‘Thank you, madam.’
‘You are very welcome, Aunt,’ Leonora replied. ‘We must all help each other after all.’ She went on her way, eyes downcast and manner modest.
Bolstered by the quiet support, Joanna continued to the chest to stow the fabric.
The Queen’s uncle, Peter of Savoy, arrived, returning from a morning in council. Passing Joanna, he flicked her a sharp, less than friendly glance and joined the Queen.
‘I have never seen such unseemliness in court before,’ he said with distaste. ‘The Earl of Leicester and William de Valence coming to blows, but I suppose it was only a matter of time. I thought the Earl of Leicester would do murder and the King had to intervene.’
Joanna’s hands stilled on the cloth and her heart began to pound. Standing at the Queen’s side, Eleanor de Montfort had frozen, eyes widening.
‘I am sure the King will tell you himself,’ Peter continued, ‘although he may not give you the full tale.’
‘I do not expect so,’ Alienor said tautly, ‘but I know you will. What happened?’
‘It was over the raids in Wales,’ Peter said, shaking his head. ‘De Valence had some preposterous complaint about the Earl of Leicester stealing property from one of his manors and turning a blind eye while the Welsh raided and plundered as they desired. Earl Simon claimed the opposite was true, whereon de Valence called him a traitor to the throne, out for his own gain, and they came to blows. The King had to intervene to prevent a full-blown brawl. It is a good thing that no man comes armed into the King’s presence, or one of them would be dead – de Valence, I suspect.’ He stroked his moustache, as if the notion did not displease him.
Joanna put her hand to her mouth, feeling sick. Dear God, William.
‘How unseemly,’ Alienor said with distaste. ‘This kind of trouble always involves the same people.’ She cast a reassuring look at Eleanor to show that her anger was not directed at her husband. ‘Go on.’
‘The King and the ushers had to pull them apart. I doubt any apologies will be forthcoming. To be frank, madam, there is a fire under the cauldron and the pot is likely to boil over again.’
‘I shall speak to the King on the matter before I leave,’ Alienor said. ‘Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Uncle.’
Joanna rose to her feet and curtseyed. ‘Madam, I crave your leave to go to my husband. If women are the peacemakers, then it behoves me to do what I can.’
Alienor lifted her eyebrows. ‘I commend your optimism, but you do not seem to have had much success thus far.’
Joanna flushed, and Alienor gave an impatient wave of her hand. ‘Yes, go. Someone else can finish your task.’ She turned to Eleanor de Montfort. ‘You should go to your husband too. Tell him I would have words with him.’
‘Yes, madam.’
Joanna was left in no doubt that Eleanor was being sent with the Queen’s blessing, while she was being dismissed under a cloud.
She sought William and found him at the stables, white with anger as he waited impatiently for his groom to saddle his courser. He compressed his lips when he saw her.
‘Peter of Savoy has just visited the Queen,’ she said. ‘You and Simon de Montfort came to blows in the council chamber? You called him a traitor?’ She noticed a red graze along his jawline.
He pulled his hat out of his belt and jammed it over his curls. ‘And so he is,’ he snapped. ‘He does not serve the King, or Edward, he serves himself. What am I supposed to do when he raids my lands and runs off with our cattle?’ His eyes were bright and flinty.
‘He says they were his cattle.’
‘Am I going to believe my steward or his?’ he demanded. ‘He is making trouble because he has growing sons and he needs to feed their bellies with land and money – but it won’t be at our expense, I promise you that.’
Joanna bit her lip. ‘The mood of the court is ugly; you should be calming the waters not stirring them up.’
‘I didn’t start it,’ he said tersely, and gestured to the groom to make haste. ‘I have to stand my ground if I do not want to see it taken from me by vultures.’
His hurt and rage were coming straight from his heart – both his advantage and his downfall.
‘Be very careful facing up to de Montfort and his faction,’ she said.
He grunted, and moved to take the courser’s reins.
She caught his hand. ‘For my sake.’
He briefly squeezed her fingers. ‘I will do what I must. You go and do what you must.’ He gathered the reins.
