Gifts of the Queen (24 page)

'He would kill you if he caught you,' I said.

'Perhaps,' he said. 'Rather, I heard he threatened to kill you. But he must catch us first. I know where he is, do you?'

When I shook my head, 'There, you should trust me after all. He is with those other Norman crows, croaking disaster and gloom, the Sire de Boissert and his ilk, in de Boissert's tent, to make their plot to attack the king.'

A shudder ran down my spine. I felt myself shiver although I willed the words to form. 'He will not join in conspiracy.'

'Yes, he will,' he said brutally. 'And I will tell you why. And in so doing, reveal another reason for my private visit here: to learn what promises those Norman swine make. Tonight is the night they lay the plan and set the date to attack King Henry in my name. These are the real secrets of the jousts. And if your noble count,' he jeered out the title as if it stung, 'will not join with them, why, they will murder him.'

I gasped at him, that last sentence loud enough to drown the music, laughter, all the sound of feast and merriment. When I recovered, 'They would not,' I cried. 'And you, how can you stand there and talk of it, let them murder on your behalf? Treason, murder, have you no shame?'

He shrugged, 'Conspiracy is not noted for its chivalry,' he said. 'Since fate has set you in my path, Lady Ann, I ask you to find out truly whose side Lord Raoul will join. Without his help, my fellow conspirators and I have little hope. And since I cannot think of any reason why Lord Raoul would support my brother, why not support us? Raoul is restored to strength and health—no man who watched him today could deny that—and Sieux rebuilt is a danger to all of France. He
must
choose one side, Henry's or mine. And, as I am young and do not look to die, I would prefer he took my part.'

On one level, his words made sense, had not I said almost the same thing to Raoul? Had not Raoul himself weighed the balance as dispassionately? Yet on another level, the arguments were horror filled, the more Geoffrey spoke so coolly, without guilt, without surprise, to plot a man's death because he would not do as other men wished.

I forced the horror down, made my voice calm.

'What should I tell him?' I asked.

'Tell Raoul,' he said, 'that since Henry is here in France, we must march now, without more delay. Tell him we have the forces gathered here tonight, an army's core, lacking but his leadership. Henry cannot raise any troops unless he win through to Anjou. We can prevent his doing that if Raoul strikes first to get my castles back, those castles that Henry unlawfully took, Mirebeau, Chinon or Loudun, whichever Raoul thinks best. They guard the route to Poitou and the south; when we have them, Anjou will rise on my behalf. Henry took those castles from me a year ago or more and believes them loyal to him, but their seneschals are still in my pay and have promised to open the gates to us. But tell Raoul, most of all, not to trust de Boissert, or his lovely daughter, Isobelle.'

His words brought back all my old fears, but I willed myself to listen to him.

'Why should I tell him any of this?' I asked, as coolly as I could. 'Why should de Boissert wish him harm, or the Lady Isobelle?'

His answer was as calm as if he passed the time of day. ‘The Lady Isobelle plays for high stakes, too. Now, I do not mean to brag, and the lovely Isobelle once was fair enough, although rather old for me; but because her father offers help, I must take her to wife in exchange. As she has lost her chance of being Countess of Sieux (while you live), so now she hopes to win the title of Countess of Anjou, when her father makes me count. There are not so many counts in France for her to choose, nor, to be honest, much time left for her to bargain with. She, as much as I, needs Raoul to help us win, and tries to seduce him to our side. She will throw him to her father's men if he refuses. But tell Raoul also this: to be Count of Anjou is my right. Henry has stolen my inheritance, broken faith with me, ignored an oath sworn on my dead father's corpse. Not even a papal dispensation to undo that oath can remove the curse of it.'

'And you, you would clamber to power over such a plan?'

His voice became hard, like stone, that beautiful face cold and cruel.

'As I am young, Lady Ann,' he repeated, 'I hoped one day to wed. I looked for better things, as do all men. But time is also running out for me. Should Henry have it all? Since I am but a scant fifteen months his younger, does that make me forever his slave? From earliest memory was he treated like a prince, and all the rest of our household ordered to bow down to him as god. Our grandfather, that first Henry, first to be England's king, taught the young Henry how to rule, and showed him how to trample the other grandsons underfoot. I play for high stakes myself, and marriage to Lady Isobelle will help me. And many powerful friends urge her claims, including the queen, who would, in this way, make amends for jilting me. But Ann,' he turned his charm upon me full—oh, he had charm, to light up that beautiful face, those melancholy eyes, 'Ann, as I am young, I would not wish for such a life. But think of yourself. Like me, you are caught up in their brawls. If Raoul should fall, who would then support you? The queen is far away, and you have angered her; you will be alone. These Normans are like the tide on their rough coast, as soon bid the waves hold back once the storm begins. Nor do I put much trust in them. When they are done with me, they will kill me, too, if it advantages them. And Henry is not so overfond that, if he dared, he could wish a death on me. We are but tossed adrift, you and I, at the mercy of other men; we could cling together to hope for calmer seas.'

Now he had told me many things, and given many reasons for helping him, had named king and queen, so many names all churned together, to confuse and overwhelm; but despite myself, it was his last arguments that said the most. They touched some chord in me. It may be he knew the effect he made, for he smiled again, that half pagan smile. 'And since I am young,' he murmured, 'and like not to die, God give me grace to enjoy what life is left.' Before I could stop him, he had slipped both hands beneath his cloak, was kissing me, expertly and fast. I jerked my hand up, hit him hard, a second man to repulse in as many hours. He did not flinch, but caught my hand against his cheek.

'Now, Celtic witch,' he whispered, and for a moment there was open menace, gone in a flash, 'no woman smites me and escapes. But chance, that hitherto has not favored me, has given me you to use. I should be a fool to ignore it. Betray me not. Else my death, too, will be your guilt. And so will his. Look to see us again.'

He released me, swung the cloak about his shoulders, and pushed past. I stood in the lighted tent once more. The music played, the torches reeked, pages ran with platters of food and wine.

'Where have you been this age. Countess?' Sir Martin, my table companion, wheezed into my path, wiping his nose upon his sleeve. I stared at him, unable to think.

Colors, shapes, movement blurred; that men who danced and greeted friends, held knives to plunge into their backs; that women who flirted and preened, held death beneath their smiles; that king and queen used us as pawns. Titles, lands, power, put up for murder's hire, women to play at executioner for their own ends.
You will risk your life,
I had cried at Raoul. I did not know how close the truth. Dear God, I thought, wrenching myself free from Sir Martin's sticky embrace, does Raoul know? I must warn him.

It was not so easy to get away. Sir Martin followed complainingly, my squires uneasily followed him, my ladies trailed behind, again deprived of their share in the feasting. I had no idea if Geoffrey Plantagenet spoke the truth, nor where de Boissert and the other Norman lords were, but since I dared not blunder in upon them in the dark, better I thought to wait until I could catch Lord Raoul on his own. I did not know if he still lived, but, fighting panic down, I reasoned so. Not even these Normans would dare kill openly. Rather, sometime when he was off guard, they would strike, and soon, before Raoul and his men had won a victory over them. Before tomorrow's mêlée then, or during it. And the more I tossed and fretted in the dark, the more it seemed to me, were I murderer, I would choose the soonest, easiest way. Behind my closed eyelids a line of horsemen such as I had seen at Saint Purnace, seemed to wait, a massed black line, their cruel spears flashing in the sun, the thunder of their charge drowning out thought. In the mêlée , then, that would be the time when Raoul must ride in front, and lead his side out. Someone behind his back, one of his own chosen side, would thrust him through. What better time when, in a general fight, any man might be killed and all men looked for blood, when murder could be called an accident. And when all of Sieux could be destroyed with that one thrust. It was a better plan than the one at Saint Purnace, and certainly easier to achieve. In a fever, I waited for dawn, until the trumpets sang out their early note. Then, taking the little hunting knife I always wore, I slit the back of the tent and crept out; no difficulty, I had done as much before. As I began to run, the dew beneath my feet so wet that I was drenched within twenty steps, I had a sudden memory of Cambray at this hour, the vast expanse of heather moors, the long stretch of open beach. Yet Cambray had not been so clean and fair that men had not sullied it; murder too had been done there, to kill my other loves long ago, and treachery planned as foul as here. Nowhere in this world is safe, unless you be willing to fight for it.

The morning had not yet truly come, the eastern sky was streaked with red, a half light on those empty fields; 
les beaux prés de France,
now should I see them for what they were. At Raoul's tent, his guards would have barred the way but, seeing I meant to push aside their spears, they let me in, awkwardly knuckling salute. Inside, Raoul was partly dressed. He spun round and snatched for his sword. That quick gesture alone told me what I was sure was truth.

'My lord,' I said. 'I must talk.'

He did not reply, one page already struggling with the straps of his mail, another burnishing up his spurs. In a moment, they would bind his hands to give him better grip. 'Raoul,' I said, anxiety making my voice break, 'we must be alone. I have a thing to tell.'

He eyed me, not suspiciously, not impatiently, but resigned, as if he thought I came to plead on my own behalf. I think his mind was already concentrated on the day's work and he wished me gone.

'It is too late,' he said.

'Not for this,' I said. Some urgency in my voice must have alerted him that this was more than a woman's whim. He gestured to his men to leave us alone, and went quietly forward with the preparations on his own. I had a sudden qualm that he would not believe me, or, at best, make light of it. But, guessing perhaps my hesitation, he smiled.

'Now speak,' he said. When I was done, I found that I had clutched at him with both hands as if to shield him from harm. He did not argue or show surprise, not even when I told him how I thought his murderers would attempt to kill him, but quietly freed himself from my grasp. Nor did he question, then or ever, how or where I had heard the news, and I never mentioned Geoffrey Plantagenet's name. 'Your ears have grown sharp,' was all he said, 'except in two instances are you misinformed. The plan is to strike not south, but north against Henry's Norman hinterland, along King Louis's flank; a fool's attack, since the Vexin, at which the conspirators aim, is a tract of land both kings will fight to keep. As for those castles you name, why, they have already been promised me as bribe.' He mused a while, fumbling with the lacings on his sleeve until I tried to tie them for him.

'Well, Ann,' he said at last, as if resolved, 'they have promised us many things; since we have agreed to none of them, they have nothing to expect from us. But it cuts hard to think they would use me thus.'

'Raoul,' I cried, in my eagerness almost willing to drag him forth, 'while there's time, let's escape. Ride out with me.'

He disentangled himself from me a second time. 'Ann,' he said again, 'there is no escape. I honor your concern. But think. I am come here for one purpose—to show our worth. If I leave now, what have I shown—only that I am not a match for them. If not now, then some other time, they will come after us. God's teeth, I cannot steal off like a thief. They are all here; one blow will finish them at once, rid us of their threat.'

He turned and paced about. I watched the way his mail feet strode back and forth, the limp quite gone.
Touch what is mine, I'll smite body and soul.
I knew before he spoke what his answer must be.

'We'll not run,' he said. 'By Christ, I've done with running in this life. Since I have been back in France, luck has favored them. Now it favors me.' He paced and paced, that cat prowl I remembered, ready to pounce.

'How can you withstand them?' I whispered, 'so many men, and you with eight?'

'Eight on the field,' he said, "but off it, there are ways to have others standing by.' He suddenly laughed. 'When I was a lad and had a tutor to whip Latin verse into me, it seems I read the Roman cavalry ever stood ''waiting in the wings.” We shall try their tactics for ourselves.'

'And what shall I do?' I said, although my voice still went wavering out of control. 'You said one day I could lead a charge.'

He spun round. 'Now, by the Mass,' he said, 'there are times when you try me hard, yet I cannot fault your courage. I meant to send you away. But here's a truth: as companion, I'd prefer you at my back than almost anyone else I know. Most women would run at the thought, but if you'll offer help, by the Rood, I could use it. Not all the Norman barons are in de Boissert's camp, and I must have some way to distinguish friend from foe on the field. Walter is the man for that; he knows them all. You shall sit with the other ladies, if you will, and strew your favors on those contestants who are not yet committed to de Boissert's plans. Make no sign of anything untoward; show no fear; wait for me.' He suddenly smiled, his wide, generous smile, so unlike that other one. 'Little Ann,' he said, 'for all we rub each other awry, for all we fret and tear as waves beat against a rock, you see, I cannot manage without you. For wife, I have never known a woman before who could so bring me to anger's point and then show me that I am wrong. Trust you! You would carve my liver out if you could, but never let one breath of harm come near. And I, I could knock you head over heels and run to pick you up before you land. Together, then. We have been in such tight place before, and worse, and won through.