The Star of Lancaster - Plaidy Jean (читать книги онлайн полные версии txt) 📗

'Does this mean that you are asking me to leave?' demanded Henry.

*I am afraid that is so.'

Following on the affair with the Due de Berri this was indeed a blow. His hopes had been too high. Now they had come crashing to earth.

He raised his head haughtily. 'You may rest assured, sire, that I shall lose no time in leaving Paris.'

The King looked mournful but he could not hide his relief. It appeared that Richard was as firmly on his throne as ever and what hope had a poor exile of returning to his country let alone to be its King!

With his few attendants Henry rode disconsolately out of Paris. Where could he go? He did not know. It would be the same story everywhere. He would be received at first and then if he became too comfortable Richard would show his disapproval and he would have to go wandering again.

He was making his way towards Brittany. Duke John of that land was by no means young but was noted for his

valour—^he was known as John the Valiant—and his violent temper. His Duchess was his third wife and many years younger than he was; she was Joanna, the daughter of Charles d'Albret, King of Navarre, whose reputation was so bad that he was known as Charles the Bad. Charles was related to the royal house of France through his mother who had been the only child of Louis X. He could not of course inherit the throne because of the Salic law which prevailed in France but, as was inevitable, Charles the Bad longed to attain that crown, a desire which had led to perpetual trouble.

Henry had no wish to arrive in Brittany to be told that Richard objected to his being there, so before he entered the Duke's land he sent a messenger on to ask him if he would be welcome if he came.

When the messenger arrived, the Duke burst out almost angrily: 'Why does he think it necessary to ask? I have always been on excellent terms with the House of Lancaster. Ride back and tell him he may expect a hearty welcome.'

Henry was overjoyed to receive the news. It solved his problem for the time being. Even so he could not rid himself of his melancholy. Am I always going to be an exile wandering over the face of Europe, never sure of my reception, knowing that I have vast estates in England which I can never see? he asked himself.

The Duke of Brittany determined to live up to his promise and rode out to meet him. This was a great honour and Henry expressed his deep appreciation of it.

The Duke was very old but he still retained a certain vitality. Not for nothing had he been called the Valiant, and Henry returned his greeting with a warmth to match the Duke's. And then he was aware of a very beautiful woman who rode beside the Duke.

She was young; she glowed with health and she was smiling at him.

*My Duchess would give you as warm a welcome as I give you myself,' the Duke told him.

'Welcome to Brittany,' said the Duchess. *We shall do our best to make you happy while you stay with us.'

The old Duke looked at his glowing young wife with doting tenderness and Henry was charmed not only by his welcome but by the fascinating Duchess Joanna; and during the weeks that followed, when banquets and jousts were given in his

honour, he did not have to pretend that he was enjoying his stay in Brittany and this was not only because for a man in his position it was good to have a sanctuary. It was something more. He found the society of the Duchess Joanna very de-hghtful indeed.

Joanna was a woman of great strength of character. Perhaps a childhood such as hers had been helped to develop this. Because of her father's recklessness and his attempts to claim the throne of France the family had lived in constant danger.

Her grandmother, daughter and only child of Louis X, had married the Count of Evreux and through him had come the kingdom of Navarre which her father Charles had inherited. But what was the kingdom of Navarre when but for this Salic law he would have been the King of France. Charles had married Joanna, the daughter of King John of France, and to them were born two boys, Charles and Pierre, and the girl who was Joanna.

The children had had a stormy childhood all three having spent some time as hostages for their father's behaviour. They had been held by the regents of France, the Dues de Berri and Burgundy; and they had been in great peril when their reckless father made an attempt to poison their captors. This was foiled and Charles' agent was discovered and put to death. Charles himself, however, escaped punishment. It seemed possible then that the retaliation demanded would be the death of the hostages but the Dues had no wish to be revenged on children. All the same they had been in a desperate situation.

When Joanna was sixteen she had been married to the old Duke of Brittany. The Dues of Berri and Burgundy had thought this advisable for their great dread at that time had been that the Duke might make an alliance with England and this seemed a good use to which they could put their hostage. So Joanna was duly presented to the old Duke who immediately fell victim to her youthful charms. Joanna was not displeased. It was comforting to be made to feel so important as she was and to have gifts showered on her and fine jewel-encrusted clothes to wear. She was determined to enjoy being Duchess of Brittany and if it meant taking the old Duke as

well, as long as he continued to dote on her she could endure that.

Then it had seemed that Joanna was settled, her future secure. The old Duke was more and more devoted and whenever he was parted from his bride he was restive and eager to return to her.

Her father was pleased by the match but he had no intention of paying the enormous dowry which he had promised. *The old Duke is so infatuated by my daughter he won't miss a few pieces of gold,' he reasoned. And he was right, for the Duke was indeed so delighted with his marriage that he made light of the missing dowry.

Charles seemed almost disappointed. He so much enjoyed a quarrel and the last thing he wanted was a peaceful existence. He had for some years been suffering from a distressing complaint which stiffened his limbs and gave him considerable pain and the only way in which he could take his mind from his suffering was to create alarming situations that caused others stress.

Being amused by the Duke's devotion to his daughter, he thought it would be fun to prod the self-confidence of the uxorious husband.

There was one knight at his Court of whom Duke John had once been particularly fond. This was Oliver de Clisson, a great nobleman who had brought honour to Brittany through his chivalry and bravery both on the battlefield and in the jousts. He was of tall stature and exceedingly handsome in spite of the fact that he had lost an eye in battle in the Duke's cause. At that time there was a certain restraint between the Duke and Clisson which was due to the Duke's tendency towards friendship with England, while Clisson felt that it was better for Brittany to support France. Recently Clisson had been to Paris to discuss plans for a possible invasion of England should the opportunity arise and the Duke was displeased that he had done this.

It seemed to his wicked father-in-law, Charles the Bad, that now was the opportunity to play an amusing game. The Duke of Brittany was turning from Clisson on political issues, so Charles thought he would introduce an element of mystery and romance into the situation.

It was easy. He talked of his daughter to the Duke and there was no subject which pleased the Duke more.

•It delights me/ said Charles, *to see your fondness for the girl. She is handsome, would you say?'

*I would indeed,* replied the complacent husband. 1 would go farther. I'd say you would not find a more handsome lady if you searched the whole breadth of France aye and of England too.'