< previous page page_410 next page >

Page 410
place is owing to sin. I swore when I set out from France that there would be no women, only soldiers vowed to God's work, on this Crusade. I broke that vow, and see how all is cast into disorder. I will sin no more! I will take myself out of this city of lust and luxury and do God's work."
With that, he was gone, leaving Joanna and Alinor to deal with his hysterical wife. It took them hours to calm her, and their work was all to do over again the next day when they heard that Richard had moved out of the city and set up his tents on the plain beyond the walls. Then, nothing. Joanna wrote to her brother and received no reply. Alinor, at her request, wrote to Simon, describing Berengaria's distress and begging him to intercede with Richard to send his wife a few lines of comfort. She received no written reply, but the messengers bore back a few words.
"Be glad for Purgatory, Here is Hell."

 
< previous page page_410 next page >