The Hostage Queen by Freda Lightfoot

Author:Freda Lightfoot
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Margot must have slept eventually, for when she woke, daylight was creeping in around the bed curtains. She pulled them back to discover it was day break, and that both the bed and the bedchamber were empty. The King of Navarre and his men had gone.

She sat up, wondering if it was too early to call Lottie, who was growing old and could be a slug-a-bed in the morning these days, when Madame smilingly appeared, as fresh and serene as ever.

‘Did you sleep well, my lady?’

Margot pouted. ‘No, I did not. My husband and his chattering comrades kept me awake half the night.’ At least whatever danger her sister had feared must now be past. Claude seemed to be flinching at shadows these days.

Madame looked around. ‘And where is your good lord, might I ask? It is barely dawn.’

‘I know not and care even less. Make fast the door, Lottie. Having suffered such a disturbed night I mean to catch up on some lost sleep.’ And, flopping back upon the pillows, Margot turned over and fell instantly asleep again.

It must have been an hour later when she was wakened by a violent banging at the door. It sounded very much as if someone were hammering on it with both hands and feet, a voice calling out, ‘Navarre! Navarre!’

‘Ah, that must be your good husband now,’ Madame said. ‘All right, all right, no need to shout, my lord, I am coming,’ and the old lady hurried to let him in.

The room was instantly filled with men, none of them Navarre. One young man, badly wounded with a gash on his arm from a sword or pike, ran in hotly pursued by four archers. He threw himself upon the bed in terror, begging for the Queen of Navarre’s protection. Margot screamed, struggled desperately to get out of his way, but the man grabbed her by the waist, holding her fast so that her body shielded him from his attackers. He too was screaming, both of them utterly terrified, while the archers strove to take aim upon their victim.

Margot was convinced they were both about to be shot when Nançay, Captain of the Guard, strode in, and on seeing the Princess thus surrounded, the intended victim clinging to her like a limpet, he actually laughed out loud at the sight.

Margot was incensed. ‘I see nothing to amuse you, good sir. These men would kill us both, me and this poor quivering fool wrapped about my waist.’

‘Begging your pardon, Madame.’ Somewhat chastened, the Captain ordered his archers to stand down, severely admonishing them for their indiscretion, and ordered them out of the chamber.

The man was still shivering in her arms, making no attempt to move, and Margot cradled him to her breast. ‘Your men attacked this poor fellow, hunted him down like a wild animal. I refuse to release him to you. I order you to spare his life.’

The Captain graciously bowed. ‘I concede his life to you, my lady, and I apologize for the over-enthusiasm of my archers.

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