Prince Aimé Alexandre de Cœurs a Triumphe.
He smiled, though now looked at the other letter with some trepidation. Would they still think him doing well with what had happened? The penmanship was not Aimé’s, it seemed the roi himself had composed most of the letter. Would Edgard ask him to return home? Give up the duchy?
My dear son,
Do not doubt your actions. You are both a prince and a duc. Your word is law. You have been taught politics, and kindness, and justice, and you may use all of these at your disposal. You may not be the duc crowned, yet, but you are the duc by birth. That the girl was refused treatment is abhorrent. I fully support your having the doctor arrested on your pleasure. I could not say that if it were myself I would not choose to reopen the personal dungeons.
I have not heard of this happening in Cœurs but it may merely have never reached our ears. You are correct in that I am the roi and you the duc because we are the leaders of all those who reside in Triumphe, no matter their bestia.
I am proud of you.
Pierre wiped at the tears that stung his eyes, his fears put to rest. Reine Joséphine and Prince Aimé also added their thoughts, and Aimé urged that if Pierre needed any assistance or guidance to just sent a letter and he would himself be there as soon as possible. ‘I will take Shetan from Piers and be there in three days’ he promised. Pierre smiled— Shetan was Piers’ prized horse, a steed gifted to him by his grandfather from distant lands who could cover more than a hundred miles in a day. Piers would not just let anyone ride him, of course, but at the prince’s command he would hand over the reins.
***
Síofra returned in three days with her parents. She was smiling brightly, cheeks rosy, and gave Pierre the quickest of barely-acceptable curtsies before running off with Elizabeth.
“They have become fast friends,” Pierre said to her parents, not minding the breech in etiquette. “Lord and Lady Spadé, thank you for coming so quickly.”
“Your Grace, it is our pleasure to see you once more.”
Pierre lead them to the advisor’s meeting room, taking a seat in one of the chairs and not at his desk, motioning for Elwin and Rhianu to choose their seats similarly.
“Will this be a formal meeting with your advisors?” Elwin asked.
“No,” Pierre replied. “I wish for this to be with my margrave and margravine; with family. I will conduct a second meeting later on with the rest, and I do wish for you to be present if at all possible, Lord Spadé. To be truthful I am still somewhat furious with them.”
“Understandable,” Rhianu said. “Though you are aware they likely did not know.”
“The extent? No. But they knew that things like this were happening.” And had neither told him, nor done much to dissuade it.
“Tell us exactly what that is. Síofra said that there was a fay child that was refused care because of her bestia?”
“Oui. I was taking a tour of the hospital and she was sectioned off, left to die. A young child, seven years of age, the initial report not even finished because she was fay and that was enough. The surgeon that would have performed her surgery was sent out of town the day before on purpose by the chief of the hospital.”
“Mora take him,” Elwin swore.
“He is in prison right now, at my pleasure. An investigation is being done. The girl is fine, I brought her to the château and performed the surgery myself.”
“And if he is found innocent?” Rhianu asked.
Pierre looked at his margravine.
“He will not be unless the corruption runs even deeper than I suspect, but it is possible. In that case I believe I will take Lord Spadé up on his offer as my margrave.”
She smiled and nodded. Somehow Pierre suspected that she would be involved even more than her husband.
“Do we know how long this has been happening?”
“Even if it was this doctor alone—too long. Enough that it was willfully ignored if not accepted.”
“Perhaps, my dear,” Elwin said to his wife, “we should buy a home here in the city. As long as this land has been without a duc, it has also been without a margravine. Our presence may be useful.”
“By all means,” Pierre said. “Or stay at the château. As I said, you are family, and this is home.”
“We may spend more time on this side of the border,” Rhianu said. “There are certain things that cannot be done from here, but so close to the forest it would not be much of a challenge. Do you know if the girl has family in Faery?”
“As far as I am aware, no. She was a foundling, taken in by a farmer and his wife. They find pride in her being fay and did not realize what their words would lead to.”
“She is about seven? I will find out why she was left and if any family remains,” Elwin said. “Sometimes it is weak magic that would make life hard for them in Faery. Or she was born on this plane and could not be brought into Faery.” And sometimes there was no good reason at all, just the cruelty or ignorance of others. As much as he now called Faery home it was far from a perfect land and its people could be just as cruel to each other as to outsiders.
“While much of the population is uneasy or unpleasant about fée here I am sure when it gets out that a child was left to die, it will not be good. Perhaps it will be enough of a shock to start change.”
***
“Next time you will come with me,” Síofra said to Lizzy as she pulled the other girl into their chambers. “For Summerfinding! Your Midspring, of course. We are decorating and the—”
A knock on the open door interrupted her and Síofra turned to see Renaud. He was smiling, holding an orange rose in his hand.
“Forgive the intrusion, but I heard you have returned and—”
And he was cut off as Síofra jumped up from the seat and dashed over to him, embracing him. She kissed him and for a moment he reciprocated, a hand tangling in her loose hair, but he pulled himself away.
“My dear, not that that was not, ahem, but—”
Síofra rolled her eyes and sighed. “Yes, yes, monsieur, I know. But Lizzy is here as a chaperon,” she said, gesturing to her lady, “so it is fine!”
Renaud looked at Elizabeth and then away from her. “Yes, well. Can you come with me? I have a present for you.” He handed her the rose and it somehow matched more than clashed with her hair. “I mean, more so than just this.”
She smiled. “Yes, of course. And I have one for you as well! Though, one moment, let me put your necklace back on, I know you were upset that I took it off before. Lizzy, is it alright? I will come back and talk soon. Oh, and to give you your present as well!”
“Of course, go on!”
Síofra hugged Renaud, and then Lizzy, getting the necklace she had taken off a few days ago and putting it around her neck before leaving with Renaud, the man’s arm firmly around her waist.
“What have you for me?” the girl asked as they walked towards Renaud’s rooms, quite a bit away. She adjusted the strap of a large satchel she was still wearing, it held the gifts she had brought for all. There was even one for Pierre, but she would hold off on giving that to him until after his meeting.
“I do not wish to ruin the surprise, my dear.”
“Oh, please? It is already a surprise, whether you tell me or show me in a few moments.”
“Well… I thought you looked so lovely in what you were wearing at dinner a few nights back I had something made for you.”
Síofra smiled and tugged him along, “Come on then, I wish to see!”
“Hold on!” He could not help but laugh as took control. Normally such a thing would bother him, but not in this case. Not with her. Perhaps…
She got to his room first, standing and waiting for him to open the door, though she bounced on her feet with barely suppressed joy. He took the moment to kiss her again before entering. She needed a moment after the kiss, but followed, absentmindedly closing the door behind herself.
Renaud crossed the room to his wardrobe and pull
ed out a gown. It was a dark green, almost black, with a high collar and long sleeves, cream lace decorating the hems. A hundred silver buttons from the clasp at the throat to the edge of the skirts gleamed in the light.
“Oh, Renaud! That’s so lovely,” Síofra breathed. She reached out to touch the fabric. It seemed to shimmer with every moment.
“There is a crinolette to go along with it,” he continued, “and—” He reached back into the wardrobe and pulled out a golden snood with emeralds at the intersections. “For your hair, my dear.”
“Renaud, merci, thank you!”
“Of course,” he replied. “We can go into town together now.”
“Could we not before?” she asked in reply. She twisted her hair in a loose knot and tried on the hairpiece. The gown she pressed up to herself and looked down. It would fit. When had he had the time to get her measurements?
“Perhaps, but your choices in apparel would have been… out of fashion.”
“Then perhaps soon we can go out in the newest fashions!”
“I would like that.”
She placed the dress gently on his bed and he admired her from behind. The dress she wore now was loose and straight, thin as well, and it wrapped around her precisely. It would not do do go out in such attire, but when it was merely them together.
Siofra also took the satchel at her side off, rummagining through it. She pulled out his gift, an item about a foot in length, and heavy. It was wrapped in a deep purple cloth.
“And this, Renaud, is for you.”
He hesitated, but upon looking into her eager eyes he reached out to pick up the object. It was quite heavy and when he pulled the fabric away he was left looking at a dagger in a sheath.
“Oh, Síofra…” He unsheathed it. The blade was dyed a deep blue-purple, golden etchings of leaves decorating it, the very metal a swirl a color and steel. “Merci,” he whispered.
He smiled to her, looking again into her eyes, and then down to the necklace that he had given her.
Sixteen
A knock on his door. Pierre sighed and put down his pen. His guards were supposed to keep everyone away from him this evening. Truth be told he was still angry at his advisors and wanted to be alone. Elwin and Rhianu had only stayed one day and left the next morning, their talk not quite as productive as it could have been. It would take more than a talk to solve years of tension among the fée and people of Clandestina though. They had met up with Alise and her parents, confirmed that she had been found as a very young child, and then promised to return after the fée’s Summerfinding to live at the château.
So he did not answer the door, waiting until his guards would do their job and tell Vivien, or Renaud, or whoever was at the door to leave.
Instead the door opened.
Elizabeth entered, poking her head in shyly at first, but upon seeing him smiling and walking in without an invitation. She shut the door behind herself.
“Pierre, we are going out tonight.”
“Lizzy—”
“It is your nephew’s birthday,” she interrupted. “We are going to celebrate his young highness.”
Pierre could not think of a reason to argue. While he had much to do it was Ancel’s forth birthday. A good a excuse to get him out of his chambers and among the people he had been refusing to see.
“Alise is—”
“Doing very well, as you know. You spoke with her this morning. And I just checked her with Wolfram an hour ago. Of course by all means go see yourself, but she is happy, not in pain, and getting ready to sleep for the evening.”
She had come prepared. Pierre could not help but smile.
“I have not bought Ancel a present yet…” he admitted, starting to give in.
“I am sure he will not mind if it is late. I will help you pick something out. Síofra is waiting to help me get dressed, I will meet you in half an hour, or a little longer if you check Alise. Oh, and we can also pick up my new shoes!” She blew him a kiss and left.
Pierre looked down at his notes. He had taken to doodling in the margins, unable to concentrate. There was no reason to refuse Lizzy’s offer.
He sighed and looked around, spotting Pluta laying on top of a chair. “Pluta, shall you go fetch Wolfram for me, please? It seems I have a date tonight with Lady Elizabeth.”
***
He did check Alise. He passed by her rooms on the way to his chambers from his office and met with her parents as she was already asleep. They confirmed she was feeling much better and wanted to go home soon because she feared she would miss all of the little bunnies that had been born in spring.
“Lady Elizabeth has come by to sit with her every day for at least an hour, sometimes talking and sometimes just reading while holding her hand. The incision is nearby invisible now.” It had still been red this morning.
“I will look tomorrow. If things continue like this I am sure you will be on your way home early next week.”
Wolfram helped him dress quickly, already knowing from Lady Elizabeth that she planned on taking Pierre out tonight. The duc chose formal clothes, taking a regular top-hat with a crimson band around the cylinder and dark red gloves to match.
“Thank you,” he told Wolfram. “For this and for help with Alise. You performed well. I have not had as much time to look into Salome’s illness with everything going on, but I have an idea we may discuss later.”
“Of course, Your Grace, my lord. I have been reading some as well, the library here is full of every subject imaginable. Whenever you have the time, I am doing well by myself.”
“Keep her company if you wish while I go out tonight. Try and feel her soul. Do not attempt to bring her back, but place a drop of blood between her lips and try and sense her.”
“I… yes, thank you, I will.”
As Pierre opened the door Pluta squeezed into the room, turned around, meowed at Pierre to catch his attention, and then jumped up on his shoulders.
“Pluta! You cannot come, this is a date,” he said.
“Would you not then need a chaperone?” Wolfram asked, only to receive a glare from Pierre. The boy quickly returned to looking at the trunk that held Salome, waiting until his master left so he could lock the door and open it.
Pierre scratched Pluta behind the ears. In a soft voice he added, “Please listen to what is said when I am not around and they think themselves alone.”
Not wanting to be left behind, but glad for the job given, she meowed at him again, dug her claws into his shoulder, and jumped off, deciding that Wolfram would be better company if he was going to be performing magic. He would need her as a stand-in for a Familiar.
Pierre shook his head, swearing about his dear damn cat softly, and rubbed his shoulder. She knew better than to make him bleed so she would not have pierced far, but that did not mean it did not hurt. Sometimes he wished he had chosen a dog for his familiar…
“Have a good evening, Wolfram.”
“Oui, I shall. And yourself, Your Grace!”
Pierre left, waited until he heard the door lock with a click, and left Wolfram and his familiar to their magic.
Lizzy stepped out of her room just as he walked into her hallway. Her color was again blue, the same dress she had wore to the informal-dinner, but this time accented in black from the corset to a ribbon on her wrist. She wore a silver snood that held up hair hair and gold interwoven with the grey. Her now beloved larkspur fan was held in a gloved hand.
He said nothing, unable to form any words, holding out his arm for her. She took it and they began to walk to the front entrance.
“I did not know you were keeping Alise company,” Pierre said finally.
“Well, you were busy and Síofra was away,” Lizzy said, leaning onto him. “I wanted her to heal and have some company. I brought some books to read too.”
“Thank you.”
“Lord Vivien came too,” she added. “And his daughters as well. They are a little older than Alise, but both want to make friends with
her. I even saw them drag Bastien in the other day, against his will of course. He is adamant he is too old to keep playing with girls, though he apologized for saying such when he realized I was a girl as well.”
Pierre laughed. “How old is he again?”
“Almost eleven. His birthday is in two months. Apolla is nine, and Eliana turned eight a week before we arrived,” she answered promptly. Pierre looked at her curiously and she smiled. “They have decided I can be Auntie Lizzy and need to know everything about them.”
Pierre laughed and squeezed her around the shoulders. “Good! I’m glad you are well liked here, my dear.”
“You are well liked as well, Pierre. And yet you have holed yourself away these last few days. Are you still angry at all of them?”
He sighed. “Oui, I am. And at myself.”
“You cannot blame yourself.”
“And whyever not? If I was here I would have known.”
She squeezed his arm. “You know now.”
And now he would need to do something. The trouble was he did not know what.
“Where shall we be going first?” he asked, changing the subject. It was twilight, and the sky was painted every color while the town’s lights began to brighten the streets. A carriage already stood, door open, to take them into the city.
“Just about the shops. We can look for a toy first, and then if there is still time get my shoes. Though if we wish to stay up quite late I have an idea for later…” And if there was no time they could come by another day.
“Oh? I believe I am quite awake my dear. I shall follow your lead.”
He helped her into the carriage.
“Bring us to the center of town,” he told the driver and went in after her.
It was dusk when they exited, the gaslamps lit and bringing a glow all around.
“Left or right?”
Elizabeth took his hand and looked up and down each street before beginning to walk down the south road. Pierre followed.
It was after dinner, many of the shops closed for the evening with other establishments just opening up. He recognized the road after a while, the dark making it harder to distibguish. When they arrived at the shoemaker’s it seemed closed, only a faint light flickering through the window, not the many that would welcome in buyers. Pierre knocked on the door anyway, hoping that it would be answered.
Delphinium- or A Necromancer's Home Page 15
