The Rebel Princess
"When I settled back among the velvet cushions, the scenes from the cathedral replayed themselves before my unwilling eyes: the odd chalice, the way Constance looked at it, the interruption of Mass by the armed knights, the strange response of Chastellain to the king's inquiry.
A whisper within me matched the clap-clap of the horses' hooves on the stones of the Paris road: There is more here; there is more here."
Paris, October 1207. There is nothing that Princess Alais of France wants more than to settle down with her lover, William of Caen, and to reveal to his ward, Francis, that she is his mother.
But intrigue is afoot in the palace: two monks have arrived from Rome on a mission to compel her brother, Philippe, the king, to help them battle a dangerous breakaway Christian sect in the south known as the Cathars. At the same time, Alais's aunt, the dowager countess Constance of Toulouse, is causing trouble in court, and Etienne Chastellain, the king's chief official, appears to be up to something more sinister than usual.
Tensions are pushed to the brink when the St. John Cup, a relic much prized by the Cathars, is stolen, and then young Francis goes missing. Frantic for his safety, Alais will risk life and limb to find the boy. Donning a disguise, the royal princess must outwit cunning enemies and make her way into unfamiliar territory to save her son, and perhaps even prevent her beloved France from a bloody holy war.
From the opulent halls of Paris to austere monasteries in the south of France, The Rebel Princess combines history and suspense in an unforgettable tale involving one of the most enigmatic and intriguing female figures in medieval history.
Review: This book was a gift, so I didn't realize until I was nearly done that it is the sequel to The Canterbury Papers. However, that did not diminish my ability to understand the narrative or enjoy the story of Alais of France. Set in 1207, this novel covers Alais as a middle aged woman who desires to marry William of Caen and settle down to a quiet life. However, intrigue at her brother Phillipe's court lead to Alais setting out to find a kidnapped young knight and a stolen chalice.
Healey is clear in her afterward that, while her novel is based on several true historical figures, this is a very fictional tale, with no real historical backing. Although I enjoyed Alais' journey and the suspense of the story, parts of it didn't seem entirely plausible given the time period. I find it exceedingly difficult to believe a royal princess would have left the court with only a few male escorts on such a mission. Or that she would have resorted to posing as a nun successfully. I also doubt her son could have remained secret for so long without at least her brother Philippe finding out. However, I was glad that Healey imagines that Alais had a secret son, because Francis figures strongly in the plot, as well as in Alais' motivations in going on her adventure.
I also was skeptical that a royal princess would have have pre-marital sexual relationships with not one but two men during her life. In 1207, about the only thing a young royal lady had was her good name and reputation, and she would never have dared spoiling it by casually taking lovers before marriage. Yet even after suffering a secret pregnancy, Alais is portrayed risking all for her intended husband, William.
I really liked Alais as a character. She is spirited and courageous, and seems to have power at court thanks to her relationship with her brother the king. I thought Healey did a good job describing Alais physically as well - including her clothing and her left hand, which had been withered since birth, leading Alais to keep it discretely tucked into a pocket when in public. I would like to go back and read the first novel by Healey, because Alais' early life sounds intriguing, especially her involvement with King Henry and Queen Eleanor.
Stars: 3
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