Several days had passed since I went to the Tower. I half expected to be dragged back there by a band of Chasseurs after my impertinence towards their Captain. After my initial anger had cleared, I couldn't believe what I had done. The words I had wielded against him echoed in my mind as I tried to sleep, and I couldn't keep his face from my mind as he stared at me with shock and disbelief. Such hatred towards the Chasseurs as I had displayed was akin to sympathising with witches.

Meanwhile we had received word from the coven. The next stage of our plan would commence during the King's parade the following day. Amongst the heavy crowds, we would be undetected – hopefully.

The afternoon sun was streaming into the attic. As I mulled over the events at the Tower and the plans for tomorrow, I lay like a cat on the mattress, basking in the warmth.

Belle stood with her face pressed to the window. 'Is that?...' The disbelief colouring her voice had me rushing over to join her.

The panic that had been steadily thrumming through my veins for the past four days began clawing it's way up my throat at the sight that met my eyes.

It was the Chasseur Captain. Outside our house. Pacing back and forth on the cobbles.

This was it. We were done for.

'Oh lord…' I breathed.

Belle looked up at me, fear blazing in her dark eyes.

'I'll handle this.' I blurted, before flying out the door and down the stairs. I hesitated in the doorway onto the street. The Captain was still wearing a hole in the ground.

Before I lost my nerve and bolted, I advanced towards him. He still hadn't seen me.

'Captain…' I began.

'Mademoiselle-' His eyes widened in surprise before he regained his composure.

Looking up at the Captain, I felt a blush rising in my cheeks as I remembered the way I had spoken to him in the courtyard of the Tower.

The silence between us was growing as he looked at me and I tried to look anywhere but his face.

'I should not have-'

'I came here to-'

We spoke over each other.

I glanced up at him and was surprised by what I saw. There was a slight colour in his cheeks, and he was fiddling with the clasp on his cape.

He didn't look angry. He seemed almost… nervous.

I had only ever seen him move with purpose and surety. The way he carried me out of the tunnel and how he held himself in the dungeon spoke of a self-assured confidence and authority. There were barely traces of that in the man who stood before me.

He cleared his throat. 'I came here to apologise. How you were treated by myself, and my men was abominable'.

'Oh.' I couldn't conceal the surprise from my voice.

'You were right. We looked down on you, treated you with suspicion, disregarded what you had to say.' He grew more assured as he spoke. 'I can see how intimidating and uncomfortable it must have been for you.' The breeze blew dark curls into his eyes and he pushed them back with impatience. 'And there were highly inappropriate and less than savoury assumptions made. For which there have been… consequences.' He grimaced.

A sense of smug satisfaction filled me at the thought of Pierre being reprimanded by the Captain, his beady blue eyes repentant and head bowed in penitence.

'We failed to uphold the tenets of our order. And for that I am truly am sorry.'

I felt slightly breathless at the depth of sincerity I saw in his green eyes which hadn't left my own throughout the duration of his speech.

I nodded. 'Oh- well, thank you.' I wasn't sure what to say. An apology was the last reason I would have expected for his visit.

'I hope you will be able to forgive us, Mademoiselle.' He gently took my hand in his and brought it to his lips. 'I will take my leave of you now.'

This time it was I who was left staring blankly after him.