Edith turned away a blushing face, and the Abbess faltered—
“As a King?”
“Yea, lady. As such have I been owned by all at Winchester. I should be at Westminster for my Coronation, save that I turned from my course to win her who shall share my crown.”
“Is it even thus, Henry?” said Edgar. “Hast not thought of other rights?”
“Of that crazed fellow Robert’s?” demanded Henry. “Trouble not thine head for him! Even if he came back living from this Holy War in the East, my father had too much mercy on England to leave it to the like of him.”
“There be other and older rights, Sir Henry,” said the Abbess.
Henry looked up for a moment in some consternation. “Ho! Sir Edgar, thou hast been so long a peaceful man that I had forgotten. Thou knowest thy day went by with Hereward le Wake. See, fair Edith and I know one another—she shall be my Queen.”
“Veiled and vowed,” began the Abbess.
“Oh, not yet! Tell her not yet!” whispered Edith in David’s ear.
“Thou little traitress! Wed thy house’s foe, who takes thine uncle’s place? Nay! I will none of thee,” said David, shaking her off roughly; but her uncle threw his arm round her kindly.