"He asked for her by name?" Oscar looks dumbfounded.

"Yes." Says Andre.

"What did you say to him?"

"Nothing, he told me who he was and asked me to call for you."

Oscar straightens her jacket and walks back down the stairs. "Very well. Go open the gate for him."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Asks Andre.

"No, but I think it would be unwise to turn him away… He's very popular with the ladies at court." Oscar explains. "If they hear we were impolite to him, we will never hear the end of it. Go let him in."

Andre hesitates, then goes back outside.

Oscar looks up at Granny who is still standing on the stairs. "Make sure Emilie stays in her room. Please don't say a word to her about Lord de la Roche until I've had a chance to sort out what he wants. She's been through enough for one morning."

"Yes, my lady." Says Granny. She hurries up the stairs.

Oscar walks out into the courtyard where Lord de la Roche is stepping down from his carriage. He's an older man, but very handsome with sharp features and a slender physique. He is a frequent topic of the gossip at Versailles which is how Oscar had come to hear about him. She knew that this wife had died in childbirth and his teenage son, whom he had lovingly raised alone, had recently passed away. His sad tale of loss and suffering in addition to his beauty made the ladies fawn over him.

"Ah, Commander de Jarjayes." Roche says politely. "I am relieved to see you looking as fine and fit as ever. I had heard you were unwell."

"Thank you, Lord de la Roche." Says Oscar. "It was only a minor ailment. What brings to you Jarjayes manor?"

"Always to the point. I admire that about you." Roche flashes a charming smile.

Oscar looks at him cooly.

Roche drops the pleasantries and gets on with it. "There is a rumor that a girl is staying with you who fits the description of my missing niece. Her carriage was attacked on the road to Paris some months back. She's feared dead, but no body was ever found." He explains. "I had heard that this girl is your distant cousin, but if there's any chance she is my niece I would very much like to see her."

"I'm sorry." Oscar shakes her head. "I'm afraid it's only a rumor."

"I see." Roche says quietly. "It was too much to hope…"

"What is her name?" Asks Oscar. "I would like to help if I can."

"Linette d'Harcourt." Replies Roche without missing a beat. "However, she prefers to be called Emilie."

Oscar keeps her expression steady. "I will see if I can influence further investigation into your niece's disappearance."

Roche bows his head. "Thank you, Commander. You are truly kind."

As soon as Roche's carriage is out of sight, Oscar immediately goes up to Emilie's room. She hesitates at the door, overhearing Granny's shrill voice.

"I knew it!" Granny cries. "To think I had you doing chores all this time!"

"I really don't mind, Granny." Emilie's voice sounds calm and even.

"A lady of your status shouldn't be doing laundry." Sniffs Granny disapprovingly.

"It's the least I could do." Says Emilie. "I owe my life to the Jarjayes."

Granny mutters something Oscar can't quite make out.

"I'm sorry." Emilie says quietly.

Oscar finally knocks.

"Come in." Says Emilie.

Oscar opens the door. Emilie is sitting in a chair wearing a fine dress and Granny is standing behind her, artfully arranging her hair. Emilie blushes slightly and looks away as Oscar gazes at her.

"If only I could get Lady Oscar to let me dress her properly..." Says Granny wistfully.

Oscar makes a face. Emilie chuckles as Granny puts the last pin in her hair.

"There." Granny steps back to admire her work. "You look beautiful enough to be presented at Versailles if I do say so myself."

Emilie lowers her eyes. "Thank you, Granny."

"I would like to speak with Emilie alone if you don't mind." Says Oscar.

Granny looks at her and frowns slightly. "Yes, of course." She pats Emilie's shoulder in a motherly way before leaving the room.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Asks Emilie, smoothing the skirts of the glimmering dress. "Granny said she made it for you. She will have to take up the hem a bit."

"Yes." Says Oscar in a tone that makes it clear she's not really listening.

"It's a shame no one will get to see it."

"Emilie…"

Emilie looks up.

"Do you know of a Lord de la Roche?" Asks Oscar abruptly.

Emilie's eyes widen, but her calm demeanor doesn't change. "Yes, he is my uncle. Why?"

Oscar looks surprised. "He left just a moment ago..."

"He was here?" Emilie stands up suddenly, the dress swirls around her like a blooming flower. "What did he want?"

"He was looking for you." Says Oscar, studying Emilie's face carefully. "I sent him away. I was worried he might be lying to get close to you."

Emilie slowly sinks back into the chair and clasps her hands in her lap. "No, he wasn't lying."

Oscar relaxes slightly. "I was concerned that he might have been the one who hurt you."

Emilie looks at her hands and shakes her head.

"Would you like me to call him back? He might have word of your family."

"Yes," says Emilie quietly, looking as if she might cry.

"What is it?" Oscar's concern begins to rise again.

Emilie reaches up and wipes her eyes gently. "Everything is happening all at once. I'm just a bit shocked." She gives Oscar a weak smile. "And very tired."

Oscar softens, "Forgive me. I almost forgot you haven't slept properly in over a day. Please, get some rest."

Oscar reluctantly leaves to report to Versailles. She gives Granny explicit instructions to keep close watch over Emilie in her absence. She can't help but worry that Emilie might disappear again given the opportunity. While at the palace, Oscar asks Andre to extend an invitation to Lord de la Roche to return to Jarjayes manor to further discuss the disappearance of his niece.

Roche arrives back at the manor the following evening. Granny shows him into the parlor where Oscar is waiting for him. She offers him a glass of brandy which he accepts gratefully.

"It humbles me greatly that you have taken such interest in my unfortunate case." Lore de la Roche says somberly, swirling the glass of brandy in his hands. "It has been a trying time for my family."

"It turns out I have a strong lead as to the whereabouts of your niece." Oscar smiles slightly. She lifts her eyes to the doorway where Emilie has just appeared looking nervous and beautiful in the gown she modeled the day before. Granny had hastened to alter the fit so it now draped perfectly around Emilie's slight frame.

Roche follows Oscar's gaze and turns in his chair towards the doorway. His face goes pale. "Emilie."

Emilie curtseys slightly. "Uncle."

Roche sets his glass on the table as he rises slowly without taking his eyes off Emilie. "You're alive. All this time… You were alive." He approaches her almost timidly as if she might vanish if he makes any sudden movements.

"You must forgive the Commander for the deception. She was only trying to protect me." Says Emilie quickly. Her voice a little higher than usual.

"It's already forgotten." Roche says quietly. "Given the circumstances under which you disappeared, I would have been cautious as well." He takes Emilie's hand and raises it to his mouth, brushing his lips across her knuckles. "My dear niece…"

Emilie shivers which doesn't go unnoticed by Oscar who is watching them carefully.

"H-Has there been any word from my husband?" Emilie stammers as Roche straightens up.

"He and your son arrived safely in Calais." Says Roche evenly. "They left for London not long ago."

Emilie sways slightly, clasping her hands together to keep them from trembling.

"I can take you to them." Roche offers. "We can leave tonight if you wish."

Emilie glances at Oscar and then nods once.

"It does seem a bit strange..." Says Andre a short time later.

"Yes, I think so, too. But what can we do? Tie her down?" Says Oscar. "She's made up her mind."

Oscar offered to escort Lord de la Roche's carriage at least as far as Paris and had gone to fetch Andre and the horses from the stables. She paces fretfully as Andre finishes saddling the horses.

"Emilie was completely impassive. She didn't smile or cry… She just stood there." Oscar explains.

"That's not completely unlike her, though." Andre points out. "She tends to withdraw when she's overwhelmed."

"Or frightened." Says Oscar. "We'd best be on our guard."

Andre frowns. "Yes."


I'm still slowly, but surely working on this story! I promise to see it to the end even if it takes awhile. Thank you for reading! See you next time.