Courting Darkness (His Fair Assassin 4)

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.”

Aeva looks out the window at the impossible climb, then back at me. “If you think it best, I will not argue.”

Something inside me relaxes. I had feared she might make light of my concerns or, worse, mock them. Before I can thank her, Charlotte appears in front of me. “I have my knife,” she says. “Tephanie and Tola have been teaching me how to use it.”

As I look down at her, I cannot help but remember how she hesitated in the garden, uncertain if she would follow Pierre or stay with me. I bring my face down closer to hers. “But would you use it against Pierre’s men?”

Charlotte pulls the knife from the silver chain at her waist, studying the point of it. “Yes,” she says at last, a strange light in her eye. “I would.” Her voice is flat, emotionless. Aeva and I exchange glances. Charlotte looks up at me, fully meeting my gaze. “Especially to protect Louise.”

Chapter 82

e do not need to go anywhere.” Beast’s voice is calm and steadying. It makes me want to scream.

“I’m not going to let them take my sisters. If you will not come with me, we will leave without you.”

“Stop.” He places his large hands on my shoulders, as if holding my body in place will cease my racing thoughts. “Pierre’s lawyer will not take your sisters without the king’s permission, and we do not know yet if he will give it.”

Not wanting him to feel the trembling I cannot control, I shrug his hands off and continue pacing. “He will if the regent has her way. How did I not foresee this unholy alliance?”

“Is it possible she just found him cooling his heels in the gallery and thought to use him to her advantage?”

I snort. “I am not certain she did not reach out to Pierre directly. After all, they conspired once before when the French took Nantes.” I stop pacing and turn on him. “Why do you not think it is so?”

He runs his hand over his head, his eyes bleak. “Because I do not want to believe the regent is that ruthless or evil.” He shakes his head. “She cannot know the truth about the

d’Albret household.”

I consider this a moment. “You are likely correct,” I concede grudgingly. “Few paid any heed to the rumors. There is a good chance the tales of his wives’ fates did not make it to the regent’s ears.”

“Do you think it would change the regent’s position if she knew—”

“No. She would not allow herself to believe it—?not if it meant seeing me in a different light. Besides, someone gave the assassin the means to navigate the traps set in the forest. It was clear that the lawyer was surprised to see me.”

“So Pierre sent the assassin.” His hands flex, as if longing for a neck to wring.

“Yes. With me out of the way, the legal case is clear-cut, and there is no question a decision would be in Pierre’s favor. It may still be after he speaks with the king. Besides, it will not matter. Pierre has sent his henchmen as well as a lawyer.”

Beast grows utterly still even as I feel his heart begin to beat faster. “How do you know?”

“Because I saw them in the antechamber.”

“How can you be certain they are not simply his travel escort?”

“Because I know them—?Yann le Poisson, as cold as the fish he is named for. Maldon the Pious, who plays the penitent after his killing is done. The Marquis—”

“All right. I take your point.” He shakes his head. “It is hard to believe he thinks to simply snatch the girls from the king’s palace.”

“That is precisely what he intends to do if the king’s decision does not go his way.”

“They will at least wait and hear what the king’s decision is before acting, will they not?”

“I believe so. But they did not count on my still being alive. I don’t know how that will affect their plans.”

“Let’s at least wait and see what direction the king is inclined to go in. If he decides in your favor, it will be the highest level of safety and refuge available to you and the girls.”