William said. “If I were
summoned, I would naturally call on my son to support me, since I have no
castellan for Bix yet and Hurley is now also on my hands. And you would hold
your tongue and send your husband off with a light heart, as is your duty. As
it is, you know quite well that the king will do nothing until after Christmas.
The remnants of our armies are safe for a while, and it takes time to gather a
levy.”
“Good,” Raymond put in. “Then Alys and I can be married and
have a few months of quiet before we go.”
“I think not.” William pursed his lips, and then, seeing
Raymond’s face flush, he smiled. “I did not mean you could not marry,” he
amended hastily. “I meant you would have no time for quiet. Let me finish what
I was about to say before that silly chit dragged us into this stupid
discussion of going to war. The only reason I mentioned the Welsh problem was
to point out why Henry cannot even try to get money or men to aid de Molis.”
“But if the seneschal is not crying wolf…”
“Molis is a good man. He would not cry wolf, although he
himself might be deceived. We can hope that is true but not count on it.”
“Then some help must be sent him,” Raymond said,
frowning.
“Yes, and I think that you may provide that help, or a
little of it, anyway, and Alys and your children profit largely thereby.”
“But my lands are small,” Raymond pointed out, “and my
mother’s people are bound to the de Soler faction, who care more for their own
freedom than for the feudal duties they owe the king.”
“It may be possible to increase your lands substantially, well
above the value of Bix. As you mentioned, those revenues are small but sure.
Twenty pounds in the pocket is more easily spent than a hundred owed but never
paid. At another time, Henry might not see this. He has a sanguine nature and
can seldom be brought to see that long promises long delayed are unlikely ever
to be fulfilled. At this point, however, he might gladly grant several
properties to you for your promise to aid de Molis now and support the right of
the English throne in the future.”
“I would take oath on that, and gladly,” Raymond said. “As for
my own lands and those granted to me, I could perform as I swore, but I cannot
see what my sword and a few hundred men could do.”
“It would be more than that. When you speak, it will be
believed you speak for your father. There is no need to say yea or nay unless
you are asked directly. Moreover, you, too, are related to Gaston of Béarn…”
William allowed his voice to drift away.
Raymond’s pale eyes glittered with enthusiasm. “Yes, I see.
Indeed, I see. I would know what to say, and I have no fear my father would
differ from me.” He jumped to his feet and began to pace about, turning
suddenly and almost bumping into Alys, who had risen and was walking away. “Where
do you go, love?” Raymond asked.
“As far as I can get from both of you,” she replied.
“Dear heart—” Raymond began.
“Alys, my love—” her father said simultaneously.
She looked exasperatedly from one surprised face to another.
“I am so glad my wedding will be of use to the king,” she said, “and to the
seneschal of Gascony, and to the power and purse of my husband, to everyone, in
fact, save me! I am not sure I wish to be married for the purpose of providing
King Henry with an army. And I am not at all sure I will have great pleasure
from a wedding voyage spent alone while my husband goes to war.”
“No, no. I will make time for you, I swear,” Raymond teased,
seizing her in his arms. “You do not understand,” he continued more seriously,
holding her so that she could not wriggle free or strike at him. “If I can
rally enough support, there will not be any war at all. If the king of Navarre
sees a campaign will cost too high, he will withdraw to wait for a more
propitious time to push his claim. Truly, Alys,” he said, releasing her and
looking at her
summoned, I would naturally call on my son to support me, since I have no
castellan for Bix yet and Hurley is now also on my hands. And you would hold
your tongue and send your husband off with a light heart, as is your duty. As
it is, you know quite well that the king will do nothing until after Christmas.
The remnants of our armies are safe for a while, and it takes time to gather a
levy.”
“Good,” Raymond put in. “Then Alys and I can be married and
have a few months of quiet before we go.”
“I think not.” William pursed his lips, and then, seeing
Raymond’s face flush, he smiled. “I did not mean you could not marry,” he
amended hastily. “I meant you would have no time for quiet. Let me finish what
I was about to say before that silly chit dragged us into this stupid
discussion of going to war. The only reason I mentioned the Welsh problem was
to point out why Henry cannot even try to get money or men to aid de Molis.”
“But if the seneschal is not crying wolf…”
“Molis is a good man. He would not cry wolf, although he
himself might be deceived. We can hope that is true but not count on it.”
“Then some help must be sent him,” Raymond said,
frowning.
“Yes, and I think that you may provide that help, or a
little of it, anyway, and Alys and your children profit largely thereby.”
“But my lands are small,” Raymond pointed out, “and my
mother’s people are bound to the de Soler faction, who care more for their own
freedom than for the feudal duties they owe the king.”
“It may be possible to increase your lands substantially, well
above the value of Bix. As you mentioned, those revenues are small but sure.
Twenty pounds in the pocket is more easily spent than a hundred owed but never
paid. At another time, Henry might not see this. He has a sanguine nature and
can seldom be brought to see that long promises long delayed are unlikely ever
to be fulfilled. At this point, however, he might gladly grant several
properties to you for your promise to aid de Molis now and support the right of
the English throne in the future.”
“I would take oath on that, and gladly,” Raymond said. “As for
my own lands and those granted to me, I could perform as I swore, but I cannot
see what my sword and a few hundred men could do.”
“It would be more than that. When you speak, it will be
believed you speak for your father. There is no need to say yea or nay unless
you are asked directly. Moreover, you, too, are related to Gaston of Béarn…”
William allowed his voice to drift away.
Raymond’s pale eyes glittered with enthusiasm. “Yes, I see.
Indeed, I see. I would know what to say, and I have no fear my father would
differ from me.” He jumped to his feet and began to pace about, turning
suddenly and almost bumping into Alys, who had risen and was walking away. “Where
do you go, love?” Raymond asked.
“As far as I can get from both of you,” she replied.
“Dear heart—” Raymond began.
“Alys, my love—” her father said simultaneously.
She looked exasperatedly from one surprised face to another.
“I am so glad my wedding will be of use to the king,” she said, “and to the
seneschal of Gascony, and to the power and purse of my husband, to everyone, in
fact, save me! I am not sure I wish to be married for the purpose of providing
King Henry with an army. And I am not at all sure I will have great pleasure
from a wedding voyage spent alone while my husband goes to war.”
“No, no. I will make time for you, I swear,” Raymond teased,
seizing her in his arms. “You do not understand,” he continued more seriously,
holding her so that she could not wriggle free or strike at him. “If I can
rally enough support, there will not be any war at all. If the king of Navarre
sees a campaign will cost too high, he will withdraw to wait for a more
propitious time to push his claim. Truly, Alys,” he said, releasing her and
looking at her
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