Joanna watched him ride out into the windy May afternoon. Wild drifts of pear blossoms were carpeting the ground and snowing into the steel-grey river. She rubbed her arms and shivered. She had never experienced a May-time like this before.
Returning to the Queen, she encountered Simon de Montfort, striding briskly towards her, his expression grim. Several knights of his entourage followed on his heels. Her cousins Richard de Clare and Roger and Hugh Bigod were with him too. Joanna stepped aside to let them pass, her heart pounding and her mouth dry. De Montfort paused and pierced her with his stare.
‘A reckoning is coming,’ he said. ‘We have tolerated injustice for far too long. Tell your husband that no one calls me a traitor with impunity, whatever protection he thinks he has from the King.’
Joanna’s legs were shaky but she met de Montfort’s stare. ‘Sire, that is between you and my husband. I hardly think that intimidating a woman before all these noble lords is an act of glory. And surely the King is our sovereign lord and you owe him your allegiance.’
De Montfort narrowed his eyes. ‘Madam, you and your husband are two of a kind.’ He continued on his way. Roger Bigod followed him, head down and dogged. His brother Hugh, gentler of nature, gave her a sidelong glance and a warning shake of his head.
Joanna leaned against the wall when they had gone, feeling sick and afraid, but furious too. She clenched her fists, determined not to be intimidated.
Following in de Montfort’s wake came a group of squires and younger men, including two of de Montfort’s sons, youths of a similar age to Edward. Swaggering along, they ignored her as though she was of no more consequence than a serving woman. Her half-brother was among them, and smirking. She called out to him sharply.
‘Guillaume, why are you not with the lord William’s household?’
He faced her while waving the others to go on. ‘My horse cast a shoe and I could not ride out.’ His tone was insolent.
His horse was always casting shoes – Joanna suspected he loosened them deliberately in order to be a nuisance. ‘Well then, you can come and help load my baggage, and I have a few other jobs for you.’
He stiffened, and jutted his jaw. ‘I am your brother and your ward, not your lackey.’
‘You are also a squire training in our household and these are tasks I would ask any noble youth to perform.’
‘My lord said I was to go and get my horse shod,’ he said sullenly.
‘Well, it did not look as if you were doing so just now,’ Joanna retorted. ‘Go and do as you were bidden, and then, if your lord has not returned, report to me.’
He flourished a sarcastic bow and sauntered off. Joanna glared after him, fulminating.
‘He is a bothersome youth,’ John de Warenne said, strolling up to her, his gaze on Guillaume’s retreating back.
‘Would you believe his horse has cast a shoe yet again?’
John snorted. ‘Really? William told me he was of a mind to give him a different mount – one that won’t let him near its hooves to do whatever mischief he intends.’
‘Were you in the court earlier?’
‘Yes.’ He gave her a pained look. ‘There is brewing discontent, some of it justified, I admit. There needs to be reform and the King has not always acted with discretion and good sense. William is a bulwark between him and the barons, so the King favours him and the situation escalates again. But today it was a matter of personal territory and tit for tat. De Montfort should not have driven forward as he did, and William …’ John grimaced.
‘William what?’
‘Should not have taken the bait.’ He shook his head. ‘He called de Montfort a traitor.’
‘I heard,’ Joanna said stonily.
‘It was because of Gascony – because of what de Montfort did there, and his father before him. Many of the victims are de Lusignan allies and neighbours.’
‘It is also because de Montfort wants our lands,’ Joanna replied. ‘William suspects that not all the raids on Pembroke have been Welsh.’
John folded his arms. ‘Perhaps, but he needs to be more cautious.’
Joanna touched his arm. ‘Look out for him, John. There are so few I can trust at court, and you are William’s closest friend … and our brother.’
‘You know that is a given!’ He looked almost indignant. ‘I have no intention of being drawn into de Montfort’s affinity. He pestered my mother about the Marshal inheritance too and if she had not been so determined he might have intimidated her. He will never do that to me or my children, on that I am sworn.’
‘I shall stand my own ground too,’ she said proudly. ‘Even if I am terrified, I shall not back down before such a man. Cecily taught me well on the matter of worth.’
He gave a wry smile. ‘I am sure she did, knowing Dame Cecily.’
