p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""How are you feeling?" Dria asks Mary while they take a walk around the gardens. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I'm as fine as one can be after everything… It's Francis that I'm worried about. This loss, it affected him. A child… a son, would've secured our rule. You were doing your part, the part I asked you to play. And how, pray tell, is that going?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""He's in public mourning for his wife. It's not going at all… at least not yet."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What's that supposed to mean?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It means… there was a moment, when I went to offer my condolences, where I might have once more seen past his hard exterior."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And what are you going to do with that information?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Nothing. I will wait for him to come to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Alexandria, boys don't pick up on subtlety."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But you hit it on the head. Narcisse is a man… a man in need of heirs."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Before they could continue, they see Catherine come out to a carriage. "Ah, Mary, Alexandria. Whatever needs of me you might have, they must wait till tomorrow. I'm off to Beauvais to put in an appearance at Lord Gramont's Saint Day party. It always softens the nobles when a queen appears at their gatherings. A sop to their vanity."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Mary gives Alexandria a sly smile. "Why don't I come with you then?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Catherine's eyes go wide before she recovers. "My dear, it will be a terrible bore. Even keeping it to a small retinue of guards, the ride will take hours."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It'll be good for me to get away from the castle. It's fresh air, time to think."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know what you need is, a nice long walk, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I've been on enough walks. If one queen impresses the nobles, how much better would two queens be?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She doesn't look impressed but can't find fault in Mary's logic. "Hmm… Fine. Go send for your cloak." While Mary speaks quietly with a nearby servant, a guard comes up to Alexandria with a note, sealed with the Narcisse family crest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What's that?" Mary asks, looking over her shoulder. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It appears waiting was the right call. I've been invited for tea with Lord Narcisse. It seems we both have plans for today."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I implore you to be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Stephan was not the one who killed his wife. Please remember that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It's not physical harm to you I worry about."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Go. Enjoy your day away from the castle." Mary doesn't look happy but gets in the carriage just the same./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And you're sure that tea really means tea?" Kenna asks as she and Lola follow Alexandria through the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I guess we're going to find out. Either way, I'll be back before nightfall."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Are we just going to ignore the fact that he killed his ex-wives?" Lola comments. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But he didn't. They died of natural causes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And did Narcisse tell you this?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She rolls her eyes to the ceiling. "Yes. But you didn't hear him when he was telling me, his emotions… I don't believe him to be lying."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Are you sure you're not just thinking about… the journal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I wish everyone would stop immediately going there. My entire worth is based on the state of my purity. It would cost me greatly to act on such whims." The girls nodded. "Now, I must go get ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She was sitting at an ornately set table, Stephan across from her. "So… this really is just tea." He nods. "This place… it's beautiful here. Very peaceful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Mmm… This house and gardens… my sanctuary."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And yet, you practically shadow my every move at court, so you must keep chambers there as well."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yes. Court is what I need sanctuary from."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I understand that. I also can't help but envy you." she says, taking a deep breath and looking around the garden, her eyes coming to rest on the archery targets across the lawn. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Care to try your skill?" He asks, placing his napkin back on the table and standing up. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I've never even held a bow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He smiles. "Let's see… you're right-handed, so this one should do." He picks one up that is ornately designed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know, I might be left-handed. Some people are." She deadpans./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But not you." She watches him closely as he comes up to her, handing her the bow and an arrow. "May I?" he asks, holding up the arm brace./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She holds up her left arm, and with careful fingers, he gently pushes the sleeve of her dress up to her elbow, lighting her skin on fire with each inch of her flesh he touches. "This is the vambrace. It goes on the non-dominant arm, because mistakes in this game… can hurt." She can't help the shiver that runs down her spine at the double meaning of his words. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Dria nocks the arrow, placing her left forefinger over it to hold it steady while she brings it up and pulls back on the string to fire. "You've got good instincts. But you're too quick." He comes up beside her, one arm coming around to guide her. "The eye is more important than the hand. See your target, understand what you're aiming for, don't just physically let it fly."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"His closeness, his breath on her neck, both of these were causing her thoughts to turn and an… uncomfortable wetness to pool at the apex of her thighs. "Sight the center. The rest of the circles are irrelevant." Stephan steps back and she lets it loose, sinking the arrow into the center of the target. "Congratulations. Of course, the beginning is often promising. The trick is to keep it going that way."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She looks at him, the hidden meaning behind his words not lost on her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"As they reconvene at court later, it appears everyone else is already entertaining. "This music is charming but it would be more charming if you were dancing to it." Stephan says, seeking her out. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You're very quick with the charm and flattery. It makes you dangerous. Also how you monopolize my time." Alexandria jokes. "Have you not grown tired of me yet?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I could never. But if it is alone time you're looking for, I have a few suggestions. For instance, this would be a beautiful night for a bath."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""A bath?" Surely she didn't hear him right. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You can see the stars from the chamber in the north keep. It's a lovely room to bathe in, though the window is large, it's not overlooked by anybody… except the parapet opposite. But hardly anyone ever goes there."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She looks at him with marveled shock. He had courage, she'd give him that. "Are you seriously, seriously suggesting that you want to watch me bathe?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Well, that is quite a leap. I would never speak so bluntly in front of a lady, a princess no less. I'd simply say that midnight is a very fine time for a bath. The world's so quiet then, you could almost believe you're the only one in it." He smiles devilishly at her while she looks on in disbelief at his boldness. "I'll leave you to consider the advantages." She stares at him as he walks away. What emwas/em she going to do?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I'm as fine as one can be after everything… It's Francis that I'm worried about. This loss, it affected him. A child… a son, would've secured our rule. You were doing your part, the part I asked you to play. And how, pray tell, is that going?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""He's in public mourning for his wife. It's not going at all… at least not yet."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What's that supposed to mean?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It means… there was a moment, when I went to offer my condolences, where I might have once more seen past his hard exterior."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And what are you going to do with that information?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Nothing. I will wait for him to come to me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Alexandria, boys don't pick up on subtlety."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But you hit it on the head. Narcisse is a man… a man in need of heirs."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Before they could continue, they see Catherine come out to a carriage. "Ah, Mary, Alexandria. Whatever needs of me you might have, they must wait till tomorrow. I'm off to Beauvais to put in an appearance at Lord Gramont's Saint Day party. It always softens the nobles when a queen appears at their gatherings. A sop to their vanity."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Mary gives Alexandria a sly smile. "Why don't I come with you then?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Catherine's eyes go wide before she recovers. "My dear, it will be a terrible bore. Even keeping it to a small retinue of guards, the ride will take hours."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It'll be good for me to get away from the castle. It's fresh air, time to think."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know what you need is, a nice long walk, huh?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I've been on enough walks. If one queen impresses the nobles, how much better would two queens be?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She doesn't look impressed but can't find fault in Mary's logic. "Hmm… Fine. Go send for your cloak." While Mary speaks quietly with a nearby servant, a guard comes up to Alexandria with a note, sealed with the Narcisse family crest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""What's that?" Mary asks, looking over her shoulder. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It appears waiting was the right call. I've been invited for tea with Lord Narcisse. It seems we both have plans for today."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I implore you to be careful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Stephan was not the one who killed his wife. Please remember that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""It's not physical harm to you I worry about."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Go. Enjoy your day away from the castle." Mary doesn't look happy but gets in the carriage just the same./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And you're sure that tea really means tea?" Kenna asks as she and Lola follow Alexandria through the castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I guess we're going to find out. Either way, I'll be back before nightfall."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Are we just going to ignore the fact that he killed his ex-wives?" Lola comments. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But he didn't. They died of natural causes."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And did Narcisse tell you this?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She rolls her eyes to the ceiling. "Yes. But you didn't hear him when he was telling me, his emotions… I don't believe him to be lying."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Are you sure you're not just thinking about… the journal?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I wish everyone would stop immediately going there. My entire worth is based on the state of my purity. It would cost me greatly to act on such whims." The girls nodded. "Now, I must go get ready."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She was sitting at an ornately set table, Stephan across from her. "So… this really is just tea." He nods. "This place… it's beautiful here. Very peaceful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Mmm… This house and gardens… my sanctuary."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""And yet, you practically shadow my every move at court, so you must keep chambers there as well."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Yes. Court is what I need sanctuary from."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I understand that. I also can't help but envy you." she says, taking a deep breath and looking around the garden, her eyes coming to rest on the archery targets across the lawn. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Care to try your skill?" He asks, placing his napkin back on the table and standing up. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I've never even held a bow."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"He smiles. "Let's see… you're right-handed, so this one should do." He picks one up that is ornately designed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You know, I might be left-handed. Some people are." She deadpans./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""But not you." She watches him closely as he comes up to her, handing her the bow and an arrow. "May I?" he asks, holding up the arm brace./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She holds up her left arm, and with careful fingers, he gently pushes the sleeve of her dress up to her elbow, lighting her skin on fire with each inch of her flesh he touches. "This is the vambrace. It goes on the non-dominant arm, because mistakes in this game… can hurt." She can't help the shiver that runs down her spine at the double meaning of his words. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"Dria nocks the arrow, placing her left forefinger over it to hold it steady while she brings it up and pulls back on the string to fire. "You've got good instincts. But you're too quick." He comes up beside her, one arm coming around to guide her. "The eye is more important than the hand. See your target, understand what you're aiming for, don't just physically let it fly."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"His closeness, his breath on her neck, both of these were causing her thoughts to turn and an… uncomfortable wetness to pool at the apex of her thighs. "Sight the center. The rest of the circles are irrelevant." Stephan steps back and she lets it loose, sinking the arrow into the center of the target. "Congratulations. Of course, the beginning is often promising. The trick is to keep it going that way."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She looks at him, the hidden meaning behind his words not lost on her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-align: center;" align="center"…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"As they reconvene at court later, it appears everyone else is already entertaining. "This music is charming but it would be more charming if you were dancing to it." Stephan says, seeking her out. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You're very quick with the charm and flattery. It makes you dangerous. Also how you monopolize my time." Alexandria jokes. "Have you not grown tired of me yet?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""I could never. But if it is alone time you're looking for, I have a few suggestions. For instance, this would be a beautiful night for a bath."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""A bath?" Surely she didn't hear him right. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""You can see the stars from the chamber in the north keep. It's a lovely room to bathe in, though the window is large, it's not overlooked by anybody… except the parapet opposite. But hardly anyone ever goes there."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"She looks at him with marveled shock. He had courage, she'd give him that. "Are you seriously, seriously suggesting that you want to watch me bathe?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;""Well, that is quite a leap. I would never speak so bluntly in front of a lady, a princess no less. I'd simply say that midnight is a very fine time for a bath. The world's so quiet then, you could almost believe you're the only one in it." He smiles devilishly at her while she looks on in disbelief at his boldness. "I'll leave you to consider the advantages." She stares at him as he walks away. What emwas/em she going to do?/p