The Italian Woman Part 22

Henry decided to utilise it. He knew that he and Charles would always be enemies, and he decided to have Margot on his side.

He asked her to take a walk with him in the grounds of Fontainebleau, and Margot, sensing the importance of this, since she guessed the matter was too momentous to be discussed indoors, was gratified. She was always ready for excitement and intrigue.

As she walked with him through the green alley of the palace garden, Henry put his arm about his sister's shoulders a gesture which delighted Margot, for she was no less aware of Henry's position with their mother than Charles was, and the favour of Henry was greatly to be desired on that account. Margot feared her mother more than anyone on Earth, but at the same time she earnestly longed for her approbation. A friends.h.i.+p with Catherine's darling might result in her finding favour with Catherine.

'You may have noticed, dear Margot,' said Henry, 'that, of all my brothers and sisters, I have always loved you the best.'

Margot smiled happily, for if Henry regarded her in that light, so must her mother.

'We have had many happy times together,' went on Henry, 'but we are children no longer.'

'No, Henry. Indeed we are not. You are a great soldier. You have made a name for yourself.'

He pressed her hand and, putting his face close to hers, he said: 'Margot, my power lies in keeping in the good graces of our mother, the Queen.'

Margot agreed with that.

'And, Margot, I am away from the court so much. The wars continue. My brother the King is always beside her. He flatters her and obeys her in everything.'

'But she would never love any as she loves you, Henry. It has always been so.'

He said: 'I have many enemies who might do me harm with my mother ... when I am not here to protect myself.'

'Charles thinks of little else but making love to Marie Touchet and hunting wild creatures.'

'He makes hate as well as love, and he will not always be content to hunt beasts. One day he will take my Lieutenancy from me and try to lead the army himself. I wish to have someone here at court to uphold my cause with the Queen. You, dearest sister, are my second self. You are faithful and clever. Do this for me. Be with my mother always at her lever, at her coucher. Listen to what is said, and find some means of letting me know. Make her confide in you. You understand?'

Margot's eyes were sparkling. 'Yes. I understand, Henry.'

'I will speak to her of you. I will tell her how fond I am of you. I will tell her that you are my beloved sister, my second self. As for you, you must not be so much afraid of her. Speak up when she addresses you. In doing those things for me, you will do much for yourself.'

Henry put his hands on Margot's shoulders and looked into her eyes; he saw there what he wanted. Henry was the hero of the war; and Margot, a young and impressionable girl, was ready to adore him; she was ready to be his slave and to work for him against the King.

Henry took her along to Catherine and told his mother how fond he was of his sister, and of the part he had asked her to play for him at the court. Catherine drew her daughter to her and kissed her on the forehead.

'So you are to guard your brother's interests at court, dear Margot?'

'Yes, Madame.'

'You will have to give up your silliness, your frivolity. You will have to watch your brothers ... and their friends.'

'That I will do, Mother.'

'Well, my daughter, I shall help you in this. Henry, my son and your brother, is as dear to me as my life. Is he so to you?'

'Yes, Madame.'

Catherine then embraced her son and, as her mother's cold hands touched her, Margot felt that she had become a member of a trinity; and this was none the less exciting because the trinity might be an unholy one.

Growing up was an enchanting experience. Margot had other matters with which to concern herself now. She played the spy with all the verve of which she was capable. She was coming to the fore; she was always at her mother's lever and coucher; she was often in the company of the King; she was ready to continue in her adoration of her absent brother.

But there was one other trait in Margot's nature which both her mother and her brother had temporarily forgotten. If Margot was to grow up, she would do so in more ways than one. She was continually occupied with her dresses; she became the most fas.h.i.+onable lady of the court; she wore a golden wig over her long black hair one day, and a red one the next. All fas.h.i.+ons inaugurated by Margot were provocative, designed to t.i.tillate the senses of the male.

And Henry of Guise came to court.

Henry too had grown up; they were man and woman now, not boy and girl. He sought the first opportunity of being alone with Margot to tell her of his feelings.

'I always loved you,' he told her as they strolled in the gardens.

'And I ... you, Henry.'

Margot could not keep her hands from the fine coat or the golden curly hair and beard. Margot was not the only one who thought there was no man in France, or in the world, to compare with Henry of Guise; others said that the Guises made all other men seem insignificant when they came among them.

'We will be married,' declared Henry. 'I know that it can be arranged.'

'It must be arranged,' agreed Margot.

He took her hands, and kissed them eagerly with burning kisses which made Margot's pa.s.sions flame.

'It will not be so easy as it would have been if my father was alive,' Henry warned her.

Margot was in his arms, all desire and urgency.

'Nevertheless, it must be,' she said.

'Margot ... I cannot wait for marriage.'

Margot laughed. 'Nor I!'

'Where can we be alone?'

Intrigue was exciting, but pa.s.sionate intrigue was the most delightful thing in Margot's world. How could she have set such store on spying for her brother Henry when she could be the mistress of this completely fascinating Henry?

It was not difficult for Margot to find a place where they could be together.

And after that there was nothing of any importance for Margot but these pa.s.sionate meetings with her lover. She was insatiable. She could never have enough of Henry. He was her lover the only person on Earth, she discovered, who was really important to her. For him she would die. She declared that she would never marry any other man. The meetings grew more frequent, and the more frequent the more necessary they became to Margot. Sensual, pa.s.sionate in the extreme, she had discovered something which she could not do without.

She was impetuous. She wanted an immediate marriage. Henry was more cautious. He was as pa.s.sionate, as sensual as Margot they were as well matched a pair as any lovers could be but while for Margot there was nothing but love, for Henry there was also ambition. He was the Duke of Guise, head of the mighty House of Lorraine besides being Margot's lover, and his upbringing would not allow him to forget that. And even while he was making pa.s.sionate love to Margot he could not help remembering that she was a Princess of the House of Valois, and therefore a match with her would be the most suitable he could possibly make.

'We must not be careless,' said Henry.

'Oh, Henry, my darling, what do we care?'

'We must care, Margot; for nothing must stand in the way of our marriage. We can never be completely happy until then. Just think what marriage would mean to us ... always together.'

She kissed him wildly. 'I will never let you leave me. I will follow you to camp. You do not imagine that I should let you go alone!'

'No,' he said. 'We must never be parted. That must be our aim. Margot, you are so impetuous. We must wait ... and watch ... and act carefully. What if people tried to separate us?'

She pressed her body against his. She was not really thinking of anything but the desire of the moment. He laughed, but he was a little uneasy. Margot was an ideal mistress and he adored her; but there were times when he wondered what violence of pa.s.sion, what sensuality he had awakened. He had never known anyone like this gay little Princess of France with the flas.h.i.+ng dark eyes and the eager, sensual lips, the clinging hands, the urgent desire. He was young and virile himself, but he found Margot astonis.h.i.+ng.

She would not discuss anything seriously. She wanted him at once ... this moment. Never mind if they were in the gardens. Who would come to this spot? Who would dare say a word against the Princess Margot and the Duke of Guise?

'My darling,' said Henry, 'I want you as much as you want me, but I want our marriage. I want to make sure of our union. I want it to be firm and secure ... for the rest of our lives.'

She ran her fingers through his hair. 'But, Henry, of course it shall be.'

'The Queen Mother does not love me; nor does the King.'

'But you are a Prince and I am a Princess; and I will have none other but you.'

'I know. I know. But caution, my darling!'

But she was not listening. She was laughing up at Henry, and he, young and pa.s.sionate as herself, could not help but find her irresistible.

The lovers thought their love unnoticed, but this was not the case; and one of the important people who had seen how matters stood between the Princess Margot and the young Duke of Guise was the Duke's uncle, the Cardinal of Lorraine.

The Cardinal was amused as well as delighted. He himself had known many erotic adventures in fact, he was at his wit's end nowadays to find some new diversion that could attract him. He was ready to give a good deal to any young and handsome person man or woman who could show him a little novelty. But regarding this affair of his nephew and the Princess he was not displeased, although Henry was being a young fool in this, and he thought it his duty to warn him.

He asked the boy to come to his apartments and, making sure that they were un.o.bserved and that there were no means of communication behind the hangings, he told the Duke what was in his mind.

'None of the diabolical instruments of that old serpent the Queen Mother can reach us, nephew, so let us talk without reserve. I notice that you are enjoying a charming interlude with the Princess Margot.'

Henry flushed a little. 'If you mean that I love her, that is so.'

The Cardinal lifted his beautiful white hand and studied the rubies and sapphires which adorned it. 'I wish to congratulate you. What a delightful mistress she must be! You are a fortunate man.'

Henry bowed stiffly. In view of his uncle's reputation, he did not care to discuss Margot with him, or to contemplate those lecherous eyes and read the thoughts behind them.

'I would prefer not to discuss my relations.h.i.+p with the Princess,' he said.

'But that is exactly what we must do. Oh, mistake me not. Do not think I wish to question you as to the most exciting experience you must be enjoying. I can imagine that it is charming incomparable, in fact for I doubt if there is, even at this court, a young lady who is so naturally knowledgeable in the greatest of our arts. But you are young, you are sensitive and you are in love; and you do not care to discuss your mistress with a man of my reputation. You see, nephew, I understand. I read your thoughts. Well, let us discuss the practical rather than the romantic. Nephew, I am proud of you. The House of Lorraine is proud of you. If you had made the Princess your wife instead of your mistress, we should be even more proud of you; for what we would like more than anything, dear boy, is to see the Houses of Lorraine and Valois united. The marriage would be an ideal one.'

'It would indeed,' said the young Duke. 'And it is my earnest desire that it should be brought about.'

'I wish to help you in that, but do not imagine that you can go to the King and the Queen Mother and say, "I offer my hand and fortune to the Princess Margot." It is not so easy as that. The serpent has other plans for her loving daughter.'

'I shall do everything in my power to flout them.'

'Yes, yes. But reasonably, sensibly. You must not walk about the court with the Princess, both of you letting your looks and your gestures proclaim to the court what a good time you are giving each other.'

'But ... we have not!'

'Your faces, your smiles have spoken. They tell us that Margot is a maid no longer. Margot proclaims to the world all that she has enjoyed and all that she intends to enjoy ... even if you do not. This must not continue. Whether the Queen Mother knows of this yet, or whether affairs of state occupy her too closely, I cannot say; but if she did discover it, I would beg of you to watch your food and wine. Always make one of your attendants taste first. Never buy gloves, books or a garment from any but a man you are sure you can trust. Catherine and her Italians have learned more tricks in their lifetimes than we French have acquired through the centuries. Have a care, nephew. Catherine is negotiating a match for Margot with the Prince of Portugal. She would not therefore at this time be in favour of a match with our house.'

'There have been so many negotiations for Margot. First Henry of Navarre, then Don Carlos, now the Prince of Portugal.'

'That does not mean that one of these may not come to something.'

'I shall never allow that.'

'Now listen, my nephew: it is all very well to be gallant and n.o.ble in the presence of your mistress. With your old statesman uncle you must be frank. You want to marry Princess Margot. I, and all our house, will help you in this. Therefore I beg of you to go carefully. Try to hide your intentions for a time, until the moment comes when it is good policy to show them. Dear boy, you are as close to me as though you were my own son closer, in fact, for are you not the head of our house? My brothers, your uncles, all have discussed this matter with me, and we have agreed that nothing could advance our house more than this marriage with the Princess. But you must take care. We do not wish to see you in your grave. Your brothers, Charles and Louis, have not your qualities. You must therefore take our considered advice in this matter, which is this: continue to enjoy your mistress; bind her closer to you; but act with more secrecy, and, moreover, it will be as well if you pay court to another lady to divert suspicion. That should not be difficult, for I have heard it said that there is no young man at the court of France who can compare with Henry, Duke of Guise; and there are few women who could resist him. Your success with Mademoiselle Margot, I imagine, did not demand a great effort on your part. My boy, you have charm, you have good looks, you have power and rank. In fact, you have everything. Do not dissipate these a.s.sets, but use them to good advantage. Now, the Princess of Cleves watches you, my boy, with languis.h.i.+ng glances; she is pining for you. It would not seem amiss if you paid court to her, for she would be a good match.'

'I have no intention of marrying anyone but Margot.'

'Of course you do not wish to marry any but Margot; nor do we wish it. But on account of the Queen Mother and her spies, pay a little court to the Princess of Cleves. Do not let the Queen Mother think that you have hopes of Margot, for I greatly fear that if she did she would not be very pleased. My dearest Henry, it is fatal when the Queen Mother turns those cold eyes upon a man and decides he has become a nuisance to her.'

'Such an affair is repulsive to me.'

'Oh, come come! Are you the head of a great house or are you a love-sick boy? Explain to Margot if need be. She will not be colder, I imagine, if she thinks you look elsewhere.' The Cardinal laid his arm about Henry's shoulders. 'A great destiny may be yours,' he whispered. 'Look at Catherine's sons: Charles, a little madman; Henry, a pervert; Hercule, that strutting c.o.xcomb! And then ... Navarre? A lazy good-for-nothing. I have seen in him something which tells me that he will be wax in the hands of women. Conde? Conde will not live long, depend upon it. Either some battle or the Queen Mother will finish him. Ah, my lord Duke, there are many between our house and the throne, I know, but the citizens of Paris love you as they loved your father. I have heard their shouting in the streets. Paris thinks for France, decides for France.'

Henry drew away; he could hear the shouts of the Parisians in his ears. King ... King of France! And Margot his Queen!

The Cardinal smiled at the flushed, handsome face.

'Why not?' he said. 'A marriage with a royal Valois Princess would doubtless clinch the matter. My boy, do not, in your reckless folly, spoil that chance. Act the statesman even while you act the lover.'

Margot was in a fury of jealousy, and Henry found it difficult to calm her.

How dared he look as he had looked at Catherine de Cleves? She had seen his smile; she had also seen the way the woman had answered it.

He tried to explain: 'Margot, I love you more than anything in the world. I want no one but you. But others have noticed our love, and this must not be.'

'Who? 'Who?' she demanded. 'And what do I care? They will notice that you are playing me false with that creature. I hate her. I will have her banished. I could not believe that you could treat me so.'

It was necessary to make ardent love to her, to soothe her, to a.s.sure her a hundred times of his devotion to her alone. Then when she lay quiet beside him he decided to explain.

'My uncle, the Cardinal, knows what is between us.'

'That lecher! That man of G.o.d!' she cried.

'I know, my darling. But he has great wisdom. He says it is unsafe for us to show our love.'

'Unsafe? He is a coward. He wears a suit of mail under his church robes. He fears someone may stab him, as he deserves to be stabbed.'

'We must be wise, my Princess, my love. Our hearts would be broken if aught came between us.'

She wept and clung to him.

'Swear to me that you do not love her.'

'I love no one but you, Margot. I must pay some court to her, because to some we have made our love known. We must think of the future. We must marry, but at the moment everything would be against us. Your mother is negotiating for the Prince of Portugal. What do you think would happen if it were known that you and I have already been what we have been to one another?'

'I do not know and I do not care. I only care that we should continue to be that to one another. I am afraid of my mother ... oh, so terribly afraid. There is something in her that frightens me. But I would brave her anger; I would brave anything for this, Henry.'

He could only caress her, murmur endearments, undying fidelity, let himself be drawn into more pa.s.sionate lovemaking.

'Margot,' he said at length, 'understand me. Our whole future depends on this. When you see me smile at the Princess of Cleves, remember that my heart belongs to the Princess Margot.'