Daughter of Silk (25 page)
“How many soldiers?”
“Monsieur, at least five hundred, maybe more.”
Andelot looked quickly at Fabien and saw what he was thinking. This was more evidence that made him think the Guises were up to harm. He could not think they were merely going to Amboise to safeguard the king and royal family.
“Adieu, Andelot. We ride.” Fabien saluted him in a friendly way and rode off with Gallaudet. His men-at-arms followed in behind and galloped after them. Andelot watched until the great golden bay had raced across a green meadow toward the distant forest to the chateau of Moulins.
T
The palais chateau of Moulins was less than a two-hour journey from Blois. The sun was high in the pale aqua sky with puffy clouds over the Val d’Oise. Fabien and his retinue galloped swiftly across the plain toward the Forez and took the much-used route along the river where it followed the green embankment. Water tumbled over gray rocks where the spray caught the rays of the sun in a rainbow mist. Birdsong refreshed and assured the listener’s heart, if not the mind, that all was well in the world.
Fabien turned his golden bay and began the final ascent into the for- est around Berry. Moulins was not far now. The redolent smell of the dark soil, damp and rich, and the scent of pine warmed by the sun, can- vassed the region around them.
In theearlyafternoonthevastchateaucameintoview. Itwasembraced on three sides by the gleaming lake and on the fourth side with the tall pine trees that framed the sky.
Fabien and Gallaudet rode the edge of the lake, followed by a dozen men-at-arms and as many lackeys, and then up to the gate. The
portier
came hurrying from his lodge nearby, and recognizing the armorial bear- ing of Vendôme, bowed, saluted, and went to draw back the gate.
They rode through, horse hooves clattering over the cobbled road that ascended toward the grand chateau where the Bourbon Prince Louis de Condé and his wife, Princesse Eleonore, were gathered with other Bourbon nobles.
At the entrance the hostlers came forward to take his horse. Most of his men-at-arms went off to refresh themselves at the barracks and stables with the grooms and lackeys.
Fabien entered the palais and was shown along the great corridors with their gold lacquer and silk-paneled walls to a large salon overlook- ing the
Cour d’Honneur
. A meeting was now underway, and Prince Louis de Condé was present, a man of middle height, with dark hair and eyes, of elegant fashion and bearing that announced he had not forgotten he was a royal prince.
Fabien did not see Admiral Coligny, but his elder brother, Odet, le Cardinal de Châtillon, was there and in deep conversation with Sebastien.
The women were gathered in an adjoining chamber. Fabien recog- nized Prince Condé’s wife, Princesse Eleonore, a blood niece of Cardinal Odet. She was leading a discussion on the plight of fellow Huguenots who had been deprived by the state church of their houses, shops, and estates for holding the outlawed Protestant faith.
Fabien had great respect for the older Princesse Eleonore who was most earnest and devout in her worship of Christ. He had heard how she was involved in aiding the persecuted and needy and setting up safe houses to care for them.
Prince Louis de Condé looked up from across the room and Fabien bowed lightly. “Monsieur le Prince.”
Condé’s charming face creased into a smile and his dark eyes spar- kled. He strode forward to meet him.
“Marquis Fabien, mon cousine, our gathering here is now complete with your arrival. Tell me, have you just come from Vendôme?”
“Non, mon cousine, but from Chambord. The king has left for Amboise this morning. I broke away and rode straight here to Moulins.” He looked toward the others and said in a louder voice to gain their attention: “Messieurs and Prince, I bring you news that has developed since Comte Sebastien brought the royal summons to you here at the Bourbon Palais.”
A sober silence fell across the room. The nobles of the Huguenot- Bourbon alliance ceased their discussion and gave him their full attention.
Sebastien moved forward, concern showing on his face. “Is it as I fear concerning the masked gentleman that rode in with Guise?”
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.”