Summary

In the Prologue, the people of Clyvedon prayed for the birth of Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset, Earl Clyvedon. They prayed for the Duke of Hastings because he did not yet have an heir for the oldest and richest dukedom in England. His mother had lost five pregnancies already. They did not pray as hard for Hastings’ wife, who had been warned by her doctor not to try to get pregnant again, and died after the baby was born. Hastings mourned his wife even though he did not love her. He arranged for fresh flowers to be kept on her grave because she had fulfilled her marital duty.

Simon grew into a strong, healthy, and attractive boy. Hastings was distraught, however, when Simon reached four years of age, but was still not talking. Nurse Hopkins, who had raised Simon, pointed out to...