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Page 60
would clarify John's thoughts, however, there was an interruption from Isabella.
"That puling bastard," she exclaimed, "he"
"No, no, my love," the king interrupted smoothly. "Geoffrey is a very brave and capable young man. I have told you many times that his birth is nothing against him. But he is young. It is a heavy responsibility for him."
"I suppose it is your brother Salisbury who will carry the load really," Winchester remarked neutrally.
"Oh no," the king said softly, smiling, "I am sure Geoffrey will lead his own men and de Vipont's too."
The discussion was making Winchester uneasy. The king had always seemed indifferent to or even slightly to favor his brother's bastard son, but there was nothing in his face or eyes now and, coupled with the caressing tone, that was a dangerous sign. Salisbury was dotingly fond of his bastard, and Salisbury was the mainstay of the kingdom. Winchester was not in the least sure that Salisbury would remain faithful if anything should happen to Geoffrey and any shadow of suspicion fall upon John. It seemed to the bishop that Salisbury's fixed, blind affection for his brother was neither so fixed nor so blind as it had been in the past. The earl had been badly shaken by the death of William Braose's wife and son.
Winchester shifted in his seat and dropped his eyes to the floor. He wished he had not thought of that. The truth was that even he had been shaken by that, and he was neither blind to the faults nor particularly fond of the king. John was growing either indifferent to or careless of showing the true depths of his degradation. He had made no secret of it when he locked Braose's lady and child into a tower and gave orders that neither food nor water be given to them. The man had committed treason, it was true, and the woman had aided and abetted him and had spoken foolishly and haughtilybut death by starvation was cruel beyond need or reason and the boy was scarce thirteen years old. What had he done? Salisbury had pleaded for Braose's son on his knees, offering his own legitimate heir as hostage. Winches-

 
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