me little, since in such
matters it is what women do that weighs, not what they say. For the rest
I was mad with love of her, also both then and as the days went by, more
and more did she seem to be travelling on this same road of Love. If
not, indeed she acted well.

Within a month we were wed on a certain October day in the church of
St. Margaret's at Westminster. Once it was agreed all desired to push on
this marriage, and not least Blanche herself. Sir Robert Aleys said that
he wished to be gone from London to his estates in Sussex, having had
enough of the Court and its ways, desiring there to live quietly till
the end; I, being so much in love, was on fire for my bride, and Blanche
herself vowed that she was eager to become my wife, saying that our
courtship, which began on Hastings Hill, had lasted long enough. For the
rest, there was nothing to cause delay. I cancelled Sir Robert's debt
to me and signed a deed in favour of his daughter and her offspring,
whereof I gave a copy to his lawyer and there was nought else to be done
except to prepare my house for her which, with money at command, was
easy.

No great business was made of this marriage, since neither his kin nor
Sir Robert himself wished to noise it about that his only child, the
last of his House, was taking a merchant for her husband to save her and
him from wreck. Nor did I, the merchant, wish to provoke talk amongst
those of my own station, especially as it was known that I had advanced
moneys to these fine folks of the Court. So it came about that few were
asked to the ceremony that was fixed for an early hour, and of these
not many came, because on that day, although it was but October, a great
gale with storms of rain began to blow, the greatest indeed that I had
known in my life.

Thus it chanced that we were wed in an almost empty church while the
fierce wind, thundering against the windows, overcame the feeble voice
of the old priest, so that he looked like one acting in a show without
words. The darkness caused by the thick rain was so deep, also, that
scarce could I see my bride's lovely face or find the finger upon which
I must set the ring.

At length it was done and we went down the aisle to find our horses
whereon we must ride to my house in Cheapside, where there was to be
a feast for my dependents and such of my few friends as cared to come,
among whom were not numbered any grand folk from Westminster. As we
drew near the church do