The Passionate Enemies by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online

marry, to get an heir; had he acted according to his inclinations he would have continued to make merry with his mistresses. But he must get a son. He was growing old and there was not much time left for begetting. Moreover, it had been hinted by his priests that, as each day he took a step nearer to that one when he must answer for his sins, he would be well advised to curb the merry life of sexual indulgence which he had followed since his early teens, all through the years of his first marriage until this time.
    Dreary old age! When a man must be concerned at having no heir and at the same time curb his pleasures on earth lest he should find himself, through this indulgence, debarred from sharing those of heaven.
    He should be grateful that the girl was a beauty. Slender, as young girls were, she did not look like a breeder of men. She must be. That was the purpose of the marriage. She was pleasant to look at; he liked her docile looks in a wife, though he would have cared for more spirit in a mistress.
    He kissed her hand tenderly; he felt her tremble slightly. Poor child, she had nothing to fear from him. He wondered if she had heard of his reputation with women. No doubt she had – or would – and be shocked by it. Poor little simpleton, she would not know that he would be kinder to her out of his experience of her sex – and his fondness for it – than a more moral man might have been!
    â€˜You are beautiful,’ he said. ‘I am sure we shall be happy.’
    She did feel happier.
    She sat beside him at the banquet and he talked to her about his Court and life in England. He told her too, of his sorrow when his son William was drowned on the White Ship; he did not mention that two illegitimate children of his were drowned at the same time. Tears filled her eyes and her sympathy made her feel drawn towards him.
    â€˜You will comfort me for my loss,’ he said. ‘You and you alone can do it. We will have a fine son ere long and then I shall cease to mourn.’
    She nodded and her fear of what this would mean was replaced by her desire to soothe him.
    â€˜Would we could be married this day,’ he said. ‘But I am a king and there are times when kings must needs be governed by their subjects. They will wish to see me married. And my Archbishop must perform the ceremony. But have no fear, I shall lose no time in making you my Queen.’
    Adelicia’s parents were delighted with the impression their daughter was making on her future husband and pleased that she did not regard him with the abhorrence they had feared. Adelicia had always been a good and obedient girl but even she might have felt some rebellion to be taken from her home and given to an old man.
    There was much feasting and revelry through the castle and in due course the cavalcade set out for the coast and embarkation to England.
    During the journey the King had become more and more enamoured of his bride, but as it would have been most unseemly to take a mistress while his prospective bride was travelling in his suite and he was unaccustomed to going so long without the solace of feminine company, the waiting was indeed irksome.
    He had found his bride not unintelligent. She lacked the erudition of Matilda, his first wife, but then few women had received the education she had had. He himself had always favoured scholars and was indeed a scholar himself. He had been the only one of his brothers to take kindly to book learning and because of his proficiency in this field had earned the name ‘Beauclerc’. Adelicia could never be the companion Matilda had been; but she was perhaps more meek. He did not expect she would excite him as his mistresses did; nevertheless lovemaking with her would be a pleasure; and in view of the fact that there would be this dedicated purpose behind it he was eager to begin.
    He had begun to charm her with his conversation and subtle compliments; and by the time they reached Ely,