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Page 194
"You cannot mean that papa is in any danger here," Geoffrey said unbelievingly.
"None that a sword will deliver him from," Ela sighed. "Oh Geoffrey, I see ruin. I see ruin. And I cannot wean, your father from his brother. I have triedfor years and years, I have tried. John is destroying himself, and we will all go down with him."
"What do you mean? What has happened?"
Lady Ela drew a long shuddering breath. "Nothing. Nothing has happened yet, but there are whispers and hints. More and more eyes turn to look at Prince Henry. He is a fine, sweet child, so different from both mother and father thatThere is something else I have seen. FitzWalter spends much time with the queen, whispering in her ear."
Geoffrey raised his brows. "He is wasting his time."
"Is he?" Ela breathed fast and shallow. "Is he? Oh, she will not yield him her body, nor does he desire it I think, and he knows she has no powernow. However, he has made himself a prime favorite with her, her advisor on any little thing she desires done. What is more, Vesci and FitzWalter are of a sudden friends of the bosom."
"Vesci is nearly an open rebel. What has he to do with FitzWalter who owes the king much?"
"Is there any hatred like that of a mean man indebted?" Ela asked bitterly.
"What says my father?" Geoffrey asked. He was uneasy, remembering that the northern barons who were in contact with Vesci had spoken of making the child-prince, Henry, king to rule the nation through a council.
Ela uttered a sharp, mirthless laugh. "He says that the queen will do nothing against the king."
"He is not mistaken in that," Geoffrey agreed.
"Oh, you fool!" Ela cried. "Of course the queen will do nothing against the king, but look a little further. If the king should die, will not the queen fly to one she trusts for help? And will she not bring her children with her?"
Geoffrey's face blanched. There was no one Isabella hated as she hated Salisbury. She would not think twice

 
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