She will own the
same if you ask her. As I spake before, there was talk of the like
kind between you, sir, and my father, and it was the desire of the
good King that thus the families might be reconciled; but the
contract went no farther, as the holy King himself owned when I gave
my faith to the Lord Audley's daughter, and with it my heart."
"Aye, we know that the Frenchwoman can make the poor fool of a King
believe and avouch anything she choose! This is not the point. No
more words, young man. Here stands my daughter; there is the rope.
Choose--wed or hang."
Leonard stood one moment with a look of agonised perplexity over his
face. Then he said, "If I consent, am I at liberty, free at once to
depart?"
"Aye," said Whitburn. "So you fulfil your contract, the rest is
nought to me."
"I am then at liberty? Free to carry my sword to my Queen and King?"
"Free."
"You swear it, on the holy cross?"
Lord Whitburn held up the cross hilt of his sword before him, and
made oath on it that when once married to his daughter, Leonard
Copeland was no longer his prisoner.
Grisell through her veil read on the youthful face a look of grief
and renunciation; he was sacrificing his love to the needs of King
and country, and his words chimed in with her conviction.
"Sir, I am ready. If it were myself alone, I would die rather than
be false to my love, but my Queen needs good swords and faithful
hearts, and I may not fail her.
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