I frowned, wondering what was behind this request. Louis’s ‘wishes’ were never straightforward and I doubted if Warwick had specifically asked for me because I knew he considered me to have been among the first of the ‘arrivistes’ at Henry’s court, even before it had disintegrated entirely into factions. ‘It will take me a week to get to Boulogne,’ I pointed out, ‘so I hope their need is not urgent. Would it not have been quicker for his grace to send someone from Paris?’

King René looked sardonically down his nose at me. ‘Perhaps you would like to call at the French court on your way and say that to Louis’s face?’ he suggested.

I shrugged. ‘I think I will take a shorter route,’ I said. When The Spider gave an order there was little point in querying it.

‘Will you leave at once?’

It was not really a question but an assumption. I tugged gently at my Lancastrian SS collar. ‘As soon as I have packed away the court finery and had my horse saddled, sire.’

He nodded. ‘Good. I wish you a safe journey.’ It sounded like a dismissal and I made to leave but King René held up a restraining hand. ‘You are to bring Warwick and his family here to Angers, Jasper,’ he added. ‘Louis will also be here by then. He and Marguerite are to meet next week for what he called “consultations”.’

I immediately understood King Louis’s reason for sending me to meet Warwick. He intended to start working on the stubborn Marguerite and the quicker I got to the earl, the sooner I could begin a campaign of persuasion with him. Predictably neither of them would readily stomach the idea of an alliance and it would take all the pressure and arm-twisting we could each employ.

I made my well-practised court bow but King René was still not quite finished with me. ‘One more thing, Jasper – Boulogne is dangerously close to the Flemish border. Take care you do not stray over it. I know you reckon to travel faster with just your squire but on this occasion you are to take six of my men as an escort. King Louis and Duke Charles of Burgundy are arguing over a question of homage and the duke might consider you a very useful hostage.’

39

Jasper

Chateau Angers, Anjou, France

QUEEN MARGUERITE CAST A scornful eye over my well-worn court doublet. Undeniably its once-glossy fur trimming was matted in places and the silver lace showed signs of tarnish but I stared pointedly back at the faded ribbons tying the crimson satin sleeves to the bodice of her pink gown and the ragged patch of embroidered swans on its skirt. She had asked to see me prior to her crucial meeting with the Earl of Warwick.