The Hostage Queen by Freda Lightfoot Read Free Book Online

acknowledging Charles was weak with little power. ‘And the Queen Mother depends upon me to negotiate a union between His Majesty and Elizabeth I. As Admiral I am also responsible for strengthening the royal navy. She relies entirely upon my service.’
    Téligny remained obdurate. ‘I still do not recommend you answer her call. The court is a dangerous place at this time for those of our faith, and for you in particular. Does not the Queen of Navarre’s letter warn you to take extra care?’
    Coligny rested a gentle hand upon the young man’s shoulder. ‘I welcome your support, Téligny, as always, but you know as well as I that if the Queen Mother summons me to court, I must obey.
     
    Leaving Henry with his mother for a short visit, the court journeyed on through western France, through Bordeaux and Nantes, accompanied by a large body of men, which proved wise as they were frequently heckled and jeered by Calvinist fanatics in this very Protestant region. By November they reached Angers, and from there they sailed up the Loire, stopping at various chateaux en route, including the Queen Mother’s favourite, Chenonceau, till they reached Moulins, where the planned reconciliation was to take place.
    Catherine hoped this might be the day to act on the promise she’d made to Alva. She would welcome the opportunity permanently to separate Coligny’s clever military brain from those able shoulders of his.
    But there were too many of them, and they came well armed, bristling with suspicion. There would be other opportunities but today she must smile and dissemble, and keep the peace amongst these dangerous rivals.
    She watched with interest as they warily circled each other. Coligny and the Prince de Condé on the one side, and the entire Guise family, including Anne d’Este, widow of Francis of Guise, on the other. The two families had not been in the same room together for months, convinced as they were that the man really responsible for the murder of the head of their House was Coligny, and not Poltrot.
    The greatest amongst the Guises now was the Cardinal of Lorraine, that sly old fox who spent far more time with his many mistresses than reading the scriptures. His nephew, the handsome young Henri d’Guise, was largely ignoring his Bourbon rivals as he sat whispering with Margot.
    These powerful men thought themselves so grand, so supremely important; the Guises with their eye on the throne arrogantly challenging her power. Coligny determined to oppose the orthodox religion of the realm. She meant to teach them all a little humility.
    Catherine curled her lips into a practised smile. ‘My dear friends, it is good to see you all gathered here together. Without question we all mourn the death of your leader, the great Francis of Guise, victim of a cruel and cowardly act. But for the sake of France we must strive to banish this resentment that exists between your two houses. My one wish is to see you reconciled.’
    Charles said, ‘We wish to officially acquit our dear friend Coligny of any part in the great warlord’s tragic death. Let us see this matter settled.’
    There was a short, tense silence as nobody spoke, nobody moved.
    ‘Come now, Cardinal,’ Catherine urged. ‘We require you to offer a kiss of reconciliation, of forgiveness for the ill feeling between you, which a man so pious as yourself should have no difficulty with. Think of it as necessary for the good of our nation.’
    ‘I bow to your greater wisdom, Madame,’ the Cardinal dryly responded, ‘since you always put the good of the nation before your own.’ With these insincere, ambiguous words, and beneath the cold, watchful gaze of the Queen Mother, he stepped forward towards his bitter rival.
    Coligny stood pale faced, his hand on his sword, carrying out the order with obvious distaste. When it was done, both men stepped quickly away from each other. It was a theatrical display which fooled no one.
    Catherine next turned to the Cardinal’s