The Lion of Justice by Jean Plaidy

on the nun’s habit and her father had expressed his annoyance and said: ‘She is to be a wife and mother,’ she had dreamed of the man she would marry. Naturally he was young, handsome, courteous, learned, noble; this rough Norman soldier appeared to have few of these virtues.
    He said, ‘I’ll be blunt. I’ve the King’s permission to woo you. I need a wife. I need heirs.’ His eyes swept over her body carefully concealed in the black robes. ‘My wife Constance was barren. It was a source of great concern to me. She died, and now I look for another wife.’
    Was this courtship? It was not how she had imagined it would be. This man leaned heavily towards her. ‘You’re young. You should bear me sons. I have large estates in Normandy. The Duke is a friend of mine and holds me in favour. I am, as you must know, his brother-in-law. You are a Princess but a dowerless one. Your father’s kingdom has been snatched from him. I doubt not your brother would be pleased to give you to me.’
    Edith said hastily, ‘I am not sure, my lord, that I would make you a suitable wife.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜I know little of the demands of married life.’
    He laughed and from across the chamber the Abbess watched uneasily.
    He laid a hot and heavy hand on her thigh. ‘That is something I can teach you. I would not wish you practised in such matters. The King would give his consent, I know.’
    â€˜There is my uncle to be consulted.’
    â€˜Have no fear. If the King consents so will he.’
    â€˜I should need time to consider.’
    â€˜You know little of the ways of love, you tell me, maiden.You know little of the ways of state. The King has decided that I shall have you if I like what I see. And I like it well enough.’ Leaning towards her suddenly he pushed back the coif which concealed her hair. The two thick fair braids were revealed.
    â€˜Why, yes,’ he said. ‘I like it well.’
    The Abbess, her face pink with mortification, had come towards them.
    â€˜I gave you no permission, sir, to
undress
my charges.’
    â€˜Why, Abbess, you put ideas into my head. You could not call removing the head-dress undressing.’
    â€˜The interview must be at an end,’ she said.
    â€˜So be it. I have seen enough,’ replied the Duke.
    He stood up; he bowed. Christina said to the girls, ‘Wait here.’ And she herself conducted Alan of Bretagne from the chamber.
    Edith’s face was scarlet; she was trembling. She could not forget the gleam in his eyes.
    Mary was excited. ‘Edith, does it mean that you are going to be married?’
    â€˜He said he had come to look at me and I was well enough.’
    â€˜Did you like him?’
    â€˜I hated him. I hated the way he looked at me. As though I were a horse. His hands were hot and strong. Oh, Mary, he frightened me.’
    â€˜But he would be a husband. Oh, Edith, if you marry I shall be here alone.’
    â€˜They will find a husband for you doubtless.’
    â€˜I hope he will not be as old as yours.’
    â€˜I am going to my cell.’
    â€˜The Abbess said we were to wait.’
    â€˜I cannot, Mary. I want to get away from this room . . . I can see him too clearly here. I can smell him, I can’t get away from him here.’
    â€˜She will be angry.’
    â€˜I don’t care, Mary. I must go.’
    She lay on her straw. Anything, she thought, was better than submitting to what he was going to teach her. He was notthe lover whom she had imagined. He wanted to breed sons and he was going to enjoy the breeding, in a manner which she did not think would be very enjoyable to her. In truth he repelled her so strongly that what she wanted more than anything was never to see him again. Anything . . . simply anything was better than marriage with him.
    But the King had given his consent. She knew well enough that Princesses had