It was nearly nine when Christophe finally emerged from his quarters. The Chateau was already awake and bustling with activity. The Great Hunt was one of the grandest events in Serault, and Mother was a stickler for appearances. Though the peasants were starving in their fields, nothing would put Mother off a good party.

Christophe made his way down into the main hall. Predictably, his mother was already there, standing in the middle of the room and barking orders to the scurrying servants. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head and she wore no mask-a rarity for her.

"Watch how you hold that sculpture." She snapped at a terrified looking serving girl as Christophe approached, "That was given to us by the late Emperor! If you smash it-it's your head!"

The poor girl shrieked and tried to get a better grip on the small statue she was carrying. Christophe watched her practically run from his Mother.

"Was that entirely necessary Mother?" he asked as he watched the girl flee.

"Christophe." His mother ignored his question as she turned to him, "I have arranged for you to ride with Baron de Vere. He will be able to steady your horse if it bucks unexpectedly again." She could not keep the condensation out of her tone.

Christophe flushed. His last hunt had been by no means successful, and the memory still caused a flush to creep up his face.

"Where is your sister?" His mother asked, turning away from her son without a backwards glance, "I have arranged for the Trevelyan heir from Ostwick to participate in the Hunt. It will not do for Danielle to be late."

"I have no idea." Christophe answered. He didn't know why his mother persisted in acting like he and his younger sister were close. They were as different from one another as night and day. Danielle would actually enjoy the Great Hunt, if mother would only let her participate.

His mother huffed as she busied herself with a pile of silk curtains, "If she is late for the Hunt brunch, she will know my wrath! It took nearly all connections we have left in the Free Marches to arrange for the Trevelyan child to come. If my daughter must be wed to a backwoods noble, I want to make a good first impression." She sniffed, "I want to remind him of how lucky he is to marry into a family such as ours."

Christophe was quite proud of himself when he managed to hold back his derisive snort. They were lucky that the eldest son of the Baan of Ostwick had agreed to marry Danielle. Serault was not what it once had been, no matter what his mother pretended. They had to be satisfied with what they could get.

At that moment, an attendant burst into the hall.

"Madame Marquis!" he exclaimed, dropping to his knees.

"What is it?" his mother snapped, irritated by the unexpected interruption.

"It's the Lady Danielle." The attendant gasped, "The Raven has taken her!"

The hall went suddenly silent. All eyes seemed to be on Christophe and his mother.

His mother froze, becoming so still that Christophe began to wonder if she had heard the messenger at all.

"And how, exactly, did that happen?" his mother hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

The messenger gulped, "We-we don't…know madam." The poor man looked downright terrified. The Marquis of Serault was not known for her pleasant demeanor or forgiving temper.

"And why would that be? Did I not spend coffers to ensure that my daughter was watched at all times?"

Christophe rolled his eyes- his mother was off her head if she had thought a few guards would deter his sister from escaping into the forest. There was no doubt in his mind that Danielle had gotten herself into the situation she now found herself in. There was also nothing he could do to help. The Raven was a notorious nuisance to the nobility in the area. She would release Danielle, most likely unharmed, when she chose to do so and not a minute before. It looked like the social gathering Mother had been envisioning was slowly unraveling.

Christophe wandered off towards the kitchens with a sigh, clocking a rabbit upside the head that dared look at him crossly as he walked over the freshly polished floors. He would have to cooks make him some proper breakfast, and then retire to his study. Most likely, his mother would have her hands full with Danielle for the rest of the day. His encounter with the countess was looking less and less likely.