The Princess of Montpensier Page #3

Close your eyes.

Well?

We heard nothing.

Just a mousy squeak.

But there's blood.

I believe you've won, my friend.

Thankyou.

I'm off. I have rents to collect

in Tourneuil.

Get comfortable.

It's a long journey.

At least 10 days.

We leave in an hour.

Mr. De Chabannes seems

very attached to you.

As much as I to him.

It's only natural.

For 5 years, he taught me

all that is good in me,

in my heart, manners and mind.

His qualities are matchless.

Yet did he not suddenly leave

Mr. De Cond's service?

Is it a quality to betray

one's camp like that?

I'll let him explain,

if he deems it necessary.

My father,

before dying, recommended me

to two dear friends:

The Prince of Cond,

with the Reform,

and the Duke of Montpensier,

a Catholic nobleman.

Cond being the first

to honour my request,

I entered his service

and campaigned with him.

But every day I dreaded

meeting the Prince, your husband,

on a battlefield.

However, I knew

I could only salute him

and not fight.

One event enlightened me

as brutally as Paul of Tarsus

on the road to Damascus.

But unlike Paul,

it didn't blind me.

It opened my eyes and mind.

I had just,

in Christ's name,

killed a pregnant woman.

How can people

of the same blood and faith

kill each other

in the name of the same God?

So I threw down my weapons.

I resolved then to give up war,

Madame,

and not only the Huguenot camp.

For a time, Mont-sur-Brac

will be your kingdom.

Modest, but of our castles,

the farthest from the war.

In your company it will be pleasant.

As none other could make it?

What could be better company

than my husband's?

I warned you, it's quite rustic.

Do you think I was raised

in gentleness and satin?

The Ladies of Longwy schooled me.

They weren't tender.

So you've no fear of convents...

Forgive me.

My parents, the Duke and Duchess,

wish to keep their apartments here

for rare visits.

The choice is yours:

This side has more sun,

the other a better view.

I love the sun.

Will you love me, too, Madame?

When you order me to.

We considered

awaiting your recovery,

but Mzires might change his mind.

So I moved up the wedding.

And the dowry?

Mzires only quibbled

over the horses.

- We have plenty.

- No, the war's taken a quarter.

Mzires yielded on everything:

The furniture, linens, copperware,

Venetian glass...

He even added 8 male peacocks

and 2 hens,

but I refused.

Why? I love peacocks!

You forget our watchdogs.

They'd have devoured them.

Lock up the dogs.

Peacocks, like geese,

warn of intruders.

Dogs warn...

- and bite!

- They don't lay eggs.

It's done, my dear.

I exchanged them.

For falcons.

Always the hunt!

They bled me twice,

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