"Would he had been the son of one of the nobles of the court! It might have been then, if he distinguished himself in war, as he would surely do, that the king might have assigned Edith to him.

As her lord and guardian he is certain to give her hand as a reward for valour in the field, and it may well be to a man with whom she would be less happy than with this 'prentice lad; but there, I need not be troubling myself about a matter which is five or six years distant yet.
Still the thought that Edith is a ward of the crown, and that her hand must go where the king wills, often troubles me.

However, I have a good friend in the queen, who will, I know, exert what influence she has in getting me a good husband for my child.

But even for myself I have some fears, since the king hinted, when last he saw me, that it was time I looked out for another mate, for that the vassal of Westerham and Hyde needed a lord to lead them in the field.

However, I hope that my answer that they were always at his service under the leading of my cousin James will suffice for him.