Part 16 (1/2)

She wrote ingratiatingly with the object of trying to a.s.sure that grimmest of men, her most Catholic son-in-law, that she was a good Catholic and that the interests of Spain were in truth those of France.

'I wish G.o.d would take the Queen of Navarre,' she wrote, 'so that her husband might marry without delay.'

The King and Queen of Navarre were the talk of the court. There were open quarrels between them, and Jeanne did not now hesitate to hide her feelings. The King had tried to force the Queen to go to ma.s.s. He was by turns cold and quarrelsome, indifferent and abusive.

Louise de la Limaudiere, who knew that if the King of Navarre were divorced he would remarry, and saw herself in the exalted position of his wife, gave herself airs.

She was every bit as important, she considered, as the Queen of Navarre. She herself might one day be Queen of Navarre or Sardinia. The Queen Mother had promised her this reward for having an unmarried woman of rank borne the King's b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

She grew haughty, and even impertinent, in the presence of the Queen of Navarre herself.

'Why, Madame,' she ventured when there were others present, 'do you not follow the fas.h.i.+ons of the court? A gown such as this would make you look less angular. And that colour does not become you. It makes you look drab, Madame, like a serving-girl rather than a Queen.'

Jeanne turned away; she would not lower her dignity by bandying words with such a woman. But Louise followed her, while all present looked on.

'Believe me, Madame, I know what the King, who is at present your husband, likes in a woman. He has told me often that I possess those attributes.'

'I am not interested in what my husband looks for in a woman,' said Jeanne, 'because, Mademoiselle, I am not interested in my husband, and certainly not in you.'

'Oh, but, Madame, Antoine is such a wonderful lover. I am sure you do not bring out the best in him.'

'He must have seemed so to you,' retorted Jeanne, 'since you besmirched still further for his sake your already foul reputation. Now you may leave me. I have more important matters with which to concern myself.'

'Madame, I have the King's son.'

'You have his b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I believe. Mademoiselle, b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are as common in this land as the harlots who produce them, so that one more or less makes little difference, I do a.s.sure you.'

Jeanne swept away, but she was furiously angry.

Antoine was waiting for her in her apartment.

He said coldly: 'It is my wish that you should accompany me to ma.s.s.'

'Your wishes, my lord, are no concern of mine,' retorted Jeanne.

She was disturbed to see her son Henry sitting on the window-seat; the boy laid aside his book to watch this scene between his parents.

Antoine ignored the presence of the boy. He took Jeanne by the wrist. 'You are coming to ma.s.s with me. You forget that I am your master.'

She wrenched herself free and laughed at him. 'You ... my master! Save such talk for Mademoiselle de la Limaudiere. Pray remember who I am.'

'You are my wife.'

'It is indeed gracious of you to remember that. I meant, remember that you speak to the Queen of Navarre.'

'Enough of this folly. You will come with me to ma.s.s ... at once.'

'I will not. I will never be present at the ma.s.s or any papist ceremony.'

Little Henry got slowly down from the window-seat and approached them. He said haughtily: 'Sir, I beg you, leave my mother alone.'

Antoine turned on his son, and something in the boy's dignity angered him because it made him feel small and despicable.

'How dare you?' he cried.

'I dare,' said Henry, looking, Jeanne thought, like his grandfather, that other Henry of Navarre, 'because I will not have my mother roughly handled.'

Antoine seized the boy and flung him to the other side of the room. Henry saved himself by clutching at the hangings. He recovered himself with dignity. Then he shouted: 'Nothing will induce me to go to ma.s.s either!'

Antoine strode over to him and took him by the ear. 'You, my lord, will go whither you are commanded.'

'Whither my mother commands,' flashed Henry.

'No, sir. Whither your father commands.'

'I will not go to ma.s.s,' reiterated Henry. 'I am a Huguenot like my mother.'

Antoine gave the boy a violent slap across the face. Jeanne watched proudly, exulting at the way in which the boy stood there, legs apart, glowering at his father. 'A true Bearnais!' his grandfather would have said.

Antoine was by no means a violent man, and he was disliking this scene even as his son exulted in it; he therefore wished to end it as speedily as possible. He was fond of the boy; he was proud of him, for all that he was an unkempt little creature without a trace of elegance; his wits were admirably sharp and there was no doubt of his courage.

Antoine called for an attendant, and when a man appeared he cried: 'Send my son's tutor to me.' And when the tutor came he ordered that young Henry should be severely whipped for his impertinence.

Henry left the room chanting: 'I will not go to ma.s.s. I will not go to ma.s.s.' His black eyes were alight with excitement, fervour and love for his mother.

The door shut behind the boy and his tutor.

'A pretty scene,' said Jeanne, 'and you, my lord, played the pretty part in it that I would expect of you. My son put you to shame, and I can see that you had enough grace to feel it. What a pity Mademoiselle de la Limaudiere could not have been here as witness! I doubt whether her b.a.s.t.a.r.d will have the spirit of that boy.'

'Be silent!' commanded Antoine.

'I will speak when I wish to.'

'You are a fool, Jeanne.'

'And you are a knave.'

'If you do not become a Catholic immediately, I will divorce you.'

'How can you do that, my lord?'

'The Pope has promised it. He would not have me tied to a heretic.'

'Divorce me and forgo my crown? That would not suit you, Monsieur.'

'The crown would be mine if I were to divorce you.'

'How could that be? My father left it to me.'

'Part of Navarre was lost to Spain, and the whole of Navarre might be restored to me. Spain does not like heretics, even though they be queens. Spain would like to see me with a wife of my own faith.'