said Foville. "Is there news?"
"Not from the King," said Judith. "But there is news about me that you need to know."
"What can be so important about you, that you think I will be interested?" said Foville, coldly.
"My Mother’s planning my marriage we have the contract, and she wishes the wedding to be held within a few months."
Foville was suddenly serious.
"This is indeed news how long until the wedding?"
"Until April and it will be in London."
"London?" said Foville, thoughtfully. "That might be very useful will you travel there before the day itself?"
"I may not myself we have yet to decide whether I should meet my future husband again before the ceremony or not. We know each other already, although we haven’t met for some years, so it might not be deemed necessary."
"I think it will be so deemed," said Foville.
He stared at her.
"You must insist on meeting this man who will be your husband perhaps more than once. Can you show hesitation?"
"Done already," said Judith. "I’ve made it plain that I’m agreeing reluctantly."
"Excellent!" Foville actually rubbed his hands together. "See if you can spend several days on each visit. Take the opportunity to find out as much as possible about the mood of the Jews of London."
"I already know my own people’s feelings," said Judith. "They will never support de Montfort and his barons against the King. Henry’s constant demand for more tallage may be wearying, but he’s the only protection that we have."
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"You Jews are always complaining of hardship," returned Foville, crisply. "Yet your houses are better built than many, and none of your people starve."
He swept aside the problems of the Jews, with a wave of his hand.
"Your own family’s sufferings at the King’s hands do not alter your attitude to de Montfort, I trust."
Judith’s face hardened.
"I shall never forgive him for what happened in Leicester. He could have prevented it, had he chosen. My mother’s grief was terrible and even now she misses my father.
However kind our friends may be, it can never replace the loss of most of our family, especially a beloved father and husband."
In the face of her feeling even Foville looked momentarily embarrassed before his face assumed its habitual aloof expression.
"Well, whatever your reasons for offering your services to the King and his loyal supporters, you’ve proved useful," he said. "If you can bring news to us of what is happening in London, that will prove even more useful. We’ve heard that the Tower is in the hands of de Montfort s followers, and they are encouraging the London mob in their rioting and destruction. See what you can learn."
He turned to his desk, to pick up a parchment bearing an impressive seal. As soon as Judith saw it, her eyes widened in recognition.
"You have another task for me?" she asked.
Foville nodded.
"A messenger brought this to me yesterday. I have been considering whether or not you could carry out such a difficult mission," he said.
Judith’s reaction was exactly what he had judged it would be.
"I’m equal to anything you may require of me!" she flashed back at him, her whole body stiff with insulted pride. "What is it?"
"The King’s in France," said Foville. "Asking Louis, his brother-in-law, to act as arbitrator between himself and his rebellious barons. Whatever Louis decides, regarding the legality of these Provisions of Oxford, Henry won’t be satisfied until he has crushed Simon de Montfort once and for all. If this means warfare and I don’t see how it can mean other the King wants to ensure that it starts when and where he decides, rather than having it forced upon him."
"I see the wisdom of his thinking," said Judith. "But why should it involve this Priory and its Prior?"
"Because we’re on the edge of a possible battle site," said Foville. "And the King will need quarters for himself and his retinue. His message asks me to prepare for such an eventuality. You will take a response from me, assuring him of my readiness to serve him BOSON BOOKS
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in any way I can. There may also be a most secret message for you to bring back to me, giving details of the King’s plans in the immediate future."
His eyes bored into hers.
"Now do you understand why I hesitate to use you? It will be dangerous you’ll have to get across the Channel, get my message to its proper recipient and no-one else, and bring another message back to me all without mishap, or alerting possible spies. Can