The Order of the Lily

Also by Catherine A. Wilson and Catherine T. Wilson

The Lily and the Lion

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Published in Australia by Sid Harta Publishers Pty Ltd,

ABN: 46 119 415 842

23 Stirling Crescent, Glen Waverley, Victoria 3150 Australia

Telephone: +61 3 9560 9920, Facsimile: +61 3 9545 1742

E-mail:
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First published in Australia September 2013

Copyright © by Catherine A. Wilson and Catherine T.Wilson, 2013

Cover design, typesetting: Chameleon Print Design

The right of Catherine A. Wilson and Catherine T.Wilson to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to that of people living or dead are purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Wilson, Catherine A. and Wilson, Catherine T.

The Order of the Lily

ISBN: 9781742983608 (ePub, Mobi)

Digital edition distributed by

Port Campbell Press

www.portcampbellpress.com.au

Conversion by
Winking Billy

Cathy A

For my parents who love unconditionally

Cathy T

For Jean-Louis and Hazel

The French:

Lady Cécile d'Armagnac:
Fostered daughter to Comte Jean d'Armagnac

Gillet de Bellegarde:
Wrongly disgraced knight, working with secret order of Knights Templar

Armand-Amanieu:
Cousin to Ghillebert d'Albret

d'Albret:
nephew to Comte Jean d'Armagnac

Gabriel de Beaumont
de l'Oise:
Companion-in-arms to Gillet

Mouse (Martin de Brie):
Companion-in-arms to Gillet

Guiraud d'Albret:
Younger brother to Armand

Dame Rosetta Duvall:
Formerly Cécile's chaperon

Madame Violetta
Duvall:
Sister to Rosetta

Arnaud d'Albret:
Older brother to Ghillebert d'Albret

Marguerite de
Narbonne:
Wife of Arnaud d'Albret

Amanieu d'Albret:
Older brother to Ghillebert d'Albret

Veronique:
Personal maid to Marguerite deNarbonne

Minette:
Personal maid to Cécile d'Armagnac

Bertrand de Guesclin:
Breton knight and French military commander. Grand Master of the Knights Templar

Tariq ibn Cordoba:
Moorish Physician

Nicholas Flamel:
Parisian Alchemist

Comte Jean:
Count of Armagnac. Foster father to Cécile

The English:

Lady Catherine
Holland:
Ward of Lord Simon Marshall

Lord Simon Marshall:
Earl of Wexford and a Knight Hospitaller

Roderick of Shalford:
Half-brother to Simon

The Black Prince:
Edward of Woodstock, Eldest son of King Edward III

Lord William Montagu:
Second Earl of Salisbury

Lady Joan Holland:
The Fair Maid of Kent.

Lord Thomas Holland:
1st Earl of Kent.

Lady Matilda Holland:
Sister of Lord Thomas Holland

Symonds:
House servant to the Albret Family in Kent

Llewellyn ap Ynyr:
Welsh horse master at Chilham, Kent

Gwynedd ap Ynyr:
Daughter to Llewellyn ap Ynyr

Griffith ap Ynyr:
Son to Llewellyn ap Ynyr. Squire to Gillet de Bellegarde

Geoffrey Chaucer:
Poet and secret emissary to Edward III

‘Milord Grand Master.' The knight's gloved hand swept over the stitched cross on his surcotte to press against his heart as he kneeled, awaiting permission to speak. A chill sea breeze ruffled the scattered leaves and hurtled them into the pristine cloister garden.

‘What news do you carry?'

‘Lady Mary St Pol is the administrator of Denny Abbey in Cambridgeshire, milord. It is an institution dedicated to caring for the sick and homeless. She has been its patroness since the death of her husband. She resides in private quarters within the grounds.'

Bertrand du Guesclin rubbed the dark stubble on his chin with irritation. ‘Is that all?'

‘It is true that Lord Salisbury seems to harbour some personal interest in the abbey. His retainers keep it under constant surveillance. Unfortunately, in the short time we had, we could not ascertain why.'

Du Guesclin's eyes gleamed with interest and he fell into contemplation.

The young knight waited with reverent patience, his concentration wandering to the large statue of a winged Saint Michel, sword raised ready to strike the dragon lying supine at his feet.

The older man followed the gaze of his disciple, staring for a moment at the alabaster effigy – holy protector of warriors.

‘We need a miracle,' whispered Bertrand du Guesclin, Captain to the Pontorson soldiers and Grand Master of a secret Order of knights. ‘Eyes and ears
within
the abbey would suit our need well. But how to place them? And whose?'

Understanding the questions were rhetorical, the young man remained silent.

The stillness was broken by the clattering of steel-shod feet. Bertrand swivelled to see an armoured giant coming toward him, a battered helm tucked beneath his arm. ‘Jean d'Armagnac?' Bertrand's surprised smile was filled with genuine warmth as the large man kneeled before him and kissed his proffered hand. ‘What brings you so far from Gascogne?'

‘A matter of grave concern to us both, milord,' replied Jean gruffly. ‘I bring news of the Jacquerie rebellion in Paris. Charles of Navarre has killed their leader, and our Dauphin is set to execute the rebellion's prisoners, who are in his custody.'

Bertrand du Guesclin frowned. ‘In what way does this concern us, my friend?'

‘It is of no significance to the Order, only personally. Among their number is Ghillebert d'Albret, my sister's nephew, and trusted soldier to you, milord.'

‘Ghillbert?' exclaimed du Guesclin. ‘But I recently granted him leave. He claimed business of a private nature and was, so he told me, on his way to Larressingle.'

‘So his message informed me,' Jean growled, ‘but when he did not arrive, I sought explanations. It would seem that he fell foul of the Comte de Foix in Paris during the rebellion and was falsely incarcerated as one of its leaders.'

Bertrand du Guesclin inhaled sharply. ‘You were right to come. How much time do we have?'

‘Two weeks, no more.'

The Grand Master turned to the younger knight. ‘Tell Dubois to ready the men. We ride for Paris immediately.'

‘Yes, milord.' The man scurried through the arched portal.

‘As it happens I have another concern to raise with the Dauphin, a small matter of unpaid troops. We shall find out what we can.' Bertrand du Guesclin sucked in his breath and released it with a slow grin. ‘I believe you were wrong, Jean. It would seem to me this could be of great significance to the Order.' His eyes sought the soft grey ones of his comrade. ‘Know you the Lady Mary St Pol?'

‘I do, milord. Through kin to my wife.'

‘Well enough to be granted favour?'

Jean d'Armagnac pushed back his knitted metal coif and the two men made their way from the cloistered walkway into a nearby chamber. They were seated at the scrubbed table with cups of wine in hand before the answer came.

‘Oui,' Jean replied, huskily, ‘there is goodwill between us, a matter from long ago.'

‘Would she take a man into her service upon your recommendation?'

‘I believe so.'

Bertrand du Guesclin nodded, satisfied. ‘Good, but be warned, young Ghillebert may resist what I have in mind, for he will need to be reconciled with his family.'

Jean d'Armagnac grunted. ‘Then let us hope he considers that preferable to death.'

Du Guesclin rose and began to pace, his hands crossed behind him. Though shorter than most, his stature did not lack stock and he possessed an ethereal quality which commanded respect. ‘The Order shall rescue him from his current tribulation and in return he will become our informant at Denny Abbey. Ghillebert will be introduced back into the English court.'

Jean gave a low whistle. ‘You ask much of the lad. He renounced his English connections after the horror of Poitiers. What need is there for all this?'

Du Guesclin stilled his footsteps and looked up. ‘The Scots are becoming restless, Jean. Someone has let loose a flea in royal beds and the bites blister with English rebellion. Salisbury is sniffing around Denny abbey and we think his sights are upon the “Lady.”'