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It was not yet noon
    "Yes lord."
    I took out the letters.  There were four of them.  One each from the Empress, the Earl, my son and Leofric. I put the one from the Empress to one side.  I would read that one when I was alone. The one I read first was the one from the Earl of Gloucester. I read in silence. When I had finished I downed the beaker of wine in one swallow. It was good news.
    Sir John looked at me expectantly.  "The Earl of Gloucester has heard my pleas. He has declared that he will invade England soon and he has sent word to his knights in the south. We are not alone."
    "He will come soon, lord?"
    The joy I felt evaporated.  I re read the missive. The letter was a promise and nothing more.  I looked to Gilles.  He was young but he was clever.  "Did you see  any sign of invasion?"
    "No lord.  I saw much activity in Normandy where the Count and the Earl were busy besieging the supporters of Stephen who still held out."
    "Then the answer is no, John.  We hang on still but I take hope from the fact that there will be help from the Earl's allies in the south."
    John, my Steward arrived. He was ebullient.  "Your son and Leofric have sent many valuable goods; food, wine, linens."
    "Linens?"
    "Lord, linens and pots please the women.  If the women of the town are happy then so are their husbands. We need the women as much as the men." Alice's arrival with food seemed to emphasise his point.  "Is it good news lord?"
    "It seems the Earl has raised rebellion in the south.  We are not alone."
    He frowned, "However, here, in the north, we are. If the Scots come again we will be alone to fight them.  Stephen will not be likely to come north and defeat them again. The last refugees we had spoke of a the land around Carlisle, Durham and Newcastle falling to the Scots. They are seeping south and encroaching gradually.  They will be here by summer."
    He was no warrior but he knew numbers and he was clever.  "You are right, John.  We cannot wait for a month to send for your garrison, Sir John.  You had better press on training your men of the town.  I fear they will be needed sooner rather than later."
    "Aye lord, and what of Leofric and your son? Their letters are unopened." He pointedly did not mention the missive from Matilda.  I wondered just how much my men knew.
    "You are quite right." I read Leofric's first. It dealt initially with the war and then, briefly, his own circumstances.  "He confirms what Gilles has told us.  The war in Normandy goes well.  He has not had to campaign this year. The demesne prospers. He mentions my son and begs me to be forgiving." I shook my head.  Leofric and John had  been as big brothers to my son after my wife died. "He and his wife prosper as does my manor which yields much."
    "Aye lord, I can see that from the goods we have brought within our walls today."
    I laid that to one side and, with a heavy heart opened that of William. It was brief.
    December, the year of our lord,  1137,
    La Flèche
    Father, I must beg your forgiveness.  I have fathered a child out of wedlock.  Eliane is the love of my life and I would have married her but Leofric and the Empress urged me to wait until I had spoken with you. When you come to Anjou you will love her as I do.  Until then I will curb my desires. I pray you sanction our marriage.
    Your son
    William
    I laid down the letter.  I could see now, that this was not a wilful act but an impulsive urge. I blamed myself.  He had spent a great deal of time with King Henry and the young knights and squires.  He had picked up their habits. I should have kept him closer to home and my side. It was a distraction and I put it, briefly, from my mind. He was in Anjou and I could do nothing about it.
    Sir John said, "Well, lord?"
    "It is as Leofric said and I will reserve judgement on my wayward son."
    Gilles said, innocently, "Lord, the letter from the Empress remains unread!"
    Sir John shook his head and I smiled, "I am tired, Gilles.  I