Thomas said nothing.
‘Very well,’ Edward said after a moment. ‘You may visit Bisham, and take letters and gifts from me to Jeanette, so thatthe family knows it is at my instigation. Whatever you find, I trust you to act courteously and without violence. You will go unarmed. William Montagu is my friend, and the future Earl of Salisbury, and you will remember that.’
Relief flooded through Thomas. Had he not been expected to joust in the Prince’s entourage, he would have leaped on a horse and set out straight away. ‘Thank you, sire, I am forever in your debt.’
‘Yes, you are,’ Edward said. ‘I am doing this for Jeanette too, and for William. I do not underestimate either of those women and neither should you. I shall speak to my mother and to Jeanette’s brother, for they will wish to know how she is faring.’ He looked at Thomas. ‘Do not let this distract you from the tourney. I am expecting heroic deeds from you over the next few days, and so is my father. You had better prove your worth.’
From Reading to Bisham was a half-day ride, and Thomas set out on the first morning after the tourney had finished. He brought a couple of knights and squires with him, two yeomen and a groom. Since Edward had warned him against all violence and aggression, he wore no sword and only his squire carried banners – the top bearing Prince Edward’s ostrich plume, adopted since the great battle at Crécy, and the one beneath flying the Holland lion. A laden pack horse bore gifts from the court, including a length of rose-coloured velvet from the Queen, a basket of candied fruit and some candles from Mistress Bredon of the royal chamber, together with sweet wine and a goblet from the Prince. Thomas had been desperate to get away, more than half expecting Edward to change his mind or the Queen to put a stop to it. It hadn’t happened, but even now his ears were pricked for the sound of pursuit and an order to withdraw.
As Thomas rode, his mind churned upon the details of what he knew and what he did not. He feared that Jeanette had cometo some harm, and he had to see and know for himself that she was well. He most certainly hoped she was not with child.
The gate porter demanded to know his business and Thomas told him he was here at the request of his lord, the Prince, and that he came with gifts from the court, since everyone was worried at reports of the young Countess of Salisbury’s illness. ‘You can see that we are not a big party, and we come unarmed and in peace,’ Thomas said reasonably, as the porter regarded him with suspicious eyes. Since there were not enough guards on the gate to force it shut, and because gifts from the court were involved, and the visitors bore Prince Edward’s banner, the porter stepped back and let them enter – although he sent his lad running into the manor to raise the alarm.
Thomas rode into the courtyard and dismounted. Stripping his gloves, he followed in the lad’s wake, beckoning to his knights Donald Hazelrigg and Henry de la Haye. Duncalfe took the bundles down from the pack horse and followed on with John de la Salle.
The two dowagers were sitting by the fire in the hall, poring over what looked like accounts, and William Montagu was with them. They looked up as Thomas walked in on the heels of the wide-eyed porter’s lad. Elizabeth’s face turned puce. Katerine abruptly stood up, while William stared, open-mouthed.
‘Ladies,’ Thomas said, bowing. ‘Montagu.’ He tucked his gloves through his belt.
‘What are you doing here?’ Elizabeth demanded. ‘How dare you!’
‘I am here to pay a visit,’ Thomas said urbanely. ‘There is concern at court for the welfare of the King’s dear cousin. Indeed, I have brought gifts and messages from the lord Edward, his lady mother, and some of her ladies.’ He indicated Duncalfe standing behind him laden with packages.
‘The Countess of Salisbury is very well indeed,’ Katerine said icily. ‘I am afraid you have had a wasted journey.’
Thomas bowed again. ‘No journey is ever wasted, madam.’ He looked round the hall. ‘I am pleased to hear all is well, but as I say, I have gifts from Prince Edward and the Queen, and wonder if it will be possible to present them to her and reassure myself and others that the lady is indeed in good health, that I may report back to her kin.’
‘Absolutely not!’ Elizabeth spluttered. ‘It would be the height of impropriety as you know perfectly well, and that is why I say “how dare you”. I do not know what subterfuge you have used with her kin at court, but it will not work here. Get out of this house immediately. You are not welcome.’
Meeting the old woman’s gaze was like clashing sword on sword. ‘The other reason I am here,’ Thomas said, ‘is to make certain that the lady is free to speak her mind with her attorney and not be misrepresented. I need to hear from her own lips that this is the case.’
‘You go beyond the bounds of what is acceptable,’ Elizabeth snapped. ‘I understand now why we are faced with this false and disgraceful lawsuit. Of course she is being fairly represented, of course we are looking after her in a manner fitting to her estate, and we need prove nothing to you, for you are not the law. It is no business of yours to be here, and certainly not to see her. We absolutely forbid it!’
‘It is our duty to protect this young woman, and maintain her chastity and reputation to the highest standard,’ Katerine added. ‘You claim to be concerned for her welfare, yet you arrive like a fox to the coop, and you endanger her reputation as you endangered it before.’
Thomas suppressed the furious retort that Katerine was unfit to protect anyone’s reputation, especially her own. ‘I will see her,’ he said, and started forward.
Immediately, two of the Salisbury knights barred his way to the stairs, hands to their swords. Thomas thought he heard the muffled sound of thumping and cries from above.
‘Leave now, or face the consequences,’ Elizabeth said, and turned to William, who was standing wide-eyed, at a loss. ‘Are you the man of this house?’ she demanded. ‘Get him out of here!’
William looked from his mother and grandmother to Thomas and then wrapped his fists around his belt and jutted his jaw. ‘Show him the door,’ he commanded the knights.
‘Christ!’ Thomas said in disgust. ‘You truly are tied to the apron strings. Call off your curs, I am leaving. I trust you will make sure that my wife receives her gifts. The papal commission shall hear of this. You cannot hold back the tide when it is on the turn. God help you if you are keeping my wife prisoner.’ He cast his gaze towards the stairs again.
‘Mywife is in her chamber and has no wish to see you,’ Montagu snapped. ‘You will leave, or face the consequences.’
Thomas fought to control his rage, and with clenched fists turned about and strode from the manor, the Salisbury knights clipping his heels, their swords drawn. He could do nothing for he was unarmed, and he had promised Edward in good faith that he would not engage in violence. He only hoped the Montagus would mind their treatment of Jeanette because they knew this would reach the ears of the royal and papal courts. His next course of action was crystal clear.
In the courtyard, he remounted his horse, and glanced up at the windows above the hall. One of the casements was open and a pale face leaned out, watching him. A hand frantically waved. He waved back, filled with relief, for at least she was alive and full of spirit; but then someone pulled her away from the window which was abruptly closed and shuttered. He reined around, on the cusp of throwing caution to the wind and charging into the hall, horse and all, but the part of him that was a battlecommander as well as a soldier kept a grip on such a suicidal impulse. He took a final long look at the shuttered window, circled his horse again to face the gate, and dug in his heels.
Jeanette had seen Thomas arrive, his entourage flying the Prince’s banner above his own. She had watched him stride up to the manor entrance and had flown to her door, determined to run down and speak with him, only to discover that she was locked in. She had hammered and screamed and kicked, but to no avail. Dashing back to the window, with wild thoughts of somehow squeezing through the gap, or tying sheets together, she had seen Thomas emerge at sword point and mount up to leave, and she had managed to wave and shout before she was dragged away from the window by a furious Katerine, and the shutters slammed and latched. Her fierce protest that she had a right to see her husband had received a sharp slap and a warning that she would be kept in even closer confinement from now on.
Now the door opened and William entered, looking sheepish. A squire followed, bearing bundles and packages. Jeanette turned her shoulder to show her contempt.
‘He should not have come,’ William said, trying to justify himself.
She swung round. ‘There must have been a reason – an official one. I saw the Prince’s banner, I know Edward was involved. What do you think Thomas will tell him now? What do you think he is going to say to the papal commission?’
