Gossip

by Cay Templeton

  “Sit here,” suggested the Captain. “Please, take a moment to collect yourself.”

  “Thank you,” Claire said, still trying to take everything in.

  A symphony of crickets chirped in the air and the moonlight still shone brightly, enough that no candles were needed to see the Captain clearly as they talked.

  “Feel better?” he asked.

  “Much,” Claire said, not truly believing her own words.

  “If I may ask, what happened just now in the hall?”

  Claire’s eyes rushed up to meet his. “I saw the King.”

  The Captain paused before letting out a long sigh. “Judging by your reaction you did not know, and I see no point in keeping it from you.”

  “Please tell me,” Claire pleaded. “What do you know?”

  “As you can tell, I am far too young to have been here when you were born. Having said that, your mother is well known amongst all the servants in the castle for her kindness.”

  “Is that why all those servants were looking at me when we entered the throne room?”

  The Captain bowed his head in affirmation. “You look just like her.”

  Feeling uncomfortable from the compliment, Claire looked down.

  “You see, the other mistresses of the King took his gifts and enjoyed being spoiled. Most tended to treat the servants poorly. Not your mother. She was a kind woman who gave almost everything away. She understood the harshness of a servant’s life.”

  Claire bit her lower lip. “Was this the one gift she kept?”

  She held up the medallion hanging on the chain around her neck.

  Again, the Captain bowed his head with confirmation.

  “Why would the King send her away?”

  “He did not send her away. She left on her own accord. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the King loved your mother more than any other woman, even Queen Sophia.”

  “Then, what happened?”

  The Captain shrugged. “From what I understand, after she learned that the Queen was pregnant, she vanished.”

  “Vanished?” Claire repeated.

  “She snuck from her chambers and out of the castle. Everyone claimed they did not know where she had gone. Though, it is common knowledge amongst the servants that she had help from not only her handmaidens but also some of the cooks and groundskeepers. It was the least they could do for all her kindness. After she was gone, they were sworn to secrecy.”

  “It does not make sense,” Claire chimed in. “Why would she leave if the King loved her so?”

  “As rumor has it, he never knew about you,” The Captain sat down next to Claire on the cement bench. He handed her a handkerchief for the oncoming tears.

  “He never knew you were born. What I can tell you is that life after your mother’s disappearance was dreadful for everyone. The King’s anger was taken out on his people. He only found joy again after Prince Fabian was born.”

  Claire sniffled into the handkerchief. Tears fell freely down her cheeks.

  “You were kind to tell me all this,” Claire sobbed.

  The Captain put his arms around her. “You are an important part of this country’s history, Claire. The least you can do is know it.”

  Claire rose from her seat and began to drift across the balcony as she spoke. “You seem to be in the know.”

  “When I was younger, I traveled all over Asia and eastern Europe,” explained the Captain.

  “That is why you can speak German.” Claire interjected.

  The Captain smiled at her, and then continued. “I studied a lot, learned languages, certainly. Philosophy, fighting techniques, and the value of paying attention.”

  “How did you end up here in Paris?”

  “This is my home. I was born just outside the city walls.”

  “And when you came back you joined the royal guard?”

  The Captain looked at Claire with an amused smile. “You could say, it kind of fell into my lap.”

  After wandering halfway across the balcony during the conversation, Claire turned and made her way to the bench the Captain was still seated on. She sat back down next to him.

  “Do you mind telling me the story?”

  The Captain leaned back against the wall behind him in thought. The moonlight still captured his strong, determined chin perfectly.

  “The first thing I heard after crossing the French border was that Prince Fabian was having a masked ball for all eligible ladies in the kingdom. Everyone in the town was going to be there, and I thought it might be a great way to-” he stopped abruptly, and searched for the right words. “reacquaint myself with Paris. When I came upon the gate, it was late in the evening. I tried to get into the ball, but the guard was relentless about only letting in guests with invitations. I thought about climbing over the wall but there were guards posted too close together to make a safe entry.

  “I had only been trying to get in for about five minutes or so before the midnight bells rang. I figured the festivities would be over shortly and there was no point in staying longer.

  “Just as the thought ran through my mind, the now Queen Isabella came out of the gates frantically. She lost her footing and fell flat on her face. During that fall, her shoe went flying from her foot and landed on the ground.

  “She hurried into her carriage and rode off down some hidden path as quickly as possible. As Prince Fabian came running out, he scooped up her tiny glass slipper into his hand and screamed, ‘Find her, find that girl! There will be a reward for the man who can bring me that girl!’

  “I was the only one who had seen which way she had gone. I pushed my horse through the woods to catch her carriage and I did with no trouble. Staying out of sight, I followed behind Queen Isabella for some time. Finally, the carriage pulled off the road and into the back gate of the Mon Reve Chateau.

  “I tied off my horse and snuck over the wall. I saw Queen Isabella slip into the house while, the butler, it looked like, pulled the carriage into the barn. That was the last I saw her that night.”

  Claire leaned forward, enthralled with the Captain’s memory of the ever-famous night.

  “Please continue,” she breathed with excitement.

  “The next morning, I learned quickly about how desperate the Prince was to find the identity of his mysterious guest. I knew immediately what had to be done.

  “Now being daytime, it was easier to see the weaknesses in the walls around the castle and there were no guards stationed at the top like there had been the previous night. I simply found the lowest point and climbed over. Once I was in, I just needed to find the Prince and hope he would hear me out.

  “I did not make it but a couple of steps before one of the guards saw me. They chased me all the way through the front doors and the entrance hall of the castle. I had reached my hand up to enter the throne room door when two guards tackled me to the ground. I struggled to break free but they were much larger than I.”

  “You must have done something valiant. You are now the Captain of the royal guard.”

  “Of course. I found the King his bride. While lying on the floor under the mass of those two large guards, I screamed so loud that I think the whole world could hear me. The Prince came stomping out of a side room with a small group of his advisors.”

  “So, he was not even in the throne room?”

  “I was just as surprised, but no, he was not. He looked down at me struggling and said, ‘What is the meaning of this intrusion?’ The guard on top of me said, ‘Nothing, Sire. Just some beggar wanting some food.’

  “‘Not true,’ I shouted right before I was punched in the face by the same guard. ‘Get him out of here,’ the Prince spouted. But then I screamed the only thing I could think of, ‘I know her! I know the girl you seek.’

  “The Prince quickly spun on his heel and studied me closely. He did not move for several moments, but then came over and knelt down beside me. ‘You know her?’ he whispered. I nodded my head the best I could.

/>   “‘Here is the bargain I will strike with you. If you can show me where she is, I will raise your station to my royal guard. After all, you were clever enough to get all the way into the entrance hall unscathed.’

  “I could feel the weight of the guards on top of me bearing down at the comment. Clearly, they were not as pleased with how clever I was.

  “‘What say you?’ Prince Fabian asked with more kindness than I would expect he shares with most peasants. I nodded in agreement.

  “‘Very well, let him up,’ he ordered.

  “‘The girl that you seek is at the Mon Reve Chateau.’

  “The next thing I knew, two of the Prince’s advisors scurried out the front door. ‘You will wait here with me,’ Prince Fabian said calmly. I knew then he was sizing me up and hoped I was right in knowing where to find his future queen.”

  “And you were right,” Claire acknowledged.

  “Less than an hour later Isabella was brought to the castle where she told her sad life story to the Prince, and shortly after that, the two were married.”

  “Quite impressive,” Claire said, still caught up in it all.

  “A story for the ages, to be sure. And I can think of no better place to tell you all this,” he admitted.

  Claire looked at him, puzzled.

  The Captain clasped his hands together before moving to the center of the large balcony, stretched his arms out, and spun around.

  “Look around.”

  She turned in every direction taking in the beautiful marble terrace until at last her eyes lit up. A huge, ten story clock tower stood right next to them. Claire rose, excitedly. “This is where they danced.”

  The Captain nodded.

  Claire moved towards him. “Do you dance, Captain?”

  The Captain’s eyes dropped.

  “Victor does not care for it much either,” she noted.

  “You two are an interesting couple,” admitted the Captain.

  Claire let out a little huff. “Why does everyone think we are together?”

  The Captain crossed his arms and stood very firmly in place.

  “He protects you.”

  “No more than he would his sister,” Claire said dismissively.

  The Captain walked over to Claire and offered his arm to her. “Would you care to put a wager on that?” the Captain offered.

  “I would be more than happy to prove it to you.”

  Claire looked away, agitated. “I do not think that is necessary.”

  “That is because you already know it to be true.”

  Finally taking his arm, she sighed. “I did not come to France so strangers could tell me how to act around my friend.”

  The Captain chuckled.

  “Fine!” Claire snapped. “Put it to a test, if you must, but you are wasting your time.”

  The two started across the balcony towards the entrance to the castle.

  “I do not believe so, Mademoiselle Du Bois. You will see. There will come a time when Victor will put his life in danger to save yours.”

  “He is foolish, is all.”

  The Captain continued forward. “What kind of men are we, if not fools in love?”

  Chapter 17

  “The Queen's Tale”

  A loud rap at the bedchamber door startled Claire awake.

  Upon opening it, Claire saw the Captain standing alone in the hall. His hands rested comfortably at his sides. He bowed.

  “Mademoiselle, I do apologize for waking you, but the King and Queen would like to see you now.”

  Claire yawned and wiped the sleep from her eyes. “Of course. I will get dressed immediately.”

  Just as she said this, two young lady’s maids snuck past her into the room, carrying an elegant dress and shoes.

  “I will return with Victor shortly.”

  Not showing much propriety in her curtsy, Claire yawned again before shutting the door.

  Half an hour passed before the anticipated knock came. Sure enough, the Captain stood just as he had before, except, Victor now stood behind him.

  “Victor!” Claire said in an excited tone and leapt into the hall, hugging him.

  “Umf,” Victor grunted on the impact.

  “Sorry,” Claire said, pulling away self-consciously.

  “I do not mind the hug, just not so enthusiastically next time, perhaps,” Victor said with a grin.

  Claire’s eyes slid over to the Captain, who, unsurprisingly, had a raised brow.

  “This way,” he said, and started down the hall.

  ***

  When they entered, Claire caught the attention of the many nobles congregated in the throne room. This time Claire was prepared for all eyes to follow her every move until they stood before the King and Queen.

  “Your Majesties,” she said, and curtsied.

  Before even a word was spoken, Claire could swear the King gasped when he saw her. She glanced up at him nervously.

  “So, you are the one Isabella was telling me so much about last night,” said the King. “She tells me that you have come a long way to be here today.”

  “Stuttgart,” Claire confirmed, sheepishly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “We are from Stuttgart, Your Majesty,” Victor said, stepping in.

  Claire didn’t even look at Victor but hoped that he wouldn’t say anything that would get them into more trouble.

  “Germany,” King Fabian said quickly. “I do wonder what has brought you so far from home?”

  “I am sure the Queen has told you that I am a guest of the Countess De Leon at her home,” said Claire timidly.

  The whole room started whispering as the gossip flew from lip to lip. Claire looked around the room at all the shocked and concerned expressions.

  King Fabian slammed a staff hard against the floor and it echoed throughout the hall. “Silence!” he screamed at his court.

  The room obeyed, though an occasional head still shook with disbelief.

  “The Countess De Leon,” the King retorted. “No one has talked to her in years. She has been caged up in that home of hers for quite some time. Who even knows if she still has all her faculties about her?”

  The Court laughed at the King’s joke. He looked around, pleased with himself.

  “With all due respect, Your Highness, the Countess De Leon wanted to speak with me because I am a close friend with one of her favorite authors, the Baron Dupree.”

  “Nonsense,” the Queen interjected. “She brought you here to tell lies.”

  Claire bowed her head, not wanting to make eye contact with either the King or Queen.

  “My dear, please calm yourself,” the King said, raising his hand to the Queen.

  The Queen fell back in her chair with arms crossed, grimacing.

  The King turned his attention once again to Claire. “The Baron Dupree, I am not familiar with his work. Please, tell me why he interested the Countess so?”

  Claire began biting her lower lip. “Well, you see, Your Majesty, the Baron is an author . . .”

  “Yes.”

  “Well the Countess wanted to . . . to . . .”

  “It is all right. Please, go on,” said the King, kindly encouraging her.

  “She wanted to tell you lies, is that it?” snapped the Queen. “She wanted to . . .”

  “Just say it! She wanted to tell you what a horrible little girl I was!”

  “Well . . .” Claire stumbled over her words. Beads of sweat lined her forehead and her breathing grew heavy.

  “What she means to say is that the Baron sent her here on his behalf. He wanted to know more about the ever-so-famous tale of the Queen and her evil stepmother,” Victor said, stepping forward and taking Claire’s hand into his.

  Claire’s eyes instantly dropped to look at their hands intertwined and then back up to Victor. He did not return the gaze, but instead kept his eyes on the Queen.

  “Why can she not answer for herself?” the Queen said sharply.

  Victor smiled h
andsomely and bowed as he spoke. “Mademoiselle Du Bois is overwhelmed by your magnificence, Your Majesty. The story of the cruelty you suffered has reached even our ears in Germany.”

  The King grabbed the Queen’s hand and kissed it, “See, you are famous all over.”

  Claire looked over at Victor like a whipped puppy dog and mouthed the words ‘thank you’. He squeezed her hand as if to say ‘I have it under control.’

  Victor stepped closer to the Queen with great interest and held out his hand to her. “Your Majesty, we would be honored if you told us the story about the night you met the King.”

  Bewildered, the Queen took Victor’s hand and rose. She walked down the few steps to the main floor and made her way to the middle of the room.

  “When I was very young, my Fairy Godmother left me a dress and her magical glass slippers.”

  “Magical, you say?” Victor followed her to the middle of the room with enthusiasm.

  The Queen leaned into him and with the most animated face, repeated, “Magical.”

  “That must have been something,” Victor admitted.

  “It was,” agreed the Queen. “Many years later, the King was to have a masked ball. My evil stepmother promised me that I could go if I could finish all my chores.”

  “But that did not happen, did it?”

  “No, it did not. I was all ready to go with my stepmother and stepsisters. When I came into the entrance hall, she struck me in the head. My body hit the staircase hard. Even now, I can remember the warmth of the blood dripping down the side of my face.”

  The Queen stepped closer to Victor, letting down her hair. It fell perfectly by her face. She pulled some strands on the right side of her head back and exposed a scar.

  “Your Majesty,” Victor gasped. “I had no idea the Countess was capable of such cruelty.”

  The Queen’s eyes wandered aimlessly while lost in the memory. “What little I can remember in my half-conscious state was her dragging me into my reading room in the basement, next to the fireplace. Even now I can hear the click of her cane against the floor.” The Queen shuddered. “When I came to, it was already a late hour and everyone had already gone to the ball.”

  “Then what did you do?” Victor said, leaning towards her to encourage the Queen to continue with her tale.