will go to the court and see whether the Lady will give us hospitality.’
‘So we can explore the market now?’ asked Bernardina.
The troubadour frowned. ‘Very well. But I shall expect to see all of you in the cathedral for the Easter Vigil tonight. Then I’ll let you know where we’ll be sleeping. You, Esteve, come with me.’
‘Me?’ asked Elinor, dumbfounded. She was torn between longing to explore the market and curiosity about what the inside of a grander court than her father’s would be like.
‘Yes, don’t dawdle like a halfwit,’ said Lucatz. ‘If you behave like a normal person, I think you might impress the Lady.’
As they walked up to the castle, the troubadour stopped to pick up useful pieces of gossip on the way.
‘So,’ he said, when they had at last left the market and the winding streets around it and were heading up a broader approach to the citadel. ‘It appears we have come at a fortunate time.’
He was unlike his usual self, almost gleeful at the prospect of gain to be had in the golden city.
‘It seems that the Lady has an heir,’ he said. ‘The new little Senhor was born in February. Jacques they call him and he is but two months old. That means the Lady will be recovered from her lying-in and full of joy and, we hope, largesse.’
‘That’s good,’ said Elinor uncertainly. ‘I’m sorry but I know nothing of the Lady of Montpellier. Has she no Senhor ?’
‘She is married to King Pedro of Aragon,’ said Lucatz, ‘but is Lady of Montpellier in her own right. She got the title back from her half-brother only four years ago.’ He lowered his voice. ‘But there’s a rumour that Pedro is trying to divorce her and marry someone else. He wants Montpellier for himself but I don’t think the domna will let him have it easily.’
Elinor was amazed. Here was a woman ruling a city in her own name and defying her husband even though he was a powerful king and Elinor’s father’s own suzerain. It made her own attempts at independence seem rather puny.
‘It’s not the first time she has married a scoundrel,’ said Lucatz and Elinor was astonished at the casual way he referred to their sovereign lord. ‘Maria’s first husband married her and gave her two daughters. But the Pope annulled that match because he had two wives alive already!’
By now they had reached the castle, with its silver shield with a red circle on it hanging over the gate. Elinor was a bit disappointed that they were not ushered into the presence of Maria of Montpellier herself. But they were well entertained by her senescal , who was courteous and welcoming. Elinor kept very quiet throughout the interview, saying little except for thanking the man for the sweet wine and biscuits and giving her assumed name.
By the time they left, Lucatz was in a very good humour.
‘Monday morning in the market and in the evening entertaining at the child’s Christening feast,’ he said. ‘What could be better? I didn’t know about the child but I made the right decision leaving Sévignan when we did, even though there was a betrothal feast in the offing.’
Elinor realised with a shock that he was talking about her own possible troth-pledging to old le Viguier. Was it really less than a week ago that she had stood in the solar and heard his proposal?
To cover her confusion, she asked whether the Lady would not have already arranged the entertainment for her son’s important day.
‘We can’t expect to be the only troupe in Montpellier,’ said Lucatz. ‘You must know that from your time at Albi. But we will have the charm of novelty. I’m sure we will be the crown of the evening. I must tell the other joglar s to match our songs to the Lady’s circumstances.’
The cathedral was ablaze with light. And in the choir stalls sat all the nuns from a nearby convent. Three of them came down into the main aisle, each carrying a candle, a towel and a box.
‘What are they doing?’ whispered
‘So we can explore the market now?’ asked Bernardina.
The troubadour frowned. ‘Very well. But I shall expect to see all of you in the cathedral for the Easter Vigil tonight. Then I’ll let you know where we’ll be sleeping. You, Esteve, come with me.’
‘Me?’ asked Elinor, dumbfounded. She was torn between longing to explore the market and curiosity about what the inside of a grander court than her father’s would be like.
‘Yes, don’t dawdle like a halfwit,’ said Lucatz. ‘If you behave like a normal person, I think you might impress the Lady.’
As they walked up to the castle, the troubadour stopped to pick up useful pieces of gossip on the way.
‘So,’ he said, when they had at last left the market and the winding streets around it and were heading up a broader approach to the citadel. ‘It appears we have come at a fortunate time.’
He was unlike his usual self, almost gleeful at the prospect of gain to be had in the golden city.
‘It seems that the Lady has an heir,’ he said. ‘The new little Senhor was born in February. Jacques they call him and he is but two months old. That means the Lady will be recovered from her lying-in and full of joy and, we hope, largesse.’
‘That’s good,’ said Elinor uncertainly. ‘I’m sorry but I know nothing of the Lady of Montpellier. Has she no Senhor ?’
‘She is married to King Pedro of Aragon,’ said Lucatz, ‘but is Lady of Montpellier in her own right. She got the title back from her half-brother only four years ago.’ He lowered his voice. ‘But there’s a rumour that Pedro is trying to divorce her and marry someone else. He wants Montpellier for himself but I don’t think the domna will let him have it easily.’
Elinor was amazed. Here was a woman ruling a city in her own name and defying her husband even though he was a powerful king and Elinor’s father’s own suzerain. It made her own attempts at independence seem rather puny.
‘It’s not the first time she has married a scoundrel,’ said Lucatz and Elinor was astonished at the casual way he referred to their sovereign lord. ‘Maria’s first husband married her and gave her two daughters. But the Pope annulled that match because he had two wives alive already!’
By now they had reached the castle, with its silver shield with a red circle on it hanging over the gate. Elinor was a bit disappointed that they were not ushered into the presence of Maria of Montpellier herself. But they were well entertained by her senescal , who was courteous and welcoming. Elinor kept very quiet throughout the interview, saying little except for thanking the man for the sweet wine and biscuits and giving her assumed name.
By the time they left, Lucatz was in a very good humour.
‘Monday morning in the market and in the evening entertaining at the child’s Christening feast,’ he said. ‘What could be better? I didn’t know about the child but I made the right decision leaving Sévignan when we did, even though there was a betrothal feast in the offing.’
Elinor realised with a shock that he was talking about her own possible troth-pledging to old le Viguier. Was it really less than a week ago that she had stood in the solar and heard his proposal?
To cover her confusion, she asked whether the Lady would not have already arranged the entertainment for her son’s important day.
‘We can’t expect to be the only troupe in Montpellier,’ said Lucatz. ‘You must know that from your time at Albi. But we will have the charm of novelty. I’m sure we will be the crown of the evening. I must tell the other joglar s to match our songs to the Lady’s circumstances.’
The cathedral was ablaze with light. And in the choir stalls sat all the nuns from a nearby convent. Three of them came down into the main aisle, each carrying a candle, a towel and a box.
‘What are they doing?’ whispered
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