Meantime, with many fond embraces and tears, Lady Drummond took leave of her princesses, and they owned themselves to feel as if a protecting wall had been taken away in her and her husband.
‘It is folly, though, thus to speak,’ said Jean, ‘when we have our sister, and her husband, and his father, and all his Court to protect us.’
‘We ought to be happy,’ said Eleanor gravely. ‘Outside here at Nanci, it is all that my fancy ever shaped, and yet—and yet there is a strange sense of fear beyond.’
‘Oh, talk not that gate,’ cried Jean, ‘as thou wilt be having thy gruesome visions!’
‘No; it is not of that sort,’ returned Eleanor. ‘I trow not! It may be rather the feeling of the vanity of all this world’s show.’
‘Oh, for mercy’s sake, dinna let us have clavers of that sort, or we shall have thee in yon nunnery!’ exclaimed Jean. ‘See this girdle of Maggie’s, which she has given me. Must I not make another hole to draw it up enough for my waist?’
‘Jean herself was much disappointed when Margaret, with great regret, told her that the Dauphin had to go out of his way to visit some castles on his way to Chalons sur Marne, and that he could not encumber his hosts with so large a train as the presence of two royal ladies rendered needful. They were, therefore, to travel by another route, leading through towns where there were hostels. Madame de Ste. Petronelle was to go with them, and an escort of trusty Scots archers, and all would meet again in a fortnight’s time.
All sounded simple and easy, and Margaret repeated, ‘It will be a troop quite large enough to defend you from all ecorcheurs; indeed, they dare not come near our Scottish archers, whom Messire, my husband, has told off for your escort. And you will have your own squire,’ she added, looking at Jean.
‘That’s as he lists,’ said Jean scornfully.
‘Ah, Jeanie, Jeanie, thou mayst have to rue it if thou turn’st lightly from a leal heart.’