The queen glances in my direction before reaching out and gently touching the king’s elbow. When he begrudgingly turns to her, she speaks in low tones, looking meaningfully at the door behind the dais, hopefully suggesting this would better be handled in private. But Pierre’s lawyer is a master of showmanship. Before the king can agree, Fremin continues speaking, his voice pitched perfectly so all in the room can hear.
“Lord Pierre d’Albret respectfully requests that you return his sisters, whom you now hold in your possession, to his custody as soon as possible.”
A number of curious eyes turn toward me, but I keep my attention politely focused on the dais. The king scowls in confusion. “You are mistaken. I do not harbor any of d’Albret’s family here.”
The regent leans forward. “Oh, but you do, Your Majesty. Lady Sybella d’Albret is one of your queen’s ladies in waiting.”
At my name, a faint expression of surprise flickers across the lawyer’s face—surprise and a faint note of alarm. He was not expecting me to be here, only Charlotte and Louise.
So there is my answer as to who sent the assassin.
The king turns to his wife. “Is this true?”
The queen sits straight and tall in her chair. “It is true that Lady Sybella has served loyally as one of my ladies in waiting for quite some time. She is one of my most valued attendants and here at my request.”
The king leans back in his chair, his face clearing. “Well, there you have it. Surely d’Albret’s sister can receive no greater honor than serving as attendant to his queen?”
The king’s blithe dismissal catches Fremin off-guard, for it is true that serving the royal household in such a fashion is a great privilege bestowed upon very few. That is no doubt one of the reasons they wished me conveniently buried in the forest somewhere. He must tread carefully here. As must I. Every muscle in my body is corded so tightly that I fear they will snap.
“I am sure Lord d’Albret is beholden to you for bestowing such great distinction upon his house. However, as you know, daughters are meant to be married to forge new alliances and strengthen a family’s political ties. With so many recent deaths in his family and the loss of lands that had been promised to him—” He risks a glance at the queen, for it was her lands and hand in marriage that had been promised to him. “He is forced to create these new alliances as soon as possible.”
The queen’s lip curls in contempt, and even the king’s mild humor dissipates at the reference to Brittany, brought under his rule at such great cost to so many.
Seeing his misstep, the lawyer changes tactics. “Besides, two of the girls are far too young to serve as attendants to Her Majesty. Lord d’Albret respectfully requests their return so he may arrange for their education as well as suitable marriages.”
The king turns to the queen. “We have the younger sisters, too?” He sounds slightly aggrieved, as if what once promised to be of mild interest now demands a true hearing.
“We do,” the queen says calmly. “Since their mother died some time ago and their only sister serves in my household, I agreed to take them in as wards and see to their education. However, Your Majesty, I believe these are family matters and best discussed in private.”
“Very well.” He turns to the lawyer. “We will discuss this further with you tomorrow. Until then, please accept our hospitality.” It is a tepid offer—a mere formality and not a true welcome.
The man starts to protest, but the regent knows when to quit the field and motions for the steward. Fremin is taken by the elbow, turned around, and escorted from the hall.
While everyone’s attention is focused on the retreating figure, I slip silently from my seat like a wisp of smoke and drift to the side door used by the servants.
I must see if anyone accompanies Pierre’s lawyer. If he is traveling alone, then he is only pressing a legal claim, a simple enough problem.
When I reach the balcony above the anteroom that the steward uses for those awaiting entrance to the king’s presence, four men linger there. Even though I have not seen them in more than two years, their presence sends shards of ice down my spine. Yann le Poisson, Maldon the Pious, the Mouse, and the Marquis. I clench my fists in an effort to stop the trembling in my limbs. When it does not work, I press my back against the solid stone wall behind me.
This is no mere diplomatic mission. He intends to take the girls by force if necessary.
* * *
I mount the stairs two at a time, racing for the east tower. With every step, I assure myself that my sisters are safe. Aeva and Tola and Tephanie are with them. The d’Albret henchman have only just arrived, and I saw them with my own eyes loitering in the gallery.
But what if those were not the only men who accompanied the lawyer?
When I reach the fifth floor in the east tower, I force myself to walk more slowly. It will not do to burst into the room and terrify my sisters.
The corridor is empty but for myself, so that is good.
Before entering the chamber, I pause, shaking out my hands in an attempt to stop their trembling. I straighten my shoulders and pinch my cheeks, knowing that fear has leached all the color from them. Only then do I allow myself to open the door.
Tola and Tephanie look up from where they sit on the rug in front of the fire, their heads close together, shoulders touching as they play with Louise.
“Sybella!” Louise calls out joyfully. “Come play with us!”
“Perhaps in a minute, sweeting,” I tell her as I close the door behind me.
Aeva looks up from where she is sitting in a chair with a piece of linen in her hand. Charlotte stands just behind her, watching. As I head for the window, I glance down at the square of fabric Aeva holds. “When did you take up embroidery?”
“When I feared I would begin slapping my fellow ladies in waiting out of sheer boredom.” She stands, tosses her embroidery to the floor, and follows me. “Something is amiss.” She keeps her voice pitched low.
I glance at the others. They have returned to their games, except for Charlotte, who pretends she is watching the others play even as her eyes follow Aeva and me.
When we reach the window, I lift the heavy velvet curtains and peer outside. Using the curtains to muffle my words, I tell Aeva what has happened. She gives a sharp nod, then looks out the window as well. “The wall is steep. I do not think they can get in that way.”
I squint my eyes. I had been certain only a mouse could climb that wall, and that is who Pierre has sent. I let the curtain drop back into place and move to the second window. The view out of it is much the same. “They will likely come through the door,” I tell her. “But we cannot rule out an attempt to climb the wall.”
Tola becomes aware that Aeva and I are not discussing the weather and hurries over to join us.
“What are you looking at?” Louise asks, but Tephanie, also realizing something is amiss, distracts her by capturing one of her game pieces on the board.
“For now, I want you two to stay with Tephanie and the girls at all times. The queen will not object, I am certain. I will talk with Beast, and we will come up with a plan. I think it will be best if you and the girls are gone from here as soon as possible.”