Chapter 28 (Edit) The Deception 21/5/55

22 May 1355

‘I have a real problem, Alyse. I am really beginning to enjoy this. I don’t think we should go any further without a man.’

Deep inside, Ximene did not feel it was a problem; Alyse had proved to be an attentive and responsive lover. Even now, Alyse was clearly luxuriating in the warmth of the bed and as she spoke, Alyse pulled her closer.

Ximene laughed and pushed her away. She rose from the bed and started to pull a brush through her hair.

‘Whilst I am away you should ride with Henri every day. He is a good rider and I will ask him to give you tuition to improve your riding skills. You will find he is a very nice man and if we are to succeed in what we are planning, your riding must improve. We will tell both Gaston and Henri that it is part of a deception to convince people that I am still here in the Château, whilst in fact I am away meeting the Prince.’

‘And what about your Latin, Greek, singing and dancing?’

‘Dancing?’

‘Oh, I am quite an accomplished dancer. You did not know that, but Gaston does.’

‘I’ll be he does,’ Ximene muttered and then immediately smiled, ‘but you are right, I’ve a lot to do. Dance for me so that I can see what I must emulate’

Alyse arose from the bed shaking her head and smoothing an imaginary dress. She danced a few steps and then stopped.

‘Now we do need  a man; Juan. I can’t dance without music.’

Ximene laughed. ‘Well, at least that is something I should know. Come, let’s go down to the cavern. I need to freshen up.’

When they were lying in two adjacent baths, Alyse broke the silence.

‘You know, the last two weeks have been so good I have almost forgotten our objective.’

‘We want to be indistinguishable. Incidentally, that means when we are ever together we must wear different clothes, wear our hair differently, use different make up so that no one knows how alike we are.’

‘And our target is?’

‘The Black Prince should always think he is marrying me and Gaston should always think you have been substituted for me, so that he thinks I remain here in Foix. But what we actually do is dependant on how my negotiations with the Black Prince proceed. Who becomes Queen of England and who becomes Comtesse of Foix is by no means certain. In six to eight weeks we will know.’

‘But in the meantime I will pretend to be you whilst you are away at the hunt.’

‘Exactly and only two people, Henri d’Orthez and Gaston, oh, and probably Agnes will know the truth.’

‘Why must Henri d’Orthez know?’

‘Because, my love, for these first few weeks he will be teaching you to improve your riding. To him it will be obvious that you are not me.’

‘When will you leave?’

‘Tomorrow.’

‘And when will I see you again?’

Ximene thought carefully about how she should phrase the answer. She knew that at some time in the future her relationship with Alyse would be useful, perhaps vital.

‘They are really two quite separate questions. If I do decide to marry the Prince, there will be no switch. I will find an excuse, however, to return to Foix so that Gaston can believe the switch has been made. The only time I will see you again after that is if you fail, as Comtesse of Foix, to deliver the Cathar haven we have agreed upon. If such a visit is necessary it will not be to share your bed, but to slit your throat.’

Alyse did not look too surprised. ‘You really mean that, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’

Ximene hesitated.‘However, I may decide that I will not marry the Prince but I want to accept Gaston’s offer and become Comtesse of Foix myself. In that case, when I return to Foix the switch will be made.You will achieve your preferred option and eventually become Queen of England. You will be in a position of power and probably I will only see you again if you summons me.’

‘I would certainly make sure we could meet.’

‘Good, I would never refuse an invitation.’

Ximene grinned and reach out to touch Alyse’s hand. She helped Alyse rise from the bath, helped her slip into a robe and gently guided her back to the bedroom. There she removed the robe and showered her with kisses.

‘I said we needed a man and now I intend to provide that need. We will pretend we are not Cathars. We will pretend I am a man. I will not make my suit, praising your beauty, your skills and your wisdom and await your favour and your assignation of a time and place, I will force myself on you now.’

Alyse smiled. ‘And how will you do that, Ximene?’

‘Examine the bed. You will see it is already prepared.’

‘What do you mean? We have slept in it all night.’

‘A non Cathar man might force you to submit by brute strength. I could not do that, we are very closely matched, so I made some preparations.’

‘Preparations?’

‘Yes, I learnt something from my experience with Gaston.’

From the four corners of the bed, Ximene pulled silken ropes.

’Lie back, stretch out your arms and legs and I will tie you to the bed. You will then be totally under my control and I will do to you anything I want. You may protest at some of the things I might do to you. There is a very fine line between pleasure and pain. However, I will only release you if you say precisely these words, “Ximene, I am your lover, but I now want you to release me.” Do you want to practise those words to make sure you have got them right?’

Alyse made no reply.

‘Are you sure you know the words?’

‘Yes.’

Alyse returned the profusion of kisses. She smiled.

‘Ximene, I am not concerned about the words.Do whatever you want, there will be learning in this for both of us.’

Alyse laid back on the bed and allowed Ximene to secure her arms and legs. As she was tied down she feigned resistance, pulling against the bonds until Ximene tightened them so that she could not move.

‘Ximene, just one thing; will you blindfold me please?’

Ximene started by reaching outside of the window where, on a small shelf, a jug of water was kept icily cold. She dipped a small sponge in the water and commenced to anoint Alyse’s body with the sponge. Alyse struggled against the bonds and when Ximene deliberately squeezed the sponge over Alyse’s nipples she screamed.

Ximene stopped and asked again, ‘Do you know the words?’

There was no reply so she dipped the sponge in the water once again.

‘Good. We will continue.’

Ximene suddenly realised she did not feel powerful but humbled by this experience. She was now totally responsible not only for her own pleasure but Alyse’s pleasure. Alyse could make no contribution. She wondered if this was how a dominant man would feel. She hoped it would be and immediately added it to her growing list of objectives, to find a man who would feel this way and perhaps without giving up his masculinity allow Ximene, on occasions, to take the dominant role.


In the meantime, there was one last day to complete the training; both of her horses and, of course, the guards.

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Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.