Catherine de Montsalvy

Chapter by Chapter

Catherine returns home from a night spent with Philippe le Bon in his palace. Garin de Brazey awaits her as she enters her room. He whips her into unconsciousness, believing she has spent the night in Arnaud de Montsalvy’s pavillion. She is found by the Comtesse Ermengarde, who is very shocked and sends Garin out of his own house. Philippe, wearing a black mask, comes himself to see what has happened to Catherine. He tells her it breaks his heart to see her in such a state, and orders Ermengarde to take her to Dijon.

Catherine returns to Dijon, with an armed escort sent by the Duke under the command of Jacques de Roussay. Sara is overjoyed when they meet gypsies from Moden, at the foot of Mount Gype, and she goes with them – much to Catherine’s distress. Back in her house, she is in the company of Abou-al-Khayr, who shows great kindness towards her about the Sara’s abandonment.

The Duke keeps sending her ravishing objets d’art and love letters. One day, she hears that Arnaud and Xaintrailles have been taken prisoner by the English. A monk approaches her in church one morning, saying Madame de Champdivers sent him to her. This monk is named Etienne Charlot and belongs to the Order of St Francis of Assisi. He explains that he and Odette serve the King of France, and hopes she will also assist them. Catherine agrees, but on one condition… that Arnaud de Montsalvy and Jean de Xaintrailles be ransomed by Queen Yolande. The monk is pleased, telling her she has earned their gratitude, and that he shall pass on her wish to the Queen. When Catherine hears of the release of Arnaud and Xaintrailles, she becomes a spy for France.

Catherine always prays on the 29^th of September, the feast of St Michael, for the soul of her first and purest love – Michel de Montsalvy. Her husband Garin returns and apologises, saying he accused her wrongly… and informs Catherine that Arnaud de Montsalvy is now engaged to Isabelle de Séverac, a maréchal's daughter. The wedding is to take place in a month’s time. Catherine has to dig her nails into the palms of her hands to stop herself from crying out. When he tells her that the Duke is hoping to see her soon, she almost loses control. She wants to gifts, and never wants to return to the court again. She cries alone, seeing no way out but to poison herself… but is stopped by Abou-al-Khayr. He tells her she still has her mother, sister and uncle, that she is beautiful, young and rich. He advises her to go to her uncle in Marsannay.

She learns from Ermengarde that the Duke has become impossible because Catherine has left for the country. When Catherine laments that she has lost Arnaud forever, Dame Ermengarde says she should not spoil her life because of a ninny who takes himself a wife.The Duke loves her and not one of his mistresses has ever had reason to complain about him! When out walking one evening, she sees a man in the garden and knocks him down with a stick - to her surprise it is none other than Philippe le Bon!

Catherine runs to fetch some water and washes his brow, and Philippe wakes up and smiles at her.They talk for a long time, and we learn that the Duke does not want to force her to be his mistress against her wishes. He asks for one kiss, which she allows… and she is carried away by the lovesick Philippe.

Several days later, Catherine attends a wedding feast and is alarmed by the way Garin de Brazey looks at her. She meets Landry and learns why he is so angry at her – she is accused of being the reason for Barnaby’s death! She meets the Bishop of Beauvais, who is none other than Cauchon, the man also responsible for Michel de Montsalvy’s death. e dislikes being reminded of that time, and is surprised at the way Catherine hates him. He smiles at her slyly and assures her he will not forget her…

The Duke’s mother dies in January 1424. We learn that Catherine is pregnant, and she tries to hide the truth as long as possible from her husband. At the funeral she almost faints while Garin is watching. The Duke is delighted to know of her pregnancy and calls her ‘My Golden Fleece’. She asks him to free Brother Etienne and Odette de Champdivers who were sent to prison as conspirators. He agrees, but the monk and Odette are banished from Burgundy.

Catherine returns home and goes wearily to bed, only to awake in the realisation that she is being kidnapped. She is bound by ropes and put into a cart under layers of straw. At daybreak, she sees a man’s figure – Landry Pigasse. Catherine is able to get her mouth free of the blanket and screams, “Landry… help!”

Catherine has been brought to an old tower in the Château of Mâlain, by order of her husband Garin. Around her neck is an iron collar, and the chain attaching it to the wall is only long enough to give her a little space. She is watched by Garin who makes fun of her, telling her he is punishing her, that she must stay here until she loses Duke Philippe’s child that she carries. Catherine begs him to have pity on her but he only laughs. She is left alone with two gaolers who try to rape her, but she is able to defend herself with the chain and they leave her alone… though without food or drink.

Garin returns after four days, and orders that she be given some soup. He sneers at how ugly she now looks. Catherine’s only wish now is to die in peace. When alone again, she tries to eat some vegetables and meat. Hearing a sound past the flames of the hearth, she recognises Landry Pigasse. He explains that he heard a woman calling his name. When her maid Perrine told him that her mistress was missing, he followed Garin to this place to rescue her. He promises to return the next day, telling her to have courage until them.

One of Catherine’s gaolers tries to strangle and rape her again, but Landry returns just in time. He kills her attackers, picks Catherine up and carries her out of the castle. To her astonishment, Sara is waiting for her, very ashamed that she had left her. Landry takes the two women to a hiding place in the little village.

They hide with a girl called Pâquerette who is known to be a witch. Catherine is in a pitiful state. Landry tells her that he found Sara in the tavern of Jacquot-de-la-Mer where she went after leaving the gypsy tribe, afraid to return to Catherine. Sara tells her that Pâquerette is Landry's mistress and that she is madly in love with him. Sara can already sense the jealousy of the young girl against Catherine.

When Landry returns, he is very happy to discover her looking and feeling better, but Pâquerette's attitude is changing towards Catherine. She sees how delighted Landry is with the Dame de Brazey. Sara, with her sixth sense, follows her into the wood, after she had watched the girl standing before the sleeping Catherine. Sara sees her giving an old man a golden lock of Catherine’s hair. Landry is departing for Paris to seek the Duke to inform him that Catherine has to hide from her own husband. They are all nervous. One morning, Sara sees Garin de Brazey approaching... the little witch has betrayed them, sending the golden lock to Garin. They are able to run into the forest and are getting help from the leader of the sorcerers. He brings them to the river Suzon and advises them to go to the Abbey of Saint-Seine, a place of sanctuary. Several hours later they come in sight of the Abbey and are given shelter.

Jean de Blaisy, Abbot of Saint-Seine, turns out to be the cousin of Ermengarde de Châteauvillain. Catherine thanks him for saving her life, and the same evening the countess also comes to her aid. They are soon under siege by Garin de Brazey who has come to claim his wife Catherine de Brazey, but the Abbot refuses and tells the furious Garin that she will only leave on her own free will. Catherine wants to surrender, not able to bear that innocent people should die because of her. She joins the Abbot at the battlement and begs her husband to stop his attack on the innocent. He only laughs, saying she is to blame for all this. Just as Garin's bandits want to attack, they see a large group of armed horsemen arriving towards Saint-Seine - led by none other than Captain Jacques de Roussay. The bandits are quickly defeated, overwhelmed by superior numbers. Her husband is locked in a fight with Landry Pigasse, but at the end Garin is taken prisoner, acting as if he has lost interest in everything.

Garin is brought to Dijon and imprisoned on charges of high treason, attempts on the security of the state, sacrilege, and the attempted murder of his wife. Catherine is not allowed to return to her home, because as a state prisoner all his property is placed under seal. Ermengarde de Châteauvillain takes Catherine to her Châteauvillain mansion. Landry comes to see her and tells her he is going to be a monk at the Abbey Saint-Seine - he is disillusioned with life after the betrayal of Pâquerette. Abou-al-Khayr comes to join her at Ermengarde's place and tries to explain to Catherine that Garin did this all because he loved her. A week later Garin is sentenced to death… but before dying he is to be put under torture, and his goods confiscated and his house and château raised to the ground.

Catherine decides to go and see the condemned Garin to find out why he did all this to her. We find out that Garin had loved her, and the reason for his behaviour. The story is a sad one… twenty-eight years ago, in the company of the Comte de Nevers, he went on a crusade. They were taken prisoner by the Turkish Sultan Bayézid. Garin's life was only spared because of the protection of Comte Jean. To amuse themselves they tried to enter the harem and Garin was seized. Again Comte Jean intervened. Instead of being beheaded, Garin was delivered to the executioner. When they were finished with him, he was no longer a man… and Duke Philippe knew of this terrible secret! Catherine feels very sorry for her husband and wants to help him by selling all her jewels she still has. But Garin refuses, having no desire to live anymore, but asks her to request from Abou-al-Khayr a “special wine” to be sent to him before he dies. The little doctor agrees, and on 6 April 1424 Garin dies… having received the "Burgundian wine" from Abou-al-Khayr.

We find Catherine sitting for a painting by Jean Van Eyck. After the Duke's wife - Bonne de Nevers died, Catherine became Duke Philippe's official mistress. He gave her back a hundred times over everything the magistrates had taken from her when Garin died. She became the Countess de Brazey, so that her little son Philippe might have a title. She has a château, and a small palace at Bruges, as well as jewels, ravishing gowns and Philippe’s unwavering love. But she is very lonely and sad....

Ermengarde de Châteauvillain is tending for her child Philippe at Châteauvillain. Catherine does not love Duke Philippe. She finds him attractive, but her love was more physical in nature. She never missed him when he was gone. Only one man could succeed in awakening the sleeping heart of Catherine, but he was far away and lost to her forever. She learns from Jean de Rémy that Jean Van Eyck has to go to Portugal with the mission to paint the Infanta Isabelle, whom Duke Philippe intends to marry. Then a messanger arrives from the Countess Ermengarde, who writes that little Phillipe is ill. She tells the Duke that she will go to see her child, and may not return to Dijon as he is to be married... but the Duke will not listen and wants her to swear she will return to him. Catherine swears to return to him… if her child recovers.

Catherine arrives at Châteauvillain, after a long and exhausting journey. But she comes too late! Her little son Philippe, died on a dreadful fever. He drank from a poisoned well. Ermengarde reproaches herself, but Catherine comforts her - saying she was the best of mothers to him! Far better than she herself was...
Catherine is stricken by grief and asks her friend Countess Ermengarde if she might stay with her forever - saying she has no husband, no child and no love...she does not want to return anymore to Philippe and his court, even though the Duke sends her letter after letter. She even considers to go to Granada and visit her old friend Abou-al-Khayr
Months later Brother Etienne comes in search of Catherine. She welcomes him very friendly, but he tells her that he has come to aks a great favour of her. Wishing her to go to Duke Philippe, to beg him to withdraw his troops from Orleans. If the city would fall, France and the King would be doomed. She learns that many chevaliers are there to defend the city, like Arnaud de Montsalvy!
Catherine learns that his fiancé Isabelle de Séverac had died two months before their wedding! She tells Brother sadly why he did not come before to tell her of this. But the monk says he did not know that she was ignorant of the fact. Her eyes were shining like stars and she refuses to return to Philippe of Burgundy. She has made up her mind and will leave everything behind her -ready to go to Orleans, to die together with the man she has always loved. The next day, Catherine, her faithful Sara and brother Etienne are on their way to the besieged city Orleans - it was 8 March 1429.
They get kidnapped by a brigand called Fortépiece who takes them prisoner, to catch a good ransom for the mistress of Philippe le Bon.

Fortépiece brought them to his castle, he used as a hide-out. It was crumbling, but still formidable. Her boy’s clothes are taken from Catherine, and to her horror she finds out that the leader has taken her Sara into his bed! She demands to see him, it is granted, but he threatens her the same destiny if she keeps not quiet. Catherine is beside her rage, even though the brigand forces his kisses on her. The next day her Sara is returned to her. Sara shrugs away Catherine's worries and says: I am alright and it could have been worse! With Sara's help Catherine can escape and on foot she follows the road which will lead her eventually to Arnaud de Montsalvy.
She is hungry, her feet hurt - but she is lucky and finds nice peasants, who give her something to eat and shelter. She explains that she is hiding from Fortépiece and on her way to find the man she loves. They advice her to travel as a pilgrim.The next day she continues her journey to Orleans. She does not always encounter honest people. She wants to find a boat and shows her money to the fisherman. When they are near Sully, she is explained that the castle they see, belongs to the Sire de la Trémoille, the favourite of Charles VII. The man stops the boat, and while he makes Catherine get out, she receives a violent blow and falls unconscious. When she wakes up, the boat, two silver pieces, her dagger and a thick mantle are gone! Everything seems to prevent her from rejoining Arnaud. She struggles to her feet, to find the way to the great Abbey of St. Benoît, where she would get shelter and sustenance. Had it not been for the bump on her head, she would have almost felt lively. She pulls herself together and barely an hour later arrives at the Abbey. She learns that the guest house is bursting full. An old woman makes room for her, and when asking where she comes from, Catherine avoids saying that she is a Burgundian. She hears the first time about a beautiful and young girl called the Maid "Jeanne d'Arc, who God had sent to help them - and that the captain's were already awaiting. Catherine, with her tiredness, anxiously to finally arrive at Orleans, her troubled heart, began to detest the Soldier Maid. Afraid, that this Lorraine girl would draw Arnaud de Montsalvy's thoughts and heart.
The next day, she accepted some bread, her feet still burning and made herself ready, for the last nine leagues to arrive at Orleans! The road was a nightmare, she was poorest than the poorest, ragged, hungry, half naked and her feet were bleeding. She dragged herself forward and she finally saw Orleans, only to learn that one could not walk into the city by broad daylight! She had to wait until nightfall... together with the people of Montaran, whose city was burned the day before by the English; she reached the gate of Orleans. She had arrived at last...her Odyssey was over...

The Bourgogne gate opened... and a crumbly voice said: "Some more refuges, what are we going to do with them?" The speaker was none other than Arnaud de Montsalvy, whose voice she had instantly recognized! He had not changed in the six years they had not seen each other. His eyes hard as ever and he held his held as arrogant as ever! He seemed more beautiful than an archangel to Catherine! In her joy to find him so soon, she forgot everything and was drawn to him irresistible. like in trance she walked to him with her hands outstretched! Arnaud did not see her at once. Suddenly he looked up and saw a ragged woman coming towards him. He thought for a moment that he was having a hallucination... but then he recognized her. His face showed for a quick moment fierce joy, but then he pulled himself together and shouted: "Seize this woman at once"!
Catherine moaned faintly: "No Arnaud!... but he was blind with rage. Telling the soldiers that this woman was a Burgundian. Philippe Le Bon mistress, Catherine de Brazey, who had come to spy for him. Just as a frightened soldier wanted to seize her, a drawling voice said: "The fair Catherine here"? It was Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, who was battle-stained as his friend, but his cheerful face had lost none of it's charm. After Xaintrailles had taken a look at Catherine, he took Arnaud's arm and told him that he thought that was unlikely. Catherine was in such a sorry state. But Arnaud de Montsalvy, never going back on his word, said it was so and she was to be put into prison and he would find a way to loosen her tongue! Catherine stood very straight and gazed and gazed at Arnaud. Suddenly she started to laugh... a dreadful laugh which did not belong to her. She laughed as though she would never stop. Whereas Arnaud roared, that she should be taken away, or he would kill her!
Xaintrailles knew better than to discuss with his friend. Catherine hands were bound together behind her back and pushed forwards. Xaintrailles followed and took discreetly the leader of her escort away, gave him a piece of gold and told him, to put her in a cell, but not in a dungeon and she should not be put in irons.
She was brought to the Chastelet, the stronghold of Orleans and fell exhausted to sleep. She was brought some water and a crust of bread. She had time to think everything over, and was honest enough with herself, to realize that everything spoke against her. In Arnaud's eyes she was one of the Legoix's and the last time he had seen her, she had been in Duke Philippe's bed. She was angry with herself, and tried to sleep as not to have to think. At night she was brought before Messire Raoul de Gaucourt the Town Governor and some other aldermen and Arnaud.
She was accused of spying for the enemy, the English. Catherine tried to explain that she was not a Burgundian, but forced to become one. That she had come out of her own free will. Arnaud was furious, shouting she was lying. The Governor tried to calm down Arnaud, who would not listen. Saying she was taking everybody for fools, and she was to be put to torture! Some of the aldermen agreed with Arnaud de Montsalvy and they tore Catherine's clothes from her and she stood naked before the men. At this, Arnaud ordered them to give her back at least her petticoat. Saying he did not give a damn, if it was the custom to strip prisoners!! Catherine had not noticed that Arnaud had gone as white as a sheet, because she was dragged to the bed of torture. They asked her one last time why she had come to Orleans, and Catherine answered : " To find the man I love"! When she would not tell them the name, they started to torture her. She felt as if her arms and legs were wrenched off. The pain was so strong that she whispered, they should ask Messire de Montsalvy, he would know!
Just then two knights strode into the room. Through her tears she saw that one of them was Xaintrailles. The other was Jean de Dunois, Bastard of Orleans and master of the besieged city. He told them to release the victim. Arnaud came forward and told it was him who had ordered Catherine's arrest. Jean de Dunois smiled at him, and said that he did not mistrust his judgement and that he loved him as if they were of the same blood. But the messenger of Heaven would soon be here. Arnaud bowed his head in defeat. Catherine was too weak to walk and the soldiers had to carry her back to her cell.
Little notice was taken of Catherine during the days that followed. Her gaoler came to visit her every so often, since she was now the only prisoner and through him she learned what went on outside of her cell. She began to make the maid responsible for all her misfortunes. Thinking they were all under a spell. It was more than a month that she had been looked up. Pitoul her gaoler told her that everyone was gone, to meet Joan who was coming to Orleans. All day she was nervous and she had decided to try to escape when Pitoul came. At night the Alderman Lhuillier came in and told her, that she was in the absence of Monseigneur Jean d'Orleans and Messire Raoul de Gaucourt, condemned to death by hanging. Catherine was shattered and told the man again that she was innocent.
When she was alone, she started to cry for hours... she heard sounds of joy, as if the city was celebrating something. Towards midnight her cell door opened and Arnaud de Montsalvy entered, saying: " I have come to say farewell", with a hoarsely voice." Catherine looked up at him and thought he had never looked so pale. She broke the silence between them and said with a icy voice:" what an extraordinary mark of esteem, from a man of such tender pride", but that she did not want to say farewell to him! He should be honest with himself; he only came to see in what kind of state she was in, before she had to die. She would be happy, because it would free her from people like him. Now he knew, now he could leave her alone.
And Catherine learns that he had tried to forget her, but that he could not help himself. She was hunting him, night after night and he called her a witch. She burst out laughing, full of a cruel and sweet joy to find out she had the power to make him suffer.
He told her that he hated and despised her, and that he had done everything in his power to forget her. Wine, women, and even wanting to marry the beautiful Isabelle de Sévérac.
Catherine got slowly up, she looked Arnaud proudly in the face, with a look as cutting as steel. Telling him, that it was him, who had forced the aldermen to sentence her to death. He admitted it and he would be finally free of her!
Catherine laughed him in his face, saying she would be even more desirable once she was dead. He would be hunted by remorse. He denied it and they started to argue and he told her to be quiet". I am not dead yet, she said. And in the sleepless nights ahead, he would hear her voice crying: I loved you... I loved you and you killed me...when she would not stop, he seized her and shook her so fiercely, that she stumbled. He fell upon her, his face contorted with fury and desire. Catherine fought as if her live depended on it...but she was weakened by her imprisonment. Her long hair was getting in her way. When he kissed her, Catherine felt herself going soft, weakening and knew she was about to swoon. He kissed her again and caressed her and Catherine abandoned herself to him. The miracle happened, the miracle struck like a spark from the collision between two being created for each other out of all time. When he left her, she called his name, he turned very slowly, tried to speak, but no sound came. "You can go now... and I can die happy. I know now that you will never, never forget me....