It grieved me to leave her, you must believe that. But I had to accompany you, Louis. My vassals would not accept you as their leader. Besides, I rarely saw Marie anyway. She did not need me. Neither of my daughters needs me. It is I who need time to get to know them, to make up to them for what I have not been.
Alas, I cannot grant you that, Louis said. Be realistic, and understand my position. There was a pause, a heartbeat as his gaze held hers. You could always reconsider.
You know that I cannot, Eleanor told him. She was trembling. The prospects of her freedom, her return to Aquitaine, and a life with Henry of Anjou, not to mention the manifold benefits their marriage would bring, were too precious to her to give them up, but she had now been made devastatingly aware of just how high a price she was to pay for them. Desperately, she conjured up Henrys leonine face in her mind, trying to blot out the plaintive image of those two sweet, fair-haired little girls.
Louis shook his head. What a mess. We made our marriage with such high hopes.
We did our best, Eleanor consoled, her mind still fixed fervently on Henry. But Gods law must prevail.
I will speak to my bishops, Louis said wearily. Then we must attend to the practicalities.
You mean the transfer of Aquitaine to me? Eleanor snapped.
Yes. There will be a peaceful withdrawal of my royal officials and French garrisons. We will go there together and oversee it. Your vassals shall attend you.
All those defenses you built must be dismantled, Eleanor insisted. My people resent them.
It shall be done, Louis agreed.
Eleanor rose and went to look out of the narrow windowbarely more than an arrow slitacross the broad Seine and the huddled rooftops of Paris. Above them, the inky sky was studded with starsthose same stars under which Henry of Anjou was living, breathing, waiting She caught her breath suddenly, certain she had made the right decision. She must suppress her sadness, for there was no other way for her. Her daughters were well cared for
out of the chamber, her eyes blind with tears. That was her worst moment, and she had briefly wavered in her resolvebut not for long. Now, she forced herself to think of the present, and heard Archbishop Samson conclude: Both parties are free to remarry without hindrance, so long as the Lady Eleanor remains faithful in her allegiance to King Louis as her overlord.
I am gratified to see that agreements have been so amicably reached on all issues, Archbishop Hugh said. That being so, I grant the parties a decree of separation. Eleanor bowed her head, again not wanting the world to see the elation in her face. There had been rumors aplenty that Louis was putting her aside because of her adultery, or that she had pushed for this divorce for lascivious reasons. Well, that at least was true, she admitted, but her scruples about the marriage had been long-held, and if Bernard shared them, then she had been right to press for an end to it.
Beside her, Louis was sitting motionless, gripping the arms of his chair. He would not look her way. The court was rising, the archbishops departing in a sedate flurry of purple and furs, making their obeisances to the King as they left, the lawyers and clerks gathering parchments while murmuring to each other of the verdict. It was not every day that a royal marriage was dissolved.
Suddenly, Louis stood up and, without a word, strode after Archbishop Hugh.
Madame the Duchess! It was her own Archbishop of Bordeaux, stepping into the breach. Might I be of service to you in any way?
Eleanor beamed at him. Your Grace, I am grateful for your tender care of me, and for coming all this way to attend the synod.
What will you do now? the Archbishop inquired.
I am bound for Poitiers, Eleanor told him.
Immediately?
Yes. Aquitaine needs a ruler, there is much to be done, and I need to be there without delay. She had not, of course, confided to him the most important thing she intended to accomplish in Poitiers. For that, she knew she must wait until she was safely back in her domains.
Then I beg of you, madame, allow me to escort you there. My men-at-arms will offer you protection. These are dangerous times, and the greatest heiress in Christendom should not be traveling unguarded.
Nor will I be, Eleanor smiled. My uncle, the Count of Châtellerault, and my good Count of Angoulême, who makes up in loyalty for what he lacks in years, are come with their retinues to bring their duchess home. For your kindness, you are welcome to join forces and travel with us.
Thank you, madame, I will, the Archbishop said, bowing. He had seen King Louis returning, and diplomatically backed away.
Louis faced her, his gray eyes clouded with sorrow. Eleanor took his hands.
This is adieu, my lord, she said briskly. Not farewell, for I know we will meet again, as overlord and liege. And as friends, I trust and hope.
Louis could barely speak.
Forgive me, he said humbly. If I had been a better husband to you, we would not now be taking our leave of each other.