The Order of the Lily Read Online Free Page B

wrongly accused as traitor, was held prisoner – or worse. She was afflicted with a malady of the lungs; carrying a bastard child to the heir of England; barely reconciled with her twin sister, who was also in grievous danger; the Earl of Salisbury hunted them with accusations of retribution, wrongdoings in his life for which he held them accountable on behalf his former wife, their mother.
    Cécile had recently learned that she was only the foster-child of Armagnac, her true sire being Thomas Holland, the Earl of Kent, in whose province she was now hiding from the Prince of Wales, father to her unborn child. And the manor she was in belonged to his staunchest supporters, the Albrets, of whom she had just learned her beloved was one! The current occupants of the house ignored her, and the stable boys thought her a spectre from the underworld. Cécile could hold back her tears no longer.
    â€˜Lady d’Armagnac.’ A shadow fell across her misted vision and Margot eased herself onto the seat with the help of her maid. She dispatched the girl to the kitchen to fetch two hot possets. ‘Veronique has the ears of an elephant and chatters like a monkey,’ said Margot, watching with affection as her maid sped off, ‘but she is loyal to me.’ She held out a linen square to Cécile. ‘I am not supposed to leave my chamber but I had to come. I saw you from my casement and you looked so lonely. Forgive me for not having made you feel more welcome. I have come to make amends.’
    Cécile took the kerchief and wiped her eyes. ‘No, forgive me. I am an ungrateful guest. You should not take such trouble.’
    â€˜Nonsense, we have been deplorable hosts.’ Margot’s hand alighted on Cécile’s arm. ‘But I can make it up to you.’ Her voice lowered and, switching to Languedoc, the language of the south, she whispered, ‘I have come to warn you. Arnaud does not wholly trust his cousin’s explanation. He is not stupid. You travel with no provision of any kind, no servants, no wardrobe and you are Armagnac.’
    â€˜But my gowns are all in Paris and some in Arras,’ spluttered Cécile. ‘I am sure as soon as Gillet arrives he will make arrangements to have them delivered. And Armand is testament to the friendship Armagnac has for Albret. My papa, Comte Jean, practically raised him!’
    â€˜You have no need to convince me,’ smiled Margot. ‘Armagnac is friend to Narbonne but, unlike you, I have no reason to love the Albrets.’ She smiled knowingly. ‘I have watched you walk through the garden each evening and I can tell that you are in love with Gillet.’ Her hand moved to Cécile’s midriff. ‘I used to walk along hugging my stomach, too. But you must not let Arnaud know that you carry Gillet’s child.’ She slid back against the tree trunk and sighed, rubbing her own swollen belly. ‘It’s this place, you see. The older brothers have not yet decided to whom they will bestow it, and my husband, having uselessly squandered my dowry and gambled my lands, is anxious that it be him. He had hoped that beating Gillet to an heir would secure the matter, but the elder brothers are in disagreement. Arnaud continues to convince Amanieu that he should be the rightful successor.’
    â€˜Amanieu?’ gasped Cécile. ‘Amanieu d’Albret is Gillet’s brother? The same Amanieu who married Margaret of Kent, eldest daughter of Prince Edmund?’
    â€˜Yes, that is correct.’
    â€˜Good Lord! He married my aunt!’ She clamped her lips tightly over her careless words but fortunately Veronique’s arrival had taken Margot’s attention. The girl delivered the hot possets to her mistress and Cécile held out her hand for the steaming cup.
    â€˜Arnaud and Gillet’s father, Beraud, was an independent banneret and lieutenant to Prince Edmund,’ said Margot between sips,