‘My mother lied to me!’ Jeanette rounded on the older woman. ‘She told me Thomas was dead, when he was not. And if he is not dead, then I am still wed to him and my marriage to your son is invalid!’
Katerine seized Jeanette’s arm in an iron grip. ‘Hold your tongue! I will brook no more of your foolish behaviour. Your mother has told me all about your ridiculous claim to be married to the man, and for a certainty, your head is in the clouds if you think it ever meant anything to him. This news is still only hearsay, and Thomas Holland is not here to prove with his body that he still lives. Your marriage vows were made and witnessed before the King and Queen with the approval of the entire court. Whatever you think happened in Ghent is nothing but a figment of your imagination and the duping of a silly girl by a grown man who took advantage, to your shame and his disgrace.’
‘It was real,’ Jeanette said in a wobbling voice, ‘and I was not duped. If Thomas is alive, then I am still his wife.’
‘And if you know what is good for you, you will keep your mouth closed,’ Katerine retorted. ‘Who is going to take your part? Certainly no one here. Who is going to believe a girl’ssilly prattling? Do you truly believe that, if Thomas Holland is indeed alive and returns, he will still want to claim you for his wife when you have married another in his absence? Mark my words, he will not ruin his life for you. Even supposing he might have considered it once, if his fighting skills have been damaged by his injury, he will be useless to the King. As a younger son with nothing to his name to live on, he will have no livelihood to support you. What then? Will you be content to live in poverty on a dung heap? Give up this foolishness now, for everyone’s sake including your own.’
Katerine’s words sank into her like a lead anchor, dragging her down. She was determined not to give in, but tears rolled down her face.
‘In the name of God, see sense. It is pointless to long after an illusion.’
‘I want to speak with Isabel Holland,’ Jeanette said, swiping at her tears.
‘That would be unwise. The woman is a common adulteress. I do not wish you to be more disturbed than you already are.’ She took Jeanette by the shoulders and turned her face to face. ‘A man may die very easily, especially if he is already weakened by a battle injury. Think on that, my girl, when considering what you say in front of others who have power that you do not.’
Jeanette wanted to spit that she was not intimidated by threats, but Katerine was right. She was indeed powerless. Katerine and her own mother were thoroughly capable of arranging Thomas’s death.
‘Do I make myself clear?’ Katerine fixed her with a hard stare.
‘Yes, my lady,’ Jeanette replied, still defiant, but subdued into caution. It was horrible to be pinned down, but she vowed it would not be for ever.
The opportunity to speak with Isabel Holland arrived when Jeanette went to pray with the rest of the family the next morning. Katerine had kept Jeanette close to her side, but there was a moment outside the church after mass when Isabel was standing alone pulling on her fur-lined gloves, and Jeanette joined her.
Isabel’s gaze was unfriendly. Clearly, she knew Jeanette’s identity. ‘While he was in England with the King, my brother told me about your marriage to him in Flanders,’ she said starkly, without preamble. ‘And now you have turned your back and bigamously married Salisbury’s heir.’
‘I did not know,’ Jeanette said in a faltering voice. ‘I swear I did not. They told me Thomas was dead. Is he truly still alive?’
Isabel nodded curtly.
‘Oh, thank Christ – but you said he had been wounded?’
‘Yes, and we do not know how badly, even though Otto says he is recovering.’ Her eyes flashed with accusation. ‘He would not have gone were it not for you.’
‘I had no choice.’ Tears filled Jeanette’s eyes, but part of it was anger that Isabel Holland was blaming her, when she herself had a sullied reputation. So many lies, so much hypocrisy from other women. ‘Think as you will, but you should ask yourself why it is easier to set the fault at my door than it is at your brother’s.’
Isabel stood tall. ‘Are you accusing Thomas?’
‘I am saying you do not know the circumstances, yet you judge me and not him.’
Isabel’s face turned pink. ‘I know my brother.’
‘Do you? I think not. And you certainly do not know me.’
‘I know enough from what I have seen,’ Isabel retorted. ‘And do you always do that? From what you have seen? You did not see what happened in Flanders, and yet you sit in judgement – how dare you!’
Isabel said nothing, and Jeanette swallowed her anger for she had no time and did not want to make an enemy of Isabel, even if the signs were not auspicious. She was aware of Katerine and Lady Elizabeth descending on them.
‘Tell Thomas to be careful,’ she said quickly. ‘Please, if you have any regard for the truth, tell him that this match is not of my choosing, but my family’s, and they told me he was dead. I know you do not think well of me – but please, I beg you.’
Isabel arched her brows, but gave a slight nod and turned away, inclining her head to Katerine and Elizabeth, who pointedly ignored her.
‘Now we see why we cannot trust you for a moment,’ Katerine scolded. ‘You should know not to keep such company.’
‘It is all the same to me,’ Jeanette said. ‘I see no difference from other company I am forced to keep.’
Lady Elizabeth’s florid features reddened. ‘You are insolent.’
‘I am truthful,’ Jeanette retorted.
