Their final day of the journey to Paris passed smoothly—at least on the outside. But on the inside, Elaine fought to tamp down the tempest of emotion that swirled through her.
She had always felt her emotions deeply. Of course, everyone knew she was quick to tears. It was embarrassing to exhibit her feelings so easily for all to see. But it was more than just sadness she displayed readily. Whether it was a blush, a grin, a frown, or tears, her family often said she was like an open book.
Because her father, Rosamond, and Niall had always accepted that she wore her heart on her sleeve, she’d never had to learn to guard her thoughts and feelings. Now she wished she had so that she could match Jerome’s stony exterior.
He’d given naught away after they’d kissed to appease King Philip. At least now she understood the shadows she’d seen lurking behind his eyes and why he was determined to push her away even though he couldn’t deny the connection between them.
But unless she wanted to make an even greater fool of herself, she had to set aside her feelings for the time being and remain focused on their mission. It was what he had done. She might not be as well-practiced as Jerome, but she refused to collapse into a puddle of her own tears like some overindulged child.
To her surprise, she found comfort in her resolution not to fall apart—and strength. Though it was difficult to share a tent with Jerome for another night, and embarrassing to have to perch on his lap as they rode, all the while pretending to be addlebrained with lovesickness, it was also a relief not to feel controlled by her emotions. As he’d said, there were more important matters at hand than their feelings for each other.
Blessedly, their surroundings provided another distraction as well. By midday on the fourth day of their journey, they’d reached the outskirts of Paris. In the distance, Elaine could see a massive stone wall encircling the city, but apparently its population had grown beyond the capacity of the wall, for they rode between huts and even a few clusters of shops.
The guards were forced to tighten their ranks around the King and the Bruce’s envoy as they approached the wall. Even before they reached its towering stone face, they’d drawn the attention of the townspeople, who streamed from their huts and trailed after the King’s procession, waving and cheering.
King Philip reached into a pouch dangling from his jewel-encrusted belt and began tossing coins to the townspeople, much to their excitement.
When they halted in the shadow of the wall, the inlaid wooden gates creaked open. One of the guards must have sent word ahead, for buglers heralded the King’s arrival from the wall’s battlements, and even more guards were waiting on the other side of the gates.
As they continued on into the heart of the city, Elaine felt her jaw slacken as she took in the sights. She understood now why the city walls could not contain everyone. Inside the walls, the streets were a tangle of cobbled pathways, some wide, but most narrow and winding between dense clusters of buildings. Most of the buildings were three or four storeys tall, with the upper levels overhanding the lower so that the streets seemed dim and even narrower.
At the sound of the bugles, townspeople began streaming toward them, shouting greetings and well-wishes to their King. The already cramped streets were now filled with people and animals alike, for it seemed they’d interrupted several shepherds and farmers on their way to market with their pigs, cattle, sheep, and cartloads of goods.
She was grateful to be seated on Jerome’s lap in that moment, for though she considered herself an accomplished rider, she didn’t envy his task of keeping the horse calm and guiding it behind the King through the throng of people and animals.
Seemingly unperturbed by all the chaos, King Philip reined his horse next to theirs.
“What do you think of my fine city so far, mademoiselle?” he shouted over the noise.
“It is…nigh incomprehensible, Majesty,” Elaine replied.
The King grinned. “Your eyes are as round as the moon, Lady Elaine.”
“I-I must admit that I have never been in a true city before, Majesty,” she said. “Towns and villages, aye, but I have never seen aught like this.”
Indeed, the scale of everything was staggering. The cramped streets and looming buildings cut off her sightlines, but as they continued their procession, she realized the city simply continued on and on like that. There must have been tens of thousands of people living within the walls—mayhap even hundreds of thousands.
“What a treasure to have your company, mademoiselle,” the King said, watching her face with pride and enjoyment. “You give me the opportunity to see my grand city through your fresh eyes. I will greatly enjoy showing you the palace when we arrive.”
Elaine nodded, unable to stop staring at her surroundings. As they made their way deeper into the heart of the city, they crossed through another, much less imposing wall that must have once denoted the boundaries of the city when it had been smaller. She noticed that the buildings grew nicer and the people greeting them more finely dressed.
“There is no other place in the world like Paris,” the King commented. “For all the world is contained within it. There are so many segments of the city that you can see nearly every walk of life in one place. Do you see the Seine just there?”
He pointed off to the right, and she caught sight of a glittering waterway slicing through the city. “Aye.”
“The river divides the city in two. This half represents commerce—merchants, workers, sellers, marketplaces, and the like. You saw the farmers on the outskirts of the wall,” he said. “And the poorer workers just inside. Now we are entering the wealthier merchants’ quarter. The western bank, on the other hand, is a place of learning. It is where our universities and chapels are built, and where our scholars, scribes, and learned men live.”
As they drew closer to the river, the King continued with his exposition. “The eastern side of the river is better for docks and ports as well, so our merchant ships can sail all the way to Flanders and south to Orléans.”
Elaine nodded, but her gaze was fixed on a large island in the middle of the river that forced the waters to fork. Another stone wall circled the island. Above it rose several buildings—a square tower keep, a spired chapel, and a massive double-towered cathedral.
“Ah, I see you have noticed the Île de la Cité, the Island of Paris. My ancestor, King Philip II, built the fortress just there, called the Louvre.” The King gestured up the bank of the river toward a massive stone structure, squat and fierce-looking. “He meant for it to protect France’s Kings against English attack, but alas, it was more stronghold than palace. So my father, Philip IV, transformed the island before you into a palace fit for a King.”
Their horses mounted an arching stone bridge leading from the east bank onto the island.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Palais de la Cité, the Royal Palace,” the King said proudly.
As they crossed through the island-palace’s walls, Elaine looked left, toward the enormous cathedral. She caught a glimpse of its double-towered façade and the sparkling, multi-colored stained glass filling its vaulted windows.
“That is Notre-Dame,” the King said, following her gaze. “Just as I said, Paris is a collection of segments, many parts to make a whole. The island is divided in two. To the south is the seat of God. Our bishops live and do God’s work there. And the northern half of the island is the seat of government.” He swept a hand to the right, at the massive palace, with multiple towers connected by lower buildings. “This is my domain, where I rule surrounded by my people and with God at my side.”
“Commerce, learning, government, and the Church,” Jerome commented behind Elaine. “All the cornerstones of civilization, wedged side by side in one city.”
The King beamed. “C’est exactement, Munro. You will not find a finer city in all the world.”
“If ye dinnae mind, Majesty,” Bishop Kininmund said, bringing his horse to a halt as the others began turning toward the palace. “I am most eager to pay a visit to Notre-Dame, and to speak with yer other bishops.”
“Of course,” the King replied, giving the bishop a respectful tilt of the head.
The bishop peeled off from the group while the others dismounted. Their arrival hadn’t gone unnoticed, for servants streamed forward, taking their horses and beginning to unload the supply wagons that had trailed their procession.
“Come,” King Philip urged. “You will have plenty of time to rest and refresh yourselves, but since you are my esteemed guests, allow me to show you a bit of the palace first.”
There was no saying no to a King, so despite how grimy and rumpled she felt from traveling, Elaine fell in behind the others.