53 Progression

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To accept a kiss from Ximene, Joan had to rise to the tips of her toes. She steadied herself by putting her arms round Ximene’s neck. Joan’s skin tingled, and her eyes opened wide in shock, for never before had she experienced physical pleasure from a woman’s touch.

 

Joan of Kent-13th March 1354

In the small but influential gathering, she caused consternation from the moment she reached the bottom of the staircase. Instantly she was the centre of attention amongst the men but the women pursed their lips and frowned, they whispered among themselves and Joan heard the undercurrent of disapproval.

 


Joan also frowned, she had wanted to be noticed not to disrupt the evening. The reception was predominantly in honour of Ximene. Joan considered retiring, to avoid causing Ximene any further embarrassment. She turned in every direction, hoping to find her, but Ximene had unexpectedly left the room. Anxious about Ximene’s absence, Joan found it difficult to concentrate on or enjoy the attention of her male audience.

Ximene reappeared. Joan heard her entry because of the hush, which fell upon the hall. Ximene paused by the door, a mixture of hesitation and defiance emanating from her. Her breasts were now exposed, a result she had achieved by removing her own chemise and cutting away the upper inch and a half of her bodice. Though grateful for this gesture, Ximene’s ravishing appearance disconcerted Joan.

Somewhere in the process of modifying her dress Ximene had dislodged her coiffure, which now hung in exquisite disarray. Her eyes, set wider than most women’s, sparkled brightly. In her agitation, her cheeks had become flushed, which served to emphasise the slenderness of her face and her high cheekbones. Her perfect breasts heaved with emotion.

‘I think,’ Ximene said, her voice quivering slightly, ‘I think that many of you have been grossly impolite to criticise our visitor’s fashion sense. For myself, I would like to thank Countess Joan for introducing to us the latest court fashions.’ Her voice gained strength and resonance. ‘I am so pleased to know what is fashionable. I find it delightful and it will be so suitable for the warmer months.’

The room remained silent as Ximene walked over and held Joan’s hand. Her grandmother, Lady Eleanor could not resist gentle applause. She was joined by many others. Agnes whispered in her husband’s ear and giggling uncontrollably grabbed the hands of several of her best friends, pulling them after her from the room. When they returned, still giggling coquettishly they were all bare-breasted.

‘Marvellous,’ announced Ximene, with a wide smile, ‘now we can all enjoy the evening.’

The incident lowered any barriers there might have been between Joan and her hosts. She was suddenly accepted and even the women who were still conservatively dressed made a point of talking to her and asking her about life in Bordeaux, London and Paris.


Later, Joan spent the evening talking to Ximene. She took an immediate liking to this young woman who seemed to have a positive view of everything in life. However, listening to her enthusiasm and observing her dark southern beauty, Joan made a quiet vow. she must never allow Ximene to meet the Prince, her Prince.

Ximene certainly was different. Usually, the participants in a Progression ceremony asked a multitude of questions of their sponsors concerned with what they had to do and how to react. None of that seemed to concern Ximene. She was so very confident; her initial questions were about makeup and dressmaking –particularly the best way to stitch lightweight materials. She asked Joan about the dress she wore. She wanted to know the detail, the way it was made and the way in which it supported Joan’s breasts.

Joan talked to Ximene more generally about fashion and then she found herself talking about her night attire and a short time after, how to attract men and a short time after that again, lovemaking techniques! All this with a young woman she now identified as a rival.


Over the next two days, they grew closer and closer. In each other’s company, they whispered and laughed continuously, outrageously.

During her extended conversations with Ximene, Joan discovered the embryo of a plan to escape from the Comte’s control. In conversations with both Ximene and her grandmother, Joan encouraged speculation of how she might be of assistance in helping Ximene escape. ‘Perhaps the correct solution might be to return to your grandparents’ home in Sicily. Les Étoile might help to get you there,’ she said.

Joan had no idea how this plan could be manipulated to her advantage but instinctively believed that once isolated from the Comte’s influence there would be many opportunities to distract Ximene from a marriage with the Prince.


On the third night, the Progression ceremony was held. The participants of the ceremony—six girls and seven boys—sat at a table in the hall. As a sponsor, Joan sat on an elevated dais at one end of the hall. Parents, friends and supporters of the participants occupied the other three sides.

The young ladies wore white dresses with full skirts. Tight corsets pulled in their waists and were laced up at the front. Beneath the corsets, gold chemises could be seen, spilling over the top of the corsets in a profusion of pleats and lace.

Joan knew that Ximene had fought a determined campaign to appear bare-breasted. She had eventually relented on the grounds that traditions must be upheld. All participants should appear virginal at the Progression, something of an anomaly given their education would move to its final phase shortly, known as The Transition and included practical experience in sexual activity!

The young men wore hose, tight pants, waistcoats and cloaks in black, embroidered with gold. They also wore a gold chemise underneath their waistcoats, only slightly simpler than the ones worn by the girls.

The evening commenced with a multi-course meal supported by ample supplies of wine, beer and Armagnac.

Ximene ate and drank very little. Troubadours sang of lost loves and the injustices of the Frankish invasion. Acrobats and jugglers entertained the diners. As the meal ended, one group of dancers gave an imitation of a bullfight before a second group of scantily clad, gipsy dancers introduced a sexual theme.

The female participants, one at a time, ascended a throne in the middle of the dais, where Joan sat. Each of the young men then rose in turn and expressed their admiration for the lady occupying the throne. An unmistakable tension filled the air, as each young man gave his address.

Every girl made a great show of holding a favour—a coloured scarf—in front of her, fluttering it back and forth as if considering whether to award it to the current admirer. When the last speech had been made, the girls made a deliberate gesture of putting away the favour, to symbolise a woman’s right to accept none of her suitors.

During the speech-giving ritual, inevitably the young men displayed their preferences. The praise for their favourite was usually fulsome and better-prepared than for the other girls. Most of the addresses were in prose, but many admirers used verse. One even broke into song.

Once all the girls had occupied the throne and the final presentations had been completed, the music started again. The girls circled the table and threw their favours into the middle of it symbolising that in the future they would consider suits made by any of the young men.

Then the music stopped. The girls approached the nearest man. The men, who’d re-seated themselves earlier, rose to their feet and faced the girls. They kissed full on the lips, some more enthusiastically than others. As the music recommenced, the participants approached the audience and selected someone to kiss. Some moved on but others did not. For those who found an acceptable partner, the kiss continued, accompanied by embraces and even gentle fondling.

Ximene approached Joan. She pulled Joan from her seat. To accept a kiss from Ximene, Joan had to rise to the tips of her toes. She steadied herself by putting her arms round Ximene’s neck. Joan’s skin tingled, and her eyes opened wide in shock, for never before had she experienced physical pleasure from a woman’s touch, though she had tried several times out of curiosity. As her lips touched Ximene’s, a vibration passed through the whole of her body—genuine pleasure. She jerked back.

‘Thank you for being my sponsor,’ said Ximene.

Mischievously, she turned to kiss a tall, dark, young man, who also melted at her touch. Seconds later she focussed on a pretty blonde-haired girl, who clearly enjoyed the experience. After a deep breath, followed by a sigh, Ximene returned to Joan… ‘Can we retire to your apartment; I need some help to get out of my clothes.’


The next morning Joan awoke, bemused that for the previous twelve hours she had been totally transfixed by a young girl, eleven years her junior. Joan’s mind held a kaleidoscope of differing thoughts. Ximene, that delightful girl, was undeniably a threat to Joan’s own emerging ambitions.


Joan considered over and over how Ximene might be dissuaded from a marriage with her Prince. She found herself in a quandary, flattered that Ximene confided in her but also seeing Ximene as her most formidable rival.

At the same time, she did not want any harm to come to Ximene. After due consideration, she decided it would indeed be easier for her to influence Ximene against marrying the Prince if Ximene managed to free herself from the Comte.

She smiled within, for her enduring contact with Thierry d’Arques might just come in useful after all. Thierry d’Arques could safely transport Ximene to Sicily and his good looks and superb build, might quite possibly, be another factor to distract Ximene’s attention away from the Prince. Joan had arranged to meet with Thierry, to set things in motion.


Twelve months later, she knew or at least suspected that the Prince, her Prince, was travelling east to meet Ximene. Ximene’s escape had not taken place. Something else must be done! Tomorrow, she would leave for the Château Clermont, where she had accepted an invitation from Ximene’s grandmother to attend the Festival of the Moon. Joan planned to make Lady Eleanor see that marrying the Prince might not be in Ximene’s best interests.

But all that was for tomorrow. She heard the clatter of hooves outside the gate. The Prince had arrived! She smoothed her dress and applied some last minute rouge to her nipples. Tonight she intended to show the Prince what he would be missing if he married Ximene.

 

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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.