say you are in contact with the dowager queen,” Robert said to Matilda. “I had heard she had retired to a nunnery and was occupied in succouring lepers.” Matilda nodded. “Yes, but it is no more the entirety of her life than being a patron of Bec is mine.”
“A little more than that, since she lives amongst them. I even heard it suggested when my father died that she intended taking vows.”
Matilda shook her head emphatically. “That is far from the truth. She is still concerned with what happens at Arundel and her other estates. The only trouble is this.” She handed Adeliza’s most recent letter to her brother, who studied it and, with pursed lips, handed it on to Geoffrey.
“D’Albini?” Geoffrey raised his brow.
“His father is one of the royal stewards and lord of lands in Norfolk, including the castle at Buckenham,” Robert said.
“Will he be willing to swear for us?” Robert frowned. “I do not know. If you saw him, you would think of a big friendly dog. He is intelligent and strong, but not complex.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I would not mark him down as a man for subterfuge and I would say he will do what he must while hoping for 237
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a quiet life.