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

'It is good to see a man so pleased with his marriage. I hope it may remain so. Aye, that is my earnest prayer/

'I thank you,' said the Duke. 'I intend to see that it does remain so.'

'It is always well to hope,* replied Charles with a hint of warning in his voice which startled the Duke as it was meant to.

'Why do you speak so?*

'Well, my friend, she is young and lusty I'll warrant. She is of my family and I know what we are. You are a fine man for your age ... for your age, my lord Duke.*

Now the Duke was beginning to be really alarmed. 'You know something. What are you trying to tell me?' he demanded.

'Well, perhaps I should say nothing ... It is just out of friendship .. /

The Duke, who could lose his temper, began to do so now. 'Tell me what you know I' he cried and he faced the King of Navarre with an expression which clearly indicated he would do him some mischief if he did not speak quickly.

*I hasten to say my daughter is entirely innocent/

'What!' screamed the Duke.

'But there is no doubt in my mind how Clisson feels towards her. He is a bold fellow. He is capable of anything. Why he might even try to abduct her. It's clear to see what a passion he has for her.'

The Duke was so furious that he could have struck the King down there and then.

Charles moved away with a helpless shrug of the shoulders. It was no use blaming him for the misdemeanours of the subjects of the dukedom. Perhaps he had been wrong to betray Clisson. He had thought in his friendship ...

'You did right to tell me,' snapped the Duke; and Charles left him with his anger.

He was determined to curb his rage. He wanted to plan calmly. Clisson was already out of favour because of his poli-

cies and the fact that there had once been great accord between them only strengthened the Duke's anger.

He invited Clisson with two great friends of his, Laval and Beaumanoir, to dine with him at the Chateau de la Motte. They came unsuspecting and after the meal, at which the Duke had impressed them all with his affability, he told them that he wanted to show them some alteration he had made to the palace for the pleasure of his bride.

They expressed great interest.

1 particularly wish to show you the tower,' he said and when they reached a narrow spiral staircase he let Clisson go ahead. The Duke was immediately behind and he paused to point out some delicate piece of tracery on the wall to Laval and Beaumanoir.

As he did so there was a shout from above. Guards had emerged to seize and fetter Clisson.

Both Laval and Beaumanoir were immediately aware that they had walked into a trap. Tor God's sake, my lord Duke,' cried Laval, 'do not use violence against Clisson.'

'You would do well to go to your home while you are safe/ retorted the Duke.

Beaumanoir protested: 'What are you doing to Clisson? He is your guest.'

*Do you wish to be like him?' demanded the Duke.

*He is a great man,' was Beaumanoir's answer. *I should be honoured to be like him.

The Duke drew a dagger and held it to his face. 'Then/ he cried venomously, 1 must put out one of your eyes.'

Beaumanoir drew back in alarm. He and Laval saw that they were caught. If they attempted to rescue Clisson, they would find themselves the Duke's prisoners also. All the same Beaumanoir stood firmly and demanded to know on what grounds Clisson was arrested.

In a burst of fury the Duke shouted for guards to come and take Beaumanoir which they did. Meanwhile Laval slipped quietly away and out of the castle.

The Duke went to his private apartments and, still enraged, sent for the Sieur Bazvalen, a man who had served him well through the years and whose loyalty was without question.

'Bazvalen, my good friend,' he said, 1 want Clisson to die at once, and I want you to see that this is done/

Bazvalen drew back in horror. He knew Clisson well. This demand was too much to ask. He was no murderer. He had killed men in battle, it was true, but this was different.

'My lord ...' he began.

But the Duke waved his hand imperiously. 'Let him be taken t^ a dungeon. Kill him, I care not by what means, and then open the trap door and let his body go into the moat.'

Bazvalen could see that it was no use arguing with the Duke in his present mood or he would find himself in danger, but he was determined not to have the death of Clisson on his conscience so he went to Clisson and warned him of what he had been ordered to do and planned that he would return to the Duke and tell him that Clisson was dead and his body in the moat. In the meantime they would plan some means of getting Clisson out of the castle.

But when Bazvalen reported to the Duke he was overcome by remorse. His anger faded and he realized that he had condemned Clisson without proving his guilt. 'You are without blame, Bazvalen,' he cried. 'You but obeyed orders. The sin is on my conscience. I have murdered Clisson.'

He would not eat. He would never sleep in peace again, he said, and when he declared that he would give anything to have another chance, Bazvalen could hold back the truth no longer and confessed that he had been unable to murder Clisson who still lived. The Duke then threw his arms about Bazvalen's neck. 'My good good servant,' he cried, 'you knew me better than I knew myself.'

The Duke's anger had faded but he was always one to seek an advantage. His mischievous father-in-law had made evil suggestions which might be false but Clisson had been working with the French and therefore he could not be released until certain conditions had been filled. The Duke demanded the surrender of several towns which were in Clisson's possession as well as a hundred thousand florins.

Clisson, delighted to escape with his life, was only too pleased to pay what was demanded and so bring about his release.

Joanna was annoyed when she heard that her husband had suspected Clisson of wishing to be her lover, especially as she was now pregnant, a fact which made her even more attractive in the eyes of the Duke. She was cool to him and when he humbly asked the cause of her displeasure, she cried:

*You have suspected me of infidelity with Clisson. This has made me very disturbed at a time when you should do everything for my comfort/

He was beside himself with grief. 'Never for one moment did I doubt you, my love,' he assured her. 1 know you to be perfect ... in every way perfect. You are my very reason for living. Without you I would die tomorrow and gladly. And the thought of that... that... monster ...'

*You think I would be attracted by a one eyed varlet .. .*

*They say he is very attractive to women .. /

*So you would compare me with ... women,*

'Never! Never I You stand above them all. I will give anything ... anything I have .. .*

Joanna smiled at him. It was good to render him humble.

*I know it...' she answered. 'But I beg of you do not again insult me by linking me with such as Clisson. I am the Duchess of Brittany. My great grandfather was the King of France.'

'My love ... how can I win your forgiveness?'

She smiled sweetly. 'I know it is all the measure of your love for me,* she told him.

She knew too that now there would be even richer presents than before.

Her child was born soon after that, a daughter who died after a few weeks. The Duke was desolate. He wondered whether the Clisson affair was responsible.

Charles the Bad, the cause of the trouble, suffered a further bout of his painful illness. One of his doctors produced a remedy which gave him a little relief. Bandages were soaked in a solution of wine and sulphur and it was the task of one of his servants to wrap his limbs in them and sew the bandages together to keep them secure. When this was done he looked as though his body was wrapped in a shroud.