marriage, of course, but the Greeks are barbarians and care little for such niceties. That same year the emperor died and Agnes and Alexius, who was ten, ascended the throne. But two years later a cousin named Andronicus Comnenus seized control of the government. Shall I tell you what happened next?”
By now Alicia was positive she did not want to know, already feeling great pity for the little French princess sent to live amongst barbarians. She shook her head mutely, but Emma was enjoying herself and forged ahead.
“When Andronicus took power, he began to get rid of anyone he saw as a threat. He poisoned Alexius’s sister Maria and her husband, the very same Maria who was to wed our King William until the emperor changed his mind. He then forced Alexius to sign his own mother’s death warrant and had her strangled. The next year he had himself crowned co-emperor with Alexius. You can guess what he did then. He murdered Alexius and had the boy’s body thrown into the River Bosphorus. Poor Agnes found herself widowed at age twelve, but the worst was still to come. Andronicus forced her to marry him. Can you imagine wedding your husband’s murderer?
“He was more than fifty years older than Agnes, too,” Emma said with a fastidious shudder. “The thought of bedding a man so aged is enough to make me want to take a vow of chastity! Andronicus soon revealed himself to be a monster, began a reign of terror, and within two years, the people of Constantinople rose up against him. He fled with Agnes and his favorite concubine, but they were captured and brought back to the city, where he was subjected to torture and then turned over to the mob. He was doused with boiling water, had his eyes gouged out, his hand cut off—”
“Stop!” Alicia cried in a strangled voice, fighting back nausea.
Emma cocked a finely plucked brow. “I hope Agnes is not as squeamish as you, Alicia, given all she has had to endure. Surely you want to know what became of her? Sadly, we do not know. That was four years ago and her fate remains a mystery. I assume she is still alive, still dwelling in Constantinople, unless her ordeal drove her mad. But the point of my story is that Agnes is the full sister of Philippe Capet, the powerful King of France, and he did nothing whatsoever on her behalf. Brothers cannot be relied upon, Alicia, and that is why Bethlem and I are leaving your beloved queen’s service. A woman’s lot is not an easy one, and once she has no husband or father to protect her—”
“That is enough!” They all spun around as Mariam stalked toward them. Alicia shrank back, but then realized that she was not the target of Mariam’s wrath. “The two of you ought to be ashamed,” she said scathingly, “scaring the child with such ghastly tales. What do you plan to do next, torture Alicia’s new puppy or poison the garden songbirds?”
“It was not me!” Bethlem protested, her voice rising in a squeak. Emma attempted to stand her ground, but she was soon squirming under the heat in Mariam’s blazing brown eyes, and when Mariam told them to get out, neither woman argued. Once they’d fled the chamber, Mariam took Alicia’s hand and led the trembling child over to the window-seat.
“You must not pay any heed to those spiteful cats, Alicia. They have not a single brain between the two of them, just more malice than the law ought to allow.”
“Was . . . was it true, though?”
“Alas, what she said about Agnes was true. But her tragedy has naught to do with Joanna, who is in no peril. This is Palermo, not Constantinople. Ours is a more civilized society. And Joanna is far from friendless. Have you forgotten that her brother rules the greatest empire in Christendom?”
“Yes, but . . . but the French king—”
“Philippe and Richard are as unlike as chalk and cheese. I know Joanna has told you stories of her brother. He is a brilliant battle commander, utterly without fear, so courageous that men call him the Lionheart. No one would ever call Philippe that, trust me. Mayhap Rabbitheart,” Mariam added, and succeeded in coaxing a smile. “Now do you feel better?”
Alicia nodded, realizing to her surprise that she did indeed trust Mariam. “But what will happen when this Tancred becomes king? Emma and Bethlem said he is bastard-born, that he rebelled