Spy in Chancery

did not know what his father was writing about. Corbett laughed, promising to tell their father to write in a more clear and lucid fashion.
    He was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of blond hair. He turned to gaze closer and his jaw fell open in surprise as he recognised the young woman he had last seen with de Craon and Waterton in that dingy Paris tavern so many weeks before.
    'Who is that lady?' Corbett asked one of Tuberville's sons.
    'Oh,' the boy replied scornfully, 'The Lady Eleanor, the Earl of Richmond's daughter. She keeps to herself and pines away in corners. She hardly ever talks to anyone.'
    'Well,' Corbett murmured almost to himself, 'She is one person who is going to talk to me.'
    He walked round one of the raised flower beds and approached the young woman, tapping her on the shoulder. She spun round, her blond hair swinging like a veil round her face. She was thin, pale, but her light blue eyes and perfectly formed features made her beautiful.
    'What is it, Monsieur?' she asked.
    'My lady,' Corbett replied. 'May I present my compliments. I am Hugh Corbett, senior clerk in the chancery of Edward of England. I am here on diplomatic business and also to present the compliments of your father as well as your secret admirer, Ralph Waterton.'
    Of course it was all a iie but Corbett knew he had struck the truth, she blushed whilst her reply ended in an almost meaningless stammer.
    'Ralph Waterton,' Corbett continued, 'is your secret admirer, is he not, my lady?'
    'Yes,' she whispered.
    'And you were sent by your father as hostage to France? To keep you out of Waterton's way?'
    The young woman nodded.
    'It was to keep you both apart,' Corbett continued relendessly, 'that your father had Waterton transferred to the royal service. It was both a ruse and a bribe was it not?'
    'Yes,' Lady Eleanor whispered, her eyes downcast, 'we love each other deeply. My father was furious that I even looked at such a man.
    'First, he threatened Ralph and then attempted to bribe him by recommending him to the King.'
    'Did this work?'
    The Lady Eleanor played nervously with the rings on her long white fingers.
    'No,' she answered hoarsely, 'we continued to meet each other. My father threatened Ralph, who in turn replied that he would appeal direct to the King.'
    'So,' Corbett interrupted brusquely, 'when your father had to send a hostage to France, he chose you? I also gather,' he continued, 'that Monsieur de Craon found out about your affair, or should I say liaison, and when Waterton came to Paris, he arranged secret meetings between you did he not?'
    'Yes. Yes,' Lady Eleanor replied. 'Monsieur de Craon was most kind.'
    'What price did de Craon ask?'
    The young woman looked up in alarm and Crobett saw fear in her eyes and the slight tremble of her shoulders.
    'There was no price,' she snapped back, 'Ralph is a loyal servant of the King. Monsieur de Craon did not even ask.'
    'Then why did Monsieur de Craon extend such kindness to both of you?'
    'I do not know,' Lady Eleanor replied, hiding her nervousness behind an assumed air of haughtiness, 'If you wish to know, why not ask him.'
    And, without further ado, the lady spun on her heel and walked quickly away.
    Corbett watched her go. His questions had sprung from a wild guess but the surmise had proved correct. Another missing piece was placed in the puzzle. Ends were matched. Slowly but surely the picture was emerging. De Craon had used both Waterton and the Lady Eleanor, but for what purpose? And if he was so concerned about the young lovers why had he not informed Lady Eleanor about Waterton's imprisonment? De Craon must surely know about that. The only reason could be that de Craon did not want to alarm the Lady Eleanor and Corbett was now fully aware of the logic behind that. Corbett sighed and walked slowly back into the palace buildings. He must be careful; if Lady Eleanor informed de Craon about what Corbett knew, envoy or not, Corbett would be far too dangerous to be allowed a safe passage back to England.

SEVENTEEN
    Three days later Corbett was summoned to a meeting of Philip IV's council, held in the great hall of the palace; every care and attention had been taken to transform the place into a majestic and regal setting. Huge cloths of gold had been draped over rafter beams, pure white velvet arras hung from the walls depicting the insignia of Philip's famous and sainted ancestor Louis IX.
    On the dais a row of chairs had been placed, each draped in a silver