My foolish fondness for that boy blinded the eyes of my prudence—but it is better as it is. I hope, in a few years, to have reason to rejoice at the death of Conrad.”

He reminds me very much of General Tinley—always barking orders and having a secret agenda. He treats his children badly so that they have no love for him, Matilda anyway. Manfred starts out very bad and gets worse very quickly. He really is a heartless villain to hope to rejoice at the death of his only son--Oh poor Conrad! Poor Matilda and Poor Hippolita, but at least all he wants to do is divorce Hippolita, I thought he was going to try to poison her. :D However, worse of all is Poor Brave Isabella—I think she did the right thing in leaving, she should keep moving very quickly because Manfred seems to have quite a bit of confidence in his prowess: “Instead of a sickly boy, you shall have a husband in the prime of his age, who will know how to value your beauties, and who may expect a numerous offspring.” Run Isabella run! :D