And in Boulogne, Edward was waiting for her. He was every bit as handsome as they had said. Her heart leaped with delight when she saw the flaxen hair stirred slightly by the breeze and the bluest eyes she had ever beheld.

Moreover, he was tall and held his head like the King he was.

Isabella had fallen in love at first sight with the King of England.


* * *

He was charming and courteous to her and her parents looked on at the young couple with unfeigned delight. Dear Aunt Marguerite, who herself had gone to England as a young girl to be the bride of the King, the present one’s father, was clearly moved. Aunt Marguerite was gentle and kind and she whispered that she hoped Isabella would be as happy in England as she had been. If there was a faintly apprehensive look in her eyes as she spoke, Isabella did not notice it.

She noticed nothing but Edward.

He took her hand and told her how enchanted he was by her beauty. He had heard word of it of course but it exceeded all expectations, and he eagerly awaited their marriage.

The preparations had been made with the utmost care, and the ceremony in the church of Notre Dame was most impressive. The handsome distinguished looks of the bridegroom, the fresh and startling beauty of the bride, were marvelled and to those who knew nothing of the King’s infatuation for Piers Gaveston it seemed the perfect match.

Isabella was one of those and she often thought afterwards that had she received some intimation of what she would have to expect she might have been able to handle the situation more wisely. For one thing she would never have allowed herself to fall in love.

Those were happy days— perhaps the happiest of her life. She loved the pomp and ceremony; she loved the homage to her beauty and her rank. In the church of Notre Dame she had become a Queen as well as a wife and Edward appeared to have fallen as deeply in love with her as she with him.

Edward was in fact chafing against his separation from Gaveston. He knew he must accept this because this marriage was necessary. Isabella was a beautiful girl and she was most enamoured of him so he was lucky for he might have had someone he could not take to at all. This beautiful daughter of the King of France must bear him a child and quickly. Both he and Perrot had agreed on that. He was glad therefore that she was not repulsive to him, and that he could, with some conviction, play the part of the devoted husband.

This he did and with such success that Isabella believed herself to be the happiest woman in France. Marriage suited her. She had always known it would. She had always liked to hear about her women’s love affairs. Now she understood so much that she never had before and she was going to have few regrets at leaving France because she was going to Edward’s country which she would rule with him.

She realized quickly that Edward was pliant as well as amiable and that delighted her. She believed he was the kind of man whom she could govern. He clearly wanted to please her. She must keep him thus.

She began to suspect that he was a little lazy. So much the better. She had energy enough for them both. He would discuss everything with her. They would work together but it would be her will which would be done.

Oh, she was deeply content in her marriage.


* * *

The King of France walked arm-in-arm with his son-in-law in the gardens of the palace.

‘It gives me the greatest pleasure,’ said Philip, ‘to see your happiness with my daughter.’

‘Your daughter is the most beautiful girl in France,’ replied Edward.

‘I see we were meant to agree.’ Philip gave his sly quiet smile. ‘It is a good augury for the future, my son, when France and England walk together in amity.’

‘There will be many in France and England who will rejoice at this time.’

‘My dear son, let us keep it so. Let us make a vow of friendship.’

They were both ready to swear to that for neither would be entirely scrupulous if the need arose to break a vow or two.

‘You have heard of the wicked doings of the Templars, I doubt not,’ went on Philip.

Edward replied that he had. It was difficult to be in France and not know that they were being arrested all over the country and put to the torture in castle dungeons where they admitted that they were guilty of the most horrifying crimes.

‘There can be no peace in countries where such wickedness is allowed to flourish.’

‘That must be so,’ agreed Edward.

‘What of those who have sought refuge in England? There are many of them.’

‘Oh, many of them.’

‘You must hunt them out. You must not allow them to pollute your country.’

‘Oh no, they shall not,’ replied Edward; he was not thinking of the Templars. He was wondering how Perrot was faring and whether he was having trouble with the barons who had been so jealous about the Regency.

‘Arrest them. Bring them to trial. Make them confess their abominations. It is the only way.’

‘Oh yes, the only way.’

‘Put them to the torture. Nothing is too fierce for them. You will wring the confessions from them. Then you confiscate their goods. They have managed to build up treasures, I can tell you.’

‘I am sure of it.’

‘Why should that wealth not be used in the service of the country?’

‘Why not indeed.’

‘I shall be interested to hear what comes of this.’

‘You shall be kept informed.’

The King of France looked satisfied. They went into the palace together.

‘I am glad you are of my opinion and that we are in agreement on this matter,’ said Philip.

What matter? wondered Edward lightly. What had the old man been talking about?

Isabella joined them.

‘She is upbraiding me for keeping her husband from her,’ said Phillip with a roguishness which did not match his shrewd face.

Isabella took Edward’s arm. ‘Well, I have found you now.’

‘We have had an interesting talk,’ said her father, ‘and we see many things from the same angle. This is a happy time for our two countries.’

Phillip led them into his private chamber and there he took a key from his chain and opened a wooden box with a strong iron lock. From it, he lifted a heavy chain of gold studded with rubies and diamonds of an unusual size and of great beauty.

This he placed about Edward’s neck.

‘A gift to you, my son. An outward sign of our promise to work together.’

‘Magnificent!’ cried Edward.

The King took a ring from the box. It was set with rubies and diamonds matched the chain. Philip put the ring on Edward’s finger.

‘A token of our friendship,’ said Philip. ‘You are my son now.’

Edward was astounded at the magnificence of the gift and he immediately wondered what Perrot would think of them. Perrot loved rubies almost as much as he loved diamonds!

Phillip was in a generous mood, which was unusual with him, and added a special significance to the gifts. There were more of these to come for he had acquired so much booty from the Templars that he could well afford to part with some of it. He produced a belt and two fine brooches all set with glittering jewels and some bales of linen and velvet.

It was a token of friendship and the knowledgeable agreed that Phillip’s generosity meant that he intended to rule England through his son-in-law.


* * *

‘My father loves you,’ said Isabella.

They lay on their bed together, his arm about her, her lovely hair loose about her shoulders. Now and then she paused in her conversation to kiss him lightly on the lips or brow. He smiled benignly at these caresses. She was a beautiful and passionate girl and it had not been as difficult as he had thought it might be to do his duty by her.

‘How shall I like England?’ she asked.

‘You will love it.’

‘Because it is beautiful or because you will be there?’

‘For both reasons,’ said Edward.

‘Will the people love me?’

‘How could they help it?’

‘The French can be difficult. They are quickly angered. There are riots now and then and people speak against the royal family.’

‘This happens now and then. But when the people see you, they will love you.’

‘Do they love you?’

‘So far, yes.’

‘You think they will change?’

‘They are fickle. They will tell you my father was the greatest of kings now that he is dead, but they did not always so while he lived.’

‘But they love you in spite of the fact that you are alive.’

‘I am a new King and they have not yet learned to hate me. At this stage they blame others for my shortcomings. Perrot― for instance. They blame him.’

‘Perrot?’

‘Oh― he is just one of the knights. The Earl of Cornwall, in truth.’

‘Why do they blame him?’

‘They must blame someone. Now let me tell you what I have done for you.

We shall go to Westminster Palace. You will see what I have ordered to be done and it is all to please you. I have had the gardens returfed and trellises built and flowers planted just for you. And I have had a new pier built which shall be called the Queen’s Bridge.’

‘All for me.’

‘Yes, for you. You will find I am ready to do a great deal for you.’

She kissed him again and again― light butterfly kisses first.

His arms tightened about her.

Oh, yes, it was certainly a great deal easier than he had believed possible. He wondered if Perrot had found it equally so with his bride.


* * *

The Dowager Queen of England came into her niece’s chamber and, as she indicated that she wished to speak to her alone, Isabella’s attendants disappeared.

‘It is nothing much,’ said Queen Marguerite. ‘I merely thought that as what is happening to you is so like what happened to me‚ we might have a little chat.’

‘My dearest aunt, you were very happy in England were you not?’

‘I was completely happy. Your husband’s father was good to me. I was afraid when I left France. You are not afraid, Isabella?’

Isabella shook her head.

‘That is well, dear niece. You are young and beautiful and strong-willed. I was young but that is where the comparison ends.’

‘Oh, but Aunt Marguerite, you were always very pretty and still are.’

‘There are some in our family who have outstanding beauty. You are one.

Your father was another and so was my sister Blanche. Edward had heard of her charms and wanted to marry her. Then your father changed his mind and I was sent in Blanche’s place. It was not a good beginning. But Edward never showed his disappointment. He said afterwards how glad he was that I came instead of Blanche. It was a very happy marriage. But then Edward was a good husband― a loved his family dearly. I wonder if―’

‘If my Edward will be the same. Dear lady, do not worry. I shall be.’

‘Yes, you will see to that. Of course Kings have such power and so many seek to please them. Often they are tempted―’

‘Tempted?’

‘To― take lovers.’

Isabella laughed. ‘There shall be none of that. Why, my lady, Edward is a meek man. He is a man who would not seek trouble. Never fear, I shall know how to deal with him.’

‘Of course you will, my dear.’

‘You are looking uneasy. Tell me, is there some scandal in Edward’s life of which I have not heard? I shall ask him. I shall demand a full confession.’

‘Oh no, no― You must not do that. All will be well. I was just over anxious― nothing more. Pray forget what I said.’

Dear Aunt Marguerite! She was rather a simpleton, but she had the kindest heart in the world. She was merely trying to warn her young niece of the ways of men.

Isabella kissed her warmly.

‘There is one thing you must know,’ she said. ‘I am able to take care of myself― and Edward.’

The Dowager Queen nodded eagerly. Of course it would be all right, she assured herself. Now that he had a young wife, this regrettable liaison with Piers Gaveston would cease.


* * *

It was time to leave for England. The young bride said farewell to her parents who had solemnly placed her in the care of her two uncles, Charles de Valois and Louis d’Evreux.