Courting Darkness (His Fair Assassin 4)

Beast meets her gaze steadily. “As my queen wishes it.”

For a moment, it is clear she does not know if he is mistakenly addressing her as queen or if he is deferring to the duchess. Unwilling to press the point, she turns around, dismissing Beast and the others’ presence so completely that it is as if they do not exist.

Pleased with Beast’s victory, the rest of the duchess’s party and I follow them up the stairs.

When we reach the second floor, the regent whispers some instructions to her attendants, then stands aside, looking for all the world like a general surveying his troops, as we file by.

I stare straight ahead as I pass her. My only thoughts are of getting the duchess settled in her room, then ordering both a bath and a hot posset that will help her sleep, otherwise I fear her grief will keep her up all night.

“Lady Sybella.” The regent’s voice reaches out and snags me like a shepherd’s crook.

I stop walking, my heart sinking. What could she want with me? To remove me from the duchess’s circle? To haul me off to one of her infamous dungeons? However, when I turn around, my face is serene. “Yes, Madame?”

“You were there.”

I tilt my head in confusion. “During the attack?”

The shake of her head is impatient. “When Captain Dunois died.”

My heart skips a beat before it speeds up. Has one of the soldiers she assigned to us reported my every move? “Yes, Madame. I was with him when he died.”

“Were you especially close with him?”

As her eyes narrow with speculation, I realize she is asking if we were lovers. Or trying to insinuate as much. That would make it easy to have me removed from the duchess’s side.

“No, but I have some small skill and training with injuries. When it was clear something had befallen the good captain, I wished to be of service. After all, he is—?was—?one of the duchess’s most loyal and trusted advisors.”

“He had admirers at this court as well.”

I nod in acknowledgment at this faintest of compliments. “Then your grief must also be great.”

If she detects the irony that seeps into my voice, she ignores it. “That was most brave of you, considering you were under attack.”

“I was not brave, Madame, as we were not under attack yet. That did not come until after Captain Dunois had fallen.”

“So he was not killed in the attack?” I cannot tell if her eyes are sharp with interest or something more sinister.

“No. As best we can tell, his stalwart heart simply gave out. Surely the Duke of Bourbon has advised you of these events?”

At my question, some of her sharpness fades. “Yes, but it was brief and lacking in detail.” With that, she brushes past me and proceeds down the hallway while I am left wondering what the point of her questions was, for there is no doubt in my mind that there was one. I just have not caught up to it yet.

Chapter 36

Genevieve

had not planned to return to the oubliette too soon lest I attract Louise’s attention, but I find I no longer care. My hunger for the movement and challenge the sparring sessions bring me is nearly overpowering.

Maraud is silent until I have descended the rope. “I wasn’t sure you’d return.”

I set the sack of food down in the corner, then hand him his wooden sword. “Why did you think that?”

He takes the sword and shrugs.

I glare at him, trying to determine if he is referring to the time before our sparring began.

He gives the sword a warm-up swing. “You could have been detained by the guards.”

In answer, I take up my fighting stance, turning my body sideways to present a smaller target.

“How do you get by them?”

I lunge at him. “Why are you so concerned about the guards?” This is no innocent question. He is trying to glean information for some purpose of his own.

He delivers a short thrust that almost gets through my defenses. “I miss them. They were like family to me.”

I allow a faint smile to play upon my lips. “We have an arrangement, the guards and I.” I launch a flurry of attacks.

He gets his sword up, but it takes him a moment to recover from the surprise of my onslaught. Before I can gloat overmuch, he barks, “Widen your stance. It will give you better balance. And quit using your sword like a dagger.”

I alter my grip. My arms are not used to the heavier weight of the baselard.

“Right!” he calls out, and I swing my sword up to meet his.

“Left!”

Then left again. I block the blow, but the shock of it nearly numbs my arm.

“Right!” he calls out, and I am there to meet his blade.

His words drive me as ruthlessly as his wooden sword until I am breathing heavily and sweat gathers at my temples.

“Your strength has returned quickly,” I note as I jump back from a thrust that comes too close to my gut for comfort. Even though it is a wooden sword, it will leave a bruise.

“It is all the food and exercise you have graced me with.”

I snort. Graced is far too reverent a word for the rough bread and kitchen scraps I have been able to sneak him.

“Get your blade up! Am I forbidden to ask of the duchess as well as the guards?”

“That is a strange question for a mere mercenary to ask,” I grit out, my words punctuated by the thunk of our blades as he steadily backs me toward the wall.

“Maybe she owes me back pay.”

“I will send her news of your whereabouts. Will she recognize the name Maraud?”

He returns to the center of the room, allowing me to do the same. “Of course not. Since when does someone of her rank know the names of the mercenaries who fight for her? The captain of her army, Sir Dunois, will remember, though. You could write to him.”

I roll my shoulders. “Perhaps I will.” I keep my eyes on his sword, waiting for a surprise attack. “What is it you wish to know about the duchess?”

“How she fares. If she is still duchess of Brittany.”

I mentally count the days. “As it so happens, as of today she is the queen of France.”

Chapter 37

Sybella

he wedding between Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII of France is to take place in the grand salon at Langeais. All the royal guests have arrived, although the special papal dispensation has not, nor even a verbal assurance. In spite of the reassurance of the three bishops who are presiding over the wedding, I know this weighs heavily on the duchess.