‘I want you to do something for me,’ she said. ‘I will pay you.’
‘I am your servant, Your Majesty.’ I dipped my head, watching her; the nervous movements of her hands, the way she bit the corner of her lip. She did not look like a killer, but then a desperate woman might defy anyone’s expectations. Even so, if I had been forced to guess, I would have supposed a more detached method, such as poison, to have been her preferred choice.
‘Take a message to the King. Tell him I need to speak to him alone. Ask him to grant me a private audience.’
‘I’m not sure they will allow me to see him again, Your Majesty. His physicians are with him now, and he is very weak. Perhaps, when he is better, one of your servants might—’
‘They will not let any of my servants near him,’ she snapped, and I caught a sudden flash of steel in her eyes as she advanced a pace. Perhaps I had underestimated her. ‘That is why I sent for you. They will admit you. Tell the King he must see me as a matter of urgency. Say he owes me that, at least. But do not let her know that I sent you.’
‘I can try, but I fear—’
I was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Without waiting for a summons, it opened to admit Balthasar, who looked from me to the Queen with puzzled consternation, as if trying to unpick a mathematical sequence.
‘Your Majesty, forgive me—’ he made a brisk bow – ‘but this man is expected at the Tuileries by Queen Catherine. He should not be in your private apartments alone.’
‘Peace, Balthasar. I sent for him, it is not his fault. I only wanted to hear from the horse’s mouth how my lord husband does. You know I have been praying for his well-being.’
‘You could have asked me, Your Majesty,’ Balthasar said, with gentle reproach.
‘But you did not speak with him. I am the King’s wife – I have a right to hear the news of his health directly.’ She drew herself up, bravely facing Balthasar down, but his expression was one of pity.
‘Of course, Your Majesty. I hope Doctor Bruno’s report was encouraging. I am pleased to say the King is now resting in bed and his physicians are attending to him. With God’s blessing he will soon be restored to vigour. And now, pardon me but we must not keep Queen Catherine waiting any longer.’
‘No, God forbid she should be inconvenienced,’ Queen Louise said, her face tight. ‘I thank you for your time, Doctor Bruno. I know that you are a loyal servant to your sovereign.’
She shot me a meaningful look as I bowed and backed towards the door. I could not help a final glance towards the wedding portrait as I left.
‘What was that about?’ Balthasar hissed, as he hurried me down the stairs.
‘No more than she said. She wanted me to tell her about the King. She is frantic with worry over him. I believe she really loves him,’ I said, shaking my head.
‘I know. Remarkable, isn’t it? After everything he has put her through. I never cease to be amazed by the tenacity of women. I suppose she doesn’t have much choice. So what did Henri say to you in there?’
We emerged into the courtyard. The snow was falling heavily now and a wind had picked up, causing it to swirl and eddy. I shivered.
‘He believes God has forsaken him. The usual. Most of it didn’t make sense.’
Balthasar nodded, sympathetic. ‘But you mentioned that you had news for him. That was what prompted him to open the door to you. Something about a priest?’
‘Oh, that.’ I hesitated, knowing every word would be repeated to Catherine. ‘There was a League priest killed a fortnight ago, the curé of Saint-Séverin – you remember? Henri was afraid Guise was going to find a way to blame him and incite the people to riot. He asked me to see if I could discover anything.’
‘I remember – there were reports of unrest. Catherine was worried. I didn’t know he had you looking into that. But you found something?’
‘No. I only said that to make him open the door.’
‘Ah. I suppose there is no doubt Guise ordered it, though you will have a job finding proof of that.’ He quickened his pace, muttering curses at the snow. We made our way across the open space between the two palaces, bordered on each side by buildings housing the vast complex of royal administration. ‘So Henri still has you working for him in secret?’
‘He thought so. But Catherine knew all about it.’
He laughed. ‘Of course she did.’
‘Queen Louise showed me her designs for the Masque of Circe,’ I said, to change the subject. ‘She has quite a gift for drawing.’
‘Extraordinary, isn’t it? She conceived of all those designs from her own imagination. And she can draw anything from the life too, with no training,’ he added. ‘It’s the one time I see her truly animated, when we are planning the grand ballets. I sometimes think she would be happier making costumes for a company of travelling players than being Queen of France, poor creature. It’s a pity her health is so fragile.’
‘Is she as bad as she looks?’ I thought of what Louise had told me. She had suspected Léonie of plotting to kill her and deceive the King; she said she had had to do something.
‘Oh yes. She missed most of the ball the other night. She was so ill she had to retire to her chamber directly after the masque. May I confide something in you, Bruno?’ He stopped abruptly with a hand on my arm as we approached
