The Lord of Greenwich (The Plantagenets Book 5)

by Juliet Dymoke

  'Have we got a saint among us?' Humfrey cocked an eyebrow at his fellow guardian over the boy's fair head. He wished Henry had brothers to play with as he had had and suggested to Queen Catherine that he find some nobleman's sons of a like age to company the King.

  The widowed Queen said composedly, 'I thank you, my lord Duke but Henry is well enough for now with me and my ladies. Pray do not take him from me yet.'

  'I had not proposed that,' Humfrey answered but he left the matter there, hoping she did not want to turn the boy into a milksop.

  By June there was still no answer from the Pope and he said to Jacqueline, 'We have waited long enough. We will sail for Calais as soon as we may, though it will take time to raise enough money and men.'

  'I don't care how long it takes,' she said fiercely. 'I have been most miserably treated and all Christendom shall see I have right on my side. Duke Philip had no right, none at all, to force Brabant to name him heir. It was wicked and now we are divorced he has no claim at all. I cannot see why your brother Bedford gave Burgundy further French territories.'

  'To try to take his eyes off Hainault,' Humfrey pointed out. 'John is a wise man, in fact he is the only man in all France that I would trust.' Letters passed between them but John's were always cautious, advising patience which attribute Humfrey did not possess.

  He went to the Council to ask for money for his expedition and though those careful lords agreed he had a just cause, Bishop Beaufort as Chancellor pointed out in a smooth voice that all available funds had been sent to France to aid the Duke of Bedford as Regent there.

  'Since King Charles died,' the Bishop went on, 'you must be aware that the threat from the Dauphin is greater. He considers himself King whereas in truth out little Henry is the legally appointed ruler of France. It is going to take a great deal of money to enforce that.'

  'You cannot tell me your treasury is empty!' Humfrey exclaimed angrily.

  'Not my personal treasure,' the Bishop agreed coolly, 'but I am speaking of the royal coffers, Duke Humfrey, which is all you might have expected to draw upon in this matter.'

  The snub was delivered apparently without malice, but it was there and aggravated by Suffolk's remark that the Council could only consider expense that was for the nation's welfare and he could not see that an expedition which was bound to alienate Burgundy would be of any benefit at all. Humfrey swung round to glare at that burly countenance. 'Since when does Burgundy tell the English what they may or may not do?' He disliked William de la Pole who had succeeded his elder brother, slain at Agincourt. Humfrey thought him an upstart whose grandfather had been a plain Hull merchant, and who with his new title and his wealth was inclined to ride rough shod over everyone with none of the courtesy of such men as the Earl of Warwick. To see him and Richard Beauchamp at the same table was like seeing sacking beside velvet cloth.

  Contemptuously Humfrey said, 'My brother the late King thought well enough of my lady Jacqueline's cause to offer her sanctuary in England and material help when it was needed. And it is needed now. I know what he would bid you do.'

  But it was no use. Even Warwick thought the matter would be best handled by Humfrey himself. 'At my own expense,' Humfrey said bitterly that night to Jacqueline. 'I hope the fruits will be worth the cost.'

  'Have I not promised you that?' she queried in surprise. 'Dear Humfrey, do not be angry. You are sadly disappointed by the Council's refusal but surely others will lend us money?'

  She was already in bed and he paused for a moment ready to extinguish the candle. The reaction of the Council was not all that was disappointing him. He pinched out the flame and got in beside her, putting an arm about her, but though she settled comfortably against him, she went on, 'There is so much we need. The soldiers we take with us must be paid and there will be many more who will come to my banner when we reach Hainault. And the hire of so many ships will be costly.'

  'I know; I know,' he broke in, 'but forget that for now, my love.'

  'Dearest Humfrey.' She turned towards him but even while he made love to her he was aware that half her mind was on other things. She gave him her body in the same cheerful manner in which she did most things but it seemed to him that her pleasure was mainly to give him pleasure. He was not used to failing. He thought of Avice and the night of ecstasy when she had learned so well from him. Jacqueline was not like that and when once or twice he had become almost savage in his desire to stir her, when once he had said, 'Oh God, Jacqueline, can't I make you love?' she had answered in surprise, 'What more can I do? For are there none like you in all the world.'

  He knew now that she responded to the limit that she was able and it was not in her to be otherwise. She loved him in her own way. At last he lay back, wearied and half asleep and she broke the silence to say as if no interruption had occurred, 'And you know we have not considered how much gold we will use before I can persuade the Estates to vote us sufficient for our needs. Do you think I should write to them again?'

  He had a crazy desire to laugh. Her courage, her commonsense, her consistency astounded him and if in one point she could not give him what he wanted, could that be helped? Should it even weigh against the prospect of being Count of Flanders, of being a great lord in Europe, above all of flouting Philip of Burgundy? When in life did one have all one wanted? He had wished for Greenwich Palace but he lay instead at Baynards in the heart of the noisy city.

  He leaned over and kissed her cheek. 'Go to sleep, wife. Leave our problems until tomorrow.'

  He approached some of the great abbeys to which he had been a benefactor and somehow the money was found. The Earl Marshal, John Mowbray, threw in his lot with Humfrey. He believed in his cause, he said without hesitation, and his loyalty to the late King urged him to give his support. Together they raised a small army, found arms and supplies and by the autumn all was ready. In September the Duke and Duchess rode to Langley to say farewell to Humfrey's stepmother, the Dowager Queen Joanna. She had lived almost in isolation since the suspicion of witchcraft had touched her. It was some years ago now and Humfrey had been censured by his uncle for releasing her confessor Friar Randolph from prison. The poor fellow seemed innocent enough and his stepmother in such distress for want of the Franciscan’s counsel that her entreaties had moved him to act. What harm could an old lady and a simple friar do? And he was swayed as much by affection for her, by the memory of past kindnesses, as by the pleasure of going contrary to his uncle Henry's wishes.

  She was pathetically glad to see them, living as she did, cut off from the world, attended only by a few ageing serving women and her friar, and she gave Jacqueline a string of pearls. For her stepson there was a tiny reliquary on a chain for him to wear about his neck. He slipped it over his head and when he bent to kiss her she said, 'God go with you, Humfrey. I would I had had such a champion when I was young. They married me to Brittany, you know, when I was fourteen and he near sixty and half in his dotage. But I was happy with your father. Sometimes I think you are the most like him of all.' She gave Jacqueline a sly glance. 'You are fortunate, child, in your husband.'

  'I know,' Jacqueline said and her face glowed. 'Our expedition will show the world his worth.'

  The Dowager looked up at her stepson, 'I am uneasy for you. I wish I knew why.'

  'I have your amulet to protect me,' he said lightly and touched the chain.

  'I was not thinking of that sort of danger,' she muttered and turned away to her embroidery frame. They left her and Humfrey said, 'By Our Lady, I begin to think her wit-wandering, poor soul. Maybe she did dabble in witchcraft after all.'

  Jacqueline crossed herself. 'God forfend. But I'm glad we came.'

  On their way to Dover they spend a night at Sterborough at Reginald Cobham's express invitation. Humfrey had accepted without hesitation, interested as a connoisseur to see how Reginald's sister had matured over the last few years. He had expected her beauty to blossom but when she entered the hall and made her curtsey to him and to his Duchess he saw that
it was far beyond even his expectation.

  She had grown tall, her figure swaying a little as she moved – from design, he suspected – was slender with tempting curves, the skin of her bosom white and flawless, her hands finely shaped. But it was the sheer and lovely symmetry of her face that took his breath away. Her dark hair was partly hidden by the dainty head-dress of rolled velvet but her eyes gave him the same cool look. He returned her gaze, letting his own wander over her, and even while Jacqueline talked with her, he knew Eleanor was aware of his glance, of his appraisal. More than that, when she flicked him one brief smile and said, 'My lord Duke, it must be six years since we spoke together,' the assumption that he had not forgotten what she had said stirred something in him, some spark that one day, if he chose, would need but a small breath to blow it into life. And the fact that he now had a wife was nothing to her.

  Reginald said, 'My lord, we were wondering – Eleanor would be grateful if the Duchess has a place about her on this journey? My sister would like to travel abroad.'

  'Of course,' Jacqueline answered at once. 'My dear, you shall come with me and welcome. Will she not be welcome, my lord?'

  'Indeed.' He had not taken his eyes from Eleanor's face. And then he added, smiling, 'If your father will consent to part with you.'

  She inclined her head gracefully. 'Who could refuse your grace anything you chose to ask?'

  There was a moment's odd little silence and then the elder Cobham came to speak with his guests. Unable to resist Humfrey's charm and the Duchess's friendliness he gave his consent to losing his treasure for a time and so the matter was settled. Later Humfrey danced with Eleanor and made a polite remark of condolence concerning the death of her betrothed.

  'You need not feel sorry,' she said. 'I was glad. I did not want to marry him.'

  'So the poor man must needs leave this world because you did not wish for him?'

  She saw his smile and her own mouth curved a little. 'Not quite so, my lord. It was the fever that took him, not a broken heart. But I did not like him.'

  'Then I am glad you did not wed him – though the loss was his.'

  'I am glad too,' she said and looked directly at him.

  As once before he was silently amused. Well used to ladies of the court flirting with him, nevertheless this girl was different. She made her meaning plain beyond mere coquetry, and with a strange sort of assurance. He was intrigued and when they rode out in the morning was conscious of her presence among Jacqueline's ladies.

  Four months later he came from his privy chamber at the palace of the Nasterhof in Mons to his wife's apartments, a letter in his hand.

  'Burgundy!' he exploded. 'God curse the man, what is he at? Didn't we bring our troops peacefully through his territories without one man taking what was not his? Are we not accepted here? Am I not Count of Hainault?'

  'Of course.' She turned in her seat for she was at a table covered in papers. 'I have written several times myself reminding him he is my blood cousin and it is unchristian to war with me.'

  'It is iniquitous!' he said and threw the letter in front of her. 'He calls me a liar, and says I called him so. If I did it was because it was the truth. He has broken all his promises to us.'

  Jacqueline's mother, who had thrown in her lot with her daughter and new son-in-law, was sitting stiffly upright by the window, a forbidding woman as strong-willed as her daughter and with much of the temperament of her brother, Burgundy's father. She had not forgotten his murder on the bridge at Montereau, but she was not prepared to allow her nephew Philip free access to Jacqueline's inheritance on the flimsy pretext he was aiding the Duke of Brabant. 'You are right, my son,' she agreed, 'he was bound by treaty to support us, and we are nearer in blood to him than that wretch Brabant. What does he say now?'

  'That because we have refused to wait for the Holy Father's decision on our marriage we are forsworn. What in God's name keeps the Pope so long I don't know – he sits on the fence pondering while he plays with our lives.'

  'My love,' Jacqueline reached up and took his hand, 'everyone knows he will give judgement for us, he must.'

  'Except Burgundy. He has challenged me to single combat!'

  'What! I cannot believe it.'

  'Indeed he has. I think we have desired to face each other in arms ever since I was at St Omer.'

  'You are not going to accept?' the Lady Margaret asked in astonishment. 'It is not fitting that two men of such rank should thus risk death.'

  'Of course I shall accept,' Humfrey snapped. He was in a towering rage and not prepared to listen to protests, nor did he see how Jacqueline's colour had faded. 'There have been precedents, and I will not refuse the gauntlet.'

  'Oh no!' Jacqueline got up and came to him. 'My dearest, I can't allow it.'

  'Allow it?' His eyebrows went up.

  'It is in my cause.'

  'Our cause.'

  'Even so –' she hesitated. 'If Burgundy had not invaded my lands, there would have been no bloodshed. It is all his doing, and if there is any justice you should triumph but I saw Philip joust once. Even though it was à plaisir he killed a man.' She saw she had said the wrong thing and when he asked tartly if she thought that would dissuade him she went on hastily, 'No, no indeed, only we have put our whole fortune to the touch and to let it all turn on one meeting –'

  'A l'outrance!' he broke in, unable to keep a mocking note from his voice. 'Can you not try to understand?'

  'I am,' she said, 'I know it would be in keeping with your chivalry but I cannot help thinking that if the Earl Marshal had not been so slow we'd have driven Philip's men out and there would be no need for this.'

  'Mowbray has done what he could,' Humfrey retorted defensively, but he knew she was right. The Earl Marshal had been over-cautious, almost ponderous in his movement of their army and he thought how in contrast Harry would have tackled the situation. The whole affair had started so well and now it was turning sour on him. He wanted Jacqueline's inheritance only to give him added status, funds to pursue his literary tastes, and instead he was being forced into fighting. The Estates were unwilling to give him money – did they not want their own princess back, he wondered irritably? There had been one unfortunate occasion when his orders and hers had run counter and that had not helped. After Christmas he had been ill, an uneasy debilitating sickness that an outspoken physician had told him was the result of over indulgence at bed and board. Humfrey had struck the man, his anger out of hand, but afterwards with his own particular smile he begged the doctor's pardon and submitted to drinking his foul concoctions and to being bled. But it had sapped his energy and he felt too dispirited to instigate the kind of war Harry had once excelled in.

  The Hainaulters had, it seemed, begun to regret their bargain. They refused to allow Humfrey's troops into Mons, permitting only his household to enter. Furthermore they refused to vote him any money and every expense so far had been found out of his own pocket. His coffers were indeed perilously near being empty. It was damnable, he thought, and at least Burgundy's letter was one way out of the whole wretched business.

  'I shall write at once,' he said, 'and accept the challenge.'

  'You would do that for me?' Jacqueline held both his hands, gazing up at him, her eyes filled with tears.

  'Of course,' he answered, at the same time aware that it was not strictly true as far as his motives were concerned.

  The Lady Margaret gave a short laugh. 'By Our Lady, men are foolish. Would you widow my daughter?'

  'You must have a poor opinion of my skill,' he retorted. 'Jacqueline has seen me joust many times. I am a match for Burgundy, am I not?'

  'I don't know,' she said anxiously. 'I pray God so. He has a reputation in France for always bringing down his man.'

  'And so have I in England. This may save many other lives in place of only his.'

  'Over confidence!' the Lady Margaret muttered and Jacqueline added, 'I don't like it, Humfrey, I do not think it wise, but it is brave in you.'

&n
bsp; He bent to kiss her perfunctorily and went away to dictate a reply to Philip, at the same time sending a somewhat intemperate letter to Pope Martin requesting him to give judgement and at once.

  Later, discussing the matter with his lieutenant, he said, 'At least you, Mowbray, understand what I am about.'

  'Because my father once challenged yours to settle a quarrel?' the Earl Marshal asked. He was a man with a deliberate manner and a strong sense of what was fitting, as became his office. 'King Richard stopped that fight.'

  'And banished them both;' Humfrey agreed. 'I know – and cheated everyone of the spectacle. But I will fight Burgundy and settle it between us once and for all.'

  'Will your brother consent? He is Regent of France.'

  Humfrey had not considered John's reaction but now he said, 'I do not think it is his affair.'

  'Anything to do with Burgundy is his affair.'

  Humfrey shrugged. 'Well, we'll see what replies I receive to my letters.'

  He left Mowbray and went off along a corridor in the darkening palace. He had no intention of seeking his own chamber at the moment but passing the door found William the herald hovering there. 'Well?' he asked irritably, 'what do you want?'

  'Sir, I ask your pardon for disturbing you, but there has been more trouble.'

  Humfrey sighed. 'Oh God, what is it now?'

  'One of the gentlemen of the Estates is below. He complains that some of our men have run wild over his manor, raped three of his serving women and stolen some plate.'

  Humfrey leaned wearily against a stone pillar. It was inevitable that his army, forbidden the city, should search the countryside for food and women.

  At the outset they had been well disciplined and he had allowed only the taking of what was necessary in the way of sustenance, but now between sickness and disappointment and lack of pay, let alone plunder, he had lost control of them and he was too weary to try to regain his authority. His popularity had never been at so low an ebb and never had he so missed Harry's guiding hand. Harry would have dealt immediately and personally with this affair. For himself he could only say, 'Take the matter to the Earl Marshal. Ask him to deal with it.'