Chapter 30

For the next few days Narcisse tried to stay out of Catherine's way in order to avoid any further confrontation. There was this tense, almost hostile atmosphere that also affected their servants.
He didn't know whether Catherine appreciated or regretted him moving out of their shared chambers as both of them didn't ever mention it.
For all he knew she still went for a ride almost daily and he let her but for the time being he ordered Fabrice to follow her at some distance and made him responsible for her well-being on these rides.
The episode in the thunderstorm along with the anxiety he had to endure lasted him a lifetime.

Rafael's presence turned out to be a blessing as both brothers had some catching up to do and the time they spent together improved their relationship significantly. And he distracted him from his marital problems and the helplessness he wasn't used to feel where women were concerned.
For he still didn't know how to deal with Catherine and the unpleasant situation they got themself into. Stephane still felt completely overwhelmed. How in the name of god should he behave towards her? It never was his intention to banish her from his daily life but the feelings that she were causing him were overly powerful and he feared being carried away to do somenthing ill-advised by just one false or rebellious word she might say.
So he chose the cowardly way of ignorance. At least until he came up with an idea how to be close to her again without coming undone with desire or anger.
If his behavior irritated her, she didn't give him the slightest indication but hid her feelings behind a graceful mask of indifference.

During meals their conversations were usually about little John or matters of state. In addition Rafael had a talent to loosen up the tension by telling them little anecdotes about his adventures abroad.

"We have received an invitation to Lord and Lady Lelange's Autumn Ball. Would you like to go?" Catherine surprisingly addressed him while they waited for their desserts.
Stephane scrutinizingly looked at his wife who was wearing a low-cut velvet dress tonight that was showing off her soft curves impressively.
"If you want to go we can accept the invitation," he answered diplomatically whereupon Catherine rolled her eyes at him.

"Does this mean our Lord Chancellor leaves it up to his wife to make a decision?" Her snappy response didn't surprise him at all and for peace's sake he refrained from a harsh reply.
"Yeah, you're perfectly welcome to decide for us, Catherine." Though he tried to suppress his frustration, his voice sounded anything but calm.
"Typical," she snorted.
"What? First you raise a complaint about me making decisions without consulting you first and in case I leave it up to you, you still have something to complain about?" He just couldn't figure out this woman.
"Sure. Fine. Whatever. Well, then we're going."

Their servants chose this very moment to serve numerous plates loaded with sweet treats. The sight of the food immediately softened Catherine's features and something that could almost be interpreted as a smile appeared on her face.
In order not to dampen the prevailing mood even further the Lord Chancellor relinquished any further comment but focused on his dessert instead.

"What if this is some kind of a trap?"
His wife suddenly broke the silence while lowering her fork she was just about to put into her mouth.
"Excuse me?" Stephane looked up from his plate in irritation.
"This invitation! They only invited us Stephane, not Charles. And you have spread the information that Charles is with us right now. So accepting this invitation would mean leaving the King of France behind with only a small battalion of guards, as the Lord Chancellor and Queen Mother surely will not travel unguarded. Accepting this invitation would force us to divide our forces. And this would leave Charles more vulnerable than ever before."

"Isn't this a little far-fetched to believe? Who shall be behind a conspiracy of that magnitude? Lord Lelange? As far as I can tell he has always been loyal to Henry."
Catherine appeared to consider his words. She pushed back her half-empty plate and started to play with her wedding ring, absorbed in thought.
"Hasn't Lelange lost two of his merchant ships recently? I also seem to remember him selling off a significant part of his lands last year." Catherine had risen and circled the table.
"Then Lelange may be an ill-fated or lousy businessman for all I care but that does not make him a traitor of the crown!"

"Or maybe some unknown enemy of the crown wants to use this invitation for his own benefit? This train of thought seems plausible. And as far as I understand it there are more than enough individual or even groups of people who may feel ill-disposed towards the Valois family." Rafael suddenly intervened, supporting Catherine and her wild theory.
"We're talking about an invitation to a ball! And you two suspect a conspiracy behind it?"
"Stephane, even if this invitation is not a conspiracy per se, yet our acceptance would mean taking a serious risk nevertheless. If we can develop a thought like this – who else could come up with this idea? No one is aware that Charles isn't with us but staying in the monastery."

His wife came to a halt just behind him and clasped his shoulders with her hands to give point to her words. Rafael nodded in agreement at the other end of the table.
"Okay, point taken - it would be a good opportunity. Theoretically. So what do you propose we do?" Stephane raised one of his hands and placed it over Catherine's smaller one.
"Decline, of course. We certainly will not give them such an opportunity on a gold plate."

Slowly the Lord Chancellor turned on his chair. He clasped his wife's waist and gently pulled her in his direction until he could look her straight in the eye.
"Or we accept the invitation for the sake of appearance, lure these bastards here and give them a most fitting welcome that will send them straight to hell!"

I'm sorry it took me so long to post an update. I had to work on the upcoming plot and since I'm also working on other fanfics - finding enough time is always an issue.

But I'm still here and I hope you're also still on board.

Many thanks for your recent reviews. I'm happy that there are still readers out there that enjoy this fanfic. You're the best!