raising a brow.
“It was told to me by a kinswoman when she was here at court, Comtesse Claudine Boisseau.”
He knew of Claudine. She had indeed returned to Orléans.
“I can take you to the listening closet,” Rachelle said. “There you may hear all.”
Fabien fixed her with a judicious gaze. “If you indeed know of this lis- tening step, then it is one of many such devices the Queen Mother avails herself of in all the castles, though few know where they are located. May I ask how Claudine discovered it?”
“From the Queen Mother’s Italian servant girl.” “Madalenna?”
“Oui, Madalenna. A child to be pitied, used as a slave by the Queen Mother. She became frightened and told Claudine.”
“An error indeed, and if Catherine knew, it would mean the maid’s swift demise, to be sure.”
He saw Madame Henriette throw a worried glance toward Rachelle, who appeared not to notice. Idelette too drew nearer as if to protect her younger sister.
“Will Mademoiselle explain?” he asked.
Rachelle looked at her Grandmère and then back at him.
“Claudine was in the queen’s royal chambers bringing fresh f lowers as expected when she caught the demoiselle in the queen’s chest. She questioned her sternly, thinking she had done some mischief, but now we know that was not the situation. Madalenna must have been so anx- ious to secure her lack of guilt she showed Claudine the very key she had been sent by the Queen Mother to retrieve.”
“Here is a piece of fortune to be sure. Where is this listening closet you speak of?”
“I can bring you there now,” Rachelle said boldly.
Fabien turned and looked at Madame Henriette. “You will allow this, Madame?”
“The answer, in this situation, is yes, Marquis. The matter of Maître Avenelle and Sebastien may be dire, so we must all take our risks and leave the harvest to the care of our kind Savior.”
“You speak well, Madame.”
“It will bring far less attention for my granddaughter to walk with you there than for me to escort you.”
“My exact sentiments, Madame.” He smiled.
Fabien turned to Rachelle. “Then take me at once. If Guise is to see Catherine about Avenelle, it will be after the déjeuner. We have but a short time.”
Fabien reminded Madame Henriette to keep all of their words close to her heart. She assured him their secrets were secure. A moment later, after bidding Madame and Mademoiselle adieu, he and Rachelle left the Macquinet chamber together.
This page is intentionally left blank
Chapter Six
R
Rachelle Macquinet walked beside Marquis Fabien de Vendôme along a section of stone promenade shaded on one side with a row of lime trees. The trees were in blossom as spring had come early this year, and the air was heavy with a sweetness that drew bees.
“It is so wondrous here at Chambord.” She wished this moment in his presence among the blossoms would never end. Her feelings, how- ever, warned her of unrealistic dreams concerning the marquis. “And even though there is beauty here, yet great woe may be in the planning behind these walls and gardens.” She gestured toward the lime trees and myriads of blossoms that had fallen to the path after only a few days of bloom.
“Like the garden of Eden, Madame le Serpent is about, but hardly a topic suited to your company, which is most charmante, Mademoiselle. As for the beauty you mention, Francis had an appetite for building. He insisted on turning Chambord, which was merely a gloomy hunting lodge, into a palais amid the f lat and dusty plains of Sologne. Here the Renaissance was to achieve its purpose.”
“I believe he accomplished it, Monsieur.”
“It is no surprise. He amassed every device, decoration, and eccen- tricity of his favorite style, as you can see.”
The royal fortress chateau was one of several near Blois, and one of many throughout France to which members of royalty took their lei- surely pleasure; this chateau was marked by numerous towers,
“It was told to me by a kinswoman when she was here at court, Comtesse Claudine Boisseau.”
He knew of Claudine. She had indeed returned to Orléans.
“I can take you to the listening closet,” Rachelle said. “There you may hear all.”
Fabien fixed her with a judicious gaze. “If you indeed know of this lis- tening step, then it is one of many such devices the Queen Mother avails herself of in all the castles, though few know where they are located. May I ask how Claudine discovered it?”
“From the Queen Mother’s Italian servant girl.” “Madalenna?”
“Oui, Madalenna. A child to be pitied, used as a slave by the Queen Mother. She became frightened and told Claudine.”
“An error indeed, and if Catherine knew, it would mean the maid’s swift demise, to be sure.”
He saw Madame Henriette throw a worried glance toward Rachelle, who appeared not to notice. Idelette too drew nearer as if to protect her younger sister.
“Will Mademoiselle explain?” he asked.
Rachelle looked at her Grandmère and then back at him.
“Claudine was in the queen’s royal chambers bringing fresh f lowers as expected when she caught the demoiselle in the queen’s chest. She questioned her sternly, thinking she had done some mischief, but now we know that was not the situation. Madalenna must have been so anx- ious to secure her lack of guilt she showed Claudine the very key she had been sent by the Queen Mother to retrieve.”
“Here is a piece of fortune to be sure. Where is this listening closet you speak of?”
“I can bring you there now,” Rachelle said boldly.
Fabien turned and looked at Madame Henriette. “You will allow this, Madame?”
“The answer, in this situation, is yes, Marquis. The matter of Maître Avenelle and Sebastien may be dire, so we must all take our risks and leave the harvest to the care of our kind Savior.”
“You speak well, Madame.”
“It will bring far less attention for my granddaughter to walk with you there than for me to escort you.”
“My exact sentiments, Madame.” He smiled.
Fabien turned to Rachelle. “Then take me at once. If Guise is to see Catherine about Avenelle, it will be after the déjeuner. We have but a short time.”
Fabien reminded Madame Henriette to keep all of their words close to her heart. She assured him their secrets were secure. A moment later, after bidding Madame and Mademoiselle adieu, he and Rachelle left the Macquinet chamber together.
This page is intentionally left blank
Chapter Six
R
Rachelle Macquinet walked beside Marquis Fabien de Vendôme along a section of stone promenade shaded on one side with a row of lime trees. The trees were in blossom as spring had come early this year, and the air was heavy with a sweetness that drew bees.
“It is so wondrous here at Chambord.” She wished this moment in his presence among the blossoms would never end. Her feelings, how- ever, warned her of unrealistic dreams concerning the marquis. “And even though there is beauty here, yet great woe may be in the planning behind these walls and gardens.” She gestured toward the lime trees and myriads of blossoms that had fallen to the path after only a few days of bloom.
“Like the garden of Eden, Madame le Serpent is about, but hardly a topic suited to your company, which is most charmante, Mademoiselle. As for the beauty you mention, Francis had an appetite for building. He insisted on turning Chambord, which was merely a gloomy hunting lodge, into a palais amid the f lat and dusty plains of Sologne. Here the Renaissance was to achieve its purpose.”
“I believe he accomplished it, Monsieur.”
“It is no surprise. He amassed every device, decoration, and eccen- tricity of his favorite style, as you can see.”
The royal fortress chateau was one of several near Blois, and one of many throughout France to which members of royalty took their lei- surely pleasure; this chateau was marked by numerous towers,
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