Passage to Pontefract by Jean Plaidy Page A

to see his daughter settled in life, which she will be with young Chaucer. The King will give him a pension, I am sure. He has promised me to see to it.’
    ‘They are a fortunate young pair to have won your interest, my lady.’
    ‘I did feel I must do what I could for de Roet’s girl. He was a good and honest servant. She has a sister who has recently married … rather well. I think, for someone in her position. Philippa was telling me about it. This sister Catherine is something of a beauty I gather. In any case she has managed to attract Sir Hugh Swynford. John will know him. He is one of his men and I believe was with him in Gascony recently. However this girl Catherine was clever enough to get him to marry her and it was clever of her because she has no fortune. De Roet left nothing. That is why I feel I must do what I can.’
    ‘At least you have only to concern yourself with one daughter since the other knew how to take care of herself.’
    ‘Catherine is Lady Swynford – a fact which pleases her sister mightily. Mistress Chaucer does not sound so well in her ears as Lady Swynford. I tell her, you have married a poet, my child. Your husband’s verses may well live on after we are all dead and gone when the world may have forgotten a country squire and his wife. Dear Philippa de Roet. I think she is a little impatient with her husband’s verses.’
    ‘I should like to see the girl.’
    ‘My dear Blanche, you shall. I shall have her wait on me this day. She shall sit there with the ladies and work on the garments we are making for the poor. I always feel happy when we are working on those garments although I love to embroider in bright colours. I think of the poor often, Blanche, particularly now that I am old and tired and ill. I think of what a happy life I have had and how some of them live in misery and poverty …’
    ‘Happiness and riches do not necessarily go hand in hand,’ said Blanche.
    ‘You speak wisely, dear child. I hope you will be as happy in your marriage as I have been … until …’
    The Queen stopped abruptly and Blanche bent her head low over her work that Philippa might not see the flush which had arisen to her cheeks.
    That afternoon Philippa Chaucer was in attendance and Blanche was able to study the sturdy young woman who had married the poet. The marriage would have been arranged for them and neither partner would have chosen the other; and it occurred to her that they could well be an incongruous pair.
    She and the Queen talked of her children as they so often did.
    The girls were of an age now when they needed a governess and she was looking for a suitable person. She must have someone who loved children. There was little Henry too. He was becoming the terror of the nursery. Blanche wanted someone who would be able to teach the children a little and at the same time take charge of them in a motherly way. She did not want the usual high-born governante.
    ‘I know exactly what you mean,’ said the Queen. ‘You want someone who will show that devotion to them which Isolda Newman gave to John.’
    Blanche agreed that was what she was looking for.
    ‘We will look for someone and I am sure we shall find the right person.’
    It was a few days later when the Queen asked Blanche to come to her apartments. She was in bed and looking very tired. She told Blanche that she had been too weary to rise that day.
    ‘But let us not talk of my dreary ailments. There are more interesting subjects. Philippa Chaucer has been to me with a request. She said quite candidly that she had overheard our conversation when she was stitching with the ladies and she wishes to put forward the name of her sister as governess to the children.’
    ‘Philippa Chaucer’s sister. That would be interesting.’
    ‘I have told Philippa that I will lay the matter before you. Philippa is eager for her sister to be part of Court life. She says it is no place for her tucked away in Lincolnshire. Swynford’s