Vero excused them and they left the dovecote.

Inquiring with the servants, they found the Marquise had gone to the old Imperial-style baths with her handmaids after returning from the funeral. The baths were in a light and airy room on the first floor, kept heated by an underground furnace. They were, of course, segregated between men and women.

Vero suggested that Mattias make use of the facilities while they were there, however he chose to remain outside. Although he assured her he was still within earshot of a shout, in case he was needed.

Vero undressed in the outer room and entered the lovely warm and humid atmosphere of the bathing chamber. She found the Marquise attended by her omni-present maids. Despite the ridiculous nature of the gesture when not wearing any clothes, Vero offered a deep curtsy.

“Oh, do stop being so formal, Vero. Join us.”

Obeying instructions, she slipped into the water. The temperature was perpetually perfect.

Vero drifted over towards the Marquise. “I need to speak with you, my Lady.”

“Well, it seems you’ve already started.” She laughed. “So do continue, please.”

“My apologies, I meant to say that I need to speak with you in private.”

The Marquise became a touch more serious, but continued to smile at her. “You heard the young woman; she needs to speak to me in private.”

The maids each started to leave, while Vero came to a stop beside the Marquise. She began to examine the lines of muscle down Vero’s arm as the others departed.

“You’re really rather muscular, aren’t you dear?”

“I exercise often, my Lady.”

“Yes, I can see that. Your very pretty, but if it weren’t for the slight curve at your breasts… I might easily take you for a boy.”

“Perhaps… had I a lance.”

“You would ask for my favor?” The Marquise giggled again.

Vero felt rather giddy herself in the heat. “My Lady, I have a rather serious favor to ask of you. But I must ask you some questions first.”

“Well, if it’s serious, then it had best not wait. What is it?”

“Your father arranged both your wedding and your sister’s, didn’t he? Your sister to tame the king, and you for the counterbalance, I believe…?”

“Yes.”

“And if your loyalty to your father and your loyalty to your husband were ever placed into conflict?”

The Marquise’s eyes turned very cold. “I want to know why you would ask me such a question, right now.”

“I need to know if I can trust you.”

The Marquise held her in a hard gaze for several moments before deciding to reply. “If so- then I won’t lie to you. I was a daughter before I was a wife. And my husband knows better than to ask me to act against my family’s interests. It’s all part of our arrangement.”

“I thank you for your honesty. Does your sister feel the same?”

“To my knowledge, she does.”

“Then I hope that your family’s interests and your husband’s coincide on this matter. I believe that they do. I wonder if you could ask your sister to make some discreet inquiries on our behalf. I have reason to suspect that there’s a plot against Jean originating from the capital.”

“At what level of the capital are we speaking?”

“From the king’s court itself. The chancellor inadvertently passed secret information to members of his own family, who then allowed them to fall into the hands of a group of conspirators working against Jean there.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The Marquise listened patiently, while Vero unraveled the entire thread of her investigation and the threat of the maleficar. At last, exhausted, Vero finished her story.

She let herself sink down into the water, until only her head remained above the surface.

The Marquise took some time to absorb everything Vero had told her before speaking again. “I’ll do everything I can to help you, of course. I feel I owe it to that poor serving girl. And you, Vero, how are you holding up under this burden?”

“As well as I can manage.”

“You loved Antoinette very much, didn’t you?”

Vero nodded.

The Marquise took her hand. “I’m so sorry, dear heart.”

“I may be leaving soon. As soon as the poisoner is caught, I’ll decide. Decide if I go, or if I stay.” Floating in the water, Vero felt calmer and more focused than she had since coming to the castle.

“I- didn’t know you were considering departing.”

“I made up my mind to go. And then to stay. And now I have no notion of what I should do.”

“Why do you wish to leave?”

“I don’t belong here.”

“Oh?” The Marquise lifted herself up and rested her arms on the edge of the pool. “I confess, when I first heard your accent… I wondered why Jean was so taken with a farm girl that he appeared to have pulled out of a barn, put in a dress, and draped in emeralds. I’ve since come to believe there’s much more to you than that. There are rumors you’re a witch, but you’re not the first woman in an envied position to be accused of such. Anyone with any sense knows the accusations are spurious. The rumor mill will grow bored with you soon, they always do.”

“I suspect everyone will grow bored with me soon. I’d rather leave by my own choice than be thrown out.”

“I won’t pretend I’ve never seen Jean grow bored with one of his mistresses, but he always treated them very generously. And I cannot recall ever seeing one ‘thrown out’ as you say.”

“I still dread the prospect.”

“Listen, the way Jean looks at you is different than I’ve seen look at any other woman. Except one. And he certainly never countenanced throwing her out.” The Marquise pulled Vero into a soft embrace. “And even if he was fool enough to try, I would simply take you in as one of my ladies in waiting… and that would be the end of it.” The Marquise began to massage her back. “May I ask you a question, Vero? It’s rather direct…”

“I prefer direct questions, my Lady.”

“I know my husband well, and I know he loves you. But I realize I’ve never asked: Do you love him?”

Vero wanted to answer at once, but she thought about it very carefully. “Yes, I do. If I didn’t… I don’t think I would have any decision to make at all, if I didn’t love him. I suppose it’s rather arrogant of me, but I’m afraid to leave… because I fear that I may hurt him.”

The Marquise held Vero close, and kissed her cheeks. She whispered into Vero’s ear in a way that reminded her very much of Mama. “My advice is this: Do what feels true to you, and don’t fear for Jean. What I see- is that he loves you, because he admires you. Stay for yourself, or not at all. If you cage yourself to protect him, he won’t thank you for it.”

When they left the bath Vero’s fingers and toes were wrinkled from the water. The handmaids were waiting in the dressing room and helped them back into their clothes. Some of the maids kept giving her curious smiles. Vero realized that she still wore some of the Marquise’s lip paint on her face from the kisses they shared.

She wiped it off.

Outside the dressing room, they found Mattias was still waiting where she left him.

He bowed to the Marquise as she passed with her entourage, then turned to Vero. “Have you identified the blackguard yet?”

Vero nodded.

He appeared somewhat astonished. “Who?”

Vero narrowed her eyes at him. “We know it’s you. You’ve been very sly to shadow the investigation so closely as you have, but no longer.”

Mattias looked confused and shook his head. “No? No! My lady, whatever lies were told to you, I swear-”

Vero tried to hold her face as long as possible, but could not manage even a few moments before bursting into laughter. The Marquise and her maids restrained themselves to polite smiles, but Vero felt so completely hysterical she could only speak through laughing gasps.

“I’m- I’m sorry Mattias. I do- I do think I know who is responsible- it will take some days- to know for sure. I feel very silly- Perhaps I’m just relieved my part in this is over…”

The Marquise and her maids vanished like phantoms, while Vero was still recovering herself. She wiped the tears from her eyes with the cuff of her dress.

She was no longer sure if she was laughing or crying.

“Godsdamnit! Scared me to death! And right in front of the lord’s wife-!” Mattias was momentarily outraged before he remembered himself. “That’s not a very charitable thing to say, my Lady. I apologize.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Please don’t be. I’m the one who takes himself too seriously.” He appeared genuinely embarrassed.

“There’s just no reason to think you’re the maleficar. It isn’t even possible. I only thought it a jest. It wasn’t my intention to try and create a scandal. I haven’t any courtly manners.”

“It’s forgotten, my Lady.”

“After- you’re my closest friend here… besides Jean. And that’s different. It troubles me to have you angry with me. I don’t have anyone else anymore.”

“I swear to you, I’m not angry.” He held her and helped to wipe away her tears. “I- lost… I lost a brother. During the Battle of the Whitewood. I know it’s not… easy… Vero.” The sheriff cleared his throat and seemed at a loss for words.

Vero realized she was embarrassing them both.

“Thank-you, Mattie. You have been a tremendous help to me.”

“Have I? I wasn’t aware of it.”

Vero laughed again, but more controllably. “You certainly have. Now, I’m going to find Jean and explain all this to him.”

“Allow me to escort you to his chambers.”

“I’d like to be alone to think for a moment before I see him. But thank-you again, for your assistance. For your companionship.”

“As you wish.” He gave her a bow, and watched as she departed alone.