He chuckles and shrugs, as if to concede the point. “I was talking to my friend, our host, earlier today. He is one of the few people in the world I trust completely. I often confide in him. We were dining together, celebrating our safe arrival in Reims, and I said quite suddenly—I even surprised myself—‘If I did not love the Dauphin so much, if I did not wholeheartedly support his reign, his royal bloodline, and consider him my dearest friend, I would think something was terribly wrong.’ And the Archbishop failed to understand me at first. ‘What do you mean, Georges?’ he asked. ‘What are you talking about? This is a time for celebration.’ And I nodded. I was in earnest. I said, ‘I agree wholeheartedly, yet how much of France’s recent good fortune can be attributed to the Dauphin? Now come, Regnault, we must give credit where credit is due, no matter how lowly its source. Ask yourself these questions. Was His Majesty the one to free Orléans? No. Did His Majesty take any of the towns of the Loire Valley? Even one? Was he at Patay? No. Did His Majesty pick himself up and ride into Reims? Well, he is here now, but how he complained and howled when he realized a servant had forgotten to pack his favorite shirt!’ And I leaned closer to Regnault, for you never know who is listening at doors. I whispered, ‘We both know who is responsible for our sitting here, enjoying this excellent food and wine in your former palace. Now you have your see back, and I am glad for you. Truly. But it wasn’t the Dauphin who returned these things to you, Regnault. No, it was quite another. Admit that this is so!’ ”

He holds up a hand to stop her from interrupting. “For those of us who have studied the past, we understand that these…these deviations…will occasionally happen. Dynasties move in cycles. Rulers change, particularly in times of uncertainty and turbulence. The son of a king will not always rise to the occasion. He will not always live to sit on the throne, even if it is his birthright. It is not uncommon, possibly it is even natural, for a dynasty to exhaust itself, even after only a handful of generations. And then a new age—a new world—must begin. So, I say this to you. I put it to you as…merely an idea. Perhaps we have reached that moment in time now. A new age with a new leader to guide us. A new appointed of God. What do you think? I ask only your opinion. We are simply exchanging ideas, you understand.”

“I understand very well, and what you say is treason,” she replies.