Simon the Coldheart by Georgette Heyer

Author:Georgette Heyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2011-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Four

How he saw the Lady Margaret

By noon he had brought some semblance of order into Belrémy and had held a long parley with the sheriff. The usual proclamations were posted up, in the King’s name, promising fair treatment and protection to all who would swear allegiance to Henry. For the most part the townsfolk availed themselves of this clemency, for they were tired of the long siege, and anxious to revictual the town. Simon’s men were stationed round the town and in it, and at length he had leisure to consider Alan’s predicament. It was rumoured that Montlice was first wounded, and then overcome by the Lady Margaret’s men-at-arms.

‘Simon, thou’lt rescue him?’ Geoffrey said anxiously. They were in the justice-house, which Simon had made his temporary headquarters.

‘Ay,’ Simon answered. ‘She will look to hold him as hostage, but I have her in a vice. I hold her uncle prisoner.’

‘Her uncle? He fought this morning?’

‘He is her Marshal. The Sire de Galledemaine. Huntingdon took him. Bernard, bring thy quill, and parchment.’

The secretary collected them, and sat waiting for further orders.

‘Write,’ Simon said slowly. ‘“To the Lady Margaret of Belrémy. In the name of His Most Gracious Majesty, King Henry the Fifth of England and France, I, Simon of Beauvallet, command that ye surrender the keys of the Castle of Belrémy within the hour, swearing fealty to His Majesty King Henry, and delivering the knight, Sir Alan of Montlice, into my hands.” Thou hast that?’

‘Ay, my lord.’

‘Dispatch it by my herald at once, then, and bid him await the lady’s answer.’

‘What folly is this?’ Malvallet asked, when Talmayne had withdrawn. ‘She will laugh at thy message.’

‘Perchance. It is my formal command. If she laughs now, she will weep later.’

The herald returned within the hour, and knelt to give Simon the Lady Margaret’s packet.

Simon broke the seals and spread the crackling parchment sheets before him. Over his shoulder Geoffrey read:

‘To Simon of Beauvallet.

‘If ye depart not from this my city within the space of twelve hours, surrendering the keys unto Ferdinand de Valmé, my Sheriff, the knight, Sir Alan of Montlice, swings from the ramparts in thy sight.

‘Written at my Castle of Belrémy this twenty-first day of December.’

Geoffrey let fly a great oath, and clapped his hand to his sword-hilt.

‘Thou wilt storm the place, Simon?’

Simon smiled.

‘Nay. That would surely bring death to Alan, thou hothead. Write again, Bernard: “If my commands be not obeyed, I, Simon of Beauvallet, do swear by the Rood and by all the blessed Saints that the Marshal, Jean de Galledemaine, dies before the Castle of Belrémy with the other prisoners in my hold, and every third breadwinner of this town. And further if any harm be done unto the knight, Sir Alan of Montlice, I do swear by God that I will raze this city to the ground, slaying all who dwell therein and sparing neither woman nor child. And that ye may see that I swear it not idly, six of the children will I slay before the castle if ye surrender not at once.

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