Read Online The Rebel Princess by Judith Koll Healey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Judith Koll Healey
Tags: Historical, Mystery
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issued the order to the menservants in quite a different voice, gesturing with my gloved left hand, and then turned my attention back to the young man before me.
Francis went down on his knees but I raised him up immediately. “No, no, Sir Knight,” I said. “Come, give us a proper greeting.” Hismerry grin returned as I embraced him heartily, brushing each of his cheeks with my own.
“You look well, Princesse. I am happy to see you again.”
I held him at arm’s length, and saw with amusement that he was blushing. “And I am pleased to see you looking so hearty.” I nodded to him. “More than you know, Master Francis, as I understand you wish now to be called.” He bowed again, obviously pleased.
When he turned to address William I had an opportunity to observe the changes the last months had wrought in my son, for he had been away since Christmastide. He had spent the time well, growing broader shoulders. There was a look about his body now that was more manly, less the stripling youth he had been when they had set out the previous spring. His profile had changed, too, his bone structure stronger, his face wider as if even his features had decided to settle into adulthood. A scattering of youthful freckles was still visible, but they had grown faint under the tan he had acquired riding the roads of the south. And a full head of auburn hair, King Henry’s coloring, certes, still framed his dear face.
For just one moment, I smiled to myself to think that William and I should have discussed his safety as if he were a callow youth. He looked every inch a man and could no doubt well care for himself should the need arise.
I was charmed to hear him, with all dignity, addressing William as if he were sitting in the Templar grand master’s chair and not splashing about in my bath. “Lord William,” Francis was saying gravely, “I bring you news. Abbé Amaury and Pierre de Castelnau are asking for an audience with King Philippe immediately. I think you should come now. Such a meeting should not take place without you.”
“Do not fret, Francis. Papal envoys or not, Philippe will receive the monks when he pleases and not one minute before. And that will not be until the dinner hour tolls. I know how he manages things.” I smiled as I spoke, although the mention of our other newly arrivedguests called to mind Philippe’s hostile response to them. I was not looking forward to sharing their table in the king’s presence.
“But they say they have an urgent letter from His Holiness, Pope Innocent.” Francis may have looked older, but he still had the insistence of youth. He swiveled his head to keep William in his sight as he spoke.
“I know, I know.” William began to rise from his bath, throwing water everywhere like a mythical sea serpent frolicking in the ocean. I tossed him another large towel without ceremony. Francis glanced at me, the corners of his mouth twitching with humor as if in tune with my thoughts. “But of course they have a letter from His Holiness. And I have one too, as fine as theirs. But all in good time. La princesse a raison, Francis. Philippe knows I am here, and the king will not formally receive the monks without my presence.” He winked at the youth. “The Templar seal still counts for something, even at the court of France. And if it did not, the king will yet operate in his own interest, which is to include me in the meeting. He has no intention of acceding to the demands of these monks, and he knows I’ll help him out of his difficulty.”
“So you and the king have already devised a strategy to deal with these messengers?” I dropped into a well-cushioned oak bench, and motioned for Francis to sit opposite me.
“After I met with Philippe and Raymond in Blois, I sent to the monks and asked that we gather north of Poitiers. I knew they were coming to Philippe’s court, and I wanted to discover their mission, how they planned to approach the king.” William perused
Francis went down on his knees but I raised him up immediately. “No, no, Sir Knight,” I said. “Come, give us a proper greeting.” Hismerry grin returned as I embraced him heartily, brushing each of his cheeks with my own.
“You look well, Princesse. I am happy to see you again.”
I held him at arm’s length, and saw with amusement that he was blushing. “And I am pleased to see you looking so hearty.” I nodded to him. “More than you know, Master Francis, as I understand you wish now to be called.” He bowed again, obviously pleased.
When he turned to address William I had an opportunity to observe the changes the last months had wrought in my son, for he had been away since Christmastide. He had spent the time well, growing broader shoulders. There was a look about his body now that was more manly, less the stripling youth he had been when they had set out the previous spring. His profile had changed, too, his bone structure stronger, his face wider as if even his features had decided to settle into adulthood. A scattering of youthful freckles was still visible, but they had grown faint under the tan he had acquired riding the roads of the south. And a full head of auburn hair, King Henry’s coloring, certes, still framed his dear face.
For just one moment, I smiled to myself to think that William and I should have discussed his safety as if he were a callow youth. He looked every inch a man and could no doubt well care for himself should the need arise.
I was charmed to hear him, with all dignity, addressing William as if he were sitting in the Templar grand master’s chair and not splashing about in my bath. “Lord William,” Francis was saying gravely, “I bring you news. Abbé Amaury and Pierre de Castelnau are asking for an audience with King Philippe immediately. I think you should come now. Such a meeting should not take place without you.”
“Do not fret, Francis. Papal envoys or not, Philippe will receive the monks when he pleases and not one minute before. And that will not be until the dinner hour tolls. I know how he manages things.” I smiled as I spoke, although the mention of our other newly arrivedguests called to mind Philippe’s hostile response to them. I was not looking forward to sharing their table in the king’s presence.
“But they say they have an urgent letter from His Holiness, Pope Innocent.” Francis may have looked older, but he still had the insistence of youth. He swiveled his head to keep William in his sight as he spoke.
“I know, I know.” William began to rise from his bath, throwing water everywhere like a mythical sea serpent frolicking in the ocean. I tossed him another large towel without ceremony. Francis glanced at me, the corners of his mouth twitching with humor as if in tune with my thoughts. “But of course they have a letter from His Holiness. And I have one too, as fine as theirs. But all in good time. La princesse a raison, Francis. Philippe knows I am here, and the king will not formally receive the monks without my presence.” He winked at the youth. “The Templar seal still counts for something, even at the court of France. And if it did not, the king will yet operate in his own interest, which is to include me in the meeting. He has no intention of acceding to the demands of these monks, and he knows I’ll help him out of his difficulty.”
“So you and the king have already devised a strategy to deal with these messengers?” I dropped into a well-cushioned oak bench, and motioned for Francis to sit opposite me.
“After I met with Philippe and Raymond in Blois, I sent to the monks and asked that we gather north of Poitiers. I knew they were coming to Philippe’s court, and I wanted to discover their mission, how they planned to approach the king.” William perused
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