Chapter 26 - Bad Maneuvers
The Royal Page, Pepin, tied his horse to the sapling and walked towards the manor. He knocked on the side door. No one answered. He looked about and saw a smallish servant working in the garden so he went to her and asked her to fetch the baroness.
"Tell her I have a private communication from the Court."
The servant abruptly scuttled off to the back of the manor while Page Pepin turned and wandered back towards the side entrance. 'The baroness was the only one who knew I was sent on the errand for the prince. Did she get the jewels?' He was smiling to himself as he imagined the prince's commissioned necklace, from Montpensier, circling the baroness' neck and shoulders, or the brooch accentuating her superb décolletage. His mind wandered back to more mundane intrigue involving his future with the baroness. 'I know she wants her stepdaughter Danielle out of the picture and Marguerite to become princess. I have heard nothing of Danielle since the duke took her away. And the prince is in danger of dying. That could make things difficult and might ruin my chances with the baroness. Nonetheless, she knows what she wants and how to get there. I trust she'll call on me once she's in the palace, for good.'
As Pepin daydreamed, the servant girl, Adwige, searched the pantry and kitchen areas finally finding Paulette.
"There is a Royal page at the side pantry asking for the baroness. Should I send Maurice to interrupt the count and the baroness?" the girl asked.
Paulette did not immediately respond. Instead, the two servants walked outside and snuck a peek at who it was delivering a communication at the side door. Paulette remembered what Jacqueline had said: the prince decreed that no one was to speak to the baroness until he gave the order. Who had sent this Royal page? This seemed odd.
Paulette looked around the corner and saw Pepin. 'That spiteful nain rogue,' she said in an inaudible tone. She pushed backwards and flattened herself against the wall. Adwige poked her. "Well? Should Maurice get them?"
"No!" It jumped from Paulette's mouth. She coughed and told Adwige that Maurice had to fetch a number of things from the root cellar so he could not go. "You go. But first, wipe your hands, child and fix your hair." As soon as Adwige left, Paulette raced off to find Louise and Maurice. She finally found them outside in the gardens and almost leapt on them.
"The small weasley looking Royal page is here," Paulette told them, out of breath. "He's at the back door waiting for the baroness. We must hurry so we can hear what they are saying! Quick. Come now." She hustled them towards the garden shed, taking the back way so they could hide behind the hedgerow that hid the shed.
The mix of apple trees and low bushes made for perfect concealment. They hid behind the bushes and peaked around the corner, but the baroness wasn't there yet. The page was turning in circles, kicking up grass and dirt clods and then stamping on them. They pulled back quickly and looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and settled in.
It was well known that the baroness was out of favor in the French Court, so to have a Royal page appear now was unusual. Paulette couldn't hold it in. "Something must be going on." Maurice shushed Paulette and Louise gave her a stern look. The baroness was just arriving. They crouched upon each other to stay hidden, listening and watching through the low branches. They were sure that the page and the baroness were conspiring. "Could the dimwit page have news of Danielle? Has the baroness done something to her again?" They continued to whisper amongst themselves, trying not to be heard.
Things had changed at the manor since Danielle was taken away. The baroness had started treating them worse than before. She found new reasons to hold their wages, fed them the worst of her foods, schemed and threatened to sell them in order to pay her taxes. She rarely spoke if the servants were present and when her cousin, the Count Andre d'Alsace of Flanders arrived, the manor servants were relocated to the outbuildings. The Count's servants got the better rooms and the more desirable house jobs. There was much grumbling in the back rooms by Paulette, Louise and Maurice, and a lot of avoiding the baroness.
The baroness, in an attempt to win back her position in the French Court, had begun to hold social events using the Count and his Ghent connections to lure the courtiers to the manor. People were still very wary of her. Many refused to come, even to meet the Count. They preferred to meet him under the King's approval. They didn't want to take any chances and risk losing the favor of the Royal family. But those who didn't mind the wrath of the Royals were met with cordiality, good conversation and much diversion. The baroness was charming but also sly about taking mental notes of their personal weaknesses. She would use it to her advantage when the time was right. She knew she had to find one or two courtiers to help her get back in the good graces of King Francis and Queen Marie. Rodmilla was patient; if anything, she had that skill mastered.
The baroness came to the door, ignoring the servants who scattered like mice when she walked near. She stepped outside pretending to look over the servants work and then greeted Page Pepin.
"Oh, it's you. I had heard there was a Royal page at the back gate."
"Yes, my lady. I have returned from Montpensier and have been at the castle with the King and the Royal family."
"How was Montpensier? Did you get a chance to see the commissioned jewelry? And did the jewelers hint as for whom the baubles were made?"
"You have heard about the prince, have you not?"
The baroness gave him a very odd look.
"No. Why?" Rodmilla played coy. "Pray, tell me what has happened?"
He played along. "Oh, I see. There was an attack." Pepin stalled for a minute watching Rodmilla. She stared at him and widened her eyes in anticipation, so he continued. "It seemed such a very pleasant ride two days ago. There were no signs of bandits. All was peaceful. But the prince went yesterday and was viciously attacked."
"Ooo, that sounds intriguing and shocking, but I'm at a loss. Though, if you find out more about the jewels, that would make me pleased. You know how I love jewelry. But tell me more about the prince being attacked."
"Well, I went to Montpensier to let the jeweler know that the prince was coming the next day, and that he expected to be presented with the commissioned pieces. The jeweler gave me a tidbit of information…" the page lowered his voice; then added in a confidential tone, "the prince commissioned them for a special lady, a princess. But no name was given. Then yesterday, as he was leaving the village, he was attacked."
"That is terrible!" The baroness feigned sorrow and pretended to be shocked.
Page Pepin went over the story of the messenger arriving from Montpensier at the Château de Hautefort and the gathering of the King's army to leave for Montpensier. Everyone was in an uproar.
"Oh my...you poor man. Has anything been done yet to find out who has attacked the prince?"
"Well, they are investigating."
"They who?"
"The King's men, I suppose."
"Oh. You'll have to keep me abreast of all that goes on. I am interested in the health of the prince, as you know."
"Yes. We are all worried. I heard he is close to death."
Pepin wanted to engage the baroness in deeper conversation regarding the whole intrigue. He suspected she had something to do with the attack. He told her everything he thought she wanted to hear. But he suspected she was somehow involved.
He watched her carefully. When he mentioned the detail of the prince's condition she responded shocked and horrified.
"Who would have attacked to kill? To attack a prince and his entourage, that's outrageous! High Treason!" The baroness feigned ignorance and thanked Pepin for informing her. She told him she would inform the household so they could 'pray for the prince's swift recovery.'
Page Pepin knew she was poison right now, but he wanted to be loyal to her. She was banned from Court since the masque. He knew the Court was fickle and he watched all the intrigues: one day you're in, the next you're out, the next you gain a title, the next off your head. It was all a political game of tag, fetch, hide and return.
"What else are they gossiping about at the castle, my rogue page?"
"Well, baroness, I believe they have a prisoner. They are holding him for the King at the duke's home."
"The duke's home? Which duke?" She squinted and smiled hiding her emotions.
"Philippe de Bourbon-Montpensier, my lady, the Duc de Châtellerault and Mantua. The Italian duke. I guess it makes sense since he is based in Montpensier, that is, when he is in France. The duke probably also wants to regain the King's favor for his family. I didn't get the full story but I heard bits and pieces in the stables as they prepared the King's army."
"The King's army? Oh my goodness, this is terrible news. It is that serious? Has the King already left?"
"Well..." he paused and tried to think of how to change the topic. He wanted to stick with the baroness, but mention of the King's official business was treason; it could mean immediate death. He tried a vague answer. "They say the attack happened during the day."
"Oh, and the King must be devastated. Has he left yet?"
"Don't worry baroness, His Majesty has a full entourage, including an army that will care for him."
"Oh, I see. Well, if you find out any further information I'd really enjoy another visit. I feel so lonely not being in Court as often as I used to, but as you know, now that my cousin is here, I am entertaining many guests from Ghent."
Pepin left thinking that she still needed him and that they were bound by secrets. He looked over his shoulder as he left and noticed shadows appear and disappear by the side door. He was too close to his horse by now and did not feel inclined to return to investigate. Any sense of worry disappeared as he reached his horse. He mounted and went on his way, riding a path where few, if anyone, would see him.
The page realized he had taken a risk in leaving the castle, especially after being the one who delivered the message that the prince would be visiting the Montpensier jeweler. He wondered if someone could have been following him and might have found out his doings. After ten minutes at a trot, he became distracted with imaginings of the baroness and so any thoughts of foul play disappeared with the wind.
The baroness went to the main sitting room and chatted for a few minutes with the Count's guests, then asked to be excused, while requesting her cousin to join her in the library with the pretext of helping her find the appropriate book for later in the evening. Now that Auguste's items had been returned and that her rich cousin had moved into the manor, the baroness was able to have money to spend on beautifying the house. She had made it more presentable for guests.
Rodmilla and the Count took leave to go to the library, which had become their council room. The library was the most private place in the manor; it had no secret rooms, nor concealed holes covered by tapestries where a servant might hide and hear them speak. And it was a large room designed to house Auguste's vast collection, one of the largest libraries in the region. It was very cozy and personal, and it was rarely used for entertaining.
"Cousin, the prince is in the château of the duke, Danielle's uncle, Duke Philippe de Bourbon-Montpensier." The baroness spoke anxiously. "Why is the Prince there? The page said there is a survivor, a prisoner; the duke is holding him for the King. And the King is readying to go, if he has not already left. What shall we do? What is the Prince doing in the duke's château?"
The Count was calm. "I have had eyes on Hautefort since we sent our men to intercept the Prince. If there is a survivor we will find a way to manage the problem."
"But the King's army could be on its way now." The baroness felt faint, she sat quickly to catch herself.
The Count looked down at the baroness and heaved a sigh. "I have already dispatched a number of couriers, one to Flanders and one to the court of King Carlos in Spain. I am ahead of King Francis and that is all that counts. I have a solution. We are implicating Spain. King Francis must believe that King Carlos is behind this attack." As he spoke, the Count thought he will show King Carlos that even if he had been relieved of his position as Ambassador he still had value and influence. He will rise again, and kings and nobles will come to his door asking for his help.
"I have also dispatched a group of rowdy men to Milan to ask for the milanese local nobility's support and plant even more seeds of political unrest. There are many interested in a weaker France. King Francis will feel attacked on all sides, as King Carlos will too. We only need to control the rumors and plant seeds of anxiety. My dear baroness, no one will know what has happened or who attacked."
The Count stood in front of Rodmilla. "We are entertaining our guests from Ghent, and their support is important. Peace between Flanders, France and Spain is important to France. They will most likely call on me to help with affairs. And while I am still under your roof I will negotiate a deal for you to keep your title and the de Barbarac estate. If Danielle is meant to receive a part of this estate, I will argue that the lands fall to the wife of de Barbarac until your death and then all three daughters will have access to the estate. Until then, this estate remains with you."
"But Auguste left the manor to Danielle," she said, with a mix of resentment and guilt. On the one hand, she resented Auguste for leaving everything to his daughter Danielle, on the other, Rodmilla felt guilty for betraying him and his memory. Auguste had been the only man who had truly loved her, and she, in her own way, had loved him too.
"Nobody needs to know that," the Count remarked, oblivious to the baroness' conflicting feelings. "We will tell a different story, the story of Danielle, the ill-mannered stepchild who you felt 'needed a man to tame her.' And that man would be Monsieur Le Pieu, who despite Danielle's bad manners and filthy appearance offered to marry her. The whole problem of the 'sale' of Danielle to Le Pieu can be solved easily. Since Auguste left no dowry for Danielle, and you would be losing a valuable asset to Le Pieu –a daughter who helped run the estate– you needed payment from the man taking her from you. It is that simple."
The baroness thought that Auguste must have left a dowry, which was probably being managed by Duke Philippe. But she did not want to share her anxiety with her cousin.
She spoke in a staccato lilt. "Le Pieu is not on our side."
"He is not against us either. He is a businessman, and if I am active in Court again, especially as peace keeper under Spain's protection, he will understand that I have power behind me."
The baroness gained her composure. She knew her cousin could wiggle his way out of this easily. He would play political games and return to Ghent with no questions asked. She was going to find a way to ensure her own safety. She would watch the Count carefully; see if he would turn on her. She could easily turn on him. She stayed silent.
Because the news of the prince had spread throughout the kingdom, it became known that the King and Queen traveled to Montpensier to be with their son who was close to death. Nothing had been said about Danielle, but there was a rumor that an unknown young woman had been seen with young Duke Giancarlo, Duke Philippe's son; and that the prince would have died if not for them.
It was the man who escaped and reached the manor before he died who brought news that the duke's niece, Danielle, and his son, Giancarlo, had helped save the prince. Villagers had heard gossip from the château's kitchen staff while at the market. Rumors flew wildly. News was also spread that there was a prisoner who had survived. The baroness was no longer anxious, but angry. She knew Danielle was at the duke's château. She was back in her life again. Weeks without word of Danielle and now, the prince traveling to the duke's home, his attack and her helping save him. This nightmare would never end.
The Count realized that he had mistakenly believed that this attack on the prince would distract King Francis from the issues of Rodmilla and Danielle. He had watched his cousin react with the news. She ranted about this child, Danielle. He watched Rodmilla's judgement become clouded. It was Danielle that was her undoing. There was much more to this story than a single common peasant child. The prince and Danielle were somehow still intertwined. His decision to make this about political intrigue was now solidified.
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