struggle. “I have more news. Some of it good, some of it less so.”
The queen wrinkles her nose. “Let us start with the bad.”
“Before we left Brittany, Captain Dunois confided in me that Beast’s father still lived. Not his mother’s husband, but the man who raped her and got her with child. That man is General Cassel.”
The name causes me to gasp. “But of course,” the queen murmurs. “Now that you point it out, I wonder that I did not see the similarities before.”
“That is one of the reasons the captain told me. He said the resemblance would be undeniable. Which brings me to the good news. Beast is back.”
The queen’s eyes widen with pleasure. “Oh, that is the best news, Lady Sybella!”
“I think so, too, Your Majesty.” Sybella’s smile holds far more than simply being the bearer of good news.
Understanding dawns. “You and the Beast of Waroch?”
“You have heard of him?”
“Everyone has heard of him. Even here in France. If I had a coin for every time some young boastful knight at court bragged that he could take down the Beast of Waroch, well, I would be very rich indeed.”
A small flame of pride flares briefly in Sybella’s eyes, then is hurriedly dampened. She is in love with him, I realize.
“He brings news from Brittany, as well. Viscount Rohan is up to something. He is amassing troops, but Beast could not find out why. He was too busy trying to escape detection.”
The queen purses her lips in thought. “We must hear this news.”
“I agree. But once Beast reappears, people will ask where he has been. And there is no doubt that his resemblance to Cassel will be noted and commented upon.”
Her embroidery forgotten, the queen drums her fingers on the edge of her chair. “We will wait a day or two. Look for an opportunity to present itself. Besides, we do not want to do anything to detract from the king’s anger at the regent before it comes to full flower.”
There is a knock on the door just then. Elsibet rises to answer it. When she returns, her cheeks are faintly pink, and she does not meet my eye. “The king’s chamberlain is at the door, Your Majesty. He is requesting the Lady Genevieve attend upon him at once.”
Mortification curdles around me like souring milk, but I keep my head high. “I am more than prepared to refuse.”
The queen waves away the suggestion. “Don’t be ridiculous. Now more than ever we need to know what he is thinking. Go. And with my blessing.”
I blink in surprise. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
She turns to Sybella. “You will no doubt want to be dismissed as well, as I imagine you have others you would like to discuss this morning’s events with.” Her eyes sparkle a bit, then grow serious. “I do not want you to be alone any more than you have to, Lady Sybella. Not with Pierre here in the castle. Look to your own safety as dearly as if it were my own. If you don’t, I will have to tell Beast, and you would not like that.”
Chapter 51
The king is dressed more casually than I have ever seen him, in a shirt, breeches, and a leather vest. He wears deerskin gloves—the kind more suited for riding a horse than something one might do inside. The room we stand in is large and vaulted, its ceiling towering two floors above. Some of the walls are stone, and others are lined with small boxes—viewing boxes, I realize. It is only when he begins tossing the small ball in his hand up into the air and catching it that I realize where we are.
He throws the ball against the wall, then catches it when it bounces back. “What were you doing in the queen’s chamber?” His brown eyes study me intently.
“Answering her summons, Your Majesty.”
He advances down the court toward me—for that is where we are, a jeu de paume court. “Why did she summon you? Have you been reporting our conversations to her?”
“Saints, no!” The true shock in my voice seems to convince him somewhat.
“Then why?”
My fingers drift up to play with the silver necklace around my throat. “She wished to become better acquainted.”
His brows rise in surprise at this. “Does she know you’re from the convent?”
“She does now.”
He says nothing, but pivots to the wall and throws the ball against it once more. It rebounds quickly, but he is quick as well and slaps at it with his palm.