The Valcourt Heiress (Medieval Song 7)

“Arlette was no Druid priestess, she was my mother. I was sixteen when she first showed me the silver coins. She told me they came from Philip, King of France. He’d sent her newly issued English round farthings to pay out amongst John’s barons to overthrow him, and back Philip’s claim to the English throne. Later, however, when I had gained more years, she told me Philip of France had indeed paid her in silver coins, but it was payment for her to poison your grandfather. She told me her father, my grandfather, had sent her to the court in Paris as a young girl. Even at fourteen, she had great maturity, charm, and wit. She became King Philip’s mistress. She told me he came to trust her completely.

“As you know, most believe your grandfather, King John, died of dysentery in the fall of 1216, only a year after signing the Great Charter at Runnymede.”

Burnell said, “Lord Ranulf, why did the King of France believe your mother could get close enough to King John to poison him? What was she to John?”

“In truth, she was also King John’s mistress, sire. Arlette herself told me King John was so ill he could not gain bodily satisfaction from her, but he loved to have her close to him, to look at her, to stroke her. She gave him comfort.

“I remember as a boy I heard people marvel at her beauty, but I paid no particular attention because she was my mother. A few years ago I found a small rendering of her, and saw that her beauty was indeed remarkable.”

Edward said, “Some have said John’s ale was poisoned, others have said the poison was in some plums he ate. Mayhap your mother did indeed poison him.”

“Arlette told me she’d known John’s death would come soon enough, with no assistance from anyone. She said when he died, she was surprised when the King of France sent no one to take back his silver. She supposed he believed she had indeed poisoned John.

“Upon John’s death, Arlette married the Earl of Carronwick, left London, and took the silver coins with her. She did not spend them, she guarded them for future generations. My father died without ever knowing about the stash of silver coins.”

Jason of Brennan took a step forward, only to be pulled back by Whalen. “Father, why did you lie to me?”

Lord Ranulf slowly turned to look at his only son. “You were seven years old, Jason. How could I tell you the truth? You would not have understood.”

“I would have understood if only you had told me the truth! I could have drunk a barrel of ale and not said anything had I known this Arlette was my own grandmother. And I have been a man for many years. Why have you not told me the truth?”

Lord Ranulf’s expression was austere. “I did not tell you because I knew you were not to be trusted.” He turned back to the king. “Sir Halric is my man. When I discovered the coins were gone, when my son swore to me he knew nothing about them, I requested Halric to join my son to keep watch on him. He has been loyal to me, he tried to curb my son’s excesses. Unfortunately, this was not always possible, witness the so-called Retribution at Wareham brought by this Black Demon.

“When Sir Halric caught the heiress of Valcourt, he was bringing her to me. He did not realize it was Garron of Kersey who took her from him. I beg that you spare him, sire, for he has been loyal to me for many years.”

“What about me, Father?” Jason struggled and heaved against the guard, but it was no use. “The only reason I attacked Wareham was to find the silver coins so I could return them to you! I did nothing wrong!”

Ranulf said nothing, simply stood before the King of England, tall and proud, waiting for the sentence.

Edward desperately wanted to keep all those beautiful silver coins. Were his needs not greater than Ranulf’s? Were his needs not greater than any other of his subjects? Was it not his duty to protect England? And the good Lord knew it required silver. He tapped his long fingers on the arm of his throne and fought with himself. Aye, he would use the silver to help him crush those dam

ned Scots and Welsh—but Lord Ranulf had always been loyal to him, had always met his demands with soldiers and silver. And Ranulf had told him the truth, the entire truth, he knew it to his gut. What to do?

He found himself turning to Garron, a young man who had saved his life twice. “What say you, Garron?”

Jason yelled, “Why would you ask him? He is nothing!”

Garron said, “What I say, sire, is that the silver coins be returned to Lord Ranulf. In gratitude to you, he should pay you the same share I would have, had I been able to keep the silver. Mayhap too, Marianna de Luce de Mornay could wed with Lord Ranulf. Mayhap she can breed him a son with honor.” He saw Merry still holding the witch’s hand. Honor from a son born of that union?

Lord Ranulf gawked at him.

A lovely melodious voice said, “May I speak, sire?”

Garron, like every other person in the chamber, turned to Abbess Helen of Meizerling.

The king nodded. “Aye, madam, what is it you have to say?”

“I do not believe my daughter should wed Lord Ranulf, rather she should wed his son, Jason of Brennan, and the silver coins should be given to me as her dowry. In return, your majesty will have a just share of the silver, and Valcourt will have an excellent master, one forever loyal and grateful to you, sire. If you will forgive his youthful transgressions.”

The king turned to look long at Garron. “What say you?”

Garron didn’t want to say anything, even though he knew the witch realized well enough that if her daughter was wed to Ranulf, she would never see a single silver coin. What Garron wanted more than anything was to fight Jason of Brennan and run his sword through his damned belly. And, oddly, he wanted to laugh. In truth, though, nothing mattered except revenge, Garron thought, since he was again what he once was, and that wasn’t so bad, was it? “I have changed my mind, sire. I believe the heiress should wed my brother Arthur, the Earl of Wareham. He would keep the silver as reparation for Lord Ranulf’s son destroying Wareham and murdering scores of his people.”

There was deafening silence in the chamber.

Helen said, “That is not possible. Your brother sleeps deeply. He will never awaken.”

Garron said, “Tell us, madam, how do you know this?”