Free Daughter of Silk by Linda Lee Chaikin Page B

Shall I inquire?”
    “You have enough to keep you occupied. I shall seek him out.” Gallaudet bowed and departed, followed a few moments later by
    Fabien.
    Fabien strode down thecorridor deep in thought. He could go straight to the young, ailing Francis Valois, newly declared King of France since his father Henry’s death in the fatal joust at the palais Les Tournelles. Fabien could ask the reasons behind the arrival of Guise and the masked messire among his men-at-arms. Francis Valois and his recent reinette, Mary Stuart of Scotland, had been Fabien’s acquaintances since child- hood. He could solicit an audience with the king, but it would necessi- tate secrecy, since neither the Guise brothers nor Catherine would of late permit Francis many, if any, visitors. Even Marguerite Valois told him she felt a prisoner here at Chambord.
    “His Majesty must rest,” the word persisted. “The king’s strength must be preserved and guarded.”
    Guarded, yes; but guarded so Francis could be better manipulated by Mary’s shrewd oncles? Fabien was sure these two brothers cared very little about Francis, or even Mary. They had connived through Diane de Poitiers, the late king’s mistress, to arrange the marriage to advance their own political power.
    Fabien could also appeal to the king’s younger brother, Charles, next in line for the throne, but he hesitated. Just thinking of the boy Charles Valois brought Fabien a scowl.
    Fabien walked through the lower salle toward upward steps to the second f loor and the royal chambers.
    It would be a great risk to entrust his suspicions to Charles. Catherine controlled her young son through fear. Therefore he would tell her what- ever she asked. It was most unfortunate that Charles lived on the rim of an abyss of mental hysteria. Part of the reason for his near madness was Catherine herself. Just as the Queen Mother had specific astrologers and mysterious perfumers that did her nefarious bidding, so also she had certain instructors brought over from her home in Florence, Italy, to teach Charles. Fabien believed that Catherine, who was of the blood of the infamous Borgias, maneuvered in the realm of the diabolical. For murky reasons of her own, she had set about to pervert Charles. For what purpose? Fabien often wondered. He now believed it was Catherine’s
    objective to have absolute control over Charles, who was next in line to become a boy-king should anything happen to Francis — who was of such weak health. Unlike Francis, however — who was manipulated by the power of his beloved Mary’s oncles, the duc and the cardinal — should Charles come to the throne he would be free of any manipulation by the Guises, whom Catherine feared of plotting against her wishes. Charles would bend to the will of Catherine alone.
    The very idea brought uneasiness to Fabien. And what was the old parable — uneasy lies the head that wears the crown? Would Catherine set about to remove one son to place another on the throne? Fabien deep- ened his frown. He believed she had used poison before in her extended family and would use it on others she deemed a threat to her power.
    As for Francis, it did not require foresight to see that the boy-king — so frail with a sickness of the blood like the grandfathers on both sides of his family — would never reach an old age.
    Fabien had been out with Francis just yesterday, riding in a joust with other young galantes at court. While Francis insisted on joining in, he had attempted to mask his weakness to impress Mary that he was as mas- culine as the best of his courtiers. Fabien had deliberately lost to him to terminate the charade and return him with Mary to their royal chambers for rest. Francis was still recovering today, trying to recoup his strength. What had disturbed Fabien most was the smile on Catherine’s face when she thought no one noticed her. Fabien had the impression she desired her son to wear himself out in order to free herself from the