Checkmate

by Dorothy Dunnett

  Annoyed, Jerott looked from Adam to Richard. The big-boned, good-tempered face looked back at him with weary patience.

  ‘That is the point,’ Culter said. ‘When she knew her love was hopeless, Philippa was content to marry Austin and leave her husband to Catherine. But now Francis is free of the St André marriage. And he has allowed Philippa to understand that he covets her.’

  ‘A mistake,’ Lymond agreed. ‘But a mistake couched, I must protest, in prettier language.’ There was no excess of colour, Adam noted, in his face now.

  ‘Why, in any language?’ Austin said. ‘You told me yourself you would never live with her. If you don’t want her, why do the one thing which will keep her at your side?’

  ‘Because he wants her,’ Richard said. He walked forward and kneeling, looked up at the still, passionless face of his brother. ‘It has been a long time, hasn’t it, since Güzel? Philippa is not the bride who will increase your rank and status in France: you will have to look elsewhere now for that. It shouldn’t be difficult. D’Enghien’s widow has an annual rental, I’m told, of forty thousand ducats. The King will see to it. But you want your mistress as well. The new Françoise de Rohan is to be Kate’s daughter.’

  He rose, still staring at his brother’s face. Jerott, drawing a hasty breath, was pressed into silence by Adam. Austin said, thickly, ‘Is it not true?’

  ‘No,’ Lymond said. He returned the other man’s gaze, without drama. ‘What I told you was true. Married or single, I shall never live with Philippa.’

  ‘Then,’ Austin said, ‘all you have to do is tell her that you don’t love her.’

  Their eyes locked. This time, Lymond did not speak. It was Adam who jumped to his feet. ‘You fools. How can he …?’

  And wheeling, turned on the chair where Lymond, drawing breath, snatched the next words from his mouth. ‘How can I? She wouldn’t believe me.’

  Then he turned to Austin. ‘I understand your disappointment. It is not a heroic position to be placed in unawares. I understand also that what you want … what we all want is to protect Philippa. We also want, I think, to avoid causing her any more distress. By the time you had extracted this much from her this morning I imagine … you were none of you very calm. I have therefore a proposal to make.’

  He looked round them all in the manner three of the four present knew so well: the manner of a man whose word was law, briefing his subordinates. ‘It is not very difficult,’ he said, ‘as I rather know to my cost, to remove someone against his own will from a country. The annulment will be signed on Monday, the day after the royal wedding. I promise you that it will be signed. On Tuesday, whether she wants it or not, you should make arrangements for Philippa and Lord Allendale to leave for England. I shall write out for you, before you go, a bond which allots him quite clearly his freedom. Once she is in England, surely you can guard her.’

  ‘And before she is in England?’ Lord Allendale said.

  ‘Today is Wednesday. I don’t expect to see her again, except at a distance until Monday. But you can make sure of that. Guard her, as you like. Have your friends follow her; stay with her; put a chambermaid to sleep in her room if you wish it. Then the righteous will shine like the sun and run about like sparks among reeds and all of you, I trust, will cease troubling me.’

  Austin said, ‘No. I want you to leave France.’ His voice was bare with the long tension.

  Lymond’s smile, replying, was faint. ‘How can I? I have to sign the papers on Monday.’

  ‘Then,’ Richard said, ‘I think we accept your scheme, with one important change in it. You, too, must be watched and followed.’

  ‘And slept with?’ Lymond said. ‘No. Of course, it is a measure from the pure fount against the Devil. Whereby presumption and arrogancy shall be withstanded, malice and contention expelled, and carnal liberty refrained and tempered; especially the latter. So who would do all this?’

  ‘I should,’ Richard said. ‘Even to sleeping in your own chamber.’

  ‘That I baulk at,’ Lymond said. ‘The rest you can have. One cock per pen is enough.’

  ‘Dear God,’ Richard said, and stood up. ‘Can you not dispense with a bawd between Thursday and Monday?’

  ‘You can watch us,’ Lymond said. ‘The blood of Martyrs serves as manure for the vine of the Saviour. Or if you don’t want to watch, you can nail up my door in the evenings. In principle, it seems, we are agreed. Lord Allendale, does all this satisfy you?’

  Austin said, ‘You are right to taunt. If I had killed you, none of this would have happened.’

  ‘I thought you would realize it sooner or later,’ Lymond said. ‘Richard?’

  ‘Yes,’ Richard said. ‘I wonder if there exists any other man, even at this Court, who has to be restrained day and night to preserve a girl’s honour?’

  ‘’Tis not Anaxarchus but his sheath that you prod? The word even deserves a monument to itself. If Lord Allendale is returning, will he send your clothes back? Sybilla will long to know why.’

  ‘She knows,’ said Richard curtly. ‘I should like to go to my room.’

  ‘In a moment,’ Lymond said, rising. ‘Adam, you will stay please, and Jerott. Lord Allendale …’

  The door opened on the usher he had rung for. ‘Take any of my horses you may need for Richard’s baggage.’ Lymond paused, the searching blue gaze on the younger man’s face. Then he said, ‘We’ve been much at odds, but mostly by accident. If … Philippa has lived her childish fantasies through me, she has a great deal that is more commendable to discover in you, and take pleasure in. I have a respect for her as great as yours, I should like you to believe.’ He paused again and said, not smiling, ‘I didn’t think you would fight for her. She is worth any sacrifice.’

  Austin was very white. ‘That is what she said of you,’ he said. ‘That is why we are having to follow her like a felon. I am not proud of it. Are you?’

  And a moment later, the door closed behind him.

  ‘And now …’ Lymond said, and turned to Richard.

  Adam said crisply, ‘Francis. Archie is waiting to see you.’

  ‘Archie,’ said Lymond, ‘is a pessimist. Twice in two days would be too bloody demeaning. I have, Richard, some Scottish business to discuss with you. If this chair wouldn’t offend you, come and read these, if you please.’

  The papers he handed Richard as he slowly sat down were in French: so much Adam could see.

  He stayed where he was. Jerott, more forthright, got up and walked round to Lymond’s shoulder. And Lymond said, ‘Adam. I mean you, and later the Commissioners to see.’

  And so they read the three scribbled pages together.

  The first two missives began with the same words:

  Tres haulte et tres excellente princesse, Marie, Royne d’Escosse, presente en personne …

  ‘It’s by the young Queen,’ Richard said. He turned it over and looked at the date. ‘Signed on the fourth, a fortnight ago, at Fontainebleau.’

  ‘They were all three signed by the Queen on the same day,’ Lymond said. ‘It was the Monday of Holy Week. Read them.’

  So Richard turned it back and, his hands long-sightedly a little away from his face, held it so that Adam and Jerott could read it too.

  Considerant la singulliere et parfaicte affection que les Roys de France ont tousjours eu en la protection et manutention du Royaume d’Escosse contre les Angloys … et encores plus le bon traictement qu’elle a eu et receu de la bonte du … tres excellent prince Henri, par le grace de Dieu, Roy de France …

  ‘It’s a bit overdone, isn’t it?’ Jerott said. ‘All this gratitude to Henry by the grace of God King of France? When he protected us from the English it was only because he bloody well couldn’t afford not to. However. What’s she giving him? A falcon? A parcel of stockings? A purseful of river pearls? A box of Aberdeen haddies for every month of his reign?’

  Richard’s reading, swifter than his, had brought him to the end of the missive. But even then, he could not bring
himself to lift his eyes. There was a pause. Then: ‘She is giving him Scotland,’ said Culter.

  It was true. It was there, in line after line for them to read … advenant le cas quelle decedde sans hoirs procreez de son corps—que Dieu ne vueille—elle a donne et donne par ces presentes, par pure et libre donation … le royaulme d’Escosse … et telz droictz qui lui peuvent … appartenir au royaulme d’Angleterre.

  … So that should the Queen die without heirs, she has decreed the King of France should receive in pure and free gift the Kingdom of Scotland, and its rights to the English throne.

  Adam said, ‘I can’t believe it.’

  ‘Then read the second donation,’ said Lymond’s quiet voice behind them.

  The second deposition was clear and brief also:… informee des grans fraiz et impenses cy davant employees … a la protection, tuition et deffence du royaume d’Escosse … contre les Angloys … tellement que la conservation en est entierement deue aux Roys de France …

  ‘And that’s another bloody lie!’ said Jerott squeaking. ‘We don’t need a parcel of scented Frenchmen to show us how to push the English back over the Borders. Anyway, what expenses?’

  ‘Shut up, Jerott,’ said Adam.

  … Pour ces causes … ayant pris le conseil de ses meilleurs et plus singulliers amys, mesmement de Monseigneur le reverendissime et illustrissime Cardinal de Lorraine et de Monseigneur le Duc de Guyse, ses oncles …

  ‘The de Guise!’ said Richard, his gaze jerked upwards to Lymond.

  ‘By the advice of Messeigneurs mes oncles. Who else?’ said Francis Crawford. ‘Read on.’

  ‘… Icelle Dame … ordonne … that is she dies childless … the King of France, present or future, should have and enjoy the Kingdom of Scotland, its fruits, revenues and emoluments, and retain them in full possession until the payment … God’s bones!’ Richard said. ‘… Until the payment and full reimbursement of a million pounds in gold …’

  ‘From a nation of half a million people to a nation of fifteen million. It’s an impossible condition,’ Adam said. His mouth was sour.

  ‘Presumably, it is meant to be an impossible condition,’ said Richard dryly. He went on reading. ‘… And until this condition is complied with, she cedes to the King and his successors the Kingdom of Scotland, to enjoy as heretofore stated, without hindrance by any other person whatsoever. Which is accepted by the King through Monseigneur the Cardinal de Sens, Keeper of the Seals of France, and by us, the undersigned, notaries and secretaries of the Crown of France at the request of this lady, who to show her entire approval of this content, has wished to sign with her own hand …’

  ‘Read the third and last paper,’ Lymond said, ‘before you comment.’

  ‘Oh Christ,’ Jerott said. ‘What more can there be?’

  ‘… Marie, Reine d’Escosse, considerant l’ancienne ligue, alliance parfaite et perpetuelle union d’entre les Rois et Roiaumes de France et d’Escosse … above all things wishes to bind, join, annexe and unite the Kingdom of Scotland to the Crown of France … and to this end, should she die childless, has made certain dispositions to the profit of the Kings of France …’

  ‘In the previous two documents,’ Adam said.

  ‘Yes. Then she says …’ Richard stopped. Jerott, leaning over his shoulder, drew a sudden breath. And Lymond, his voice calm behind them, read, and translated as he read, the third and last document.

  ‘Toutes fois est de nouvel avertie … The Queen is again made aware, by the articles and instructions brought her by the Commission from Scotland, that on the secret cognizance of certain persons, it is intended that her kingdom should pass, should she have no heirs, to certain lords of the country, depriving her, the true Queen, by this means of all liberty of disposing of her own crown, to her great sorrow and prejudice.

  ‘Which for the present she has no means of openly preventing, since she is distant from her kingdom, far from her subjects and not in complete possession of the strongholds of her country. If such things were at present to be openly debated, they could create great disturbances and a revolt which might lead to the ruin of her kingdom.

  ‘For these reasons, she now puts on record an affirmation that whatever consent or ratification she has given or will give to the articles and instructions sent by the Estates of her Kingdom, to do with the future of Scotland should she die childless, she intends that the dispositions here made by her to the profit of the Kings of France should remain intact and should be fully implemented, having no regard to any other dispositions to which she may give her consent, either in connection with the aforesaid articles and instructions or anything else, which should be regarded as agreements to which she has been constrained entirely against her wish, will and intention …

  ‘This intention, the Keeper of Seals will implement. And the document, for greater effect, is signed not only by Queen Mary but by the Dauphin.’

  The clear voice stopped. ‘It only remains to add,’ said Francis Crawford to his brother, ‘that the Dauphin is impotent.’

  No one spoke. Beside him, Adam saw Jerott open his lips, and put his hand, hard, on his arm. Lord Culter said, ‘Where did these papers come from?’

  Lymond walked round and stood looking down at his brother. ‘A man who would be drawn and quartered were it known that he passed them on.’

  Richard Crawford had not dropped his eyes from his brother’s face. ‘It is too important for that,’ he said. ‘If these are genuine, there will be no royal wedding on Sunday.’

  ‘I showed them to you first,’ Lymond said, ‘because you are intelligent, and moderate, and at the same time inclined by your convictions not to favour France.’ He paused.

  ‘If you are asking whether I am a Calvinist,’ Richard said grimly, ‘the answer is that I am. So are three other members of the Commission.’

  ‘I learned as much at Dieppe,’ Lymond said. ‘The preacher John Knox had been there, expecting to take ship for Scotland. Then he was told not to come. Do you know why?’

  For a moment, it seemed that Lord Culter would not answer. Then he said, ‘He is a militant. We hope to receive the concessions we want without open rebellion.’

  ‘Should Mary die childless,’ Lymond said, ‘the articles she has signed for you provide for the Earl of Arran to reign after her. I am told that he also favours the Protestant religion.’

  ‘You are told correctly,’ Richard said.

  ‘What then,’ said Lymond, ‘do you imagine will be his reaction when he hears of this refutation?’

  ‘There’ll be a revolt,’ Jerott said. ‘God, every Calvinist in Scotland will be up in arms. You can’t expect anything else.’

  ‘Civil war, then,’ Lymond said. ‘With the Catholic faction eventually swept to victory by the combined Catholic armies of France, and a French Catholic nominee irrevocably placed on the throne as regent and eventual monarch. The Earl of Lennox, I understand, is a strong contender.’

  Adam said, ‘How do you know, Francis, it won’t come anyway? The present Regent is not only the Queen’s mother, she’s a de Guise. She’s bound to know about this. You say she’s given the Calvinists hope of concessions. But is she likely to trouble, after this? And if she doesn’t, next time the Calvinists send for John Knox.’

  ‘It may come anyway,’ Lymond said. ‘But almost any time is better than now. There is a chance that the Queen Dowager will remain tolerant. There is a chance of a Protestant succession in England. There is a chance that France may become too preoccupied with the Huguenots on her own doorstep to have troops and money to spare for Scotland.’

  ‘The Vidame is leaving now, they say, with ten companies of Germans for Scotland,’ Jerott said. ‘To force us this time, in the Dauphin’s name, not to be so backward in attacking England.’ He looked at Richard, who had not spoken. ‘If the wedding were cancelled, they wouldn’t have that extra authority.’

  ‘However many troops they send, they won’t get anyone to invade England at the moment,’ Richard said. �
��That is a minor matter.’ He turned to his brother. ‘It seems to me that you are suggesting that we connive at this. That we let the royal wedding take place in the face of a betrayal as monstrous as any people has ever experienced at the hands of its own Queen. I am not of the same mind. First, I require to have proof that these papers are genuine. Then I shall take them with my fellow-Commissioners to the King of France and demand the cancellation of the wedding and the return of Queen Mary to Scotland.’

  ‘Then you would have not only civil war, but war with France,’ Lymond said.

  ‘Then,’ said Richard Crawford, ‘you are willing to allow your country to be sold in the market-place in return for the cash for a little girl’s bed hangings?’

  ‘I want you to keep the issues clear,’ Lymond said. ‘And as free as may be of emotion. Mary has signed these, presumably, out of a duty owed to the men who have reared her, and to please Holy Church, which requires Scotland Catholic. She may be unaware that France’s main interest in this is not Scotland at all, but her own claim to Catholic England. And that claim, transmitted to someone who is already a contender for both thrones, would give the French a chance to control both countries,’

  ‘You dislike the Lennoxes,’ Richard said. ‘Is that why you oppose early and frank confrontation? To avoid any risk that the succession should fall to your enemies?’

  For a moment Lymond stared at him, and Adam saw his muscles harden, as if he were about to turn and walk away. But instead he folded his arms and said only, ‘No. I have not been considering personal issues, either for you or for me. Or I would have mentioned the obvious fact, that the moment you and the other commissioners decide—should you decide—to take action, your lives will be in jeopardy. France won’t give up this wedding lightly.’

  The long, critical scrutiny of the grey eyes did not alter ‘You have considered,’ Culter said, ‘that if the wedding doesn’t take place, France has no claim on England. And, therefore, if that is their first object, they will have perhaps less interest, not more, in interfering with Scottish affairs?’