I only own Amorette.
"Peepholes?" asked the Queen curiously.
"Yes," confirmed Amorette. "I thought you ought to know as our rooms are so close by."
The Queen's eyebrows rose. "And who else have you imparted this information to?"
Amorette shook her head. "No one else yet your Majesty. I have only just discovered the ones in my rooms."
The Queen nodded as she appeared to consider something. "Mesdames," she called to her ladies who were littered all about her rooms. "You will go and cheek your own rooms now for these peepholes. If you find any you should report them to me right away. Spread the word to any of your friends you meet along the way."
All of the women began to file out, a few turning to glance back at the awkwardness of two onetime friends who were very quickly left alone. Amorette had not come to the Queen's rooms with the intention of repairing their friendship in any way, but she had not been comfortable with letting her discovery go unheard of by her neighbour.
"I was so sorry to hear about your husband," said the Queen solemnly. "Truly. I do not believe we need to be on friendly terms for me to pass on such sentiments. I have thought of you a great deal in the last months. I know it probably seems rather too little too late but I did want to apologise for the way I behaved. I believe I wasn't in my right mind."
"Are you referring to your attempt to have me killed?" There was just a hint of malice in Amorette's words, but she didn't really mean it. In truth she still didn't have the energy for such anger and disdain.
The Queen seemed strangely unbothered by her words. "I know now that I was wrong not to trust you Amorette. I see it all so clearly now. I lost a very good friend the second my belief in you faltered. I'm not asking for forgiveness, or for a return of friendship in any way. All I ask is that you hear me when I say that I regret what I said and did. I hope you understand that I am trying to rid myself of those mistrustful thoughts."
Amorette sighed heavily. "Your Majesty I never truly blamed you for what happened. I said it at the time and I'll say it again, I may know what it is like to be a woman in this world, but I do not know what it is to be a Queen. I have faced ridicule and mockery as every woman has who rises above the station that a man has placed her in. I'm only thankful that I never let any man influence me so wholly and completely that I lost that determination I had in the beginning. I cannot imagine what it must be like therefore, to be in your position. My respect for you has diminished a great deal not as a Queen but as a woman. I thought we were close enough that if you had misgivings you could have spoken to me in confidence. I looked to you as an example of an intelligent and capable young woman striving to rise to the top in a world of men. I suppose you still do that."
The Queen looked down towards her shoes for a few seconds and when her eyes returned to meet Amorette's, there was something new there; some new sorrow had taken hold. "You do not ease my guilt any, Madam. But you are right, I should have spoken with you before I acted. You were always so resourceful and trustworthy before. I do not know why I saw red."
"How do I know that will not happen again?" asked Amorette. "I would never have been uncivil to you, but I could never be your confidant much less your spy after what has occurred. How am I to know that your trust will not waver again? I would be setting myself up for a fall. I do appreciate your apology though. Perhaps if this situation with the peepholes is as bad as I fear, you will assist me in getting an audience with the King. I know I certainly don't want to sleep in a room where anyone may look in upon me through a hole in the wall."
The Queen nodded with a small smile growing upon her face. "Madam I can grant you entrance to his presence chambers but you will have to fight every man in there to be heard. He listens to me no more than he listens to the birds that sing in the trees."
They walked in silence for a time, only stopping just before the King's presence chambers where members of the nobility attended in the hopes of petitioning the King. "I suppose I shall have to keep my wits about me in the lion's den," commented Amorette dryly.
"You know, we could bypass the King altogether and simply employ musketeers to investigate your discovery Madam!" The Queen raised a knowing eyebrow. "We both have friends in certain musketeers who I'm sure would be only too happy to help."
Amorette shook her head. "Somehow I doubt that…" she mused; more to herself than anyone else.
"You know; Aramis speaks very highly of you Amorette." The Queen began to walk again and approached the doors of the presence chamber.
"Well if it is only Aramis that you wish to employ in this matter…" Amorette debated her choices as she rubbed her chin softly. "Then I may be agreeable."
The Queen laughed dryly. "No, Madam. We will need more than one man. Aramis may have many skills but he cannot search each room himself. Our tally is at fourteen now; fourteen women who have found these holes in their chambers. I think it will perhaps take even more than just our four friends. Why the aversion to their help Amorette? Are you and Athos having difficulty again?"
Amorette stared at the Queen, her hand that was half-way to her chin stopped in mid-air. "What do you mean your majesty?"
"I am no Fool Cometess." The Queen threw her a grim smile before turning towards the doors. "You still think in your heart of hearts that he wants as little to do with you as possible don't you? You couldn't be more wrong you know. Now I'm not going to pretend that I know what lies deep in Athos' heart but even if it is not love, I can tell that he greatly respects you." When Amorette's resolve still didn't waver the Queen sighed and placed a hand upon the door. "Very well, do things by the book this time, but promise me one thing? Open those resilient blue eyes of yours and see what he sees in you."
"But I've been married," Amorette choked out in a whisper. "Everything has changed now!"
The Queen sighed heavily as she opened the door and Amorette stepped forward. Just as she slipped though and saw the Queen nod her consent to a steward Amorette heard her Queen's final whisper on the matter. "You may have been married, but so has he…"
The heat of the presence chamber was almost stifling, with men pushing and shoving each other in their eagerness to reach the curtained doorway which led into the inner room where the King sat. The men jeered and argued loudly. Most paid no heed to Amorette as she tried to shuffle in between them. It was when she reached the door that people began to really notice her. Every now and again she caught sight of a disapproving glance thrown her way by one of the older gentlemen. Whispers flew about the room that she had no place in a room of politics and some of them even joked that she was here to petition the fashion of a new petticoat. Amorette rolled her eyes dismissively and kept looking forward into the next room where an even wilder group of nobles jostled as they cried out for the King's attention.
The older men were still sniggering at her when a rough push from behind nearly had her sprawled on all fours. She only stayed on her feet with the help of the young Vicomte de Turenne who threw an arm out to catch her. "Here Madam, stand in front of me," he said quietly as he moved behind Amorette. "They will not be able to jostle you so."
Amorette glanced behind her at the young Vicomte who was evidently a few years younger than herself but still managed to tower over her. He smiled at her and rolled his eyes as another man yelled an insult to her.
"I have just as much right to be here as you, you know!" Amorette called back hotly.
The men let out a roar of laughter and Amorette stamped her foot in indignation. What she had to tell the King was marginally more important than all of their petitions put together. Deciding not to dignify their jeering with any more retorts she simply turned back to face the doorway, standing a little more steadily now that she wasn't being pushed to and fro. Eventually the crowd in the room beyond began to thin a little and stewards motioned for the musketeers at the door to move aside. At once every man behind her began to trample forward quickly, all fighting to get as close to the King as possible. Amorette let out a squeak of pain as someone trod on her foot and then someone else elbowed her out of the way. "Well a little common curtesy wouldn't go amiss!" growled Amorette as she too began to elbow and push her way with the crowd.
"Now Messieurs lets not be responsible for trampling the Cometess to death shall we?" called the Vicomte. From where he stood a little ahead of her he held out his hand to pull Amorette forward and in front of him. "if the Madam wishes to address the king she has every right to attempt to do so…And I'm sure a clever little thing like her won't take up too much of his Majesty's or your time." The last statement was emphasised with a wink towards Amorette.
Despite the relative safety of the protective Vicomte behind her, Amorette still wasn't sure how she was to make herself heard over the din that the men made. They stood with their feet planted far apart to steady themselves and shook their papers in the air as they called for the King's attention. Amorette had no such papers, at least not ones that she could publicly show, and she was certainly not as loud as the men around her. Her lacking height was also going to be an issue, but it could also work in her favour if she used the men's movements to her advantage. Watching the men before her, she waited for the opportune moment when they all had their arms held aloft. Amorette was just the right height to duck underneath and she fought her way quickly to the front of the room.
Someone was already petitioning the King who looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else in that moment. Amorette found herself a little irked that the King appeared bored and disinterested in what his courtiers had to say. Whilst she appreciated that it must be tiresome listening to petitions day after day that were all of a similar nature but as their King that was his responsibility. Another man fought his way forward and grabbed the King's attention for a few seconds. When his business was concluded the King rose from his chair and Amorette knew that he would retire to his inner chambers. Amorette rolled her eyes in annoyance. Each person in the room would have to come back tomorrow, and perhaps even the day after that to have their argument heard by the King.
Suddenly Amorette decided that just wasn't good enough for her. She trod on someone's foot as the crowd surged forwards a little and she let it carry her. She called out for the King's attention along with the men as the King gestured for a select few to follow him and wasn't aware of Athos watching her from the side of the room. Throwing caution to the winds Amorette called out for Treville who walked in front of the King and it worked seamlessly. Treville turned instantly to gaze into the crowd and caught her eyes with his curious ones after a few seconds. The King noticed Treville's gaze and turned too. The sight of a woman in the melee seemed to take him by surprise slightly and Amorette stood on tip-toe with a small smile.
"Your majesty, I beg to speak with you on a serious and private matter!" Amorette called as she tried to push herself forward. She watched the King and Treville exchange a knowing glance before The King gestured for her to follow.
"You will hear her petitions for a new hat your Majesty, but you will not hear our business?" called Thomas Vavasseur.
Amorette just caught the King's smirk out of the corner of her eye as she moved towards him across the room. "Yes Monseigneur Vavasseur I believe I will," replied the King. "A petition is always much better presented when endowed with a pretty face, and quite frankly there's something pleasing about the Cometess' mouth when she speaks!"
Amorette felt her cheeks flush red at the King's compliment and followed the small party through another set of doors into a room she had never entered before. A long table and many chairs along either side, littered with books and documents told Amorette that this was the King's privy council chambers. The king threw himself impatiently into a chair at the head of the table and Treville took one to his immediate right. The three other men who had followed them did not stay with them, but moved towards another set of doors and carried on into the next room. Only two musketeers that Amorette did not recognise guarded the door back out into the presence chamber. Treville motioned for Amorette to take the chair to the King's right and for a moment she hesitated. There was something off about the whole scenario and Amorette wasn't sure she wanted to be privy to what may be about to be divulged within the council chambers.
She stared at Treville for a few seconds and saw a soft reassurance there. Amorette wondered bleakly if Treville had any idea of just what it was that lay in her pocket at that very moment. The musketeer captain was a shrewd and clever man; thus Amorette was sure something of the matter must have piqued his interest by now.
Suddenly the doors opened again and Athos marched through the room with purpose, followed by two Vicomtes, including the young Turenne who had helped her before-hand. Athos approached the table too, but hovered over Treville's shoulder rather than taking a seat. Amorette grimaced inwardly. She had come to the King to appeal because she hadn't wanted Athos to know what was going on. The King shuffled his papers gently and then turned his gaze upon Amorette.
"Very well Cometess, I am all ears. What is it you wish to petition to me?"
Amorette thought the address was quite informal considering where they sat, but she didn't waste too much time dwelling upon that. "Peepholes your Majesty. I found them first in my own rooms and when I consulted with others who currently reside in the Louvre, they found them too. In total I have a tally of fourteen women who have found these spy-holes within their rooms. Walls and tapestries are littered with the holes."
"Oh come now," said the King with a roll of his eyes. "A few moth eaten tapestries is nothing to fear Cometess. Appeal to the maître de lodgements to provide you with new apartments until the matter is resolved."
Whilst the King had been speaking, Jerome Weston had entered the room and he too approached the table. Amorette glanced towards Treville before looking at the King disbelievingly. "Your Majesty I don't think you appreciate the seriousness of the matter. These are not just moth-eaten tapestries. Someone has used tools to create these peepholes. They litter my room and those of fourteen other women. We do not feel safe in our own rooms! I myself am removing to my home in Provins tomorrow until this matter has been investigated and resolved. The Queen has also found some of these spy-holes within her own apartments."
At that last statement the King looked up and regarded Amorette with a little more interest. Before he could speak though, Jerome Weston added his input. "Your Majesty, if I may say so; it does seem odd that these holes only occur in the rooms of women. I completely understand the Cometess' apprehension. I as a father of two daughters would not wish my girls to sleep within rooms that were open to spy-masters. Whoever trivial this matter turns out to be, I believe it does need to be investigated."
It was not the King's expression that drew Amorette's curiosity in that moment, but Treville's. He had turned to glare at Jerome Weston so fiercely that it made Amorette shiver a little. She did not remember a distinct grievance between the Englishman and the musketeer captain but it was plain for all in the room to see that there really was something irking Treville. Instead of replying the King lifted some sealed documents from the table before him. "monsieur l'ambassadeur, here are those remits you wanted us to look over. They now bear my signature. Be off and do what you will with them." Weston took the documents from the King in remarkably good spirits, despite knowing that he had been formally dismissed and with a bow he left the room. "Now Cometess, there is indeed another matter I wished to discuss with you, something that was brought to my attention by Treville here."
Amorette swallowed heavily. The King knew her secret, and she wasn't sure she had gathered enough information yet. Athos was also still in the room, now looking quizzically between the three who sat at the head of the table. Amorette threw a warning glance to Treville and he caught it warily. "Athos," the captain called. "I'll be required here for some time, you do not have to wait on me. There are cadets in the garrison who need training."
The simple dismissal seemed to make Athos even more suspicious. For a few seconds he threw a pointed glare Amorette's way before leaving. Amorette knew instinctively that before the day was out he would corner her to try and wheedle information out of her.
Only when the door had closed did the conversation resume. "Cometess, I've made the King aware of some documents that were discovered recently, but we thought we might ask you to look upon them for us." From a leather folder the King produced thin tracing parchment sheets covered in what looked to be building plans. Amorette breathed a small inaudible sigh of relief. She had thought another matter altogether had been discovered. To have it discovered before she spoke of it would have been very dangerous indeed.
"I want to know every detail that you may be able to ascertain from these sketches Cometess," urged the King.
The sketches were gently pushed Amorette's way and she let her pale fingers gently caress the corner as she stared down at what was in fact new designs for gardens of great chateau's in France, but these designs were written in English. Amorette poured over the sketches one after another, faintly aware of the still silence as the men around the table waited for her explanation of what she saw.
"These sketches look like the work of an Englishman called John Tradescant. He's a gardener of note," mused Amorette. "But I do not know why he should be designing the gardens of French homes. The shapes and designs do not look dissimilar to his work that I have seen before but why would a Frenchman employ such a man?"
"Precisely," muttered Treville. "The King had thought to ask Jerome Weston about this matter, but I persuaded him not to. There are others at court who may have had an understanding of these sketches, but I did not feel that they were wholly trustworthy."
"You were right to come to me and not Jerome Weston," said Amorette. "He is a friend of John Tradescant. I believe he would have remained loyal to his friend and denied all knowledge of these sketches. Now at least with my confirmation you know who drew them."
Treville glanced at each person around the table in turn before speaking. "This must go no further than this room, but I am undertaking an investigation into the English Ambassador Jerome Weston. If Sir John Fairfax is purchasing land in France I have no doubt that a simple search of his office would find us just what we need in regards to these sketches, but I must have some evidence before I conduct such a search."
"Yes," nodded the King. "You must and I won't allow such a search to happen until you bring me proof Treville. I do not want to start a civil war within my court over conjecture."
"There may be a way to do such a thing," said Amorette. "Why don't I enquire as to the English property market whilst in his company; before I leave tomorrow morning that is. I'll say I'm considering purchasing property in England and he will not suspect anything untoward. If someone else were to enquire, it may cause some confusion and suspicion but I'm half English." Amorette pushed her hand through the folds of her skirts and into her pocket to clutch the wad of tightly folded paper. For a few seconds she hesitated, not sure if she wanted everyone to know she was still receiving letters from her Buckingham, begging her for help. To show them the letter was the right thing to do though, so after a few hesitant seconds she produced it. "There's something else you ought to know about."
"What is this?" asked the King.
"It is a letter from the Duke of Buckingham your Majesty. He is currently staying not far from Weston in the country." Amorette swallowed nervously before continuing. "He has uncovered a plot that is the design of some of his English peers. He has asked me to dissuade them in their rebellion, and he believes as I am loyal to him I will not speak of it to anyone, but I'm afraid my loyalty to France takes precedence. I know exactly why those sketches may have been drawn up. This plot, nicknamed the Denbigh plot amongst its conspirators aims to kill prominent French nobles who have heirs apparent who are English. They want to take large properties and amounts of land into English hands. What for, Buckingham does not say in his letter. But in time I'm sure such assets would be put into use to somehow harm France."
Treville took the letter from Amorette's outstretched hand and cautiously unfolded it. "The first meeting is in four days' time. That leaves very little time at all for us to make arrangements." He looked towards Amorette suspiciously then. "Just when did you receive this letter Cometess?"
Amorette was slightly affronted that Treville thought she would have kept the letter hidden indefinitely. "I only received it this morning, I was planning to bring it to you tonight but those peepholes distracted me slightly."
"Nevertheless, we still do not have time for the necessary arrangements. You're sure that none of your agents may be called upon to act at such short notice your Majesty?" Treville looked towards the King, a slight glimmer of hope still present.
The King took the letter from Treville and perused it for a moment. "No, not at this hour in the day. I cannot spare them Treville. Even if I could we do not have the time to implant them securely and safely within this coup. My spy network is excellent, but this is much too difficult to achieve in a short space of time. There is however an agent of the Queens who I believe just became available."
Amorette glanced up to find the King staring at her knowingly. "If you mean me your Majesty then you're making a poor choice. I do not have the skills needed for such a task!"
"Cometess I was made aware a while ago, as was Treville of your service to my wife the Queen. I know you are loyal to France, otherwise your possession of this letter would have caused quite the stir. I know the lengths you went to, to ensure that France's secrets stayed just that. My wife has placed her trust in you many times over the last few years."
Amorette couldn't believe what she was hearing. "This is something different entirely your Majesty!"
Treville sighed heavily. "Alas Cometess there is little we can do in terms of the English men if found guilty apart from expel said men from France. There is however the task of finding out who the main conspirators are, and if there are any French are involved. We need to know before something serious happens. If we can shatter their barely even thought of schemes before they begin to plot, we may rid ourselves of any risk at all. I do however I agree with you that you are not the person for undertaking this task."
Amorette was glad she at least had someone on her side. The King was nonplussed by Treville's statement. "On the contrary Captain, I think the Cometess is just who we need. You have English friends and family, you know their ways and workings. There are other Englishmen at my disposal, but I do not trust them as well as I do you Cometess. Your services rendered to the Queen are proof of your loyalty. Just what is it exactly that Buckingham thinks you will be capable of though?"
Amorette shook her head in confusion. "I do not know. He seems to think I will have a way of dissuading these men. Granted, very few know I was in lieu of the Queen but people will be aware by now that we were close friends. I do not think I shall be trusted as a fellow conspirator. For that reason alone, I believe I am not up to this task. I think my friendship with Buckingham is the only reason that my presence will be tolerated. The Duke is not the kind of man to be criticised by his peers. If I am there as his guest, they will not disagree with such a choice in his presence." Amorette reached for the letter which lay flat on the table and read it through again. "In four days' time these men plan to meet in Romilly-sur-Seine. That's just an hour or two's ride from my home in Provins. I am already making plans to leave tomorrow morning for Provins so why not let court think I have gone under the guise of annoyance that this peephole dilemma has yet to be resolved. If you can guarantee that Buckingham will be exonerated from any charges, I'll ride out and meet them. I'm not doing anything other than observing though. Any ideas you may have about me implanting information can be forgotten. I know how these men work, they will see through my lies eventually."
The King nodded at her in what Amorette thought was what he perceived to be a grateful smile. "I understand that Buckingham wants to stop this plot from proceeding, and that he simply keeps it to himself to preserve the lives of his friends. He will not face charges, but he will not be welcome at French court for the foreseeable future."
Treville was not happy in the slightest, Amorette could tell with just one quick glance towards him. "Monsieur I understand that you are hesitant to trust the Duke of Buckingham but in this matter he is innocent. He was made aware of a coup and he is trying to flatten it before it gets off the ground-"
"But he did not bring the matter to the King himself Cometess!" interrupted the musketeer. "No, instead he tries to enlist your help in keeping the secret buried."
"This was exactly the reason I was hesitant to speak of the letter," Amorette said quietly. "I know Buckingham isn't trusted, but I can read him like a book. If I sense something is remiss, I will retreat from these dealings entirely."
Vicomte Turenne spoke for the first time. "Treville, time is something we do not have. Jerome Weston is not the end goal. We need to bring this coup to its knees before word can spread. The King is right; we must act fast."
Amorette knew Treville was entirely against the King's quickly concocted plan. "Why don't you go then Turenne?" the musketeer captain barked harshly. "Since when did we send women into the lion's den alone, with barely any ammunition to fight off an opponent who is likely already suspicious of them! Your Majesty, you must forgive my severe opposition to this scheme but I will not put my weight behind a cause I do not believe to be just."
Amorette couldn't help smirking. In her head she was imagining Athos' reaction if he had heard this very conversation. He wouldn't have managed to control most of his ire as Treville had done. Athos would have flown into a rage. What was it with men thinking that women were incapable of succeeding? Granted, Amorette didn't think much of this plot of the King's but there was the slightest chance she would come away with some information and however little it was, it might be better than nothing.
"I'll do it, I've already said that," she muttered.
The King nodded his agreement. "It is settled then. You have until tomorrow morning to leave as planned. As soon as the scheduled meeting takes place you will return to Paris."
Treville shook his head. "If this is going to work your Majesty and appear believable, then the Cometess should tarry a little in Provins afterwards. Meeting these men again along the road on her way back to Paris would not be the best form of cover."
Amorette interrupted before anyone else could speak. "You are both right. I do not want to tarnish my cover, but the information should get back to Paris as quickly as possible. I'll see how the land lies with these men, see where they travel on to. If I can leave that very same day, I will. If not, I'll be back as soon as I can. If all else fails I can send my maid back with the information. We shall say her mother is ill and that she returns to Paris to be with her."
A steward entered the room and passed a note to the King. Within seconds he was on his feet and they all rose too. "I think that's business concluded, don't you Treville? I'm leaving all of this in your capable hands. Cometess, I expect you to report back to Treville with any information you gather on either subject." With that the King retired to his own apartments and Amorette tried to shuffle out of the room as quickly as possible without catching Treville's eye.
"Cometess, tell me you do not wish to do this and it will all stop!" The musketeer captain cried as he caught up with her and gently took hold of her arm to turn her to face him. "It's written all over your face that you do not wish to go through with this so do not be coerced into it. It's dangerous and I think you're right. No one can say for sure if these men will buy your story. Go to the King and refuse this task. Stay in Paris and help me skewer Jerome Weston from here!"
Amorette shook off his hold. "I appreciate your concern Treville, but I do not see what good investigating Jerome Weston will do. He is an Englishman at French Court. He is not here as a French subject, but rather to do his job. He is the English King's eyes and ears and we have always known that of any English Ambassador here! I do believe he is permitted to be a little patriotic. I will enquire as to English homes for sale and will report back to you before I leave tomorrow, but I can't see what good it will do."
"Patriotic?" Treville cried. "That's exactly why he should be investigated. He is supposed to be here to ensure that negotiations between France and England run smoothly, not to throw obstacles into the way." For a few seconds there was a mad anger in Treville's eyes and Amorette had the sudden desire to step back, but she knew that the soldier's anger was not aimed at her. He took a deep breath and let his anger dissipate. "After tomorrow morning I will not be here should anything go wrong you know. The King is leaving for Versailles at some point tomorrow for the hunt. We will only be gone for two days but that is time enough for this to fall apart completely."
"Then go to Versailles Monsieur. Go with the hunt and have a little faith in me." She turned away and made herself walk the length of the corridor confidently, even though there was little courage within her any more. Perhaps Treville was right about this being a lost cause. She really didn't see how she could infiltrate this coup successfully and surely that meant she would face death, or even something much worse at the hands of these rebels? Reaching the stairs and racing down them and out into the courtyard, Amorette was almost ready to retrace her steps back into the privy council chambers when she walked right into someone.
Lord de Winter grabbed for his hat to stop it falling from his head and righted himself and Amorette, who let a small gasp escape her lips. "Edmund!" she cried, completely at odds with the disgraced English lord being in Paris.
He smiled weakly back at her and bowed towards her. "Cometess, it's good to see you again."
Amorette didn't believe that for a second. "And I'm glad to see you two Edmund." The last time the two had set eyes upon each other, they had argued viciously. Amorette didn't resent the man for it though, quite the opposite. He had not been to blame. Her sister Ann had married Edmund's brother, baron Sheffield and then went on to kill him. Thus she had taken the name Milady de Winter. Edmund had been the one to tell Amorette of her sister's eventual death and he had been rather affronted when the news upset her.
"Forgive me Madam, but I am late for an important meeting," said Edmund as he bowed again and scuttled off across the courtyard. Amorette didn't believe that either. For a few seconds she stood and watched his retreating back. She felt sorry for the poor man's defeated demeanour and pale countenance. He had clearly given up entirely. Her sister had made him the laughingstock of English parliament and his own family and disowned him. Hell bent on destroying Ann after his brother's death, Edmund had become fixated on revenge. It had lost him everything. And they said that women were the ones to bring about hell when scorned? That man had lost absolutely everything, and didn't look as if he wanted to fight to get any of it back any time soon. When Amorette thought about what he had been dealt in comparison with her own life, it helped her make her decision. She may have lost her husband, and any chance for a family but she still had friends and people who evidently thought her trustworthy and capable. That was a lot to have in the world. If they thought her capable of greatness, she ought to think so of herself. She would go to Provins, and from there ride out to meet these rebels. Whatever happened, at least she had fought for something.
I think I re-wrote this chapter about six times! I kept leaving out bits of plot in my eagerness to finish it and then pulling my hair out when it didn't make sense! As you may be able to guess, I'm quite eager to get to a certain moment we've all been waiting for! In my head it's two chapter's away but knowing how this story has expanded so far, let's say three! I thought Amorette should get her teeth into a nice juicy bit of action first.