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ant the alliance between them which dated from Rollo’s day must be kept firm.
    The messenger who brought the news was refreshed and given shelter in the castle and he had much to impart as to what was happening at the court of France.
    Ever since she had come to France from Aquitaine, the Queen had made the poor King’s life a misery; she was so imperious, so malicious, and of such a governing nature that the meek King had been afraid of her. He never gave a gift to any of his servants without the admonition: ‘Pray do not mention this to the Queen.’ She was determined to have her way and her eldest son had never been her favourite.
    The messenger’s account proved to be accurate for it was not long before a fugitive arrived in Normandy: King Henry of France.
    William was told little of this. He went on practising outdoor skills with the stern Thorold whom the Duke had designated to teach him and he did his bookwork under the eyes of the even sterner Mauger; but Arlette was anxious because she was well aware that this new development at the French Court could mean war.
    She was right.
    In their bedchamber Robert talked to her of the matter.
    â€˜Must there always be these wars?’ she asked.
    â€˜There always have been,’ answered Robert. ‘I have given Henry sanctuary at the Abbey of St Jumièges.’
    â€˜Where you keep all your exiles. The Athelings are there, are they not?’
    â€˜Yes, they are. I want William to meet his cousins. I shall go to Jumièges to see Henry and I think it would be well if the boy came with me. It is time that he began to understand what goes on.’
    â€˜You forget he is but five years old. You try to make a man of him before he is even a boy.’
    â€˜I feel within me that he must grow quickly to manhood. He will come with me to Jumièges and that means, my love, that you will come too.’
    â€˜And from there?’
    â€˜I must needs ride out against the Dowager Queen of France and her upstart son. We Dukes have sworn allegiance to the Capet Kings and I could not stand by and see the younger brother replace the elder.’
    She looked at him strangely and he would not meet her eyes. The death of his elder brother hung heavily over him.
    Thus it was that William met his Atheling cousins. He was immediately attracted by them for they were so different from everyone he knew. They were not young, being some thirty years of age – men, in William’s eyes, older even than his father; but they did not appear to be so old because they were so gentle. They spoke softly; and they were so fair as to be almost white and they had the bluest eyes William had ever seen.
    He was fascinated by those blue eyes. The brothers liked to read and write poetry, and they composed songs which they sang beautifully. Surprisingly to William, they found greater pleasure in these things than in sword-play and the hunt. They did not care for the hunt at all. William felt he should have despised them for this but how could he despise such noble-looking beings?
    It seemed to him that in their presence some of his father’s men seemed awkward and rough. Edward and Alfred wore beautiful clothes and there were jewels at their throats and on their fingers.
    Beautiful blue-eyed Athelings! thought William; and he was sorry for them because they were in exile.
    There would come a day, his father told him, when they could be kings of England, for indeed they had more right to the throne than Hardicanute who was younger than they and had been born of their mother’s second marriage.
    But at this time the Duke was more concerned with the rights of the exiled King of France than of the Atheling cousins.
    It was an exciting day when the Duke rode out at the head of his army, the King of France beside him.
    The Duke had told William on the previous night that he was going to set the King back on his throne. He was going to thwart the wicked Queen Constance,