And another chapter the same day to make it up to you. I haven't forgotten you, nor have I lost my inspiration. Cheers!
The arrival of Princess Claude to the castle had given way to a welcome banquet in her name. Lola was beginning to feel fed up with all those celebrations and banquets, where an unimaginable amount of food was being prepared (and most of it thrown away) for the guests while the people was dying of hunger. But who was she to judge? She was but a mere sheep in this world of powerful and influent wolves. Her eyes met her husband's and that's when Lola realized something: indeed, she was at the mercy of a very big and influent wolf, an alpha wolf… but, if she really wanted to, she had the power to influence that wolf into doing what she wanted. She smiled softly at Lord Narcisse and wondered if he would let her wrap him around her finger. He was far too smart not to notice… how far would he let her go in this game?
"What is on your mind, lovely one?"
"Nothing of great importance… I… was admiring this banquet…" She wondered if he could tell when she was lying. His look told her that he could, which made Lola blush. She avoided to look into his eyes and noticed Claude pouring herself yet another glass of wine.
"It is told that Princess Claude is sexually advanced… are they rumours or facts?", she asked casually, but discreetly enough so that no one would overhear her. She heard Lord Narcisse chuckled behind her back.
"Why are you asking me this question? What makes you think that I have an answer?"
"Oh please… you know all of the gossips at court… I'm sure you're using that information for your own dark purposes" Lola turned around with a raised eyebrow. She, too, could play this game. Her husband grinned and brought his golden wine cup to his lips, letting the suspense linger between them. Of course he knew more than he cared to show. He was playing with her. She would soon be playing, too.
"Why is it of such importance?"
"Don't pretend you don't know… it is always useful to know people's weaknesses…"
"Indeed… you're learning fast, sweet wife. Now tell me why you want to know about Princess Claude's sex life? Are you planning a coup-d'état?"
"Actually, I really don't want to know. It was out of curiosity, nothing more" Lola gave up. He was infuriating her to no means. She wished she could slap him, but she was too scared of the consequences. She didn't want to tempt the devil. She was aware that Lord Narcisse gave her many liberties and she didn't want to go through restrictions.
"Lola…" It was Francis who had spoken to her. "I hope that you are enjoying yourself. I wanted to speak to you… in private", he added with a piercing look at Narcisse. Lola felt like she had to defend her husband, but she knew that it wouldn't be appropriate.
"Of course Francis…", she handed her cup to a servant and followed Francis out of the throne room. They walked through the corridors for a few minutes before eventually reaching Francis' study. He opened the door and let Lola enter the room first in a gesture of gallantry. She had never let that fool her, no matter who had shown her this courtesy. Francis locked the door behind them. Lola understood that this was no mere chat between friends… Francis needed something from her.
"What is it you want to discuss, Francis?"
"How are you feeling, Lola? Is… Narcisse still treating you well?"
"He is a very respectable husband… but you haven't brought me here to discuss my arranged marriage. What is it that you want from me?"
"I wondered… just how close exactly are you? I suppose he lets you live under his roof"
"Excuse me?... of course he does, he doesn't make me sleep in the stables if that is your question"
"No I… Lola I need you to do something for me… and I am certain that you'll understand the necessity of this task…" Lola had a very strange feeling in her heart that Francis would ask her to do something against her husband.
"What is it that you want of me?"
"Lola… Narcisse is dangerous?"
"I beg you pardon? He is dangerous and yet you seem to be ready to embrace him politically and to marry a friend of yours off to him…" Francis sighed.
"I need to know… what is between you? Does he trust you already? Would he suspect you of anything?"
"Francis…"
"He is dangerous", the King interrupted her, "more than you can think. I realize that what Mary and I have decided for you might even put you in danger if you aren't careful. You are returning to his estate this afternoon… in less than a few hours… which is why I need to ask something of you…" Lola glared at her friend, or rather at the man she had once considered a friend. What exactly was he trying to achieve? He was so undecided. Why would he marry her to a dangerous man?
"Once you're back at his place… at your place… try to divert him and hide this envelope somewhere he won't find it…" Francis asked of her, taking the so called envelope out of his breast pocket and handing it to Lola. She looked suspicious and wanted to know what this envelope contained, but as if reading her mind, Francis shook his head.
"It is better if you don't know what's inside. You will be safe if he doesn't know that you have hidden it, therefore you must be really careful when hiding it…"
"Francis you are asking me to do something that might harm my husband…"
"I can only say that this is an insurance should he make himself an enemy of the crown… Lola believe me this is just a warning nothing more… if anybody should find it, you wouldn't be in danger…" Lola wasn't entirely sure if she should accept. Francis wasn't her King, he couldn't command her.
"Where am I supposed to hide it? It's not as if he leaves me alone for hours…" Francis looked at her intently. His jaw tightened as he answered;
"You'll find an opportunity…"
"Francis, you are asking me to betray a dangerous and powerful man for you, a man who also happens to be my husband, which gives him far too much power over my life" Lola almost screamed at the King, feeling more than unfairly treated.
"You are not a French subject, I can't order you to do it. Which is why I'm asking you to trust me with this… Based on all you know about both of us, I am asking you to choose who you think is the better man…" Lola was feeling lost. She wished someone would help her through this. "If you think it's me then help me destroy a man who would shed any amount of blood to get what he wants" Lola looked at the envelope, pondering her options. She didn't really have another choice: if she didn't do it, someone else would. Sighing heavily, she took the envelope and hid it in her dress. Francis smiled gratefully at her.
"You are a good woman, Lola. We are doing our best to protect you…" Lola nodded and made it to the door, which was still unlocked.
"May I leave now?", she asked, remembering her manners.
"Of course… the key is on the table"
*0*0*0*
Hours later, Lola and Narcisse reached their estate. During the ride, Lola had felt the envelope press against her bared skin, feeling heavy as if she was had been carrying a burden only she knew the existence of. In fact, it had been precisely what she had been doing. She felt dizzy when she thought about the consequences of her acts. Narcisse could easily kill her if he found out. She was certain that he could make it look like an accident. It made her feel scared, insecure… and how would she get rid of him long enough to hide this envelope?
"I feel like having a bath", he told her, brushing his lips over her forehead sensually, "Care to join me?" Lola saw there the only opportunity to be left alone for at least a few minutes. She nodded and smiled as if nothing was bothering her.
"Of course… go on and draw it for us, I'll join you soon…" If the envelope hadn't been on her mind, she would have felt nervous about sharing a bath with Narcisse, but at the moment she had a problem greater than this. She needed to hide this for Francis. She wondered why she was doing this! The reason for this was, she didn't trust Narcisse completely yet… she knew that he was capable of horrible things.
"As you command my Lady", he told her with a grin and disappeared. Lola looked around rapidly, wondering where she could possibly hide this thing. A place no one would look at… a place no one (not even potential spies sent by Francis) would find. She decided to hide it behind a painting (not ideal, but Narcisse would soon return and if he saw her hiding something… she'd have time to think of a better hiding place later). Lola quickly lifted the painting and placed the envelope behind it. As she was putting the paining back in its initial place, Narcisse reappeared and looked patronisingly at her. Lola felt herself blush.
"I was about to join you…" Narcisse nodded.
"Indeed…" Lola cleared her throat and followed her husband into the bathroom, where the bath was already steaming. After the long ride and the rush of adrenaline, she needed to relax. Shyly, she unclad herself and watched her husband reveal his very well-built body. She cleared her throat once again and licked her dried lips.
"You don't have to be shy you know, dear wife… we are married… besides you don't have anything to be ashamed of" Lola smiled at the compliment and took place in the tub, pressing her back against Narcisse's chest. His arms wrapped around her waist so that his hands rested on her stomach. For a long time they stayed enlaced this way, enjoying the warmth embracing them.
"This feels right…", she whispered, forgetting all her worries.
"Indeed… baths are a nice place to discuss philosophy… it's a place where both of us are vulnerable… so tell me Lola, what have you hidden behind that painting?" Lola tensed. He had noticed.
"I… it was… I was told…"
"By King Francis… Lola… what was it?"
"I don't know, I swear" She hoped he would believe her. She didn't want him to hurt her, not know that she was beginning to find him more or less nice to be around. She pinched her eyes shut and expected a blow, a slap, anything that would have punished her. But no punishment came. She waited, but didn't feel any pain.
"I believe you… I'll let you finish your bath alone. Join me afterwards in the living room. There are things we need to discuss, you and I"
"I will understand if you don't want me as your wife anymore" Lola said as Narcisse stepped out of the tub. He turned around and grinned at her.
"Lola… you are young. You are easily influenced. And you need people you can trust around you. I promise you, when you join you will see me without defences. I will tell you my most profound secret. You are my wife, my very naïve wife indeed… I won't hurt you, I will merely try to make you understand… certain things… but finish your bath, we'll have time to discuss this later on" Lola felt relieved and ashamed at the same time. She wondered what it was Narcisse wanted to tell her. She finished her bath quickly dried her wet body with a towel. When she entered the living room, she saw Narcisse standing in front of the hearth with the envelope in his hands.
"I am sorry… I really didn't know what was inside that envelope…"
"Let's say that if anybody had found it, it could have got me killed. If I didn't suspect King Francis was behind all this and for good reason… I'd say that you wanted to get rid of me so you could get my fortune…"
"I would never…"
"Hush", he interrupted her sharply, before throwing the envelope in the fire, "I told you already I believe you. I know why Francis wanted you to hide this envelope… and I will tell you something… I will entrust to you a secret that could get me killed…" Lola felt scared. She knew that this matter was serious, she could feel it. She was glad that Lord Narcisse had found the letter. Despite not wishing to admit it, she didn't want anything to happen to him
"What secret…", she asked. She attentively listened to her husband's tale.