‘Which my father refused.’

‘Yes, but it shows he will snatch at any opportunity that comes his way.’

Alienor said nothing. Louis’s own father had hardly been noble in his motives when he seized the moment.

‘He thinks his looks and his influence will gain him whatever he desires, but he is a fool. That his father is King of Jerusalem means nothing to me.’

‘What does he want?’ Louis must have been talking to Suger and Theobald of Blois to be this agitated. His own aversion would not be so strong. The Blois faction was the natural enemy of Anjou, and Geoffrey was fighting Theobald’s brother Stephen for Normandy.

Louis snorted. ‘A marriage alliance,’ he said. ‘He was fishing for a betrothal between Constance and his son.’

Alienor was briefly startled, but not surprised when she thought beyond the person of Louis’s pale, fair-haired sister to the implications.

‘I refused him,’ Louis said. ‘It is hardly in our interests to give a man like that a leg-up to the saddle, and I would not entrust Constance to either him or that virago wife of his.’

Alienor suspected Geoffrey of Anjou would find his way to the top anyway, and from what she had heard about the Empress Matilda, she was not unlike her own mother-in-law. ‘What did he say?’

Louis scowled. ‘That he understood, but hoped I would keep his offer in mind, since circumstances often change.’

‘Did you say you would?’

Louis flicked her an irritated look. ‘I made it clear the matter was not open to discussion. I have better things to do than to waste time on a red-haired Angevin upstart.’

‘But what if his wife becomes Queen of England?’

‘God forbid,’ Louis snapped. ‘I doubt it will happen. Their cause is a lost one before they begin. Rather let Constance go to Stephen’s heir and wed into the power already on the throne.’

Alienor was thoughtful. That seemed a sensible decision, but there was something about Geoffrey that made her think Louis was underestimating him.

‘I’ll be glad to have him gone from court,’ Louis added. ‘He’s a disruptive influence. I don’t want you or any of the women to go near him, is that understood?’

‘But it is my duty to speak with your vassals and be a good hostess,’ she protested.

‘Well, speak to the old ones and to the bishops. Leave Geoffrey of Anjou alone – I mean it.’ He came to stand over her, hands on his hips. ‘Tongues are swift to wag. The Queen of France must be above reproach.’

Alienor felt a spark of excitement at Louis’s obvious jealousy. ‘Do you not trust me?’ She rose to face him.

‘I do not trust him – as I told you.’ Louis pulled her into his arms and kissed her. ‘Do I have your word on this?’

She kissed him back, and then smoothed away his frown with her fingertips. ‘I promise I will be very careful. Are you coming to bed?’

Over the ensuing days, Alienor made sure she was indeed careful, because the thought of being alone with Geoffrey of Anjou was far too unsettling. She talked to the older vassals and the bishops. She kept company with the wives and daughters. The nearest she came to being undone was when Geoffrey held her hand during a Christmas revel dance and, at the end, kissed the inside of her wrist, grazing her skin lightly with his teeth – the implication being that she was good enough to eat – before bowing and walking away. It was all play, but far from innocent on his part. The experience sent a jolt through her body, but also made her narrow her eyes. She had a great deal to learn, but learn it she would, and one day, her knowledge would be greater than his, and she would be the one to turn him inside out as lightly as breathing.


10

Paris, Spring 1138

Alienor gasped and bit her lip as Louis withdrew from her and rolled on to his back, his chest heaving with exertion. He had been rough in his lovemaking and she felt mauled, but she was coming to realise that his passions in the bedchamber were frequently driven by events that happened outside of it. She had recently finished her monthly bleed and this was the first time they had lain together in eight days. He had stayed away from her during that time, preferring not to have contact while her menstrual blood made her unclean. Instead, he had occupied himself in prayer and contemplation.

They had been married for nine months and Alienor had still not conceived. Her flux had been late at Christmas, but had proven to be nothing. Each month, when she bled, Adelaide would make pointed comments about fulfilling her duties and providing an heir for France. She herself had borne Louis’s father six healthy sons and a daughter when she was Queen.

Alienor coiled a lock of Louis’s silvery hair around her forefinger. ‘My father sometimes took me and Petronella to Le Puy to celebrate the feast of the Virgin,’ she said. ‘My grandsire presented the abbey with a belt that had once belonged to the mother of Christ. She is said to confer the gift of fertility on couples who pray at her shrine. We should go there and ask her blessing.’

He raised his brows and looked cautiously interested.

‘Charlemagne himself visited Le Puy,’ she said. ‘You promised that after our coronation we would go to Aquitaine.’

‘I did,’ he agreed, ‘but I have been busy with other duties. However, you are right; I will tell Suger.’

Alienor held her peace. At least Louis had said ‘I will tell’ rather than ‘I will ask’, and that was progress of a kind.

He sat up, and gently rubbed her cheek before looking at his thumb.

‘What?’ she asked, thinking perhaps she had a smut on her face.

‘My mother says that you dress inappropriately and paint your face and that I should be wary. But you listen to me, and give me comfort. When has she ever once done that? I do not care if it is true or not.’

Alienor looked down while she mastered her anger and irritation. She and Adelaide continued to battle for influence over Louis. Her intimacy with him gave her the upper hand, but even so Adelaide was tenacious. ‘Do you think I should behave and dress like your mother?’

A small shudder rippled through him. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I do not want you to become like her.’

Alienor made her tone sorrowful. ‘I know it is difficult for her to give up the power and position she has wielded for so long. I honour her, but I cannot be like her.’

‘You are right,’ he said abruptly. ‘We should go to Le Puy, and pray together.’

Alienor hugged him. ‘Thank you, husband! You will not regret it, I promise!’ She leaped from the bed in her chemise and twirled around, her hair flying out in a golden veil, making Louis laugh. When Alienor was soft and doe-eyed like this, she made him feel as if he could accomplish anything, and he would have given her the world, so great was his love. Yet the depth of his feeling set up a strange friction deep inside him, especially when others expressed reservation. What if he was indeed being duped?

She sobered and became demure again. ‘We should go and tell Suger together, and ask him what we should take as an offering.’ Because then Suger would be involved and could not disapprove, and if Suger approved, then it left Adelaide out in the cold.

Alienor and Louis prayed before the statue of the Virgin and child at the Shrine of Our Lady in the cathedral at Le Puy, and made gifts of frankincense and myrrh, presented in a bejewelled golden casket. Alienor prayed over the golden belt of the Virgin and passed it three times around her waist for the Trinity, so that her womb might be fruitful.

Le Puy was crowded with pilgrims preparing to set out on the road to Compostela, for it was an important place of worship along the route. Alienor and Louis distributed alms to the throng and walked a little way with them. Alienor’s eyes filled with tears as she was reminded of the day her father had set out from Poitiers, with herself and Petronella at his side. Taking her emotion for religious fervour, Louis was moved to love her even more and thought he would burst with pride and adoration.

Since the pilgrim hostels were overflowing, Alienor and Louis spent the night in the royal tent under a powdering of stars. With the Virgin’s blessing upon them, they made love in the warm spring evening with holy sanction, and it was tender and perfect.

Alienor was sitting up in bed with Adelaide standing beside her when Louis hurried into her chamber. They had been back in Paris for almost three months, and life had returned to its usual routine, except that for the last four mornings Alienor had been sick on rising and today Adelaide had summoned the royal physician to examine her.

‘Sire,’ said the man, diplomatically concealing under a cloth the urine bottle he had been examining. ‘I am happy to tell you that the young Queen is with child.’

Louis stared at him with widening eyes. ‘Truly?’ He turned to look at Alienor.

Despite feeling nauseous, she gave him a wide smile, brimming with triumph and joy.

‘Then the Virgin answered our prayers at Le Puy!’ Louis’s pale face flushed with wonder and joy. ‘There will be an heir for France, my clever, beautiful wife!’

‘It is early days yet.’ His mother raised a warning forefinger. ‘Alienor must rest quietly and do nothing that might harm the baby or herself.’

Alienor hid a grimace. She knew perfectly well what Adelaide was up to and had no intention of retiring into seclusion for the rest of her pregnancy. She cast a shy glance at Louis. ‘I should like to go to church and give thanks to the Virgin for her great bounty.’

He looked pleased but uncertain. ‘Is it wise to leave your bed?’

‘Surely it can do nothing but good to go and pray?’ Alienor turned to the physician, who hesitated, and then inclined his head.

‘Madam, prayer is always efficacious.’

Behind the closed bed curtains, Alienor had her women dress her in a gown of blue wool and covered her plaited hair with a veil of fine white linen edged with tiny pearls. When she emerged, intentionally looking like a madonna, Adelaide had gone.

Louis gazed at her with adoration. ‘I am so proud of you.’ He kissed both her hands and then her brow.

Side by side they prayed together at the altar in the ancient basilica of Notre-Dame. Alienor still felt queasy, but it was bearable. She was carrying the heir to France, and Aquitaine, and that gave her an inner sense of power as a fertile woman and nurturer. On the outside, it was part of becoming a true queen and entering into her own light.

Emerging from the dark and candle glow of the old Merovingian church, Louis and Alienor found a messenger waiting for them. His clothes were dusty and he stank of hard-ridden horse and unwashed man. ‘Sire. Madam.’ He dropped to his knees and bent his head. ‘There is grave news from Poitiers.’

‘What is it?’ Alienor demanded before Louis could speak. ‘Get up. Tell me.’

The man stumbled to his feet. ‘Madam, the people have risen up and declared themselves a commune. They say they will throw off the rule of the Dukes of Aquitaine, and of France. They have occupied the palace and even now are strengthening the defences.’ He reached into his travel-battered leather satchel and produced a creased letter.

Alienor grabbed it from him and broke the seal; as she read the contents, her hand went to her mouth. It was like looking over her shoulder and seeing her lands falling into a dark chasm. This deed could crack her inheritance apart and undermine all she had and all that she was; she would be nothing – unable to maintain her position and dignity at court. As Duchess of Aquitaine she could stand up to others, including Adelaide, with integrity. Without her lands she was prey for the wolves.

Louis took the note and as he read it, his lips tightened.

‘We have to do something,’ she said. ‘If this should spread …’ It was too terrible to think about. ‘We must quash it now; there can be no prevarication. I’ll order my baggage packed.’

Louis looked at her in surprise and alarm. ‘You cannot do that; you are with child. You know what the physician said.’ He took her arm. ‘I will deal with this. They are my subjects too, and an affront to you is also an affront to me.’

‘But you do not know them as I do.’ She struggled to free herself, but Louis tightened his grip until his fingers pinched.

‘I know enough to deal with them.’ He puffed out his chest. ‘Do not trouble yourself. I will see to this. Your first duty is to our child.’

It was easy for him to say, Alienor thought, but to her it brought back all the grief, fear and anxiety she had felt after her father’s death. First her family was stripped away, then she had to leave her home, and now revolt threatened the very notion of her own identity.