‘It’s true,’ groaned the King.

‘You need to sue for mercy. You need to make one great gesture. Why should you not lead a campaign to the Holy City?’

‘I! What of my kingdom?’

‘There are those who could care for it while you are away.’

‘Leave my kingdom! Lead a crusade!’

‘Others have done this before you. So they have appeased God and won forgiveness.’

The King stared before him. More war! He hated war.

And yet his sins lay heavy on him.

Bernard raised his fanatical eyes to heaven. ‘I, my lord, will not turn my back on my duty. I would I were a young man and I would lead the crusade. God has declined to give me that honour. It is my duty to set before others where their duties lie. I want there to be three great assemblies, one at Bourges, another at Vézelai and another at Estampes. You will be there to give them your support. Think on this matter seriously. Only by pleasing God in this way will he forgive you for what happened at Vitry-the-Burned.’

He did not tell Eleonore immediately. He feared her derision. He went to his good friend and adviser the Abbé Suger.

The Abbé was appaled. ‘To leave France, leave your kingdom. But your duty lies here!’

‘Not as I see it. I have sinned.’

‘You think of Vitry. You will not be blamed entirely for that.

Your soldiers were undisciplined. You tried to make them desist.’

‘And failed in my duty. I was not strong enough to prevent them.’

‘Give your support to the crusade. Help those who wish to go to go. But your duty lies here in governing your kingdom.’

‘Bernard wishes me to go.’

‘Bernard is a fanatic. My lord, a king cannot be that. God would not wish you to fail in your duty.’

As usual Louis was torn between two courses. He knew that his duty lay in France; yet the thought of expiating his sins in this dramatic way appealed to him. It was not long before Eleonore was aware of the conflict in his mind.

‘You are closeted for long periods with Bernard,’ she said, ‘and with Suger. What are they putting before you?’

He hesitated. Then he blurted out: ‘Bernard wants me to lead a crusade. Suger is against it.’

‘To lead a crusade. You! And what of France?’

‘That is what I tell Bernard. My duty lies here.’

‘Lead a crusade!’ murmured Eleonore. And she was thinking that she would be Regent of France. Or would she?

They would set up Bernard or Suger or someone to govern with her. She would be expected to lead a cloistered life during the King’s absence.

But to go on a crusade! To ride to the Holy Land. What adventures she would have! Life would hardly be dull and monotonous then.

Then she knew that this was the answer. This was exactly what she had wanted.

‘You must go,’ she said firmly. ‘You will throw away your burden of guilt. It is the only way if we are ever to have any peace from Vitry. And, Louis, I shall come with you.’

He looked at her in amazement; but she did not see him; she saw herself riding at the head of the women she would select to accompany her. She could not wait to start.

In the market square of Vézelai Bernard was rallying men to his banner. Beside him were the King and Queen.

‘If you were told,’ he thundered, ‘that an enemy had attacked your castles, your towns and your lands, had ravished your wives and your daughters, profaned your temples, would you not fly to arms? All these evils and evils still greater have come upon your brethren in the family of Christ. Why do you wait to avenge these wrongs, Christian warriors? He who gave His life for you now demands yours.’

Once again a cry rose up from the throats of thousands: ‘God wills it.’

And from none more fervently than that of the Queen of France.

The King then knelt and Bernard put the cross in his hands. Louis kissed it. Then the Queen knelt and did likewise.

She was exultant. The great adventure was about to begin.

Chapter III

THE LOVERS OF ANTIOCH

Eleonore was afire with enthusiasm as she rode back to Paris. This was going to be the greatest adventure of her life. She would ride at the head of the ladies whom she would select to take with her. She would immediately set about designing what costumes they should wear. They would be more than an inspiration to the men; they would be crusaders in very truth.

How exhilarating to be setting out on an enterprise which had the blessing of the Church, and to plan exciting adventures in the knowledge that in carrying them out one would be gaining redemption for one’s past sins. This was the second occasion when she must be grateful to Bernard.

He had wrought the miracle of childbirth for her and now he had presented her with this wonderful way of expiating her sins and having an exciting adventure at the same time.

She summoned her ladies to her. They should be mounted on gaily caparisoned horses, she told them; she was arranging that there should be countless pack mules to carry their baggage. Eleonore could not tolerate the idea of traveling without the beautiful gowns and all that which was necessary in order for a lady to lead a gracious life.

The minstrels now sang of war – holy war. Eleonore listened with outward attention but her thoughts were far away in the Holy Land where she saw herself riding at the head of her troupe of ladies. They should be dressed as Amazons for they were going into battle. She started an equestrian school where her ladies were taught to practise marching into war. Trumpets were sounded in their horses’ ears that they might grow accustomed to the noise of battle; they were forced to jump over high barriers.

Eleonore spent excited hours preparing the boxes of dresses, perfumes, unguents and all that was needed for ladies of elegance.

Petronelle joined her and gave way to loud lamentations when she heard she was not included in the plan. At first she had believed she would be with her sister; she had practised her skill on horseback; she had found great pleasure in planning the clothes she would need.

Then it was decided that Raoul, Comte de Vermandois, should act with Abbé Suger whom the Pope had chosen to be Regent of France during the King’s absence. Petronelle was overcome with grief. She wept and implored but was told she must either leave her husband or stay in France.

‘I should not advise you to leave Raoul,’ said Eleonore with a smile. ‘He is a husband who would find it very easy to be unfaithful as you discovered before you married him.’

So Petronelle decided she must stay behind.

‘Well,’ said Eleonore, ‘one cannot have everything. You have an attractive virile husband, sister, and you must needs be content with that.’

So Eleonore went on with her preparations and talked so glowingly of the crusade to all whom she met that many more were gathered to the banner.

With her usual single-mindedness Eleonore despised all those who did not wish to join in. She told her ladies that if any man did not wish to come with them he must be a coward. ‘Some of them are of the opinion that women are useless except for the domestic duties they perform and for submitting to their pleasure and their need to see themselves reproduced in their children, but I have never accepted this view,’ she cried. ‘I believe that my sex is in every sense equal to that of its opposite. And now that we are going into battle, now that we have shown France that women can and will help to carry on this holy war, why should not those men who stay at home weave and spin and look after the children of their households?’

How she laughed to scorn those who made excuses not to join in the crusade.

‘Come,’ she cried, ‘we will send them our distaffs and ask them if they will make good use of them as they do not wish to do what they call men’s work.’

Eleonore was amused when she learned how many of them who had received the distaffs changed their minds and joined the expedition.