Queen Jezebel by Jean Plaidy

Author:Jean Plaidy [Plaidy, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical
ISBN: 9780099493198
Publisher: Arrow
Published: 1971-01-01T13:00:00+00:00

Margot and Henriette, wrapped in their cloaks, slipped out of the Louvre to the house at the corner of the Rue de la Vannerie and the Rue Monton. They took off their masks as soon as the concierge let them in.

‘The gentlemen have arrived?’ demanded Margot of the woman.

‘No, Madame. They are not yet here.’

They went upstairs to a room in which a table was laid for four; on this were the choicest delicacies, and the best wines that France could offer. A banquet fit for a Queen and her friends. Margot looked at the table with pleasure, but she was uneasy.

‘There is no message to explain why they have been delayed?’ she asked of the woman.

‘No, Madame.’

When Margot had dismissed her, Henriette said: ‘Margot, you don’t think they have ceased to love us!’

‘If they had,’ said Margot, ‘they would have been very early. They would have been most chivalrous, most eager to assure us of their fidelity.’

‘They were most eager to assure us of that last time we met.’

‘I cannot believe my Hyacinth could deceive me. Something has happened to detain them . . . nothing more.’

‘Your brother would not detain them. He knows they come to meet us, and he is most friendly to you and eager to please you.’

‘It may have been some other small matter. Come, drink a cup of wine, and you will feel better.’ Margot poured out the wine and handed it to Henriette.

‘I shall be most piqued when they do come,’ said Henriette. ‘Margot, you do not think, do you, that it is your husband who may have detained them?’

‘Why should he?’

‘Jealousy.’

‘He does not know the meaning of jealousy. “Do not stand in the way of my pleasure,” he says, “and I will not stand in the way of yours!” ‘ She turned to her friend. ‘Perhaps the Duke of Nevers . . .’

‘But he would have stopped only Annibale. That does not excuse La Mole. They are both late. Could it be Monsieur de Guise?’

Margot was pleasurably excited at the possibility of her former lover’s jealousy. She dismissed such thoughts hastily. Must it always be so? Must she always wonder how her actions were going to affect that man!

‘Nonsense!’ she said. ‘That is finished. Listen. Someone is coming up the stairs.’

‘They are very quiet, Margot.’

‘Hush! They creep in order to surprise us.’

There was a tap on the door.

‘Enter!’ said Margot; and to her intense disappointment and also that of Henriette, it was the concierge who entered, not their lovers.

‘Madame, there is a lady downstairs who says she must speak with you at once. Shall I allow her to come up? She says it is of the utmost importance. She has news for you.’

‘Send her up at once,’ said Margot; and in a few seconds one of her attendants came into the room. The woman’s face was pale and it was obvious from her expression that the news which she brought was not good.

She knelt before Margot and cried: ‘Madame, I regret to be the bearer of such news.

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