Margaret walked through the gardens taking her time to pick the flowers she loved best. These gardens calmed her, and she needed that comfort today. Phillip worried her. His fears for both Jack and George had only escalated last night after the moody dinner with the council. She knew that Derbyshire would declare war soon, and that Phillip would be in danger. They would all be in danger.
These solitary walks in the garden allowed her to place flowers on the graves of her in-laws and the former queen. They had also helped her to accept that Jacqueline had been Phillip’s first love. Margaret finally understood that Phillip would always love the woman who gave her life for Jack. She had grown to love that part of him and hoped he would always love her if the same fate waited for her. For this, the young queen’s grave received the largest handful of flowers.
As she turned from the gardens to the graves, Margaret abruptly stopped. She was not alone. Jack had also come to pay his respects.
He watched as she placed the flowers on the graves. She stood next to him as they both stared at Jacqueline’s grave. “She would be proud of you for this sacrifice you make.”
“Would she?” he asked. “She married my father for love. Not for peace.”
Margaret hesitated. He was too young to realize the insult, too young to understand the role of women in the world. She knew Phillip had talked to Jack. But had he listened to his son?
She took a deep breath. “No princess or noblewoman marries for love. We are commodities traded for land or livestock or peace agreements that are often not worth much. Horrible things happen to women in marriage. Things that I will not share with you. But women marry out of duty to their families and to their countries.” She paused, “The very thing you are being asked to do.”
Jack turned to face her, “My apologies, Margaret.” A tear slid down his cheek. “Of course, I will do whatever must be done for Derbyshire.”
She turned and took his hand. “Will you tell me why you are so unhappy?”
Somebody needed to know of his misery. He nodded and started with “As long as it stays between the two of us.”
She wiped the tear from his cheek.
George watched Phillip pace in front of the doors to the council room. What little strength he had for this day disappeared with each angry step his brother took. Jack was late for the most important council of their lives. The lords were ready to get this meeting over with, but entering without Jack would indicate a problem to the lords. Something Phillip did not need right now.
George leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. “Perhaps we have waited long enough.”
Phillip stopped pacing and turned to his brother. George’s pale face and closed eyes only made Phillip angrier at Jack. How dare he not attend this meeting that might cost lives, including those of his family. “It is too late for you to talk to Langford. You should return to bed.”
George smiled, “My health could not endure the shock of finding that you’ve decided to marry me to the young princess.” He opened his eyes, “I must protect my interests.”
Phillip put his hand on the door. “Your health will only improve. And, if she’s bright, she would most decidedly decline the invitation.”
Pushing off the wall, George moved to the door. “From here, there seems to be little noise in the room.”
“Not a good sign, brother. We have indeed waited too long.” The brothers entered the room.
Albert rode the speckled horse too hard, he thought. But he had to get to the council meeting. His last meeting in Lakeland had provided crucial information they would need before making a decision. He hoped the horse would live long enough to get him to the castle.
Phillip watched as Helmsley finished his third pie during Arthur’s speech, and he noticed George’s efforts to contain his laughter. His father-in-law continued to make the same tired argument that the citizens needed to tend crops before going north to a war. True, perhaps, but Lord Blake and Lord Smythe had not traveled from the Derbyshire border with Blaekhurst to talk peace. He realized the room had gone quiet. All eyes were on him.
Before he could call on Blake or Smythe for a report of the northern border, the doors to the room opened. Margaret and Jack stood facing the room. Many of the men showed surprised, somewhat angry, faces to Phillip. Wives did not attend war councils. Even Arthur looked agitated that his daughter had felt it her right to attend the meeting.
Slowly, George stood, bowing to Margaret and Jack. The rest of the men reluctantly followed his lead. Jack escorted Margaret into the room, and Montbury offered his seat next to Phillip to the queen. Once Margaret stood in front of her chair, Jack moved to the chair next to George. As Margaret sat down, the rest of the council returned to their seats. A footman rushed a chair to Montbury.
Margaret graciously smiled. “Please continue, gentlemen.”
Phillip took Margaret’s hand under the table. “We are grateful to the queen for her willingness to attend. We have yet to hear from Lord Blake or Lord Smythe. I would like to hear from you both.”
The two nobles looked around the room. Neither of them could report anything but bloodshed and hatred for Blaekhurst. Blake scowled, “Your majesties. My report includes the loss of many livestock, the destruction of my most northern stable by fire, and the deaths of three of my people, including a child. My knights ready for war, and we ask for the rest of Derbyshire to join us.”
Phillip looked around at the men. “To what purpose, Blake?”
“Complete destruction and ruin of Blaekhurst,” he declared.
The room erupted with shouts and arguments and fists pounding the table. George glanced at Phillip and folded his arms. Phillip raised his voice, “We would be outnumbered by the alliance between Blaekhurst, Summerston, and Lakeland. We cannot win this war.”
Smythe looked at Phillip and then Jack. “Forgive me, young prince, but I’ve heard rumors that Lakeland seeks a marriage alliance. If Prince Jacques marries the young Princess Beatrice, the war shifts in our favor.” The men murmured, nodding their heads and staring at Jack, who could only stare at the floor.
Margaret squeezed Phillip’s hand. She stood and the room quietened. “Tis true. Lakeland arrives tomorrow to introduce the young princess to us. There is no marriage agreement,” she smiled at Jack, “as of yet. For myself, I ask why you have such little faith in the courage of the men of Derbshire and Rothby. The size of the force means very little when the cause for battle is righteous. While you worry of things with little consequence, I ask you to consider what it would mean to win this war. The destiny of good men will always triumph over criminals. I ask that you carefully consider the best plans for attack and thank you for your loyalty and good council to our king.”
The door opened suddenly, admitting a breathless Albert. He glanced around the room and bowed to the council. Phillip waved him forward. Albert reached him quickly and bent to whisper in his ear. Phillip stood, “We have a decision. Alan discovered the possible bargain with Lakehurst. He dispatched a small army to lay siege to Lakeland’s castle. It is not clear if Alan’s force is aware that Edward and Beatrice will arrive at our door tomorrow, if in fact they do arrive. We are at war. Go. Send messengers to your homes. Return in an hour, and we will make plans.”
Margaret grabbed Phillip’s arm as they watched the lords of the council leave the room. George patted his brother on the shoulder. “You certainly know how to throw a meeting, brother dear.”
Author’s notes:
We will hear more from Margaret, George, and Albert as the tension mounts.
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Next here on TUCP - Beatrice arrives and decisions must be made.