Antoine spoke up. ‘Your majesty, I beg you,’ he said, ‘please do not execute my brother. I swear he is innocent.’
‘Neither of you is innocent!’ Caterina snapped. Alison had never heard her use this tone of voice. ‘The main question confronting the king is whether youbothshould die.’
Antoine was bold on the battlefield and timid everywhere else, and now he became cringing. ‘I beg you, your majesty, spare our lives. I swear we are loyal to the king.’
Alison glanced at the Guise brothers. They could hardly hide their elation. Their enemies were being roasted – at just the right moment.
Caterina said: ‘If King Francis dies, and my ten-year-old second son becomes King Charles IX, how could you, Antoine, possibly act as regent, when you have taken part in a conspiracy against his predecessor?’
There was no proof that either Antoine or Louis had conspired against King Francis, but Antoine took a different line. ‘I don’t want to be regent,’ he said desperately. ‘I’ll renounce the regency. Just spare my brother’s life, and mine.’
‘You would give up the regency?’
‘Of course, your majesty, whatever is your wish.’
Alison suspected that Caterina’s purpose, from the start of the meeting, had been to get Antoine to say what he had just said. The guess was confirmed by what Caterina did next.
The queen mother brandished the second sheet of paper. ‘In that case, I want you to sign this document, in front of the court here today. It states that you relinquish your right of regency to . . . another person.’ She looked significantly at Duke Scarface, but did not name him.
Antoine said: ‘I’ll sign anything.’
Alison saw that Cardinal Charles was smiling broadly. This was exactly what the Guise brothers wanted. They would control the new king, and continue to pursue their policy of exterminating Protestants. But Pierre was frowning. ‘Why did she do this on her own?’ he whispered to Alison. ‘Why not bring the Guises in on the plot?’
‘Perhaps she’s making a point,’ Alison said. ‘They have rather ignored her since King Henri died.’
Caterina handed the document to the clerk, and Antoine stepped forward.
Antoine read the document, which was short. At one point he seemed surprised, and raised his head to look at Caterina.
In her new, sharp voice she said: ‘Just sign!’
A clerk dipped a quill in ink and offered it to Antoine.
Antoine signed.
Caterina got up from the throne with the death warrant in her hand. She walked over to the fireplace and threw the document on the burning coals. It flamed for a second and vanished.
Now, Alison thought, no one will ever know whether King Francis really signed it.
Caterina resumed her place on the throne. Clearly she had not yet finished. She said: ‘The accession of King Charles IX will begin a time of reconciliation in France.’
Reconciliation? This did not seem to Alison like any kind of bringing together. It looked more like a resounding victory for the Guise family.
Caterina went on: ‘Antoine of Bourbon, you will be appointed Lieutenant of France, in recognition of your willingness to compromise.’
That was his reward, Alison thought; the consolation prize. But it might help keep him from rebellion. She looked at the Guise brothers. They were not pleased by this development, but it was a small thing by comparison with the regency.
Caterina said: ‘Antoine, please read out the document you have just signed in front of the court.’
Antoine picked up the sheet of paper and turned to the audience. He looked pleased. Perhaps the post of Lieutenant of France was one he had longed for. He began: ‘I, Antoine of Bourbon, King of Navarre—’
Caterina interrupted: ‘Skip to the important part.’
‘I renounce my claim to the regency, and transfer all my powers in that regard to her royal majesty Queen Caterina, the queen mother.’
Alison gasped.
Duke Scarface leaped to his feet. ‘What?’ he roared. ‘Not me?’
