The Prince of Darkness by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page B

to be disposed of before she brought another rival on to the scene. It was bad enough for Arthur to be there.
    He turned to Joanna, clearly pregnant.
    ‘My dearest sister. This is a sad occasion. I trust it has done no harm to the child you carry.’
    Joanna turned away to hide her tears. ‘He was so wonderful,’ she said.
    ‘We share our grief,’ murmured John, forcing his voice to tremble. ‘And my dear sister-in-law … how sad for you.’
    He took Berengaria’s hands and looked into her face. Don’t dare to be pregnant! he was thinking. No, you are not. Richard never wanted you to be. He had no wish for a son.
    ‘Come to my private apartments,’ said his mother. He had to admire her. She had retired to seclusion, they had thought, but events like this would always bring her out to fight for the family; he thanked his good fortune that she had decided that he was to inherit the throne. What if she had let her choice rest on Arthur? No, with her, a son came before a grandson.
    When they were alone together he could see at once that she was uneasy. She was bitterly mourning for Richard. ‘This has been such a sad blow to me,’ she said. ‘I had never thought it possible that he would go and leave me here. I used to worry about him when he was in the Holy Land and during that terrible time when we did not know where he was. But when he came back – as strong and as brave as ever – I never thought he could go before I did and leave me lonely.’
    Fighting his resentment John took her hand and kissed it.
    ‘You still have one son, Mother,’ he reminded her.
    ‘You, John … the youngest of them all. And you have become the King.’
    ‘It is a great responsibility.’
    ‘I’m glad you realise it.’ She looked at him shrewdly. ‘It will not be easy. You know that. You will have more conflict to face than Richard ever did.’
    ‘Yes,’ he said, his mouth tightening. ‘There is Arthur.’
    ‘William Marshal believes that you come before Arthur.’
    ‘William Marshal!’ The joy showed briefly in John’s face. There was one of the most influential men in England, a man renowned for his integrity. Others would follow him.
    ‘I have sent him to England to prepare the people for your reception there and to urge them to accept you as the rightful King.’
    ‘You have always been the best of mothers.’
    ‘Marshal, with Hubert Walter, will convince the people that you are the true King.’
    ‘The Church must be involved, I dare say.’
    ‘Hubert is Archbishop of Canterbury. He will perform the coronation. His approval is essential.’
    ‘And you think he will give it?’
    ‘If he wavers, Marshal will persuade him. John, you will have to curb your levity.’
    ‘All that is past. I recognise the responsibilities I have for my crown.’
    ‘Then that is well. You must always be just. Think of your father. Oh, he had his faults, but taking everything into account he was a good and worthy ruler. The people accepted him because he was just. Try to follow his example.’
    ‘I shall not follow Richard’s example by leaving my country in the hands of men like Longchamp while I go off in search of glory.’
    ‘Richard had a mission. He had vowed to go on a crusade. He saw that as his first duty.’
    John clasped his hands and raised his eyes piously to the ceiling. ‘Mine shall be to my country.’
    Eleanor looked at him sharply. ‘John,’ she said, ‘this is the most important time of your life.’
    ‘I know it well.’
    ‘You will have to walk with the utmost care.’
    ‘I know that also.’
    ‘Philip will have to be watched. It may well be that he will try to put Arthur in your place.’
    ‘Think you that I shall allow it?’
    ‘We must see that it does not happen.’
    He was silent for a while. Then he said, ‘Poor Berengaria. She looks fatigued.’
    ‘She has suffered much. His death was a great shock to her.’
    ‘I was wondering … is it possible … If it were so it would create an