The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-NayHewlett, Maurice
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The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay
Hewlett, Maurice
Richard I, King of England, 1157-1199 -- Fiction
'Sell? Sell? What can I sell that he will buy?' whined Berengère. 'He
loves me not.'
'Well,' said Jehane, 'what has that to do with it? Do you not love
him?'
'I am his miserable wife. I have nothing to sell.
'Sell your pride, Berengère,' says Jehane. Berengère bit her lip.
'You speak strangely to me, woman.'
Says Jehane, 'I am grown strange. Once I was a girl dishonoured because
I loved. Now I am a wife greatly honoured because I do not love.'
'You do not love your husband?'
'How should I,' said Jehane, 'when I love yours? But I honour my
husband, and watch over his honour: he is good to me.'
'You dare to tell me that you love the King? Ah, you have been with him
again!' Jehane looked critically at her.
'I have not seen him, nor ever shall till he is dead. But we must save
him, you and I, Berengère.'
Berengère, the little toy woman, when she saw how noble the other stood,
and how inflexible, came wheedling to her, with hands to touch her chin.
'Jehane, sister, let it be my part to save Richard. Indeed I love him.
You have done so much, to you now he should be nothing. Let me do it,
let me do it, please, Jehane!' So she stroked and coaxed. The tall nun
smiled.
'Must I always be giving, and my well never be dry? Yes, yes, I will
trust you. No; you shall not kiss me yet; I have not done. Go to the
Queen-Mother, go to the King your brother. Go not to the French King,
nor to Count John. He is more cruel than hyænas, and more a coward. Find
the Abbot Milo, find the Lord of Béarn, find the Sieur des Barres, find
Mercadet. Raise England, sell your jewels, your crown; eh, God of Gods,
sell your pretty self. The Queen-Mother is a fierce woman, but she will
help you. Do these things faithfully, and I leave King Richard's life in
your hands. May I trust you?' The other girl looked up at her,
wistfully, still touching her chin.
'Kiss me, Jehane!'
'Yes, yes, I will kiss you now, Frozen Heart. You are thawed.'
Jehane, going back to Bordeaux, found Cogia with a ship, wherein she
sailed for Tortosa. But Berengère, Queen of England, played a queen's
part.
CHAPTER XIV
HOW THE LEOPARD WAS LOOSED
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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