Sorry for the hiatus! I changed my mind about some things and spent some time planning future chapters. I made some minor edits to the dialog in Chapters 1 and 2 if you want to go back and reread them. Sorry about that! It shouldn't happen again.


Oscar leaves for Versailles with Andre despite Emilie and Granny's protests. Even Andre tries to convince her to stay at the manor, but she insists that she's fine. A little fever isn't going to keep her from her duties. Oscar notices that Andre is keeping a particularly close eye on her, much to her annoyance. She's about to tell him off while they are patrolling the gardens when they overhear a gaggle of noblewomen talking in hushed tones.

"I heard a rumor that Madame d'Harcourt was murdered."

Normally Oscar doesn't care to listen in on such things, but murder isn't usually the topic of the petty gossip at Versailles. She signals to Andre to stop and they stand out of sight to listen.

"Murdered?"

"Oh, how frightening!"

"Indeed! Her family was being tormented by a mad Count who forced them to flee the country. She, her husband, and their nanny with their infant son each took separate carriages. When they met at the rendezvous place, hers didn't arrive. They never found any trace of her, but the rumor goes that the Count captured her and killed her."

"How cruel… Her poor family."

"Madame d'Harcourt you say… I don't recall meeting her. Did she ever attend court?"

"Not often, but I remember she sang for us once. She was so young and sweet with a voice like a little song bird."

Oscar's eyes widen. She turns and walks off swiftly without saying anything.

"Oscar, wait!" Andre scrambles to keep up with her. "You don't think they were talking about-"

"I'm not feeling very well, after all." Interrupts Oscar. "Tell Captain Girodelle to take over for today."

"But-"

Oscar shoots Andre a fearsome look and he clamps his mouth shut.

The noblewomen continue their walk through the garden and see Oscar leaving in a hurry. They congregate around Andre before he can escape.

"What's the matter with Lady Oscar? Is everything all right?"

"Yes, yes." Says Andre. "It's just some boring palace business. Nothing to worry about." He turns to go after Oscar, but the ladies call out to him. He stops and tries to make his mouth look like more like a smile than a grimace.

"Oh Andre! We heard that the Jarjayes have a guest at the manor."

"Lady Oscar's distant cousin, isn't she? She was suppose to attend the opera the other night."

"Madame de Jarjayes said she fell ill. Is she feeling better?"

"Uh…" Andre backs away from them slowly. He thought Oscar and her mother had kept this quiet, but it didn't surprise him that these chattering pigeons got hold of this news.

"When can we meet her?"

"Andre!" Oscar shouts from the steps leading up to the palace. "What are you doing? Let's go."

Relief washes over Andre. "Sorry, ladies. Another time." He gives the noblewomen a small, polite bow before rushing off to join Oscar.

Oscar heads to the stables while Andre finds Captain Girodelle to tell him that they are leaving early. By the time he arrives at the stables, Oscar is already gone. "You can be so foolish sometimes, Oscar." He mutters, saddling up and riding out of Versailles as fast as he can.

A million thoughts race through Oscar's mind as she rides at full speed back towards Jarjayes manor. This rumor had to be true. Everything fit into place too neatly for it not to be. Even the name d'Harcourt… That was a well known Norman surname. She was determined to get to the bottom of this once and for all. How Emilie could stand to be apart from her young family for even a moment longer was something Oscar couldn't even fathom. No wonder she cried so much when she thought no one could hear her.

Before Oscar can reach the manor, the fever she was trying so hard to ignore finally overcomes her. She slows her horse to a stop and crumples forward, too faint to continue. She curses quietly.

"Oscar!" Andre appears and rides up beside her.

"Andre…"

"You should have waited for me." Andre reprimands her gently. He reaches out to take the reigns from her. "Here, let me lead you."

By the time they reach the manor, Oscar seems to have collected herself. Andre insists on helping her down from her horse anyway, but she pulls away as soon as her feet touch the ground.

"What happened?" Granny cries as she rushes across the courtyard. She had seen them coming and dropped everything to run out to meet them.

"Her fever is worse." Andre's concern is evident.

"I'm fine." Says Oscar. "Where's Emilie?"

"That can wait, Oscar." Says Andre.

"Lady Oscar." Corrects Granny, slapping Andre's arm.

Oscar ignores them and starts to walk towards the manor. Granny hurries after her, leaving Andre with the horses. Emilie appears in the doorway as they start to climb the front steps.

"Is everything all right?" Emilie asks.

"There you are, Emilie. I need to talk to you." Oscar doesn't mean for her voice to come out so stern and regrets the look of fear that flickers across Emilie's face.

"You need to be in bed!" Granny says shrilly.

Oscar is almost to the top of the steps when she stumbles. Emilie reaches out and steadies her before she falls. "You still have a fever? Granny is right. We can talk after you get some rest." Emilie's smiles, but she seems nervous.

Oscar's serious expression softens. "Yes." She surrenders and lets Emilie and Granny escort her to her room. She changes and Granny tucks her neatly into her bed. She fights to stay awake while Emilie fetches some water.

"I told you to stay at the manor today." Says Granny fretfully. "I will send for the doctor."

"Don't bother the doctor, Nanna." Oscar says quietly. "I only need to rest awhile. Don't worry."

Granny doesn't look convinced. "I'm sending for the doctor." She leaves as Emilie returns with a saucer filled with water and a cloth draped over her arm.

"Emilie, there's something I need to-"

"Later." Emilie says firmly as she sits on the edge of Oscar's bed, balancing the saucer in her lap. She dips the cloth in the cool water and gently presses it to Oscar's forehead.

Oscar sighs and closes her eyes. A moment later she is asleep, unable to deny her condition any longer.

Andre goes looking for Emilie after he gets the horses settled. He's about to go up to check Oscar's room when he hears her softly singing. He follows the sound to the kitchen where she is preparing tea. He casually leans against the door frame and watches her, trying to decide if he should say anything.

Emilie turns and sees him. "Oh! Andre! You startled me." She laughs. "I'm making tea for when Oscar wakes up."

Andre smiles. "She'll like that."

Emilie continues to busily arrange a tea tray, humming quietly.

"Oscar and I heard an interesting rumor at court today." Says Andre finally. He can't help himself.

"Oh?" Emilie doesn't look up.

"A noblewoman was murdered… Madame d'Harcourt?"

Emilie stiffens and drops the teacup she was about to place on the tray. It breaks as it hits the floor, sending porcelain shards everywhere.

"That's terrible…" Emilie bends down to pick up the pieces of the shattered cup. "What became of her family?" She asks carefully.

"They didn't say…" Andre walks over and bends down to help.

"Oh." Emilie's hands are shaking so badly she can barely hold the delicate shards.

"What is your real name, Emilie?" Andre asks seriously.

"W-What do you mean?" Emilie looks at him, unable to conceal the panic on her face.

"There's no way that you're a servant. Granny told me that you had to be shown how to draw water and kindle a fire. Not to mention that I've heard you playing the piano in Oscar's room and you dance in the foyer when you think no one is watching." Andre explains. "You're a noble, aren't you? You're Madame d'Harcourt."

Emilie stands up and places the broken cup on the table. Her silence only convinces Andre further that he accusation is correct.

"There's more." Andre ventures, straightening up and adding his cup shards to Emilie's on the table. "Word has gotten out that we have a guest. I doubt we'll be able to keep you a secret for much longer."

Emilie makes a move for the door and Andre grabs her arm. "The Jarjayes will keep you safe. Oscar will be sure of that. You just need to tell her-"

"You don't understand." Emilie wrenches her arm away from Andre and runs from the kitchen.


Thank you for reading! See you next time.