Queen Of Four Kingdoms, The Read Free Page A

huge estates to administer – so much responsibility on her shoulders to preserve the inheritance of her two young sons. And as if that was not hard enough, a cousin of her husband’s – Charles de Duras – actively encouraged the great cities of Provence to turn against the Anjous, their acknowledged rulers.
    Yolande has heard, Marie de Blois left Anjou and rode to Avignon to consult with Pope Clement VII. It was a courageous act, and it succeeded – the Pope confirmed the sovereign rights of Yolande’s betrothed, Louis II d’Anjou, to Provence, Naples and Sicily. Next, and without hesitation, Marie de Blois pawned her jewels and her silver, and with the proceeds she raised a substantial army. When she realized it would still not be strong enough for a definitive victory against Charles de Duras, she used her head. Famous for her charm, she travelled throughout Provence with Louis, wooing the towns, ensuring their loyalty to her son. And where charm failed, she used her money. A good lesson: charm first, and if that fails, bribe!
    As for her husband-to-be – Yolande’s thoughts are both full of him, and shy away from him: he is too large a presence in her mind.
    One evening after supper, Yolande and Juana sit before the fire in their cosy rooms at the old stone inn where they are spending the night. Juana knits. She sees Yolande draw a piece of paper from her bag, something she always carries: it is the draft of the first letter she ever wrote to Louis, with Juana’s help. With a gentle little nudge of her foot to make Juana look up, Yolande begins to read:
    My lord, my dearly betrothed husband-to-be, my lady mother has told me of your difficulties in your land of Provence and of the efforts your good mother has made on your behalf to regain your inheritance. What a splendid and inspiring lady she must be and how I look forward to knowing her – as I do you, my lord. Please write and tell me of your struggles in the south of France, a place I know little about. If you will allow, I would like to write to you of my life here in Aragon so that you may know something about me, but mine is as nothing in comparison with the excitement and dangers of your life. Your devoted bride-to-be, Yolande d’Aragon.
    Juana chuckles – she chuckles often. ‘Well, that first letter did not inspire a reply for some time, did it?’
    She is right. It was not until Christmas that his answer came.
    My dearest Yolande – may I call you so?
    In view of the distance that separates us, and will continue to do so for some time, let us know one another through our letters.
    I am pleased to be able to give you good news. The people of Provence have sworn loyalty to me and accepted me as their sovereign. No, do not think me a hero or a conqueror.
    This past autumn, I made my official entry into Aix, the capital of Provence, and now I am recognized throughout the country as the people’s rightful sovereign. So, my dear future wife, this too will be your territory to reign over with me.
    Now my indefatigable and brave mother has turned her attention to my other certified inheritance, Naples and Sicily. Will my struggles never cease so that I may come home and marry you?
    Reading Louis’ letter, Yolande too wondered how long it would take for him to marry her. And what was he like? She was bursting to know. Her mother, who had eyes and ears everywhere, had managed to make some significant discoveries, and reported her findings:
    ‘Louis, at thirteen, is already a young man: tall, strong, confident, his ambitious mind firmly fixed on his objective. He has learnt from his mother’s skill and tenacity in reclaiming part of his father’s inheritance; he has watched her use charm and diplomacy to regain the loyalty of Provence. Now, with a large navy recruited from his faithful sovereign state, he has set sail for Naples.’ But until Louis could reconquer the rest of his legitimate inheritance, their marriage would have to wait.
    During the