The Lion of Justice (27 page)

It was a comfortable arrangement.

Each day Nesta rose late, she had assigned the duties of châtelaine to a housekeeper. This suited her indolent nature; and because she was rarely out of humour she was popular both with the young and old of her household.

When visitors came to Carew Castle she liked to hear news of the Court but had no great wish to go there, although she knew that Henry had once thought of installing her near him. If he had been in a position to marry in the early stages of their liaison he might have married her, but when he became King and could have done so there was the need to unite the Normans and Saxons, so he must perforce marry the Saxon Princess whose uncle had a claim to the throne.

Nesta did not think that the role of Queen would have suited her.

‘You would have been too disturbing an influence at Court, my dear,' Henry had once told her. ‘Moreover, the Queen's morals must be above reproach. A king has to be sure that his son or daughter is of the royal blood.'

‘My dear Henry,' she had replied, ‘that would have put too great a strain on my frail morals.'

And they laughed together.

Now her cousin Owen, son of Cadwgan, had arrived at the castle; and one encounter with the young man had been enough to tell Nesta that he would soon be attempting to share her bed.

She was amused by him. He was a fiery youth, and as it was a long time since she had had a visit from the King she was not averse to a new adventure.

Henry would not expect absolute fidelity from her, any more than she would have done from him. They were of a kind; and this had served them both well. There were never any reproaches when they met.

Owen could see nothing but Nesta, and when in the banqueting hall at Carew they were seated side by side at the board his hand sought hers.

‘You are the most fascinating woman I ever saw,' he told her.

She smiled at him lazily.

‘We must be together . . . alone,' he went on urgently.

‘Listen to the minstrel,' she answered. ‘He sings a song of longing, of unrequited love. Is that not suited to the occasion?'

‘Nay,' cried the young Owen. ‘For I will not allow that to be. I have never seen any woman like you. I would rather die than forgo your favours.'

‘Shall I tell my husband? Perhaps he would send someone to despatch you to the other world.'

‘You jest, Nesta.'

She studied him appraisingly. Young, impetuous. A good lover, she doubted not. There was no real substitute for Henry and she knew that there was none to take her place with him, but he had his Matilda and perhaps she would test this Owen.

‘You hesitate,' he said.

‘Under my husband's roof . . .' she began.

‘Oh come, we know that the King often visits you . . . under your husband's roof.'

‘The King is the King and master of us all.'

‘Not in Wales. By God, no.'

‘Treason?' she said.

His hand was on her thigh. ‘When?' he said.

She pretended to consider.

He went on, ‘I will come to your bedchamber.'

‘And share my bed with my husband?'

‘That old man, that . . . that . . . Oh God, I'll show you.'

‘I have been shown before, you must know.'

‘That is what excites me about you. I never felt so before.'

‘My dear cousin, if you are wise you will go back to your father's castle and take a mistress or a wife of your own age. You will see the wisdom of this.'

‘Wisdom! What man was ever wise when he looked on you?'

‘Gerald was wise. See what a fine castle he has got for himself for marrying me.'

‘And in his feeble way he loves you, too.'

‘Go home, cousin, and forget Nesta.'

That was impossible. Nesta was amused, wondering what he would do. She even believed that he would break into her bedchamber and take her before Gerald's eyes. Poor Gerald, he would be powerless to resist the strength of this young man, who was daily growing more and more maddened by his desire for her.

He caught her eventually, as she intended he should. It was in the grounds of the castle, where any might have come upon them. It gave a certain fillip to the occasion which pleased Nesta! And afterwards, lying on her back staring up at the blue sky, she said, ‘Now you are satisfied.'

‘Never!' he cried. ‘I could live a hundred years with you and never be satisfied.'

‘Alas, I cannot put you to that test.'

She was amused by her cousin. They made love in various parts of the grounds and in the countryside, in the castle and in their bedchambers.

Then Owen's father called him home.

‘I cannot leave you,' he told Nesta.

She was beginning to be a little disturbed by the fervent nature of this young man.

‘Your father calls for you.'

‘I'll take you with me.'

‘You are talking nonsense. Of course I must stay here. What think you the King would say if he came riding by and found me gone?'

‘I care nothing for the King. I care only for you.'

‘Hush! That's treason.'

‘I care nothing for treason.'

‘You would if the King had your eyes put out.'

That sobered him.

‘You would plead for me, Nesta.'

‘Perhaps,' she answered gently.

He seized her hand. ‘Would he be angered? You must have had other lovers.'

‘Yes, I have had others.'

‘And he knows?'

‘We do not speak of such things. We are too worldly.'

‘And I am not? So you prefer him to me.'

‘He is the King.'

‘He married that Saxon woman. Did you know what they call them? Gaffer Goodrich and Goody Maude! She does good work, and the King finds her very dull. Who would not seem dull after Nesta?'

‘I believe the King to be well satisfied with his Queen.'

‘She has given him two children. You, too. By the Saints, Nesta, you shall bear my children.'

‘It's to be hoped not, cousin. I do not want too many little bastards about me.'

‘Nesta, you madden me.'

There was nothing to do but make love.

He was a fair lover but he was too young and impetuous and she was not ill pleased when he was finally obliged to leave.

She should have known that that would not be the end.

Instead of satisfying him that she was just one of many women she had convinced him, as she seemed to have convinced the King, that she was unique. She was sensuous in the extreme, sexual desires were as demanding in her as in her lovers, and try as she might she could never stop herself implying that to each one he was the best lover she had ever had; and as she was known to have had many this was the greatest compliment she could pay, and such a one that it
never failed to increase a lover's ardour.

Cadwgan, father of Owen, had heard rumours of what had happened during his son's sojourn at Carew Castle and knowing full well the unequalled charms of its châtelaine he was well aware of the effect she would have had on Owen. Therefore he would not allow his son to visit the castle again.

The desperate Owen sent one of his servants to the castle to entreat Nesta to come to him.

‘He declares,' said the messenger, ‘that he is mad for love of you. If you will come with me I will take you to him and he will defy the whole country, including the King, and he will take you where you can live in peace.'

‘Go and tell him he is indeed mad,' said Nesta. ‘We have had a pleasant friendship but it is over now. Tell him to obey his father, for he is very young and he must forget me.'

The messenger shook his head and said, ‘My lady he will never accept that.'

Nesta was then a little uneasy, and she was watchful night and day for what folly her cousin might commit.

Nesta awoke. Something had startled her. She looked at Gerald sleeping beside her.

Yes, there were shouts from below. She ran to the window and called down, ‘What is happening down there?'

One of the grooms looked up. ‘My lady, it is young Owen, son of Cadwgan, who is below.'

She ran to the door and drew the heavy bolt. Then she turned to Gerald, who was sitting up in bed.

‘Owen is here. He is storming the castle.'

‘For what purpose?'

Poor old man! Did he not guess?

‘I think he has come for me. Dress quickly. There is no time to lose.'

‘What shall we do?'

‘He may kill you. He is a reckless, foolish young man. I would he had never come here.'

Gerald was trembling, and she felt compassion for him. Poor Gerald, he had had to marry her because the King commanded it. And trust Henry to choose an old man who could not rival him!

And now if that headstrong Owen forced his way in, which
he undoubtedly would, and saw Gerald in her bed he might be capable of any act of folly.

Already he was trying the door. Finding it locked he hammered on it.

‘What do you want?' cried Nesta.

‘You know full well. I come for you.'

‘Get you gone.'

‘When you come with me.'

‘I am in bed with my husband.'

‘I will run him through and take his place.'

‘I shall not come out. You can never break down the iron door. Go away. It will go ill with you if you do not.'

‘I have vowed to myself that I will not leave here without you.'

She turned to Gerald who was hastily throwing on some clothes.

‘This hot-headed young fool will do us an injury,' said Nesta.

‘We are safe here,' said Gerald. ‘He can never break down the door. It is especially made for an attack such as this. It is of iron.'

There was silence from without.

‘He has gone away,' said Gerald.

But this was not so.

They heard Owen's voice suddenly. ‘If you do not come out I will burn you out.'

‘You cannot.'

‘I will. I will set fire to this room. I will burn you out like rats.'

‘He cannot mean this,' said Gerald.

‘He does. He is a young man gone mad!'

She set about pulling up some of the floor boards for she knew that under the chamber was a passage through which her husband could escape.

‘Come then,' he said.

‘Nay,' she answered, ‘if I do not go out he will burn down the house. There are the children to consider.'

So Gerald concealed himself and Nesta unlocked the door and stepped out as Owen stood there, a blazing firebrand in his hand.

‘You are mad,' she cried.

‘Yes,' he answered, handing the burning brand to one of his men. ‘Made mad by my desire for you.'

With that he forced her into the bedchamber. He saw the disarranged bed and as he flung himself upon her he said, ‘So your gallant husband has escaped me. Never mind. I have that for which I came.'

‘This could cost your life,' she told him.

‘It was worth it.'

‘You'll not say that when the irons enter your eyes.'

‘I would say it if they flayed me alive.'

‘You are a young fool.'

‘I love you, Nesta. No woman will do for me but you.'

‘So you would take me by force?'

‘If the need arose. But it did not. You were willing. Don't deny it. Now I shall take you away with me.'

‘Abduct me!'

‘You do not think I came here to stay.'

‘There will be trouble, Owen.'

‘Let there be.'

‘You are not considering what this could mean.'

‘Come away with me and you will see.'

‘If I refuse?'

‘Then I must needs bind you and carry you off.'

‘I will come,' she said, ‘on one condition.'

‘Name it.'

‘That I bring my boys with me and those of my husband's previous marriage.'

‘What do you want with them?'

‘Two of them are mine and the others are their playmates. I want them with me.'

‘They shall come. See how I indulge your whims.'

‘Well, do you intend to carry me off now or spend the night in this bed?'

‘Not the whole night,' he answered.

‘There is trouble in Wales,' said the King.

Matilda raised her eyebrows. Real trouble, she wondered, or just the desire to see the lady of Carew Castle?

‘And you must needs go to settle the matter, I doubt not?'

‘That is so. Two houses are warring together.'

‘Can they not settle their own differences?'

‘My dear Matilda, you know that aught that happens in this country is my concern.'

She did not ask what the trouble was, but she noticed that he went off with that expression of expectancy which she had begun to associate with his visits to Wales.

It was not long before she learned the truth. Nesta again! Sometimes she wished she could see this woman for herself. At others she was glad that she could not. She knew that the rest of his mistresses were in truth of little importance in the King's life. Not so Nesta.

Her attendant and friend Gunilda whispered to her that the war which was being waged on the Welsh border was due to a woman. She did not mention the woman's name but Matilda knew.

‘Why should they be quarrelling over this woman?' she asked.

‘Her cousin came and abducted her. He was so maddened by his love for her that he was ready to risk his life. His father is furious with him and the lady's husband enjoys great favour since . . . since . . . since . . .'

Matilda said, ‘I understand. This woman is another Helen of Troy.'

Another Helen! she thought; and how can I hope to compete with her?

Henry came back from Wales – reluctant, she knew, to leave this Circe.

‘So you have settled this matter of war in Wales?' she asked him.

He had, he told her.

‘And the lady is returned to her husband?'

He nodded, still smiling, the magic of those hours spent with Nesta still clinging to him.