Fabien looked at him. “It is, Oncle. The hooded stranger is a mon- sieur all of you know well from your times in Paris; he was one of you, a Huguenot, but now he has shown himself your betrayer. Maître Avenelle arrived at Chambord yesterday, brought by le Duc de Guise to confess to the Queen Mother all he knows of the Blois plot to abduct Francis, to remove the Guises from power in France, and to set up our Prince Condé as regent of France.”
A dazed look crossed their faces. Sebastien turned pale, convincing Fabien he indeed had been involved, although Avenelle had not named him. A low murmur circulated among the nobles. Louis showed himself grim, but determined.
“Then I was named before the Queen Mother?”
Fabien looked at him. “With scorched words you were named and denounced as a traitor, Monsieur Louis.”
Fabien told them of the listening closet and of all that Avenelle betrayed, how he had set the crown of treason on Prince Condé’s head and accused him of fully backing and helping to supply his retainer, Barri de la Renaudie, a nominal leader of Huguenots.
A groan circled the room.
“Heaven save us!” Cardinal Odet said.
“Avenelle, the betrayer. Who would have thought so of him?” Louis said in a shocked tone.
“A man of such pious prayers,” another said.
Fabien said, “Messieurs, though I am not a Huguenot as you know, I am a loyal Bourbon and am as enraged as you over this hypocrite Avenelle who was willing to turn you all over to the Bastille inquisitors to save his neck. I see that la Renaudie is not here. He must be warned at once. If he tries to carry out his attack against the House of Guise, then I fear for the life of our Bourbon Prince Louis.”
“Avenelle,” Sebastien lamented. “I feared it was him from the moment I looked below into the courtyard and saw the masked rider with Guise. But I could not bring myself to fully accept his fall from our ranks.”
“Whose names were mentioned, Marquis Fabien? Tell us again,” Cardinal Odet said gravely.
Fabien did so, and Sebastien shook his head. “The half has not been told. It is you, my prince, who has taken the heavy blow for us.”
But Louis showed his courage by an elegant lift of his hand. “Mon ami, do not overly concern yourself for me. We will battle le Duc de Guise and his hired soldiers, and if necessary, we will arm the Huguenots and take to the fields. I am willing to take whatever blow our good God per- mits. I have no regrets, except that our plan to save France from the grip of Spain’s legates, the duc and the cardinal, is known.”
“Monsieur, this call to Amboise for the signing of an edict of pacifi- cation is naught but another of the Queen Mother’s gambits,” Sebastien warned. “I have said so to all of you from the moment I arrived. There will be no peace. Not as long as Spain and Rome demand the removal of all heretics from France. And so say I again, beware of le Cardinal de Lorraine. He is as cunning as the Queen Mother.”
Fabien agreed. And if any understood Catherine and her Machia- vellian wiles, it was Sebastien who served on her privy council.
Fabien turned to Louis. “Sebastien speaks well. Even now we should disperse. Guise may have sent men to watch this chateau. My page has warned of messieurs following.”
“Let us end this gathering as quickly as possible, I beg of you, mon Prince,” Sebastien said. “For your sake, let us separate.”
“There are loyal men-at-arms on guard around this chateau, and be assured none can come upon us in surprise.” Condé walked to the mid- dle of the room again, commanding their attention. “Messieurs, I say we must go to Amboise as summoned by the king. If we do not, Guise will have reason enough to gather an army and come against us for rebellion. You have heard what Marquis Fabien has told us, that le Duc de Guise has been made Marshal of France. He now has unlimited power to wage his fight against our Huguenot towns and hamlets.”
“The Queen Mother will live to regret the added power she has so unwisely put in her enemies’ hands.”
“She may have regrets even now,” Fabien said. “Already she has learned her compromise with Guise has benefited his move for the throne.”
“We need time to gather our troops,” Louis said. “We must sign with the king and put this edict to the test.”
Princesse Eleonore stood listening with the other women. Fabien admired their calm, their dignity, their confidence in God. What noble
women are these! She approached Louis now, and showing her great def- erence, he lifted her hand to his lips.
“Louis, I fear every step you take toward Amboise will bring you closer to your own destruction. Is it not wiser to confront the danger head on? To bring the facts into the light? Let the Queen Mother and the House of Guise know you are aware Maître Avenelle has spoken to her. So much intrigue only permits deception to grow among confusion and darkness.”
“I agree,” Fabien said. “Do not go to Amboise. Send a letter in which the intrigues of Avenelle and Guise are shown to be beneficial to Guise’s rise to power. Appeal to Francis and Catherine only. I will deliver your letter and also seek to convince her.”
Louis took a turn around the room, one hand on his scabbard. “We must pay heed to the summons of the king,” Louis said again. “They have no evidence of my wrongdoing. It is all Avenelle’s tale to save him- self. I will send a rider this night to warn la Renaudie not to leave his chateau.”
“Then if you will go to Amboise, my husband, attend with a strong show of force,” Eleonore advised. “Let them know you will do battle before you allow them to arrest you. You are a prince of the blood royal and you must remind the Guises of this.”
Louis laid a hand on her arm. “We have several days before the coun- cil is to be held, time enough to prepare.” He then turned to Admiral Coligny’s brother, Odet. “Cardinal, you will see to it that your brother is told of Maître Avenelle?”
Fabien admired the young cardinal for his warmth and humility.
How he contrasts with Cardinal Guise.
“I will send a message to Gaspard, Monsieur. As you know, he remains at his chateau in Châtillon. He was not involved in Renaudie’s plot, though he fully sympathizes. He will obey the summons, and knowing Gaspard as I do, he will bear the truth to the king concerning the reasons for dissatisfaction among his Huguenot subjects.”
“I have no doubt. A greater ami we have not found for our just cause, nor a greater Calvinist.” He took a sharp turn looking at each of the Bourbon nobles. “Messieurs, we will of a truth go with a show of arms. We will ride to Amboise, but we will send a message ahead through Monsieur
Fabien —” he gestured toward him with a nod of his head —“assuring King Francis of our loyalty to the House of Valois. Therefore they can- not, and will not, move against princes of the blood.”
Fabien was not as certain, but Louis had made his decision.
Sebastien, who had spoken little, looked pale and tense. Perhaps he thought he had more to lose with Madeleine so soon to give birth to their first child. Fabien’s sympathy was with him.
Fabien grew restless. “What of Renaudie? We must act now to con- tact him, Monsieur Louis.”
“Yes, there is no time for delay,” Louis said.
“I have my men-at-arms with me,” Fabien said. “I can easily raise more from Vendôme. My page can ride there in but a few hours.”
“You are not part of the plot,” Sebastien said, looking anxious. “Do not join us, Fabien. You must keep your reputation with the throne for a future day.”
A ripple of firm agreement went around the room.
“If it had not been that the Queen Mother betrayed Coligny at Reims, there would be no plot now,” Louis said.
Fabien looked at him, wondering. This was the first he had heard of a betrayal of Admiral Coligny.
“How so, Prince?” Fabien asked curiously. Louis scowled, as if remembering.
“It concerned the Huguenot minister, Anne du Bourg. Admiral Coligny and others at court pleaded with Catherine to spare him after Henry
II died from a joust at Tournelles. It was her husband, the king, who allowed the cardinal to have Anne du Bourg arrested and placed in the Bastille. With Henry dead, the Huguenot leaders hoped Catherine would show favor toward them and release Anne. Catherine met secretly with the admiral and hinted she would. She even promised to attend a meeting of Huguenot ministers to discuss peace with them at Reims. She was journeying to Reims for the crowning of Francis. Coligny brought all the Huguenot leaders to Reims, even Calvin considered coming. But —” Louis shrugged elegantly — “Catherine failed to show up. Then Anne du Bourg was burned. It so angered the Huguenots that we felt we must do something. The plot Avenelle betrayed to le Duc de Guise was our answer to the House of Guise and the Queen Mother for their falseness to us, and for the murder of Anne.”
Fabien considered in silence.
“I shall send two of my pages,” Louis said. “La Renaudie has four thousand Huguenots armed and ready. If Guise already knows this then Renaudie’s chateau will surely be under watch.”
Fabien was uneasy when he recalled the men-at-arms Gallaudet had witnessed riding west. Surely they had been sent by Guise to watch la Renaudie.
“It will be difficult to get through without being noticed,” Fabien warned. “If one of your men is taken captive, they will torture the facts from him. If he were my man, I would safeguard him, and us, by telling him as little as possible except a few words that Renaudie will under- stand. And the fewer men sent, the better chance of slipping through.”
“If it is not already too late.” Sebastien paced, plucking at his sleeve.
He was frowning and looked more doubtful by the moment.
Montmorency, who had been replaced as Constable of France by le Duc de Guise and in bitterness went over to the Bourbons, also showed growing alarm and doubt. “Ah, Monsieur Prince, I know of the battle- field and armies. It may not be possible in so short a time to inform so many men.”
“We will not fail,” Louis said. “I will ask Capitaine d’Empernon to get through to Nantes. He can leave as soon as it is dark.”
Fabien thought they should send a man dressed as a peasant, not a known captain in Louis’s army, but he hesitated to again suggest amend- ing the prince’s decision.
Louis smiled affectionately as he turned to Fabien. “You have done well by coming to warn us, Cousine Fabien. But now there is no cause to further risk yourself in association with us at Amboise. Far wiser for you to ride to your chateau at Vendôme.”
“Yes,” Sebastien urged. “Avoid getting caught in whatever intrigues may be planned by Catherine and the Guises.”
Fabien was standing near the terrace. The breeze blowing in had turned colder. The sun was beginning to set with a sullen yellow stain spreading behind the trees and mountains. Thunderheads were begin- ning to gather, threatening to veil the last of the sun’s rays. Darkness would soon settle.
Fabien had no intention of withdrawing to Vendôme. Andelot Dangeau would be at Amboise to meet the cardinal. Fabien did not know why, but he had always held a sense of responsibility and con- cern for him, though Andelot was but a few years younger than himself. And now, the Macquinets of Lyon were involved. If there was trouble, he could not imagine himself riding away from it and leaving Rachelle and Andelot in its midst while he sought refuge at his chateau.
Louis grinned, his dark eyes adventurous. “I see you are offended at the thought. You are a true Bourbon, mon cousine. The courageous blood of Jean-Louis is also yours.”
Fabien bowed. “But with your leave, mon prince, I would not wait here with you and the others for the admiral’s arrival from Châtillon. I will leave for Amboise as soon as our men and horses have rested and eaten. It may be we can overtake the king’s retinue, as they are journey- ing slowly.”
Montmorency came to him, throwing an arm around his shoulders. “Will you at least stay for the afternoon feasting?”
“May our good God agree our plans are just in his sight and sanction our lives in this matter,” Cardinal Odet said.
“We daughters of God will be on our knees for each of you, mes- sieurs,” Princesse Eleonore said, “and God be with you, Marquis Fabien.” She had come up to him with a reassuring smile. He bent over her hand.
“Merci, Mademoiselle Princesse.”
Louis took her hand and laid it against his heart, his dark eyes speak- ing deepest respect for her earnest faith. The look between them went deeper than physical amour, and again Fabien took note. He bid them adieu and left to find Gallaudet and his men.
Chapter Fourteen
T
The royal procession, making its slow journey toward the fortress of Amboise, had stopped for the midday meal, and to permit the ailing young king to rest and walk among the trees with Mary.
Rachelle knew that Andelot Dangeau, who had spent his first four- teen years in Lyon at the Chateau de Silk and was an ami to both her and Idelette, rode among the king’s soldiers. She had on occasion seen him around Chambord and had wished to visit with him, but her demanding agenda had left her days filled.
She walked as near to where the soldiers were resting under the trees as was fitting for proper conduct and hoped that Andelot would notice and recognize her. It was not long until she heard the sound of horse hooves and he rode up, smiling. She thought him comely with his brown wavy hair and eyes.
“Mademoiselle Rachelle!” He swung down from his horse. “Bonjour, but what bonne chance to meet you on the journey.”
She laughed. “It was not by chance, I assure you, Andelot. I was hop- ing you would notice I was here and have some time to spare. I have wanted to visit with you since you arrived at Chambord with the mar- quis. I thought we could visit during our déjeuner.”
“How fair it is to see you again, Mademoiselle. I too had wished to see you at Chambord but your time belonged to the princesse. I hear your work with the silk has so pleased royalty that you have become one of her court ladies. You are pleased?”
“I am honored, yes, but it is all so new and strange. There are so many in the nobility to meet and whose names I should remember. But
tell me of yourself! The last I saw you, Sebastien placed you at a monas- tery school in Paris.”
“That was three years ago. New changes have befallen me and you will hardly believe my good fortune.”
They sat together on an old log beneath an alder tree lunching on the food that Rachelle had brought along and pouring tea from a jug into two cups, as Andelot stunned her with news of his kinsman relationship to the House of Guise.
When he concluded his tale of how his oncle had visited him at the Paris school with the information that had emerged from the cardinal, she hardly knew how to fathom the change it would make in Andelot’s future.
“Sebastien must have been profoundly shocked by this, as well as yourself. How is it you are related to the House of Guise without his knowing? And why did it take so long for the matter to be discovered? So many questions! You are a blood nephew of Sebastien, are you not?”
“Yes, one wonders, to be sure, and I am not at all pleased, because in truth, few answers have been given to me. I yet await my first intro- duction and interview with the cardinal. I only know what mon Oncle Sebastien told me recently, that mon père, Louis Dangeau, was not his blood brother as we always thought, but only related. When Louis’s parents died, he was brought into the Dangeau family, and as it were, adopted.”
The explanation was unsatisfactory to Rachelle, and she could see by the thoughtfulness in his eyes that it was to him as well, but it was not her place to cast doubt upon Sebastien’s explanation. Perhaps even Sebastien did not know the true facts.
“So your père was related to the House of Lorraine?”
Andelot’s brows tucked together beneath the lock of brown hair that fell across his tanned forehead. He stared at his roast venison and bread loaf. “One wonders,” he repeated. “I believe Marquis Fabien may know something, but he changes the subject when I bring it up
.” He shook his bread with deliberation. “Oui, I suppose that is how it happened. Sebastien has told me that it is the duchesse who would not receive Louis.”
Rachelle frowned. “The duchesse?”
He looked at her. “Le Duc de Guise’s maman, the unsmiling dowager of Catholic orthodoxy — did not accept Louis because my mother was
. . . a woman of ill repute.” He took a big bite of meat, avoiding her eyes. “That is no shame to you. Do you know who your maman is?” “Non.”
“Perhaps the shame is equally the House of Guise who refused to accept you until most recently.
“I am told le cardinal only recently discovered who I was. It was then he sent Sebastien to take me from the monastery school. You remember when I left Lyon?”
“Idelette had sulked for weeks afterward,” she confessed casually. “She did?” came his surprised voice. “Ho! Who would ever have
guessed?”
“What will you do now? Have they told you what they are planning for your future?”
He frowned. “I suppose I shall discover it when I meet the cardinal at Amboise. Sebastien believes I shall be chosen for the privilege of enter- ing the corps des pages.”
She could see that he watched her eagerly for her response. She was, indeed, proud for him, but dare not give him any suggestion that she was pleased romantically. Though they were near the same age, Andelot seemed yet a boy to her after meeting the marquis.
“Doubtless that would be an honor for you.” She added gentle mean- ing: “Would you then be serving the cardinal?” The idea made her uncomfortable, but even so, she did not wish to foil any sense of pride he might have over his recent status.
“I will not know that until I meet with him.” He then frowned. “I am unsure what becoming his page would mean. That is, I am aware of my duties, but . . .”
He did not finish, and Rachelle politely kept silent. They were both thinking along the same paths, she was sure. Would the time come in the future when Andelot was expected to carry out the cardinal’s policy of persecution against heretics?
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