The Templar, the Queen and Her Lover

Chapter Forty-Five

Monday after Easter ²⁵

Queen’s chamber, Château de Bois

Queen Isabella received the messenger in her front chamber. As soon as she appeared, the man stood aside in the doorway to show her brother behind him.

‘My lord,’ she gasped, curtseying low.

‘Get up, woman! In Christ’s name, there’s no time for this nonsense.’

‘What is it? Is it the papal envoys?’

‘Papal envoys be damned! Do you not know what your people have been doing while you’ve been here?’

‘Your royal highness, I am very confused. Will you please tell me what the matter is?’

‘One of your delegation has killed one of my most trusted servants.’

‘What? Who is dead?’

‘A clerk in my service.’

‘Who? What is his name?’

‘He was called Pierre de Pamiers, and I want to speak to your Sir Baldwin de Furnshill. I am sure it was he.’

‘Why?’

‘Why what?’

‘Why are you so sure that it was Sir Baldwin?’

‘Because he was asking me about him the day before. Then yesterday Pierre’s house went up in smoke, and when we reached it and could put out the flames, there was the body of this priest inside, burned and mangled.’

‘No one actually saw him, then?’

‘You want me to find someone who saw him there? I will be happy to do so.’

‘No. I want somebody who can tell me with their hand on the Gospels that they did truly see Sir Baldwin there. Not a feigned witness, a real one.’

‘You doubt my words?’

‘Brother, who was this man? Why should a foreigner hate him enough to murder him?’

‘Baldwin had his reasons.’

‘Then I shall speak to him later, if you wish. And when I am convinced I shall decide whether to bring him to you.’

‘You will bring him to me immediately, woman! He has murdered in my city.’

‘Brother, you will recall that he is one of my honour guard. He has guarantee of safe passage.’

‘You wish me to revoke all safe conducts?’

She stared at him, but not in shock or fear. Only coldly. When she spoke, her enunciation was as precise as a bird’s song. ‘Brother, if you wish to revoke all, you are the King and you may do so. Immediately that happens, I shall advise the Pope and ask the Holy Father to bear in mind that any continuation of this war is now your responsibility and that the English are blameless.’

‘Woman!’

‘Furthermore, if you demand the arrest of any others, I will resist. I will not have my mission on behalf of my king thrown into jeopardy because of a precipitate action by you.’

‘This is all your doing, isn’t it? It’s all because of you!’ he spat suddenly.

She paled. ‘I do not know the cause of anything,’ she protested.

‘Do you not! Well, I shall take pleasure in waving you and all your entourage off.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Do you not even know that much yet? It is being bruited about all over — that your king has grown bored with waiting for a response to our negotiations, and is to call you home at once. Your mission has failed, my lady. And I do not care. It means I may keep my lands, and I shall not release them back to your husband.’

‘What will become of them?’

‘It is none of your business, my lady.’

Baldwin and Simon marched behind Blaket as he walked into the Queen’s presence.

Simon had thought before that she was beautiful in her majesty, with all her fine clothes and jewels. Today, though, he saw her in her full rage. And though she was still more beautiful, if that was possible, she was also completely terrifying.

She was seated on a small throne in the middle of the room, and while Blaket took his post to the side of Simon and Baldwin, the ladies-in-waiting stood at the side of the Queen, all three on her left, Alicia nearest.

‘Sir Baldwin. Do you know who visited me this morning?’

‘Your brother, my lady,’ he said, bowing low and keeping his eyes on the ground.

‘Very observant. And what was he doing here, do you suppose?’

‘Discussing the-’

‘No. Not the treaty. He was here to accuse you of murdering a man of his. A man called Père Pierre.’

‘I did no such thing!’ Baldwin stated loudly. ‘I am innocent.’

The Queen was quiet a moment. Then she rallied. ‘He was convinced.’

‘I am afraid I do not care, my lady. I had nothing whatever to do with his death. When was he supposed to have died?’

‘I don’t know such details!’

‘I and my friend here were both at the chapel for the Mass yesterday, and many saw us. We did leave the château briefly later on, but only for a walk about the area. I most certainly did not draw my sword or stab anyone. The idea!’

She seemed about to say something, then hesitated. ‘Leave us alone,’ she said to the ladies at her side. She waved to Blaket too. ‘You wait outside.’

When they were alone, she rested her chin on her knuckles. ‘Very well. The truth.’

‘I have told you that already.’

‘My dear knight, I am no clever inquisitor, but you gave me an alibi for yesterday morning before I told you when he had died.’

‘Madam, I was not there when he died, I did not order his death, I did not pay another to kill him, and was not forewarned that he would die. I had no part in it.’

Her eyes moved to Simon.

‘No, lady. Nor did he.’

‘Then why did my brother suspect you so strongly?’

‘Ah. I will need to tell you the full story, then,’ Baldwin said, and told her all about Charles’s birth, his rescue from the Château Gaillard and his flight to England, where Pierre had attempted to have him killed.

‘After that, your brother appears to have desired to remove all those who knew anything about his plot. The garrison, Enguerrand de Foix, Robert de Chatillon, all have died.’

‘Why?’

Baldwin took a deep breath and gambled. ‘Because no king would wish such news to come to the public. He is to be married to Jeanne d’Evreux in June or July, is he not? How would that lady like to be reminded that her predecessor was gaoled when she was only a child? And worse, how would she like to know that her new husband had ordered that Blanche be given to her gaolers for their sport and pleasure, or that he then commanded that her offspring should be executed for his convenience?’

The Queen studied him with a pale face that was entirely blank.

‘You are an astute man, Sir Baldwin. Can no one keep anything secret from you?’

He held her gaze. ‘I only seek to restrain those who would hurt others, my lady.’

‘The boy. Is he well?’

‘You have met him, your highness. He has played in here.’

In a flash she saw pale blue eyes, hair like straw. ‘Him? No. Don’t tell me. I do not need to know. You may leave. No! Wait a moment. I have heard from my brother that we may soon be recalled to England. The view is that our mission has failed. What do you think?’

Baldwin gave a low grunt. ‘I think I miss my wife and children and would return to them as soon as may be. I would escape the mesh of intrigue that surrounds me at every turn here, my lady. But if you are asking whether your embassy has failed and you should abandon it, I would say no. The papal envoys are still here. Surely it will be possible to continue to discuss matters a little longer. There is no agreement so far, but perhaps you can still achieve something.’

She watched him closely. ‘Very well. I thank you, Sir Baldwin.’

Joan of Bar walked slowly back into the room when the two men had left it. ‘My queen?’

‘You know that the King my brother says that we will be ordered to return to England soon? Sir Baldwin thinks we should remain here a while longer.’

Lady Joan had seen the Queen blossom in the last weeks here in France. She looked exhausted now, still beautiful, but bowed down under the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. The future of the Guyennois territories depended on her: a woman who had little knowledge of diplomacy. She had done her best by her kingdom and her husband. A return home should be a rest.

But to return home meant to return to her husband. Her husband and Despenser.

‘My lady …’

Her course was clear. The Queen was to be asked to return, so she must do so. It was her duty.

Then she recalled her own husband, and she remembered the years of suffering with him. It had been intolerable, so intolerable that she had persuaded the Pope himself to release her. And now the Queen was asking for her advice. It brought a lump to her breast.

‘My lady, you should remain here as long as you can. Don’t return to him,’ she hissed, and hurried from the room.