Before Plantagenet - Chapter 252
September 1133 - Bordeaux, Kingdom of Aquitaine
Geoffrey’s breathing was shallow as he stood in his strategy hall. His gloved hands rested on the wooden table before him, while his eyes slowly moved back and forth between the people around it. His councilors… save one.
His stomach twisted in anticipation with one prevailing thought on his mind.
Lose this battle, and I could well lose this war.
It was not traditional combat that Geoffrey faced on this day - the type he had once thought would be all a king ever dealt with. And yet, his late aunt had drilled into him the fact that this battle could be far more dangerous than any melee.
“The council can stymie even the most powerful kings,” Agnes had warned. “And those who ignore them, do so at their own peril. You need only to look toward the Capetian kings for proof.”
She was not wrong. King Philippe I of the Franks had, with Geoffrey grandfather Foulques’ help, turned himself from a helpless welp to one of the strongest men in Europe. Then with one decision, he had sown the seeds of his destruction. And that of his kingdom.
He had wanted war with the heathens of Valencia. But Philippe’s council, filled with snakes out for his destruction, blocked him. Arrogantly, Philippe had demanded their levies and gone to war anyway - giving his enemies the excuse they needed to revolt while he was away in Iberia.
The result ultimately was the king’s death by an assassin’s hand, the raising of his mad brother Hughes, who himself would later refuse the will of his council.
Allowing my father to destroy the Kingdom of the Franks, Geoffrey mused. And forge Aquitaine.
That had been a dream many would have called impossible. But his father had made it reality - the bounds of what a man should have been capable of, at times, seemed to need not apply to him.
It was that dream which Geoffrey wanted to emulate at times, and thought himself willing to eschew the council if they did not fall into line.
I shall take England. And they will learn their place.
“You would take your entire levy of 18,000 men across the channel… all while having sown rebellion in your kingdom? It is if you seek to emulate Philippe!”
Agnes had been dead for a few years, but Geoffrey could still hear her voice in his head. Reminding him of his limitations. Of the realities of his situation.
“You are a king. Not God.”
At this moment, he wished she was here in the flesh. He was certain she would back this - she had been Ælfflæd’s greatest ally after all. And she would know how to navigate the council - perhaps even bring Guilhem to heel. Heck, perhaps had Agnes still lived, Navarra would already be in his hands.
But Agnes was not here. And Geoffrey would have to make do with the councilors he did have.
On that front, his uncle Adhemar stood at the corner of the table to his left. Berard opposite the Duke of Gascony, to Geoffrey’s right. They were his allies in this endeavor - regardless of their own reservations over Geoffrey’s plans, they had agreed it was best to see it through.
Across the table - the dissenters.
The reachable ones at least.
Prince-Bishop Emmanuel and with him, Bishop Edouard. A year ago, Geoffrey would have sought his cousin first, but had come to realize Edouard was not the reliable loyalist he’d hoped.
Regardless of bonds of blood, Edouard was a man of God now. As such, he followed the will of the highest ranking church official in Aquitaine, Prince-Bishop Emmanuel.
Get one, and get both, Geoffrey knew.
The other man at the table was Count Douard of Aurilliac. The spymaster probably would require less arm twisting to fall into line - he owed Geoffrey for his lands after all - but was far less influential than the clergy members on the council.
And absent from this was Duke Guilhem - Geoffrey had no intention of dealing with him directly. At least not yet - he only wished for one battle on this day.
His absence, however, did not go unnoticed.
“I see Duke Guilhem is missing,” Emmanuel noted.
“He was not invited, so it is no surprise,” Geoffrey replied.
“I see,” Emmnauel said.
The hall fell silent and Geoffrey let the quiet hang in the air. Finally, Adhemar added: “This is not an official council meeting. The king simply wished to speak to us… because he values our opinion.”
Geoffrey nodded. That was the explanation Adhemar had given him earlier when he voiced his concern that it would look as if he fired Duke Guilhem. It sounded acceptable then… but it did appear more suspicious now.
“So there will be no votes here today?” Emmanuel asked.
“None,” Adhemar said. “The king simply wishes to discuss a few matters of importance to the realm. Informally. And we are all rather busy these days, finding a singular time for us all seemed the best idea.”
“I see,” Emmanuel replied. “And what is the matter you wish to discuss, my king?”
Before Geoffrey could answer, Adhemar again jumped in.
“First, Bishop Edouard was explaining to me these strange occurrences in the skies,” Adhemar said. “And that it has been causing unrest in the populace?”
Geoffrey would not have gone with that first, but he had heard something about it. There had been quite a few nights where shooting stars had been sighted in the night sky. And then, a few weeks back, a comet had been seen.
“Under normal circumstances, yes, the appearance of such a thing might have been seen as dangerous,” Edouard said. “It would have hurt the stability of the realm.”
“You said ‘under normal circumstances,’” Geoffrey noted. “So what’s different?”
“The queen’s pregnancy, actually,” Emmanuel explained. “We have been able to explain the sighting with some other strange… events in the skies as proof God is pleased you two have another child on the way.”
“And is it true?” Geoffrey asked.
Emmanuel and Edouard traded glances before the prince-bishop replied: “We think…”
Geoffrey’s brow rose. “You
think?”
“Nothing is certain,” Emmanuel said. “But the signs are good.”
Geoffrey nodded. He wished he received a more forceful vote of confidence from Emmanuel, but it was better than nothing. After all, Ælfflæd was rather important to his plans these days. He needed her safe and sound.
“I was wondering,” Adhemar continued. “Could it be a sign for other things?”
“Such as?” Emmanuel asked.
“Perhaps it is an omen of good fortune for the king in other ways,” Adhemar said. “For these events appear extraordinary. And, forgive me if I speak out of turn, but a woman swelling with a child is rather mundane, even if it is the queen.”
“I hardly think the arrival of a new prince or princess is mundane, uncle,” Edouard said.
“Understood, nephew,” Adhemar said. “I just mean… we look to grander things. And now we have a grand event happening over our skies. Could they be related?”
Emmanuel and Edouard traded glances before the prince-bishop replied: “I would not say that, Duke Adhemar.”
“Surely you can see why one might think that,” Adhemar argued.
“I can,” Emmanuel said. “But I would be wary of making that interpretation. Some may take strong offense to such things.”
“Do you?” Geoffrey blurted out.
Emmanuel paused for a moment before replying: “I understand the desire to find support for your actions, King Geoffrey. I just warn the matter is complicated.”
“Well, signs aside, where do you stand on the matter?” Geoffrey asked.
Geoffrey watched as Emmanuel and Douard’s heads dropped. Edouard’s gaze went away from Geoffrey entirely, and toward the hall’s exit. Meanwhile, the king caught sight of Berard, who’s gaze seemed to say “I warned you.”
It prompted the king to drop his eyes to the table before him, leaning his full weight forward. He knew it was coming. But it didn’t mean he had to like it.
“What exactly is your problem with this?” Geoffrey asked them. “The queen has claim to the throne - far more than this Ecgwyn - the child of a usurper, who himself was the grandson of a usurper.”
“And to restore the line of House Stawell,” Berard added. “The family who won back the Holy Land for Christendom.”
“House Stawell *is* well regarded among the church,” Emmanuel said. “And I know what happened with the nobles was unpopular in Rome. But fighting to make her a queen in her own right…”
Emmanuel shook his head, leaving Geoffrey to look away, lest he say something he shouldn’t to a man of God. But after a few deep breaths he did turn back to the prince-bishop.
“A queen against a usurper queen,” Geoffrey said. “Or daughter of a usurper king. It is not as if we fight to replace a man… which, may I remind you, my father did with Duchess Essa.”
“It is not
that which rankles Rome,” Emmanuel said. “That you fight for a woman against a woman, is not a bother. It is that you fight for
this woman.”
“My queen?” Geoffrey asked. “Why wouldn’t I? She is my wife. Mother to my son, and to my child which grows in her belly as we speak.”
“Because she is not beloved by Rome,” Emmanuel said.
“Because of Martinus?” Geoffrey demanded. “He is ill. He may not be with us much longer.”
“But he lives still,” Emmanuel noted. “And we have fewer friends in the college of Cardinals than we did previously.”
Geoffrey again lowered his head. He had received the bad news a few months before - Cardinal Arrigo was no more.
Despite his youthfulness and his high position in the clergy which afforded him ambitions of the papacy, it appeared God did not grant him favor. Arrigo had collapsed during a sermon in Tivoli, and was unable to be revived.
Geoffrey suspected foul play, but nothing had been discovered. It left the king powerless to do much else but send a small gift to Arrigo’s brother, the Baron Pietro, who himself had suffered the indignity of having his wife fall into Martinus’ clutches, and move on, knowing he had lost a powerful ally in his future battles with Rome.
And if this conversation was proof of anything it was that there would be future battles.
“So you mean to tell me Martinus wishes to block me from taking the crown for my wife?” Geoffrey asked.
Emmanuel sighed. “I have not asked permission yet. But I would expect it would not be well-looked upon to elevate her any further.”
Berard looked up: “Then tell them she won’t truly be queen in her own right. Geoff… excuse me, my king. Tell him of your planned arrangement.”
Geoffrey nodded. ““She will rule them… but it will be as if she were a powerful lord under my rule. Do I interfere in Gascony, uncle Adhemar? Or in the affairs of your bishopric, Edouard? Or in Agen, Prince-Bishop Emmanuel? No, but do I rule over all of Aquitaine?”
Now it was Adhemar’s turn to sigh. “I am not sure that will prove any better, nephew. Am I right, my prince-bishop?”
Emmanuel slowly nodded. “It is true, there is dislike of Queen Ælfflæd because of her actions toward the Holy Father. But it is not the only reason the church will not care for this.
Geoffrey’s gaze shifted between his uncle and the prince-bishop. “Explain.”
“The church gave you leave to act in Navarra and with it, Iberia,” Emmanuel said. “Now you wish to add England to the realm? It will look as if you seek to make the entirety of Western Europe your own.”
“Is that a problem?” Geoffrey demanded. “Charlemagne did it.”
“Charlemagne stayed out of England, and did not venture far into Iberia,” Emmanuel said.
“He went into Italy,” Adhemar said. “But the point is taken - the church wishes an Aquitaine strong enough to deal with its enemies… but not too strong that it cannot be controlled.”
“Is that the case?” Geoffrey demanded of Emmanuel.
“Officially, no,” Emmanuel said. “Unofficially… yes. Now, if there was a way to restore House Stawell without raising the queen further…”
“I would not be interested,” Geoffrey said. “I will not spill Aquitaine blood to prop up a weak child.”
“Then that leaves us at an impasse,” Emmanuel said.
Geoffrey shook his head, the frustration and rage building in him. He was on the verge of taking a kingdom - of doing something that no ruler had done since the days of Charlemagne. And he was to be blocked by the church… because they wished to defend the honor of a would-be rapist of his wife?
“I have had en--” he began.
“Nephew, if I may,” Adhemar interrupted. “Emmanuel, have you been told we are forbidden from undertaking this action? Or is it… just frowned upon?”
“Nothing is official yet,” Emmanuel said. “For our king has not stated anything officially. It is just what I have been told - it is frowned upon… or will be, should the king decide upon that course.”
“Frowned upon,” Geoffrey said. “But not forbidden. Is that what you tell me?”
Emmanuel shifted as he stood at the table. But eventually he nodded.
“I can deal with frowns,” Geoffrey said. “What do we have to do to make sure it doesn’t become more than that?’
“They will be reluctant to intervene on behalf of a girl queen,” Emmanuel admitted. “And the church is directly involved in a war to stop the Kaiser from seizing church lands. So… perhaps a few signs of goodwill here would be enough?”
Geoffrey rolled his eyes. “How much? And to who?”
Emmanuel turned his gaze to Bishop Edouard who then spoke up.
“The church in the town wishes to organize a Miracle play,” Edouard said. “But it will be rather expensive to put on. If you could fund it.”
Bribery, Geoffrey thought. He was fairly certain that was a sin.
But the cause was good enough - and he might have done it anyway in hopes for earning favor for the trials to come.
“Yes,” Geoffrey said. “That will be fine. Whatever they need, they shall have.”
“Your generosity remains one of your finest virtues, my king,” Emmanuel said.
“Then that is squared away?” Geoffrey asked. “I shall have your support for this action?”
“When I am permitted to by my oath to Duke Guilhem,” Emmanuel said. “The end of the year.”
Nodding, Geoffrey then turned his gaze to Bishop Edouard. “What say you, cousin?”
“The same,” Edouard said. “You will have my support.”
Geoffrey smiled. With Berard and Adhemar already aligned with him, that was technically all he needed. But he still looked to the Count of Aurilliac next.
Douard had been silent, as was commonplace for him at these types of meetings. Not that it was a problem - it probably suited a spymaster more to be neither seen nor heard.
“What about you, my good Count of Aurilliac?” Geoffrey asked.
“My oaths run a few months longer than the others,” Douard admitted. “But once my vote is my own once more, you shall have my support, King Geoffrey. It is the least I can do to repay you for my mistake with Lord Guilhem.”
“You can also repay me by telling me how I can gain his vote, so that we might move forward in attacking England before the end of the year,” Geoffrey said.
Douard nodded. “He has mentioned the Kingdom of the Franks to me, my king. He wants to war with Alphonse - especially now, since his attention is diverted in Mallorca.”
Geoffrey again nodded. The old count of Mallorca, who had rebelled with Geoffrey’s father against the old King of the Franks, had passed. It left a child count, and Alphonse had used the opportunity to try to bring the island under the domain of the Franks once more, aiming to make his cousin Yves the new lord.
“Is that the only thing he wants?” Geoffrey asked Douard. “I cannot divert my attention to a war with the Franks now - England is more than enough for us to handle.”
“I think he would accept allowing you to release his knights and the young Duke Simon’s for his own war,” Douard said.
“We’ve had this discussion,” Geoffrey said. “I refused with Navarra and this is a much more dangerous fight. I’ll not invade England with one hand tied behind my back.”
“Understood,” Douard said. “He argues, however, it is also to deal a hammer blow to Alphonse’s forces. Perhaps sow discontent by inflicting a heavy defeat upon him.”
“I’m not worried about Alphonse,” Geoffrey said. “His best time to strike was years ago. We’ve grown stronger much faster than him.”
“Agreed, but he could be in position to gain strength quickly,” Douard said. “Given the situation in Flanders.”
Geoffrey scratched his head. “Situation? He did not take Flanders from my cousin, just Sens. They have a truce. It will be some time before he can move against them again, unless he wishes to draw the ire of every lord in his realm and beyond.”
“Agreed, but if his cousin Duke Leonard is successful,” Douard said.
“Duke Leonard?” Geoffrey asked. “As in my cousin, the former king? Why would he aid Alphonse in anything?”
Douard looked to Duke Adhemar. “You have not told him?
“The focus has been primarily on England,” Adhemar said.
Geoffrey eyed both of them. “What is going on?”
“Duke Leonard has attacked the weakened Duke Boudewijn ,” Adhemar explained. “He seeks to make his uncle Prince Yves, the new duke.”
“The same Yves who Alphonse fights for in Mallorca?” Geoffrey demanded.
“Yes,” Adhemar said.
“Why?” Geoffrey asked. “Why would they look to prop up Yves? He has no land, right?”
“I suspect Alphonse figured he could remove a potential rival by ‘granting him’ a county in the middle of the sea, far away from the Frankish nobility,” Adhemar said. “But Duke Leonard believes he could gain a valuable ally, should he one day wish to reclaim the throne. To add to the powerful one he already has in the King of Denmark.”
Geoffrey knew the King of Denmark had married Leonard’s mother, and Geoffrey’s aunt, Bella. But he did not know she had managed to convince her husband to fight alongside her son.
“Is this so bad then?” Berard asked. “It seems as if while Alphonse sought to perhaps send Yves to sort of exile, he will instead prove a powerful rival much closer to home.”
“That’s a good point,” Geoffrey noted. “It could lead to more internal fighting in the Kingdom of the Franks between the two sides of House Capet. And to say nothing if the Duke of Burgundy fancies pressing his own claim.”
“If,” Adhemar said. “But it is worth considering they might remain unified enough to pose a threat to us, should we fail in our actions in England. If Leonard succeeds, and it looks as he will, Alphonse will nominally hold all the lands his father once did, save Aquitaine and Anjou.”
The rest of the council, save Berard, nodded, leaving Geoffrey to rub his eyes in frustration. He really did hate that his uncle might have a point.
“England is too ripe a target to pass on,” Geoffrey repeated. “Think on this - Alphonse adds a duchy. We add a kingdom. Who benefits more? Who will be stronger afterward?”
“He gains a county and duchy with a little gold and few knights lost,” Adhemar warned. “We gain a kingdom through the blood of our knights. I’m not saying it’s not a worthy trade… but we may be weaker, for a time, even should we succeed.”
Geoffrey leaned forward again and sighed. Turning his gaze to Berard, he asked: “What do you say to this?”
Berard stroked his chin as he appeared to sink into deep thought. Finally he replied: “They make fine points. But you have worked hard to claim England. I think that must come first - it is not every day one can lay claim to a kingdom.”
Adhemar leaned forward. “I agree. And there may be other ways to deal with Alphonse as well. An opportunity, even.”
“I’m listening,” Geoffrey said.
“Currently, he has no sons,” Adhemar said. “His eldest daughter could be a fine match for your brother.”
Geoffrey’s brow rose. “She is our first cousin. It is too close a union.” He looked to Edouard and Emmanuel. “Am I right?”
“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Emmanuel said. “The church does not want war between our kingdom and the Franks. If a marriage between cousins prevents that… we have sanctioned worse.”
“Are we sure that’s wise?” Berard asked. “Giving Prince Alias a road to a crown… it could eventually prompt a war between us anyway. Just as Prince Yves has been used against Flanders.”
Geoffrey nodded at that. “A good point. We will need to more closely look at our options.”
“Agreed,” Adhemar said. “In the meantime… Count Douard, I think it would be unwise to promise Guilhem a war with Alphonse.”
“If you can’t, know that I do not think there is any way for us to gain his support,” Douard warned.
“It does not matter,” Berard said. “It will take time to prepare properly for an invasion of England, will it not? We will need a some months to ready ourselves with ships and supplies, especially if you plan to take your full 18,000 across the channel.”
“And I do,” Geoffrey said.
“Then let Guilhem delay,” Berard said. “At the start of the year, you openly declare your intention to make Ælfflæd queen of England, with you as her king.”
“And I trust none of you plan to spring any other surprises on me?” Geoffrey asked. When no one replied, Geoffrey added: “Very well. Bishop Edouard, you may see to it the funds for the Miracle play are released.”
“At the end of the year,” Adhemar added. “Once we are certain the funds are present.”
Geoffrey eyed his uncle. There were more than enough funds - regardless of what the next few months brought. But the king then realized the point - to ensure the clergymen abided by their promise.
The clergymen and the spymaster departed the hall, leaving Geoffrey with Adhemar and Berard. The king breathed a sigh of relief.
“That could have been worse,” Geoffrey said. “Good thinking on seeing how forceful Rome’s disapproval was, uncle.”
“It is our saving grace in this instance,” Adhemar said. “But don’t think that will be end of it.”
“We just need to outlast Martinus,” Geoffrey said.
“It will be more than him, as Emmanuel hinted,” Adhemar said. “The queen’s insult to the Holy Father is a matter of principle to some. It is not likely to be forgotten, so long as she lives - even if he does not.”
“What are they going to do?” Geoffrey asked. “They will risk excommunicating me, after I have Aquitaine and England under my control?”
“I don’t know,” Adhemar admitted. “But we should be wary. There are other ways to undermine kings besides excommunication.”
“I will deal with that when it happens,” Geoffrey said. “In the meantime, we make certain nothing else happens to undermine us. I do not want another Navarra, understood?”
“Yes, nephew,” Adhemar said. “I will monitor all three of the councilors. And see if I hear anything with Duke Guilhem.”
….
But as it turned out, Geoffrey would be the first to hear from the Duke of Poitou.
It was the next day, with Guilhem catching Geoffrey as he was walking back to his chamber after his morning ride. The guards present initially stopped the duke, but Geoffrey allowed his uncle the right to speak to him, though he motioned for him to follow to a nearby empty room.
When the door was closed, Guilhem glared at him.
“You are conducting council meetings without me?” Guilhem demanded.
“Council meeting?” Geoffrey asked. “I called no council meeting.”
“You met with Prince-Bishop Emmanuel, Duke Adhemar, Bishop Edouard, the Count of Aurilliac and Berard de Perigord,” Guilhem said. “All members of your council.”
“Council members yes,” Geoffrey said. “But I wished their opinion on some matters that had been weighing upon me. It was easier to gather them together than ask each man separately.”
He recited Adhemar’s reasoning as well as he could have hoped. It did not appear to matter as Guilhem narrowed his gaze. “You seek to argue technicalities?”
“It is nothing technical about it,” Geoffrey said. “I am king. I can speak to who I wish, when I wish, without anyone’s permission. And that’s all it was. No votes held, just… discussions.”
“Discussions,” Guilhem said. “I know you seek to gain support for your war with England. Without my knowledge.”
“We discussed many things,” Geoffrey said. “Such as the omens in the sky, which indicate good news with my wife’s pregnancy.”
“And England never came up,” Guilhem demanded.
“It did,” Geoffrey replied. “And I received strong support from those present.”
“When they are allowed to vote with you,” Guilhem said.
“Yes,” Geoffrey replied. “Though, if you would be reasonable, you could benefit from it as well. But you are insistent on making me wait another few months… only for me to be able to get my war anyway come the new year.”
“That is if the situation is still suitable for such things,” Guilhem said. “But the English could wise up - and choose someone other than an underage girl. Or the church may intervene.”
While Geoffrey had some confidence he could keep the church at bay with his donation, if the English replaced Ecgwyn with a proper king in the next few months - the situation would be complicated. It might then prompt the church to do more than frown at his ambition.
“So then what would you want?” Geoffrey demanded, suspecting his councilors had already provided him the answer.
“War with the Franks,” Guilhem replied.
“It would be shorter for me to wait,” Geoffrey said.
“After you are done with this English war,” Guilhem said. “Your assurances that King Alphonse would be next. Given his efforts to strengthen his realm, and his ambition to reclaim his father’s kingdom in full, I would think it a wise choice.”
“I have promised my brother Navarra,” Geoffrey said. “Which he might already have if not for your stubbornness and greed. That would be next. Nay, it must be next.”
“Appeasing your brother is not my concern,” Guilhem said.
“Perhaps it should be,” Geoffrey said. “It would make all of this easier.”
“I may reconsider when this is done,” Guilhem said. “In the meantime, if you wish my vote, then our focus should be on the Franks next.”
To that, Geoffrey could not give any assurances. He had no idea what his world would look like once he had subdued England… however long that took. And he knew his brother was already disappointed to know Navarra was put off indefinitely.
But with England, Alias could understand. After Geoffrey’s rhetoric with Guihelm before, the king doubted his brother could be appeased in a war with the Franks.
It was true that Geoffrey could lie to either of them, but he was no oathbreaker - even to an uncle who he believed few would fault him for running afoul of.
“No,” Geoffrey said. “I do not know nearly enough of what is to come to offer you a promise. I can give you gold for mercenaries. But nothing else.”
“Then you will have to wait for your war,” Guilhem said.
“And you will get nothing,” Geoffrey retorted. “Foolishly.”
“Nothing from
you,” Guilhem replied. “But kings are not the only road for such things.”
The duke then left the king alone, with Geoffrey eyeing him as he walked off.
What did he mean by that, Geoffrey wondered.
Not that he could have asked him. Guilhem would never give up such things.
But does he aim to again stop me from my war?
Geoffrey shook his head. It did him little good to wonder. He would dispatch his spymaster to trail the duke and, if Guilhem tried anything, not be caught off guard again.
….
It was nearly a month later when Geoffrey heard something.
On that day, Geoffrey was in the courtyard. Many of his household knights were present, sparring in full mail, with shields and dull swords, getting ready for the war they had been told was coming.
The king himself was taking part, though he did not engage any of the knights, choosing instead to battle Berard.
When they were younger, Berard’s smaller stature and relative inexperience made him easy pickings for Geoffrey. And the king figured it would be more of the same on this day as well.
But Berard surprised him with his shield work, blocking and meeting all of Geoffrey’s assaults. He even managed a deft counter, managing to get the king off balance, though Geoffrey was able to get his shield up and get distance between them before Berard could find his mail with his dull blade.
“You’ve gotten better,” Geoffrey said.
“Thank you,” Berard said. “I have been practicing, given I know we will be at war soon enough.”
“I dare you are better than your brother,” Geoffrey told him.
“Damning with faint praise?” Berard asked.
“I’d be damned if I praised Alberic’s swordsmanship at all,” Geoffrey replied. “But seriously, you have improved. It is good to see.”
“Well, unlike your other councilors, I figure to have a place by your side on the battlefield,” Berard said. “I need to be at my best.”
It brought a smile to Geoffrey’s face. While he’d taken Berard with him in the past on campaigns, he always wondered how much his friend could stomach it. After all, Berard’s father, the late Count Alias, made no secret of his distaste of venturing into battle with Geoffrey’s father.
“Again?” Berard asked.
Geoffrey tapped his shield with his sword to indicate he was ready, but then had to straight up from his battle stance almost immediately when he saw Count Douard approach. Upon seeing Geoffrey’s posture change, Berard turned back to the spymaster as well.
“Douard’s not normally out here,” Berard said. “I wonder what he wants.”
“Let us see,” Geoffrey said as he walked over to the spymaster.
“I bring news from Poitou,” Count Douard said.
Geoffrey nodded. Duke Guilhem had left the palace a few days after his argument with the king, returning to Poitou for “personal business.” What that business was, he would not reveal, but Geoffrey had instructed Count Douard to find out.
When Douard reported back the duke appeared to be preparing for a large feast or gathering, it left Geoffrey to wonder if he planned a rebellion. Or maybe he would attack Alphonse on his own.
“What has Guilhem done?” Berard asked.
“Decided to go at Alphonse on his own?” Geoffrey asked. “Or do I need to prepare my men here to march on Poitou?”
Douard shook his head. “Nothing when it comes to war, at least not yet. His planned feast was in fact a wedding ceremony.”
“For himself, or a betrothal for one of his sons?” Geoffrey asked.
“For himself,” Douard said.
Geoffrey and Berard traded glances before the king shrugged. “I suppose I must offer some sort of congratulations to him? Send him some sort of gift?”
“He did not think to invite you,” Berard said. “So why bother?”
“My father would say certain things are required,” Geoffrey said. “For show.”
“I don’t know if he’d have done it after a snub,” Berard said.
Geoffrey shrugged. “He has not snubbed me
yet. Has he?”
“He has married,” Douard said. “It happened a few days ago - my rider came south as quickly as possible to tell me.”
“Already married?!” Geoffrey snapped. “Impossible. To who?!”
Douard took a deep breath. “Lady Marguerite.”
“My mother?!” Geoffrey snapped in disbelief, given he was pretty certain she had not left Bordeaux.
“No, not your mother,” Douard said. “Your cousin… niece… the daughter of Duke Foulquesson and your sister, Duchess Beatritz.”
