Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer by N. Gemini Sasson Read Free Book Online Page B

Isabella’s way to stop at Leeds Castle. And she approached, not with a mere retinue of damsels, but an armed force. All this less than two weeks after Edward and Despenser met at the Isle of Thanet?” My uncle had his sources, too. “Oh yes, we heard of that. How bloody coincidental. I say the queen was an instrument of their devices, not a passing pilgrim who became the victim of the Lord or Lady Badlesmere’s mistrust. We both know that.”
    Pembroke’s lips tightened beneath his coarse, black mustache. He was not a man to betray his own emotions, but there were subtle signs he was not at ease representing the king in this. He looked away for a moment and selected his words with care. “I did not come to hear complaints and speculations, Lord Roger. Do you think any of us want this?”
    “I think King Edward takes cruel delight in it,” my uncle retorted. “My son’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth is in there. Other children, as well. Surely the king has not resorted to holding women and children as captives in their own homes?”
    Bartholomew blanched. This encounter, undoubtedly, was doing nothing to lift his hopes.
    “Go back, all of you,” Pembroke urged with a trace of kindness. “Understand what I say. For the mercy of God, I’m trying to spare your lives. If you march on Leeds, you’ll be outnumbered, you’ll be defeated, and your little Elizabeth won’t have a father-in-law or a father, let alone a home. Norfolk and Kent have joined the siege. Even the Earl of Surrey. They number some twenty-five thousand. By now maybe more, with Arundel’s men. I do not exaggerate, my lords. If you believe me a liar, come count them yourself.”
    The words fell heavy and foreboding in my ears. Many of those he spoke of had stood with us only weeks ago. Now they flocked around the king like birds during a lean winter to peck at crumbs. My uncle and I exchanged a swift glance.
    “A moment, my lord,” I said to the earl. I drew my uncle across the road where we could not be overheard. I put my lips close to his ear. “We must negotiate.”
    “No.”
    I gripped his arm. “We cannot argue in front of Pembroke. He knows we are fewer in numbers. I beg you, let me handle this.”
    His wrinkled lips contorted in a sneer. “I want full pardons, for all of us. Nothing less.”
    I nodded and we rejoined the earl. “My lord,” I began, “we shall withdraw our army, disband it and return to our lands.” At that, my uncle glared at me so murderously I thought he might silence me with the butt of his sword across my jaw. But he clamped his yellowed teeth shut and allowed me to go on. “In return, the king shall break the siege and grant the inhabitants of Leeds their freedom in exchange for possession of the fortress.”
    Bartholomew did not raise his eyes from the ground.
    “Furthermore,” I continued, “our grievances shall be heard out in parliament and no actions taken against us beforehand.”
    Pembroke turned toward his horse. “I will do what I can to convince the king.”
    “No, you will convince the king. It will be done. You are the only one, my lord, who can.”
    He stifled a smirk and paused with one hand resting against his saddle. “As I said, I will do what I can.”
    We all clasped hands in agreement and mounted our horses. Pembroke sped off with devilish purpose. Badlesmere galloped back to our ranks for safety. But my uncle and I lingered on the riverbank.
    Uncle Roger shook his head in disbelief. “Return to our lands? Disband? What sort of swine manure was that? Have you lost your wits?”
    “Hardly. We will collect our allies and go north – to meet with Lancaster in Pontefract. As for Leeds, we can do nothing there. We’ll have to trust that Pembroke can work his miracles on the king. By the time King Edward learns where we are and who we are with, Badlesmere will be back with his children.”
    But I held little faith in that.
 
     
    *****

    Bridgnorth – December, 1321

    Leeds surrendered