The Marriage Prize (41 page)

Simon de Montfort, and on the left were knights commanding

bands of soldiers from the city

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of London. Simon himself commanded a large troop of

mounted reserves, waiting on the highest ground to attack any

weak link that appeared in the royal army's chain.

Edward Plantagenet, fil ed with zeal and impatience, charged

the enemy's London men-at-arms, who were streaming down

the eastern ridge. Rodger de Leyburn, in the forefront with his

mounted knights, gave a brief thought to the sixteen-year-olds

on both sides, who would find themselves fighting a war for

the first time. He wel remembered that first shock of finding

himself in the midst of a battle where he had committed

himself to die or to kil those about him. Then there was no

more time for thought, only for action, as the kil ing began.

They charged up the ridge in a deafening clatter of hooves,

clash of weapons, and wild battle cries. The enemy's mounted

knights and foot soldiers were no match for the onslaught of

Edward's troops. They began to retreat back over the crest of

the escarpment, and Edward's men fol owed in furious pursuit.

They chased the enemy for four miles and systematical y

annihilated it.

Simon de Montfort could do nothing to aid his left flank, but

when Edward's army disappeared over the crest, the earl saw

a golden opportunity to ride down the slope and attack the

king's center with al the strength he commanded. The battle

swayed back and forth amid bloody swords, maces, and

battle-axes. The dead fel under the hooves of the warhorses,

while the wounded lay screaming and unheeded. Richard of

Cornwal 's line buckled beneath the hammer blows of the

barons, and the king's brother was taken prisoner. Then the

center broke, and King Henry retreated to the Priory of Lewes,

where he took refuge.

When Edward had defeated the enemy's troops, he cal ed a

halt, but it took a considerable time to gather his men, who

were spread out over four miles, and lead them back up the

slopes to the battlefield. Edward's victorious cavalry intended

to attack the baronial forces that had been held in reserve, but

to Edward's disbelief he found that the battle had been lost in

his absence. His bloodlust flaming, Edward wanted to fight on,

even though he faced the ful strength of Simon de Montfort's

army, but Rodger de Leyburn told him flatly that he would be

sacrificing every soldier in his command. Wiser to order the

foot soldiers to disband and flee to the safety of Pevensey, so

they would live to fight an-

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other day. Edward saw the wisdom of Rodger's words, issued

the order, then he and his knights took refuge in John de

Warenne's castle.

The streets of Lewes, piled with dead bodies and strewn with

wounded men, looked like a slaughterhouse that night. Simon

de Montfort surrounded both the priory and the castle, but

instead of storming them, decided to arrange a surrender

without more bloodshed. Intermediaries went back and forth

al night long, between priory, castle, and de Montfort's

headquarters, negotiating the terms of the royal surrender.

In the castle, Edward drew apart from his knights. It was the

most humiliating night of his life. He had been so confident he

could pit his strength against that of his godfather, from whom

he had learned his military skil s. He took the whole burden of

the loss on his own broad shoulders, because he had thrown

away the chance of victory in the excitement of pursuit of the

enemy. In that moment, he hated himself, and he hated with a

vengeance the undefeated warlord, Simon de Montfort.

Only one knight dared to approach Lord Edward. Rodger de

Ley-burn looked at the handsome young face above the

bloodstained armor. "Do not blame yourself, Edward; you

fought valiantly."

"I wil blame no other!" he said grimly. "Excuses are for weak men. I made grievous mistakes today; I intend to let the lesson

sink in deep. I wil never make those mistakes again!" he

vowed.

Rod had never admired Edward more than he did at this

moment of adversity. "You must think of the future when you

agree to terms," Rod said shrewdly.

"Aye, my father wil promise anything, but I wil not!" He looked over at his cousin Harry, sitting morosely in a corner, and

motioned him over with a battered hand. "Harry, you wil agree

to be a royal hostage with me. I want my knights freed; Rodger

here, John and Lincoln de Warenne, and most important is the

freedom of the Marcher barons. The border lords must not be

held captive. I'l tel de Montfort they are needed to keep the

Welsh in check."

"We wil pressure de Montfort to free you both," Rodger

assured them, "but if al else fails, we wil plot your escape."

Rod flashed his devilish grin.

* * * 239

Prince Edward, Richard of Cornwal , and Harry of Almaine

were taken to Dover Castle, but because the barons feared

their escape across the English Channel, they were removed

to Kenilworth Castle at the end of May for safer keeping.

Simon de Montfort took King Henry back to London with him

and lodged the king at St. Paul's, where Queen Eleanor had

taken sanctuary. He set up a new government, with himself as

Protector, but shrewdly, he made Henry put his royal signature

on every official communication and issued them in the name

of the king.

At Kenilworth, Countess Eleanor de Montfort presided over

the household that now resembled a royal court in size and

importance. Earl Simon had three couriers going back and

forth between Durham House in London and Kenilworth

Castle, but often he himself traveled there with an armed force

of 150 lances at his back.

As Simon and his men thundered beneath Kenilworth's

portcul is, his eyes scanned the wal s, eager for a glimpse of

his wife. As he strode inside the impregnable stronghold, his

mood lifted the moment he saw her, and his heart rejoiced at

the eager, warm welcome Eleanor gave him.

"I am so proud of you, Simon," she whispered.

"Nay, beloved, 'tis I who am proud of you. I could never have

achieved victory without your love and support. Though you

are a royal Plantagenet, you stand with me against your family,

and it humbles me."

She laughed up into his eyes. "You? Humble? I don't believe

either of us is capable of such a thing." Eleanor saw him for

what he was, and ambition was no smal part of him. To

England, Simon de Montfort was a symbol, to the barons he

was a leader, but to her he was love eternal.

"You have always given me such wise advice, Eleanor, and

though I have never told you, I think of you as my equal. From

now on, I would like your signature on al official documents."

She was flattered beyond belief at her husband's words, and

quite wil ing to place her Plantagenet name next to that of Earl

Simon de Montfort, Protector of England. Eleanor smiled

proudly and touched his face. "I am your woman ... forever."

De Montfort took charge of al royal castles and made his

eldest son, Henry, governor of Hereford. He put his second

son, Simon, in command of the forces of Surrey and Sussex.

He also set up watchers along the

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entire eastern coast from north to south, to make sure that

King Henry's brother-in-law, King Louis of France, did not

invade England.

To ensure peace with Wales, Simon de Montfort invited self-

styled king Llewelyn to Kenilworth, hoping he would sign a

treaty promising no hostilities for a period of two years. The

great warlord had become a statesman who was kept busy

from dawn to dusk. But in the back of his mind were ever

thoughts of Prince Edward Plantagenet. At the Battle of

Lewes, he had experienced firsthand the prince's abilities

regarding warfare. He had seen his fire and his sword, and

knew Edward's vigor, strength, and determination. But what

fueled his apprehension most was Edward's natural ability to

lead men. Simon de Montfort wondered just how long the

young lion could be kept caged.

Twenty-two

Rosamond's emotions were in turmoil when she received the

message from her husband. Her reasoning told her it was

right and just that Simon de Montfort and the barons had been

victorious at Lewes, yet she was sore at heart that Edward

and Rodger had been defeated in battle and that al the royal

males were now prisoners.

Rosamond expected Rod to return at any hour, and her hand

slipped to her bel y protectively. She was five ful months with

child, and though her flowing gowns hid her pregnancy wel ,

her waist had expanded and her breasts were much ful er.

She knew that once her husband saw her naked, he would

know her secret.

At the beginning of May, when Chirk had given birth to three

puppies, Rosamond had been racked with worry over her

Welsh terrier's delivery. To her overwhelming relief, al had

gone wel , but then her fears had been transferred to the

puppies' survival. Rosamond worried that bigger dogs would

savage them, or horses would step on them, or they would fal

down the wel , but Chirk carried them in her mouth from harm's

way and seemed to be actual y happy in her new role as

mother. Deep inside, Rosamond knew her fears for her

animals were rooted in her own pregnancy and the child she

would deliver in four months' time.

******************

shining bril iantly, and a profusion of hawthorn petals was

drifting from the trees on the gentle breeze, when Rodger de

Leyburn rode into Windsor. Rosamond and Eleanora were

playing with their dogs by the lake when they saw him. They

hurried to greet him, and though the princess tried to be

brave, she burst into tears when he gave her a private

message from her husband.

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"I cannot bear that Edward is a prisoner!"

"He offered himself as hostage so that his knights could go

free," Rodger explained.

"He has so much courage!" Eleanora sobbed harder.

"You must take courage from him. He has been taken to Kenil-

worth along with Harry and Richard of Cornwal , and I know

that Countess Eleanor de Montfort wil treat them like honored

guests, even though they wil be closely guarded."

Rosamond knew Rodger's ability to always say the right thing,

and was not surprised to see Eleanora dry her tears and

smile at the news he gave her. She could not help staring at

her husband; he was so much tal er than she remembered

and twice as handsome. Her gaze traveled the length of him,

looking for signs of a wound or injury. "Are you wel , my lord?"

"Your anxiety pleases me, though I hoped you would run to me

and fling yourself in my arms." He grinned wickedly. "Al my body parts are intact."

Her violet eyes sparkled. "You are stil a devil, de Leyburn. I

enjoy your occasional flashes of wit, though not as much as

your occasional flashes of silence."

He looked at the pups, then addressed Bebe, Eleanora's

white Maltese terrier. "So this is what your indiscriminate

mating has produced; let it be a lesson to you!"

"They are beautiful pups!" Rosamond protested quickly, then

realized Rod was teasing her, and realized too how relieved

she was that he had returned unharmed. She had missed him

beyond reason.

When they were alone, Rod cocked an eyebrow at her. "If I

didn't know better, Rosamond, I'd think you were happy to see

me."

"Oh, I am! Nimbus and I wil need you when she goes into foal.

I managed with Chirk, but when my mare gives birth, it wil be

too daunting to face alone. You do realize that I suspect

Stygian, your wretched black stal ion?"

"You have a very suspicious nature when it comes to me and

mine, but this time you are quite wrong, chérie."

"How do you know that?" she demanded, tossing back her

hair.

"Have you any idea how long a mare carries its foal? "

243

"Wel , cats take six weeks and dogs—"

His deep laugh rol ed over her. "You haven't the faintest idea.

A mare carries even longer than a woman—eleven and a half

months, to be exact. The old stablemen cal it nine months,

nine weeks, and nine days, so it happened long before we

came to Kenilworth after the Welsh campaign."

"Nine months," she repeated hopelessly, and suddenly her

eyes became liquid with unshed tears.

Rod enfolded her in his arms, drawing her close, and

suddenly he knew what prompted her tears. "Oh, love, you're

having a baby! Rosamond, that's wonderful news; I couldn't be

happier!"

She gripped his arms tightly. "I'm afraid," she blurted.

He kissed her brow. "I understand, sweetheart. Childbirth is

painful; al ladies fear it the first time."

She looked up at him wide-eyed with disbelief that he didn't

understand at al . "Rodger, it isn't childbirth I fear! I don't care about the pain, for God's sake. I'm frightened of losing my