Traitor's Vengeance - Part Thirteen

Steven was glad to have been sent to summon the carriage. The Princesses guests had been making him feel very uncomfortable, with their suggestive staring. The truth was he was no longer accustomed to being in the presence of women. He had been shut up in his chateau for so long with only his servants for company, that he had forgotten how to behave around cultivated ladies. A gift that he never thought he would lose.

As he looked back at the manor from the courtyard, he could see the Princess through the sitting room window. She was desperately trying to stay awake while listening to the trivial gossip of her guests. He began to feel a little sorry for her. She had been caught up in a whirlwind romance and had not had time to think about the consequences of her marriage. She was now wrapped in a life of Royal ceremony and strict protocol. Somebody like her, he could tell, wasn't intended for that life.

Then there was her lady in waiting, Hélène. She had obviously been raised a noble woman and so had always been repressed. But when she looked at him with that knowing glance of hers, he saw something more. He could tell that she had already experienced more than a lady of her standing should. She exuded a confidence which only those who have experienced freedom possessed. He could also see a dangerous amount of life trapped behind those haunting grey eyes. Something that, if released, had the potential to ruin her.

The carriage driver was in the stable, having a good look at the Princesses horse. It was a very fine horse, but did not merit the attention that it was getting, especially from an experienced horseman who must have seen dozens like it.

Steven coughed and the driver jumped and spun round. He was wearing a black tunic with an unfamiliar crest emblazoned across the chest. Steven had expected that he would be a royal coachman, having been sent by the Queen, but the carriage must be private, belonging to the family of one of the ladies.

"The ladies are ready to leave now, could you bring the carriage to the front of the manor?" The driver just nodded and left without saying anything. There was something odd about him, but Steven couldn't put his finger on it so he shrugged and made his way back to the manor.

As he crossed the courtyard he looked up and saw the page standing at a window. That was not a room he had been given permission to go in. He had his own quarters with the servants, that was the room next to the princesses. Steven didn't want to guess what was going on, he had a duty to find out.

He almost ran into the manor and up the stairs. He had a sworn duty to the crown to protect the Princess. There was no way that this ridiculous little man could get in the way of this.

He burst into the room and the page jumped about six feet into the air. He had a guilty look on his face and a brooch in his hand.

"What do you THINK you are doing?" Steven asked sternly. "You are supposed to be in your own quarters, not going through the princesses things." He guessed that he was just looking for something worth selling or to give to a lady. He was such a repulsive little man he would probably have to bribe women.

The page said nothing he just looked around, furtively as if looking for an escape route. He certainly would not be looking forward to facing the wrath of the crown. But for now he had to face Steven.

"For God's sake answer me man. I DEMAND to know what you are doing in this room." He remained silent for a moment and then just as Steven looked the other way he ran towards the door. He should have known better. Surely he must have realised that only the most skilled man would be charged with protecting the princess.

Without even looking Steven drew his sword and was holding it to the pages neck within seconds. "That isn't a very good idea my friend." He decided the calm approach was the way to find out what was happening. "Now I think you should start talking quickly or I'll be forced to take you back to face the court. But give me a good excuse for your conduct and we may be able to forget about this and send you back to the palace with nothing being said."

The page just stood there looking uncomfortable. Steven had to be patient. He had been in this situation countless times before with his own servants. Usually they are in debt and need the extra money. He had to be understanding. It is not their fault that they are put in these situations.

No matter how understanding he felt he had to be, he mistrusted this man. He was not prepared to take any chances where the safety of the Princess was involved. This page had acted suspiciously from the moment they left the palace, Steven needed to know what was going on.

"If you aren't going to talk to me, I'm going to have to bring the princess to check if anything else is missing." The page was still uncomfortable, but he remained stubbornly silent. He was clever. Steven couldn't do anything without the consent of the Crown and he knew that.

However at that moment some relief came for Steven in the form of Laurent who was wildly riding into the courtyard, with the princesses sister closely following. As a captain of the Royal guard Laurent did have power to imprison men. As a bodyguard Steven only had power when the Princesses life was in immediate danger. By their hurried dismount it looked like they had urgent business, so he would have to get to them quickly.

"I think I spy somebody who will make you talk," Steven said. "I think Laurent will be interested to know what is happening here." He pushed the page out of the room and towards the front door, expecting the pair to come in through that door. However they did not so much walk through the door as burst in. Laurent was first.

"Lord Grey, what is going on?" Laurent asked noting Steven's sword which was still pointing towards the pages back.

"I caught him going through the Princesses things and he refuses to talk to me." He pulled the brooch from his pocket and handed it to the Laurent. "He appeared to be taking this."

At this point Jacqueline followed into the manor. Her eyes fell on the brooch in Laurent's hands immediately. "That is ... was Marguerite's. Why do you have it.?" Then she saw the page. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"You know him milady?" Steven asked Jacqueline.

"Yes I do. He was the page who was helping my mother in tracking Prince Henry's whereabouts." Laurent looked surprised.

"This was her accomplice." He laughed. "I had thought the fabled conspirator to be some sort of genius manipulator."

"No this is he. What are you doing here now? You were paid handsomely were you not? You surely cannot need for more and you cannot still be working for her." Then a thought suddenly dawned on her. Who had more reason to wish for harm upon Danielle than her mother? Rodmilla may be a servant, but she still had connections. The nobles would not forget her, and this pathetic little weasel seemed to have some loyalty before, why would that suddenly change now.

"If you would Lord Grey, lock him in one of the upper chambers. I think he has much to tell us."