88 The Designated Outlaw

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‘ He is courageous, more than competent as a soldier and has a strong sense of loyalty. Most importantly, he is acceptable both to Ximene and to her grandmother.’

 

 

William de Montacute – 6th June 1355

The Prince took a deep breath and shook his head.’I agreed to all this far too readily last night. You and I know Ximene wants to leave of her own accord, but how will it look to everyone else and to my father in particular?’

He frowned. ‘My father will be furious. To him, it all sounded so easy. The Pope wanted to control Ximene. He decided marriage to me was the best way to exert his control. In return, he would help us expand our empire. That gave him the additional benefit of creating a third force to help him control the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire.’

William blinked. ‘You have never before, put it in those terms. It makes it a strategic initiative.’

‘My father is committed to the marriage. He asked me to come here not so much to meet Ximene but to remove her to Bordeaux if we had any difficulties in the negotiations. It was expected that the difficulty would be with the Comte, not with Ximene herself. He would expect me to prevent Ximene from running away. He would expect me to snatch Ximene away right now, and ride hell for leather for Bordeaux.’

‘That is still a possible solution. In many ways, it is the simplest solution.’ The Earl considered the options. ‘You have the Château at Beaufort. The Comte de Comminges might help? There are others I could call on. I could make the arrangements tomorrow. Ximene could be in Bordeaux by the end of the week.’ He paused, deciding to test the Prince’s resolve. ‘But it would not, I think, support our objective of allowing you to marry Joan.’

‘No and in any case, as a statesman, I have never liked the idea of snatching Ximene away. The Comte de Foix is also the Comte de Bearn and is my liegeman for his lands in Bearn. I am, as part of that agreement, supposed to protect his interests.’

‘It need not involve you.’

The Prince eyed his friend and smiled.‘ Semantics, William, semantics. Of course, I would be involved.’

The Earl returned the smile. It was not often the Prince delayed long enough to think as a statesman. This was chivalry in action. ‘So…’

‘So now you have worked one of your little miracles. Now she wants to take the initiative and escape, which compromises nothing. William, how much of all this is your doing?’

‘It has nothing to do with me. I will be able to say quite truthfully, to your father, if necessary, that it was totally Ximene’s initiative.

‘I will be able to marry Joan?’

‘Not my decision, but if Joan has interpreted her agreement with Queen Philippa correctly, yes.’

‘How can we retain control, could this still work if she went willingly to Bordeaux’?

‘No. and we don’t really want control. She wishes to escape all political influences whilst she negotiates her position. She intends to go to Sicily, where her family has property. Her action will make it easier to explain it to your father. In the longer term, it will make it possible for you to marry Joan. However, I do think we have a duty of care towards Ximene.’

‘And you have managed to convince Ximene that John Stanley could travel with her, look after her interests and provide a potential conduit for further negotiations. Why him?’

‘I am working with what we have got.’ He shook his head. ‘No that is unfair. He is courageous, more than competent as a soldier and has a strong sense of loyalty. Most importantly, he is acceptable both to Ximene and to her grandmother.’

‘And that is because?’ The Prince paused. ‘They hardly know him.’

‘Why do we both love Joan?’

‘She is unique: brave, generous, loving, loyal, inspiring.’

‘Quite.’

‘John Stanley?’

‘The male equivalent, or at least the embryo equivalent. Even I feel it… occasionally.’

‘But how will we explain John Stanley’s role to the outside world?’

‘In the short term, we can’t, we don’t want to. He will be implicated in the escape. It will seem to be his initiative. To preserve the image we want to present to your father we will disown him. Perhaps to preserve the illusion we will declare him to be an outlaw. Ximene herself may find her reputation tarnished by her association with John. That will help in convincing your father that you should not marry her. Eventually, because we all know what actually happened, he can be reinstated and your relationship with Ximene re-established as a political, not a marriage partner.’

The Prince nodded. ‘Does John or indeed Ximene know all this?’

‘No, I don’t think it is something they need to know… yet.’

‘Thank you, William, I will leave it in your very capable hands.’

 

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The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

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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.