‘I will not let you down, Mama,’ he said stoutly.
He looked so young, so vulnerable, so determined that she had to swallow tears. Stooping, she hugged him swiftly. ‘Come then, let us go.’ She glanced around the room a final time before she closed the door.
To have all this taken when it was hers by right made her burn with anger. In the week since she had wept she had grown steely and determined to prevail over her foes. Whatever it took, she would do it, and they would not prevail.
30
Palace of Westminster, Summer 1258
Joanna smoothed her hands over the blue silk skirts of her court gown and tried to assume a calm frame of mind. She and her household had been allocated living space at Westminster – not in her usual chambers but in smaller, shabbier quarters on the other side of the King’s hall. The room smelled of musty stone and had a poorly ventilated central hearth for heating and cooking. All the beds were rowed together, although Joanna had drapes around hers for a modicum of privacy.
Her requests for an audience with the King had gone unanswered, although she had been here more than a week. Officious messengers brought her various excuses. The King was not well, or too busy to see her, or he was absent for the day. She would have to wait. Finally, the Queen had summoned her, which filled Joanna with trepidation, for these days the Queen was not her ally.
Accompanied by Nicola, she made her way to the Queen’s hall. Passing a shadowed entry, she heard her name spoken and, turning, saw John de Warenne beckoning to her, his cloak powdered with dust from the road. Joanna gasped his name in relief and sped to him. She wanted to throw her arms around him and sob, but once she started she knew she would not stop. Her chin wobbled with the effort of not bursting into tears.
‘I am so glad to see you – to see any friendly face! They have been denying me an audience with the King but now the Queen has summoned me.’
‘I will not keep you long,’ John said. ‘William is safe. I saw him on to the ship myself, and either he will return or I will arrange for you and the children to join him.’
Tears filled her eyes despite her best efforts and she wiped them away fiercely on her cuff. ‘I am so relieved to see you, and to have at least one ally at court. Everyone is avoiding me as though I am cursed.’
John took her hands. ‘Never that. I must warn you. Simon de Montfort has the rule here now. Do not show anger or malice towards him or his supporters, and do not complain of him to the King. Speak softly and lower your eyes. Tell Iohan to do the same, for your lives and liberty may depend on it.’
Joanna swallowed. ‘Yes, I know,’ she said, ‘but the King—’
‘You have to understand that the King is not as he was and you cannot expect him to rise up on your behalf for it would be too dangerous for him,’ John said, his voice soft but vehement. ‘He is deeply distressed about William’s situation but he can do nothing for you openly. Do not approach him yourself. It will cause even more suspicion and hostility than there is now. We have to play a subtle game. I am here for you even if I have to be circumspect. I shall do what I can. You will need money. Take my pouch for now.’ He unfastened his purse and pressed it into her hands. ‘I managed to give William twenty marks before he sailed.’
She gave him a swift, fierce hug. ‘Bless you, John, from the bottom of my heart. What would I do without you?’
‘You stood by me when I needed succour,’ he said as they disengaged. ‘You are my sister in marriage, and I will do all in my power to keep you safe, and visit when I can.’ He bowed, and walked off down the entry.
Joanna dropped the pouch down the front of her gown so that it came to rest against her belt where the fabric bloused out and no one would guess.
The Queen’s hall was bustling and full of people Joanna either did not know or with whom she had no affinity. An usher led her to the dais to make her obeisance to the seated Queen.
Alienor regarded Joanna neutrally, and spoke courteously enough. ‘Joanna, my sister. It is good to see you at court again, and we shall accommodate you for the duration of your stay, however long it happens to be.’
‘Thank you, madam,’ Joanna replied, her voice subdued. ‘You are kind.’
‘It is not within my heart or my charity to turn you away,’ Alienor said. ‘You may join my ladies if you will.’
Feeling deeply uncomfortable, her cheeks burning, Joanna curtseyed and withdrew from the Queen’s chair. The women were gathered in a sewing group by the window, and the avid looks they cast her as she joined them reminded her of Weazel stalking a mouse. One lady smiled and made room at her side. Joanna was initially grateful for the kindness, but the woman swiftly exposed her motive.
‘How is your husband?’ she enquired. Her voice was sweet, but icy too, like a sharp knife.
‘I am told he fares well,’ Joanna replied warily.
The knowing little smirk on the woman’s face told Joanna that rather than wishing her well, the lady had only made space in order to bait her.
‘Oh,’ she said, her eyes widening. ‘I did wonder because I had heard that he and his brothers were in Boulogne being besieged by the Earl of Leicester’s sons.’
Cold prickles ran down Joanna’s spine, but she refused to give this woman and her little gossip group the pleasure of seeing her react. ‘I do not know anything about that, my lady,’ she replied. ‘You may be right, but if so, I am sure the situation will be resolved very swiftly. The Earl of Leicester will not want to endanger his sons.’
‘Oh, I do not think the Earl of Leicester’s sons are in any danger,’ the woman said, smiling.
Joanna lifted her chin and did not reply. Thinking of William under attack in France was horrible.
The ladies spoke among themselves and mostly ignored her, and if they did address her their conversation was clipped and minimal, leaving Joanna feeling ostracised and close to tears.
