"Then put an end to it now." Henry said. "Find him a wife. Richard is a duke. Women have always been falling over themselves for his attention even before his dukedom was bestowed upon him. Find suitable names. It should not be so hard. If Richard accepts the condition I set before him when I reach France...then he will need a wife when he returns to England. If he does not accept it, he remains there."
Geoffrey's face darkened. "You would make his return conditional upon marriage?"
"Upon relinquishing any claim, public or private, to Livia."
"If Richard returns under such terms, Miss Valenti will know he was compelled. You may remove him from her path, but you cannot force her conscience to forget him. You may win the field and lose the woman."
"We will cross that bridge when we reach it."
"Do I send a message ahead to the King of France? Their party left this morning. A fast rider might still catch the royal ships before they cross fully to Calais."
