"Perhaps."
"It sounds like you've met her?"
"Yes, but it wasn't exactly pleasant." Eric recounted his meeting with Matilda to Gregory.
However, although they were discussing Matilda, she wasn't the focus. The topic was merely raised to liven the atmosphere, allowing the two men to understand each other better and eventually lead to more critical questions.
Such as the matter of Henry IV.
"Matilda needs a warrior husband by her side to protect a woman's extraordinary claim to her father's lands," Gregory said slowly, his fingers moving over his rosary.
"I hear she's doing quite well on her own," Eric said.
"That's only on the surface. The moment she shows any sign of weakness, her disadvantages will immediately become apparent. No one wants to be ruled by a woman. And while whether this is Christ's will remains a matter for examination and debate, on a practical level, the most reliable way to secure her position is through marriage.
