Chapter 22

The trip to Paris took much longer than Jean had anticipated. He had hoped to be there for two days and return immediately, but the King refused to see him, making him wait day upon day. Days turned into weeks and still no meeting with the King. Finally, after a month, the King’s uncle summoned Jean for an audience.

The boy-king was so impressed by Jean’s exploits that he rewarded him with a small treasury as compensation for his losses. He also paid Jean a year’s past wages, at the pay rate for a knight, even though he had only been a knight for the past few months. Lastly, he named Sir Jean a Knight of Honor, part of the royal household, earning him a substantial yearly stipend.

Even though the trip had taken much longer than he had anticipated, it was worth the delays. All of Jean’s financial problems were gone. Marguerite and Jean would now have a secure future with the stipend and doubling of his wages. He smiled as he left Paris. He was still not fully recovered from Scotland physically, but financially, things could not have been better.

It was mid-February by the time Jean returned to Campomesnils. Marguerite seemed pleased to see him, rushing into his arms and crying against his chest. However, as he tried to speak with her, he could see something was different. She was not listening to his story of the visit to the King and seemed distracted.

He went to his mother and asked if something had happened while he was away to Paris. But, she had assured him that nothing unusual had transpired.

“And you were with Marguerite every day?” he asked.

“Of course, just as you insisted,” she explained. “I was here every day, Marguerite went nowhere, saw no one and had no visitors.”

“Something is affecting her,” he said. “I can see it in her eyes.”

“Oh, you know,” his mother said, “There was that one day. I’m sure it is nothing.”

“What day?” Jean asked, “What happened?”

“Well, as I said, I was here every day,” Nicole began, “but there was one day where I had to travel to Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives to attend to a legal matter. I left early and was back by midday. Marguerite seemed fine upon my return. In fact, she appeared giddy that day, more than usual.”

“What day was this?”

“It was the 18th of January,” Nicole answered.

“Why didn’t you insist Marguerite go with you?” he asked.

“The poor girl was feeling ill that morning, and I knew it was a short hour or so ride there and another hour ride back. There was no need to make her travel when she felt poorly.”

Jean thought hard for a moment. “And what of Penny, her maidservant?”

“She remained here with Marguerite, as you requested.”

Just then, Marguerite entered the room, and Jean and his mother fell silent, exchanging a look. Finally, Jean could not hold back his curiosity.

“Marguerite, my love,” he said, “something is troubling you. What is it?”

She looked stricken. “N-nothing is the matter,” she stammered. “I-I am fine.”

“Did something happen while I traveled to Paris?” he asked, then added, “Perhaps the day mother went to Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives?”