gradual approach.
I opened my mouth to say something further, but the King’s loud, jovial voice interrupted.
“Ah, the Messieurs Guise! Here he is, gentlemen: your worst enemy in all the world, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny!”
I turned. There was grinning Charles, arm in arm with the Admiral, oblivious to the others’ discomfort.
The Cardinal and the Duke froze. Coligny stood a full head shorter than the young Guise, who stared down his aristocratic nose at the Admiral.
“I must tell you,” Charles announced, “that the Admiral swears he had nothing to do with Francois of Guise’s death. His spy was not acting under his orders when he murdered Francois.”
The Cardinal of Lorraine turned to stone. A muscle in young Guise’s jaw spasmed as he said, “Since you are such a good friend of the King, Admiral, I must welcome you to Court.”
“I fought beside your father on many occasions,” Coligny said softly. “There was never a finer man and soldier. When I heard of his death, I wept.”
Guise’s eyes flared. He lurched toward Coligny, but his uncle put a warning hand on his shoulder, and he stilled again. In the pregnant silence, Charles began to speak again, loudly, carelessly.
“So what is this I hear about our cousin the Queen of Scots? Mary has been scheming again, and gotten herself into trouble… Is it true?”
“She is being held in England,” the Cardinal answered stiffly. “Elizabeth is convinced that Mary and the Duke of Norfolk were plotting to assassinate her.”
“But it’s true, isn’t it?” Charles demanded. “Mary always felt the English Crown belonged to her.”
“And well so, Your Majesty,” the young Guise countered darkly. “Elizabeth is a
“Well, Mary certainly is pressing her luck, isn’t she?” Charles asked blithely. “Plot after plot… and all of them discovered. I tell you, she’ll wind up losing her head.”
With that, he walked off with the Admiral. I remained with the Guises for a few more minutes, trying vainly to undo the damage.
The affair lasted well into the night. At one point, I spied Coligny taking the air on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, and went to him.
The balcony was blessedly cool, quiet, and deserted. Coligny leaned against the railing, his expression faintly troubled as he stared out at the dark horizon. At the sound of my footsteps, he turned and forced a smile.
“So serious, Admiral,” I said cheerfully. “I had hoped that this evening would be a relaxing one for you.”
He laughed. “Old soldiers can never completely relax,
“A pity,” I said, “for you are truly safe among us here.”
His tone grew wry. “One would not think so, looking at the Duke of Guise.”
“He will learn to call you friend. I am determined to reconcile your followers and ours-so much so, that I have come to ask a favor.”
He lifted his golden brows, pleasantly expectant.
“Contact Jeanne of Navarre,” I said. “Tell her that I must see her here at Court to discuss the marriage of my daughter Margot to her son, Henri.”
His expression resolved into one of mild surprise. “Are you serious, Madame?”
“Quite.”
“You must understand,” he countered, “that my followers warned me against coming to Court. The Queen of Navarre has even more reason to be cautious. Were she killed, she would leave behind a country and a young son.”
I let go an honest sigh. “Jeanne has less reason to fear for her safety than you do. I wouldn’t marry Margot to her son in order to harm her.”
“An excellent point,” he allowed. “But do I,
“No,” I answered emphatically. “The Duke of Anjou has arranged for fifty bodyguards to attend you and transferred a sizable sum to your bank accounts. I hope it reassures you that I am serious about peace.”
He tilted his head. “Does His Majesty know about the marriage plans?”
“Marital arrangements are women’s work. But nothing will be finalized without the King’s approval.”
“I see.” He looked back out at the night; when he turned to me, his expression was resolute. “If you wish to be a friend to us, consider this: the Spanish are murdering our fellow Protestants in the Netherlands. I need five thousand soldiers to show Philip that France will not permit the slaughter of innocents.”
If I sent French soldiers to the Netherlands, King Philip would consider it an act of war. His army was larger and stronger than ours; we would be quickly defeated. But I kept my features bland, my expression agreeable.
“I should like to discuss it more with you once Margot and Henri are married,” I said easily. “First, however, I need you to send a message to Jeanne.”
“Very well,
We returned to the reception, I resting my fingers lightly on his solid forearm. He had aged well, save for his balding crown. Although I didn’t trust him, I appreciated his intelligence and poise.
As soon as we walked inside, Charles hurried toward us.
“There you are,
I proceeded to lose myself in a dozen conversations with as many luminaries. The hour was late by the time I found myself chatting with the Spanish ambassador, Alava, a potbellied, unctuous soul. He was in the midst of relaying an anecdote about my former son-in-law, Philip, when we heard a sudden furious shout.
“Liar!
I turned. Beside the gurgling fountain, Henri of Guise stood, his body shuddering with barely contained anger. Coligny, an arm’s length away, uttered a measured, inaudible reply.
Whatever he said inflamed Guise, who struck out with the back of his hand; Coligny staggered. Guise would have struck him again, but Edouard saw the attack and caught Guise’s arm. The young Duke struggled as Edouard held him fast.
“Poltrot de Mere was your spy!” Guise shouted, his face flushed with rage and drink. “Do you expect us to believe you didn’t order him to kill my father? I demand satisfaction!”
Charles arrived, red-faced and angry; he would have lunged at Guise himself, but the Admiral waved him away.
“I do not duel.” Coligny’s breath was coming quickly, but his voice and expression were tightly controlled. “God frowns on gambling, whether it be with lucre or with lives.”
“Coward!” Guise roared. “Hide behind your piety, if you wish, but you will pay for your crime!”
“If I die too soon,” Coligny answered coolly, “it will be defending the right of men to worship God-not defending myself from scurrilous charges.”
His Majesty seized the huge ruff at Guise’s neck. “You would be wise, Monsieur,” Charles snarled, “to be a friend to the King’s friend… lest I label you my enemy.”
Guise’s eyes went wide. Charles pushed him back into the arms of his uncle, the Cardinal. As he marched past Guise with Coligny in tow, Charles hissed:
“And if you come near my sister again, I shall kill you with my bare hands.”
Thirty-Seven
The next morning, I went early to the King’s chambers, expecting to find him abed; to my surprise, Charles was in his cabinet. I would have gone in unannounced, but the guard stopped me at the door.
“Forgive me,
