The Reluctant Queen Read Online Free PDF Page B

town came to realize what was happening and on Whit Sunday a group of them managed to get inside. They crowded into the tiny chapel as best they may, begging the Queen to allow them to hear Mass as they had been deprived of it for so long.
    Margot took pity on them and without hesitation agreed they could stay, although it was a dreadful squash.
    One of her ladies, a Mademoiselle de Rebours, was fiercely ambitious and nursed a fancy to replace the recently departed Dayelle. To capture the attentions of a king, even if his heart was not engaged, would be immensely exciting and surely lead to an increase in her own power and standing at court. In order to achieve this, Rebours felt it important to distance Henry a little from his queen, upon whom he was showering great affection.
    When she heard what was happening in the chapel, Mademoiselle de Rebours saw her opportunity and ran to tell him of this scandalous behaviour. But halfway to the King’s apartment it occurred to her that perhaps she shouldn’t be the one seen to meddle. She decided this news might be better coming from another source, and went instead to his secretary, Jacques Lallier, Sieur du Pin. The man was a bigoted Huguenot and had no time at all for this Catholic Queen.
    ‘There are Catholics in the Palace chapel,’ Rebours burst out in shocked tones the moment she was admitted to his private cabinet . ‘Brought there by the Queen.’
    Pin was outraged, and, calling his men, marched them down to the courtyard. He did not stand on ceremony, did not even pause to knock but barged right into the tiny chapel, dragged the peasants out, and had them flogged right there in the courtyard.
    Horrified, Margot cried out in protest. ‘Stop that at once!’
    ‘Madame, step back. This is none of your concern.’
    ‘Indeed it is! I demand that you let these people be.’
    Pin brushed her aside and had the Catholics arrested and thrown into a cell.
    Margot caught up her skirts and ran. Bursting into her husband’s apartment she breathlessly told him what had just occurred. ‘I insist that they be released immediately.’
    Navarre was startled, deeply disturbed by this unfortunate incident, which at first glance seemed of no consequence, and yet had clearly made his wife angry. ‘I cannot do that. You ask too much, Margot. Be grateful that I at least permit you and your people to hear the Mass. I cannot allow half the populace of Pau to partake of it too. This is Huguenot territory. You are being unreasonable.’
    ‘ I am being unreasonable? What of that bully of a secretary of yours? He has no right to imprison innocent people simply for their beliefs. I would have thought that you, of all people, would see that. The insolence I suffered at the hands of that little man was unspeakable. The fellow should be dismissed at once.’
    Henri would dearly like to have released the Catholics, but dare not, knowing this would only enrage the more bigoted Puritans, and stir up hatred even more. He also had not the least wish to part with his secretary, and said as much. ‘I will speak to the councillors of the Pau parliament and see what can be done for these people. Pin was doing only what he thought to be right. He’s an excellent man, and good at his job.’
    Margot was having none of it, and, stiffening her spine, stood tall before him in all her royal dignity. ‘Pin is well known for being high-handed. Even your own people accuse him of such. The man is insolent. You must choose, Henry, between your secretary or your wife. I swear if you choose that odious little man, then I will return at once to Paris and tell my brother the King what you have done.’
    It was a bluff, of course. Margot had no wish to do anything of the sort, but she was in tears for the poor souls who had been beaten and thrown in to prison, simply for wanting to take part in the Mass. She was also furious with this allegedly excellent secretary for having breached her orders to let them alone.
    Pin