Excerpt: The Poisoned Veil

A Quiet Life

Narcisse Bouchard alighted from his carriage and looked round disparagingly at the humble apartment in front of him. Not remotely impressed by the boxes of colourful flowers in the windows which attempted to give the place a bit of cheer or the brightly painted door which he knocked on impatiently. My only son spends his time here? Instead of furthering his legal career mingling with the great and the good?
After an intolerably long wait in the summer heat, the door opened to reveal a urchin with bright dark eyes and a broad smile in a tanned face as brown as a berry. He looked down at her bare feet and her turned up bright red and green skirts, covered in dust. Her wildly curly dark brown hair was tied up in rags and all her efforts to secure it neatly in a scarf did nothing to conceal the rampant chaos on her head. If that had been my maid I’ve have beaten her before turning her out onto the street. She looks an absolute disgrace. I see Madame Ravensbourne is appallingly lax in this as in other things.
“Can I help you sir?” she bobbed a curtsey and even he had to admit sourly that at least the girl was polite if nothing else.
“I’m looking for Madame Evelyn Ravensbourne. Is she in?”
“I’m afraid not, sir. She popped out to the market with the girls and she didn’t say when she’d return.”
“No matter. I’ll wait-“ he said pushing his way into the house before the maid could stop him. He ran his hand over the mantelpiece with a disdainful air. Just as he thought! Dust everywhere!
“Haven’t you got some kind of parlour I can wait in?” He didn’t need to say what a dump he thought the place was but his scornful glance concealed nothing.
“Now look ‘ere sir-“ the girl started. “Ther’s no need to do that! I’m in the midst of cleaning-“
Narcisse had no patience for these shiftless people and cut across her. “Do you know who I am?”
“I don’t I’m afraid. Sorry, sir-“ she said cheerfully. “I’m sure you’re someone important though-“
“I am Narcisse Bouchard. Ghislain’s father. Now do you know who I am, and why I wish to see your mistress?”
“Master Ghislain’s father?”
He nodded curtly, gaining satisfaction from her obvious discomfort. He pushed past her, looking for the bedchamber, keen to satisfy his curiousity.
“Where do you think you’re going, sir?”
“I want to see where my son sleeps.”
“But my mistress won’t like it, sir. She’s very particular ‘bout her privacy. Please don’t sir-“
He ignored her, pushing the door open and looking round the cosy yet rather untidy room in disgust. He recognised his son’s pearwood lute with the ornate marquetry, which he thought he’d told him a hundred times to get rid of propped up against a wall, a untidy pile of scores on one side. The tempestously unmade bed and the unmistakable atmosphere of lust and debauchery. The place practically reeked of sex. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that the mirror was tilted to be visible from the bed and the bedposts were adorned with thick silken sashes. He briefly wondered whether he used them to tie her limbs to the posts to pleasure the little slut.
“Where is your mistress, girl?” he said in his most menacing tone of voice.
The poor girl’s face blanched in fear. “I’ll send Babette to the market to see if she can find them. Mistress Eve’s rarely more than an hour doing her shoppping in any case. Did she know you were coming, sir if you don’t mind me asking?”
Did the blasted servants in this house have no respect whatsoever? He glared at the hapless maid who was wringing her roughened hands in distress. As if he’d never brought his son up to do things the proper way! If this was the kind of household he was running with this foreign adventuress Eve Ravensbourne then he’d intervened just in time.
“No, she did not.”
She bit her lip and decided to make the best of a bad situation. “I’m sorry you can’t sit in the music room as I was just giving it a good clean while the mistress was out, but um you could sit in the kitchen until Babette gets back with them, sir?”
He puffed up in outrage, his dark eyes snapping. “The Kitchen? I sit in the kitchen like some lackey?”
“It won’t be for long Sir, just until Babette can get Mistress Eve back, I promise. I’m sorry but We haven’t many rooms really and everyone just sits in the kitchen to socialise.”
“Everyone?” Despite himself, his curiousity about the company his son kept got the better of him.
The infernal girl, aware that she’d probably said way too much at this point clammed up and busied herself talking in a wild southern dialect probably Basque to Babette, another slattern with the same dark knowing eyes, wild hair and broad smile. They must be sisters he found himself thinking idly as the other hurried out, tying her cloak and straw hat on as she went. “What’s your name, girl?” he said brusquely.
She bobbed her head trying to avoid his gaze. “Adele Bidault, sir-“
With a clash of pots and pans she took over the preparation of the meal, trying her best to ignore him and his disparaging gaze round the large but homely looking kitchen.

“Miss, Miss!”
Eve turned from her perusal of the shiny sweet red apples she was holding at the sound of Babette’s voice.
“You’ve got to come back straight away!” she wheezed holding her chest and trying to catch her breath. “ You’ve got a visitor! Please miss-”
“A visitor?” Eve turned warily to her maid. “Who is it?”
“Adele said it was Master Ghislain’s father-“
“Monsieur Bouchard? He was in the house?”
Babette sniffed. “He’s very rude and bossy too. Running his fingers over the mantelpiece looking for dust. Going through cupboards and drawers. He even barged his way into your bedroom. Adele tried to stop him but he wouldn’t listen. And the way he was talking to her! She won’t admit it to you miss, she doesn’t want to upset you but she’s my sister, I know her. She was riled.”
Eve sighed. “Come on girls, we’re going to have to cut this shopping trip short and go home. It seems we have visitors.”
Lilias pouted, making her big blue eyes large and appealing. “Maman, can’t we go to the gates of the Louvre and see the pretty ladies? You promised we could.”
Eve ruffled her youngest daughter’s red-gold curls, so like her own. “I know I did sweetheart, but we have an important visitor. I’ve got to go back and see him. He’s come all the way to speak to me and it would be terribly rude to leave him alone at home-“
“Alright, Maman. You will bring me next time, won’t you?”
“Of course I will, on my honour-“she said gravely with a twinkle in her eye. Satisfied, Lilias trustingly put her hand in her mother’s and allowed her to lead them home.

When Eve walked into the kitchen and saw Narcisse Bouchard sat there with a look on his face as if he’d spent the time she’d been away sucking on a lemon, she knew this was going to be unpleasant.
“Monsieur Bouchard, I had no idea you were coming here. I’m sorry you’ve been kept waiting for me. I hope you’ve been offered some refreshment?” She said calmly yet politely. There was no point in showing fear to a man like that.
“Eve.” He said tersely. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time.” It was quite astounding how he managed to make such an innocuous phrase sound like an insult.
“You have, sir?” she kept her voice polite and even. Only the rising flush on her cheek betrayed her true emotions.
“Yes. The woman who managed to inveigle my son into a romantic relationship-“
“I am in love with Ghislain and he loves me. Sir-”
“Really, my lady?” he sneered. “Do you know what I believe? You rely on my son to keep you and your brats in the manner you’ve been accustomed to. Preying on him and his good nature-”
“What makes you think he keeps me? I have my own income. I am a widow and my husband fortunately was able to provide for my girls and I in the sad event of his death. I do not depend on Ghislain for money if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

She wanted to slap the sneer off the older man’s face but she fought to control her rapidly fraying temper. I won’t give the malicious old buzzard the satisfaction of getting to me.
“Very convenient isn’t it my dear? You use your looks to tempt and ensnare my son into making a commitment to you. A commitment he cannot and will not be able to fulfil in future. What does he want with another man’s spawn?-”
“Don’t talk about my girls in that way, sir.” She snapped. “You have never seen them and you do not know them. You are abominably rude, sir. Ghislain loves my girls as if they were his own. If you were to meet them-”
“I don’t need to to see your girls, Madame.” He interrupted her rudely, sneering in disgust. “Unmarried mother living in a poky shabby little apartment. Two children out of wedlock. Disgustingly bohemian lifestyle. I believe my informants told me you actually work for a living?”
Her chin shot up defiantly. “I teach music, sir. I have many clients among the nobility and merchant classes. I have plenty of pupils.”
“Who knows if these urchins you’re so fond of even have the same father?”
“My children’s father was a nobleman, and a far better man than you will ever be!”
“Yes, I don’t deny you are a lovely girl.” He said surveying her, until she felt like a slab of meat at market. His eyes lingered on her trim figure almost lasciviously. “I can see why my son would fancy himself in love with a woman like you.” He leaned forward so she could catch his every word. “I want my son to marry well, not throw himself and his prospects for advancement away on a pretty little foreign whore. For that is all you are, Madame-”
“How dare you, Monsieur Bouchard!” she snapped, flushing pink with anger, cool grey-green eyes sparkling with rage. She could barely control the trembling of her hands, balling them into tight fists so she wasn’t tempted to lash out and hit him. “I have tolerated a great deal from you for Ghislain’s sake but no more! I will not allow you to talk to me in that fashion in my own house. If you cannot speak to me with any respect then by all means leave and never come back. Adele will be more than happy to show you the door, Sir.”
“Your days are numbered, Eve.” He purred softly, his voice spiked with sweet malice. ”You’d better cast around for a new victim Madame Ravensbourne and soon. Ghislain, despite his little rebellions against me is at heart a loyal son who loves his father, and if I tell him to ditch you like a hot brick he will.”
She swept into a deep curtsey which would have passed muster at any court in the land. The glint of anger in her lovely eyes made her look like a princess in full splendour. “I trust you know where the door is, Monsieur? Get out of my house before I throw you out myself!” she gritted out.

“Madame?”
Adele knocked timidly on the door, waiting for her mistress to emerge. She’d seen Monsieur Bouchard storm out of the house in a high temper. Rosie had wanted to see her maman straight away to make sure the nasty man hadn’t hurt her but luckily Adele and Babette had managed to distract her for a bit. It was rare that Eve lost her temper but judging by the shouting she’d heard it was best to give her some space for some time, let her cool down. What a horrible man he seemed. It was scarcely believeable that he was Master Ghislain’s father.

When Eve unlocked the door, Adele could still see redness round her eyes and the traces of tears on her cheeks.
“Come here, ma cherie-“ she murmured stroking her flame gold hair of her mistress and friend. “- Don’t let the stuck up bastard upset you so.”
“He was so hateful-“ Eve sobbed into her shoulder. “The things he dared to say to my face. I can’t believe he would be such a bastard. He’s been spying on us. Biding his time.”
“Forget him. “
“I can’t. He’ll try and split Ghislain and I up. He doesn’t approve of our relationship. He thinks I’m a gold digging whore.”
Adele’s fury at Monsieur Bouchard flared. How dare he look down his nose at them? By all accounts he wasn’t even a proper aristocrat like Eve. A mere burgher wannabe giving himself airs above his station.
“Why didn’t you tell him who you really are, Madame? I’ll wager he wouldn’t have been so rude and dismissive of us if he had known he was insulting the Princesse d’ Argenteuil herself.”
Eve’s eyes flashed dangerously. Adele realised her mistake too late.
“If he didn’t respect me as he saw me, then I care not for his hypocrisy fawning over a title that means nothing to me. I left that life behind without a second glance.”
Knowing the subject angered her mistress, Adele knew when to subside.
“I’ll be in the music room on my viol. Don’t call me unless it’s important.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She looked up at her. “You’re not angry with me are you mistress? I didn’t mean to refer to-”
“Of course I’m not Adele. He just riled me. I need to get all this out of my system, alright? The children will need feeding if you don’t mind and then try and get them to have a play in the garden, please-”

Eve had been playing for two hours, lighting the torches as the daylight began to fade outside. Her hands pressed the strings, gouging the sound out of the instrument expressing without words her anger and sadness at Bouchard’s rudeness.
She stopped as Rosie slipped in and sat at her feet watching her wield the bow as if it were a weapon.
“Maman sad. Is it ‘cause of the bad man?”
She smiled at her daughter and put her instrument away , folding her little body to hers in a hug and kissing her satiny cheek.
“I’m much better now, my love. Thanks to your lovely little face.”
“Did he make you cry, Maman? Your eyes are red-”
“A little, Rosie.”
How could he look down on my darling girls? Whatever he thinks of my relationship with his son and my morals, how dare he disparage them? What have they ever done to him? They are innocent! Hypocritical, venal old buzzard. I swear if he dares come round here I’ll not be responsible for my actions.
“Did you and Lily have supper?”
“Yes, and we’ve both read our books too. I’ve nearly finished mine-”
She ruffled her golden mop of curls affectionately. “Thank you. Bring your sister in and I’ll play you something before you both go to bed.”
“Let’s sing girls! What song have you been learning from Adele and Babette?”
“Une Jeune Fillette. Sing with us, maman!”
“Of course I’ll do a couple of verses if you will dance for me. Up girls! Let’s show them how it’s done!”
The girls gracefully got into position, dancing with light steps as Eve strummed the strings on the lute and sang in a clear sweet voice.

‘Une jeune fillette
de noble coeur,
Plaisante et joliette
de grand' valeur,
Outre son gre on l'a rendu' nonnette
Cela point ne luy haicte
dont vit en grand' douleur.

Mon pauvre coeur
souspire incessament,
Aussi ma mort
desire journellement.
Qu'a mes parens ne puis mander n'escrire,
Ma beaute fort empire,
je vis en grand tourment.

“Will you dance for us, Maman?”
“Girls. It’s getting late-“
“Please?” they both begged, eyes shining. “We love the pretty court dances you show us and the stories. It’s almost as good as seeing the fine ladies at the Louvre. We’ll play-”
She relented. “Alright, girls. Babette will have to be the man tonight though. We’ll do a minuet-”
Adele was loth to interrupt Eve and the girl’s fun in the music room enjoying the sound of the sweet voices weaving and melding harmoniously together in harmony but the two strange men at the door had insisted on seeing her as soon as possible.
“Yes?” Eve looked up as Adele opened the door of the music room.
She bobbed a curtsey. “Ma’am, there’s some men to see you in the corridor.”
“Ghislain?” Her mistress’s face lit up with a smile like a ray of pure sunshine on her lovely face at the thought of her beloved.
It fair warms my heart to see how in love those two are with each other thought Adele fondly . Damn that horrible Monsieur for trying to part them.
“No miss, these are strangers, if you please. A man from England and a nobleman.”
“Really, what do they want at this time? It’s rather late to be visiting, isn’t it?” mused Eve. “Sorry girls, it’s bedtime.”
“Aww-“ protested Lillas. “-One more dance. Please maman?”
“You heard your mother.” Adele said sternly. “It’s late. Bedtime for you , young lady.”
Eve kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll be up to give you both a goodnight kiss if you’re good.”

Jonah stood as Eve entered the parlour.
“Good evening, Eve-“
“Jonah! I had no idea you were coming-“ as she hugged him close, the familiar tug of longing washed over him. She must never know the depth of my feelings for her.
“When did you arrive? Have you had a safe journey? Please Jonah, sit down.”
“Eve , I have someone here to wants to meet you in person-“
She turned to De la Reynie noticing him for the first time and the openness in her happy smile closed off instantly like a cloud obstructing the sun.
“Monsieur-“
“Madame Ravensbourne. It is an honour to meet you again.”
“Did you not get my last missive, sir?“
“Yes, I rather wanted to discuss it with you , if you wouldn’t mind.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, curtly indicating with a nod for him to sit down. “Refreshment, sir?”
“I know you are adamant that you don’t wish to work as an agent for us. I understand your eloquent arguements. I hope that you will allow me to persuade you to change your mind however.”
“Have you been briefed on the details on the case?” Jonah asked.
“Yes.”
He knew when she closed down and ceased to communicate that she was trying to conceal something.
“You realise how important it is that we have a reliable agent at court to help us with our enquiries? Someone trusted who can move among the great and good, reporting to us if they hear an important lead? A role you are uniquely qualified to play, Eve?”
“And what if it’s a role I no longer want to play? What if I just want to live a quiet life?” she said softly, her face pale and tense. “I left the Princesse d’Argenteuil far behind in the past and as far as I’m concerned that’s the best place for her.”
“Eve, please reconsider.”
“I don’t want to return to court, sir. Please, I’m asking you. Don’t make me do this!”
“You see?” De la Reynie exclaimed utterly exasperated by all capricious women after the day he’d had. “I’ve tried to get through to her. Madame Ravensbourne refuses to co operate. Maybe I should get some else to-“
Jonah tried to intercede. “Monsieur, if I may-“
“Fine, you try!”
Eve bit her lip. Jonah noticed how distressed and tired she looked and decided on a change of tactics.
“Eve, we need you. I know how you feel about courts and living a simple life. No-one deserves it more than you. But won’t you consider helping us?”
“If there was any other way, Jonah...” she said wearily looking into his kindly grey eyes. “I’m not trying to be selfish on purpose merely to thwart the investigation. Poison is a horrible way to die. But-“
“You’re afraid, aren’t you?”
She nodded, squeezing his hand for reassurance.
“What are you afraid of, Madame Ravensbourne?” De la Reynie asked in a gentler voice having not considered this fact in his strategy for persuasal. ”We wouldn’t just dump you at court and abandon you to your own devices. We would support you all the way. My office would look after your needs. We could have an agent stationed with you to share the load. Jonah here could liaise with you easily. I know you both have an excellent working relationship with each other- ”
“My children, would they be safe? If I decided to join the case? I would not have any harm come to them. They are all I have-“
De la Reynie nodded understanding her reluctance and the fiercely protective instinct towards her children.
“I’m sure I can arrange for them to be well looked after in a secret country location. We could arrange visits for you. I realise they are young and you are close to the girls-”
“Please let me think about it, sir. It’s a big step to take but I promise I’ll consider it and inform you as soon as possible. I need to talk to Ghislain.”
“Ah yes, you are his mistress, aren’t you?”
She flushed scarlet at his blunt statement. “Monsieur De la Reynie! Honestly!”
“I could always talk to him for you. Brief him on your duties. You will be practically working with one another-”
“No, I owe it to him to tell him myself. This will affect both our lives and-” her blush deepened. “-he is very dear to me.”
She turned her head as the door went hearing the sound of his voice in the hall.
“He’s here. I’ll be back in a moment, excuse me please, sirs-“
1664: London
The next day he went to see Lady Evelyn, determined that she was not going to mess him about. He was resolved to solve the mystery of the murder she was alleged to have committed in the past. There must be a reason why everyone seemed to think that the cases were connected, and why she equally as strongly wanted to keep it a secret. He stood outside the gracefully decorated house in St Martin’s in the Fields and looked up. He could see her at the large bay window upstairs playing the viol with a fierce concentration, bright hair haphazardly tucked up. The music floated out on the breeze, a brooding minor key lament that tore at the heartstrings with its harsh aching suspensions, like the melody turned in and inflicted those painful discords on itself.
Jonah knocked on the door impatiently in the freezing cold gust of the October chill. A tiny Cockney sparrow of a girl opened the door and looked out at him warily.
“‘Oo are you then?” she asked distrustfully.
“Detective Jonah Wetherby to see Lady Evelyn Ravensbourne urgently.”
“What’s it ‘bout? Hurry up, I’m freezing ‘ere!”
Jonah was faintly annoyed by the belligerence of this tiny yet feisty little girl, who looked barely older than twelve years old.
“For your information, it’s about the Whitehall murders, not that it’s any of your business.”
The maid eyed him with some distaste.
“If it concerns Lady Evelyn, then it concerns me. So spill.” she said staunchly.
Jonah was about to argue with the impudent little urchin when Evie’s voice called from upstairs.
“Lucy, who are you talking to downstairs?”
“The detective.” answered Lucy after a reluctant pause.
“Well, send him up then!”
With a sulky, faintly aggressive air, Lucy showed Jonah up to the room where her mistress was playing the viol.
“In there.” Lucy said tersely and stomped off.
“Lucy? Lucy! I’m sorry you’ll have to excuse my maid’s manners at times. What did you wish to speak to me about?”
Jonah tried to remain businesslike and stern, but one look at her in a dark green dress with a plain white collar that made her look absurdly young and beautiful distracted him. He had to force himself not to stutter. Oh God, I am such a fool around her!
“Why did you not tell me about the Nash murder?” he said bluntly.
Jonah saw her exquisite face become oddly closed off as if shuttered behind glass.
“It’s not relevant.” she said shortly, resuming her playing.
“Excuse me Madam, you were accused of murder.”
The bow scraped to a stop and hovered over the strings.
”His Majesty himself had to intervene to save you from the gallows. Of course it’s relevant.”
“Look, it’s a vicious rumour. I didn’t do anything so why everyone keeps dredging it up, I do not know.”
“Do you want to discuss it with me, my lady?”
“No!”
“Lady Ravensbourne, you are the main suspect in a major murder investigation. If I were you, I would start to co-operate. Some would interpret your silence as guilt you know.”
She looked at him directly, fixing him with that cool grey green gaze of hers .
“Are you threatening me, Mr Wetherby? You too?"
He was taken aback.
“No, I’m not!” He decided to change his approach. “You can talk to me. I promise I’ll hear you out, my lady. What happened to your first husband, Peter Nash?”
It seemed Jonah could not have said anything worse.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I need to know.”
“Do you?” she said coldly.
“Lady Ravensbourne, right now everyone at Court believes you committed these murders. Most of them would be willing to see you hang tomorrow. I do not believe you are guilty. Someone is trying to set you up.”
“That’s damn good of you, Mr Wetherby.”
“But I cannot help you if you will not let me know what happened in this case. Let me help you prove your innocence."
Evelyn looked increasingly agitated.
“Do you think I care what that horde of vipers think?”
“What is so terrible about this case that you can’t tell me?”
“I can’t tell you! I don’t want to remember! I won’t!” she cried passionately.
“Why?"
Lucy, who had been listening avidly at the keyhole rushed in to defend her mistress from the bullying detective.
“Leave her alone, you big bully! Go on, ‘op it!” she shouted with an almost maternal fierceness.
Jonah was so stunned by the ferocity of the tiny girl’s voice; he nearly made the grave mistake of laughing. The amusement died on his lips, as he realised she was deadly serious.
“I’m trying to save you Evelyn, but I can’t if you keep me in the dark. They are planning to hang, draw and quarter the murderer. Is that what you want? Do you want to die?”
Evelyn slumped in her chair against the comforting shape of her viol. She closed her eyes wearily.
“Maybe that’s exactly what I want...” she said softly in a defeated voice. “No more..."
Jonah couldn’t believe or accept her last words.
“Well, you may not want to tell me what happened to your first husband, but I’ll find out if it kills me. I won’t let you die, Lady Evelyn.” he said with a heat that surprised him. “I’ll see myself out.” he said as he walked out leaving the two women staring at him in shock. When Jonah turned back, Lucy was cradling a sobbing Evelyn in her arms. She scowled at him as he caught her eye.
---------
1672 : Paris
“D’ye think we’ve managed to persuade her? You know I never considered that she might be afraid to go back to court.”
Jonah looked into the roaring fire, deep in thought. “I suspect he may be the reason she was unwilling to join us on the case. Eve is a good agent and she is well aware of her duty. Did you notice the way she reacted when we mentioned his name?”
De la Reynie mused. “They’re madly in love. He’s as smitten with her as she is with him. I could scarce believe it when I found out.”
“Does he know about her identity? Or does he think that she’s merely a pretty foreign widow with a talent for music?”
“I suspect she hasn’t told him the entire truth about herself. That’s why she’s so reluctant to get involved. She doesn’t use the title as far as I can gather. She lives in this homely apartment despite the fact that we all know of Nicholas’s fabulous wealth and that he left it all to her. Perhaps she really has left the Marquise far behind her-”
Jonah realised that their sudden appearance in her life asking for her assistance threatened to disrupt the calm contentment she had obviously worked so hard to regain after Nicolas’s violent death at the hands of the vampire. No wonder she wanted nothing to do with the case if she could help it.
“We need her skills and her contacts. His Majesty Louis XIV himself has taken a keen interest in this case and expects it resolved to his satisfaction. You realise that he contacted your master expressly?”
Jonah nodded. “Yes, I was briefed before I left England.”
“I’m sorry to wreck the woman’s life. For what it’s worth I’m starting to see what’s at stake for her. But what can we do? This case needs solving and we desperately need information.”

“Master Ghislain! You must be starving, sir. It’s so late-” Babette fussed over him as she dished up his food and pulled out his chair.
He sank into his chair by the fire, welcoming the heat seeping through his damp cloak through to his bones. “Thank you Babette. It’s been a very long day at the office that’s for sure. We’ve got a big case ahead. God, this is heavenly!” he said wolfing down the lamb stew she’d dished out in front of him . ”How do you do it?”
She laughed good-naturedly. ”Can’t tell you all my secrets now, can I Sir?”
“So what’s been going on here then? Any excitement I should know about?”
Babette pursed her mouth bitterly, her good mood gone. “You could say that. Your father turned up.”
“My father?” he said in consternation. “What was he doing here?”
“Barged in as rude as you please, poking his beak everywhere, looking down his conk at us. Adele wasn’t very happy with him at all. She was the one who had to deal with him. I just had to get Eve from the market.”
“They met?”
She nodded.
“Adele?”
She looked just as displeased as her sister. He could just imagine how rude his father had been. That stuck up idiot! How dare he come round here to his shelter, his sanctuary and be irredeemably rude to these good people. He dreaded to think what foul things he’d said to Eve.
“Please listen to me, both of you. I want to apologise for my father’s appalling manners. I can’t believe he came round here and decided to insult both of you. I’ll speak to him-“
“Well, it’s nice of you but in all honesty I don’t care what he says to me. But he upset Eve and that’s not on.” said Adele shortly.
“He upset Eve? What did he say?”
Adele sniffed but said nothing.
“What did he say? I know you were listening at the keyhole so don’t even try to pretend you weren’t, Adele.”
“He called her a whore and said she was entrapping you. Then he told her that all he had to do is tell you to dump her and the children-“
“What? He dared say what?” he said. “How dare he? I care for you as if you are all my family. I would never walk out on you. That man makes me so angry sometimes-“
“Hush, she’s coming. Talk to her about it later!” Adele hissed.

“Ghislain?” Eve put her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek. “I missed you, darling. Have you eaten?”
He held her close, stroking her golden red hair he loved so much, looking into the lovely grey green eyes that adored him. How could she ever think that he would listen to his father’s threats and abandon her? Damn his father and his narrow minded hypocrisy!
“I’ve got some visitors in the music room, but you can come and join us after you’ve finished. Love you.” With a final kiss she flitted away.

Ghislain was rather surprised to see his boss sat at his hearth looking thoroughly at home with a mug of mulled cider. He didn’t recognise the pale man next to him but something about the stranger set his nerves on edge. He couldn’t explain it, but it was there like a fine thread of misgiving or fear.
“Monsieur De la Reynie? I’m rather surprised to see you here-”
“Yes, I’ve come to see Eve.”
Come to see Eve? What does he want with her?
He came up behind her, pressing a kiss to the enticingly smooth nape of her neck, bared by the chignon she had swept her glorious mass of hair into. She luxuriated under his touch leaning back sensuously against him.
“My love-“ she sighed, only for his ears.
“Come join us, Ghislain. We have much to discuss-“ his boss said crisply.
“Jonah, will you do me the honour of briefing Monsieur Bouchard on the latest developments please?”
“Certainly, sir.”
“Would someone like to tell me what is going on? I presume this is in connection with the case, is it not? The Poisons investigation.”
“It is.”
“What has Eve got to do with the case?”
“Monsieur De la Reynie and I were keen to persuade her to resume her duties as our agent. We plan to send her undercover at court. To find out information from the court and report back to the office. She would be an essential part of our investigation operation. Our eyes and ears at Versailles you could say-“
“Your agent. What are you all talking about? Eve, what are they saying?”
De la Reynie intercepted a panicked look in Eve’s eyes and decided to retreat.
“I think the two of them need to talk this out by themselves. I’ll leave you our card and you can contact us in a couple of days. Please think about what we discussed, my lady.”
She nodded, pocketing the card De la Reynie handed her.

“Do you want to tell me what is going on, Eve?” he said as they lay in bed after they had made love.
She knew that dangerously quiet tone of his voice, that sure indication he was reaching the edge of his good temper and sought to placate him.
“Ghis, I know this is going to be hard to come to terms with.” She gave him a sweet apologetic smile but he was too mad at her to be moved by it at the moment.
“What’s this about you being their agent? Going undercover? I’m not being funny but frankly this sounds dangerous. What the devil have you got yourself involved in?”
She took a deep breath, steeling her courage to tackle the subject at last. “Ghis, we need to talk. About a lot of things. I need to start from the beginning-“
“You’ve been keeping secrets from me?” he said rather accusingly. “What kind of secrets? Well , let’s start with you being their ‘agent’?”
“I don’t do much work for them , but occasionally I get a call for my help on a case. I haven’t been ‘in the field’ for a while. I had hoped I was needed no longer-”
“For them. Who?” His incisive lawyer trained mind cut down to the essentials of the issue.
“Mostly for King Charles the 2nd and his Majesty Louis XIV. It seems that his Majesty has called Jonah over to work on the Poisons case and they want to rekindle our relationship again.”
He looked outraged. “You’re having a relationship with the Englishman?”
She realised her mistake and sought once again to placate him. “A working relationship, Ghis. He’s a detective and he relies on me to gather information for him.”
“So why are you the only person who’s qualified to carry out this role? I know you are familiar with court but couldn’t Monsieur De la Reynie train up some actress to act as a maid? Why you in particular?”
“Because they want me to spy on my friends!” she said rather exasperatedly. “Noblewomen aren’t going to confide their darkest deepest secrets to a ladies maid however good she is! They need someone who is part of their world. Someone who knows them-” She hesitated, searching his dark eyes for understanding before taking the plunge. “A noblewoman of the Realm. Like them.”
He looked at her appraisingly as if with new eyes. “This is what you meant by starting at the beginning, isn’t it?”
“My former husband, Nicolas Ravensbourne was a nobleman. He was a scion of one of the highest families in the land. He was a marquis.”
“And what title did he hold? Just so I know exactly what I’m dealing with?” he said coldly.
Her cool grey eyes glittered with tears. “I’m sorry. Please try not to be angry with me, my love. I hate myself for lying to you-“
“Who was he?”
“Don’t shout at me, Ghislain-“ she snapped, her temper roused at last. “I know I should have told you the truth.”
“I want to know what the devil I’m dealing with, damn it!” He thrust her from him in anger. “No more lies, Eve. Tell me the truth!”
“The Marquis de Rochechouart, Prince d’ Argenteuil.” She said quietly, her head bowed. He could see the tension in her naked back.
He dropped her as if she were a hot brick with a muttered curse.
“Can you forgive me?” she pleaded, looking into his face. “For being reluctant to tell you everything? I didn’t want us to get dragged back into that sordid and unsavoury world. I was never happy in that circle. It took years for me to fit in, measure up to their standards. Be accepted by them for my own sake, not just because I had married Nick. But I have no choice. His Majesty himself commands me-“
“Why did you never think to tell me?” he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Were you ever going to inform me of your illustrious connections, my lady?”
“Don’t be like this, Ghis. I love you. That will never change. I’m still the same woman you awoke with kisses this morning-“
He pulled away from her gentle caress. “Are you?”
“I was so happy with you, Ghislain. I have never loved anyone more than you. Not Nick, not John... If I had any choice I would turn my back on that world without another thought, just so we could be together.”
He sat up in bed, running his hands through his dark glossy hair in exasperation. “Do you have the slightest idea what is going through my mind at the moment? You lied to me, Eve. About something so essential and basic as your true identity. I don’t know what to think any more.”
“Don’t say it, Ghis. We can work this out, we can!”
“I would have defied my father and married you in a heart beat! I would turned my back on him and all his expectations. For you and the girls, because I love you and I care for them as if they were my own. But you lied to me, Eve. Why did you do it? Would you have ever told me the truth? When you got sick of slumming it here in our tiny apartment and longed for a little more excitement?”
“I’m not slumming it, Ghis. Don’t say that!”
“You shouldn’t be here-“ He said flatly. She could almost feel him withdrawing from her and it hurt.
“Why shouldn’t I be here?” she challenged him fiercely, chin held up defiantly. “This is where I want to be. With you-“
“Do they even know you’re here? Hiding in plain sight?”
She looked down reluctantly. “His Majesty does. He wanted me to return to court but I didn’t want to go back to that glittering corrupt world after Nick died. I made a deal with him eventually-”
“-That he would leave you in peace, and in return you would act as his spy on demand? Or face the consequences of defying his Majesty’s will? He’s not very kind to rebellious aristocrats who refuse to live under the gilded yoke of Versailles-”
She nodded miserably, the harsh reality of her situation becoming more and more clear.
“You are deep undercover, aren’t you my lady?” he said coolly, getting up from the bed and shrugging his clothes back on.
“Where are you going, Ghis?” she asked, her eye wide with fear.
He turned his back on her and carried on dressing in silence.
“Don’t leave me-“ Tears were streaming down her face in the moonlight flooding through the window. “I can’t do this without you.”
He had never been able to disregard her tears and with a wrench he realised despite his anger at her duplicity that his love for her still burned strong and inorexable. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for standing in the way of your duty. Go back to court and take up your former role.” He said gently wiping her tears. “What we had was beautiful beyond compare, but you are so far above me it would never work–“
“-Stay. Please.” She couldn’t say anything else.
He kissed her one last time, preparing to walk away from the woman he loved above all others, despite the bombshell of her revelation.
“-Goodbye, Nightingale and God bless you and the girls.”
It took every ounce of iron rigid self-control he possessed to walk away from her, deaf to her misery, refusing to look at her lying in their rumpled bed sobbing as if her heart would break. He only lasted until he’d got to the front door before he broke down.

-------------------------
(from chapter 4: Deep Undercover)

Nighttime in the heart of Paris was very different from what Jonah was used to. As he made his way to the tavern that De la Reynie had designated for his assignation with their informant, Jonah was glimpsing a privileged view of the seedy underbelly of the city. The whores sold their wares brazenly hanging out of the windows with preening and leers to the men below. Several tried to catch Jonah’s eye, promising a night of delights he’d never forget. He hurried on, trying not to be drawn in by their wiles and schemes.
The beggars lay in the gutters, raising their wretched voice in a discordant lament of their plight. Jonah had to turn his face from the overwhelming din. There were so many of them all, crowding the stranger, pleading for coins, bread, anything. What could he do for these creatures? Nothing. He felt his powerlessness more than ever.
One bold and desperate whore planted herself in front of him tugging on his arms and wheedling him in a cracked rusty voice to let her service him. He looked down into her diseased filthy face with it’s broken and rotting teeth and the sores round her mouth and felt nothing but horror and pity.
“No, Madame. Go home-“
“Don’t you want me, a fine upright man like yourself? I’m good, I promise you-“ she leered in a horrible parody of coquettishness pressing her body up against his. He could smell the overpowering reek of unwashed sweat and alcohol from her body and it made him shudder.
“Madame, no. I insist you let me go-“ he gritted out, unwiling to make a scene when he had to get to the ‘Pomme de Sangue’ without drawing attention to himself. Vignon was waiting inside.
One rapacious hand grasped his sex through the rough wool of his breeches evidently trying to manipulate and humiliate him in public.
“Stop that-“ he tried to prise her questing invasive hands from his person but the damned woman held on in a death grip. People were starting to stare and point. He needed to gain control of this situation and fast, while being conscious that he would hurt her if he used too much force.
“Ain’t one of those unnatural bastards who don’t like women, are ye?” she hissed malevolently as he managed to twist away from her unwelcome touch. “ Filthy Pederast!”
He fled into the tavern before she could humiliate him even further.

Eugene Vignon sat by the bar, merely inclining his head when Jonah entered the tavern with an apology for his delay.
“Good evening. I’m sorry you had to wait for me.”
Vignon seemed unperturbed merely ordering another drink from the landlord. “D’ye want anything?”
Jonah thought it best to allay his companion’s suspicions and order something even if he didn’t plan to consume it. Anything he could do to divert the man’s instinctive mistrust of what he was.
“A mug of cider please.” He requested from the barman. “Warmed, please-“
“So you’re the agent De la Reynie sends to get his information.” An unpleasant smirk lingered on his rat –like features as he took his measure of Jonah. “I wondered how he was going to do this. Evidently he wasn’t going to do his own dirty work. You’re a foreigner I think. English, I can tell by your accent-“
“Yes I am, Monsieur Vignon.”
The smirk widened. “I imagine you had problems with Mignon, did ye?”
“The whore outside?” The blood Jonah had recently fed on flooded his pale face in rememberance of his shame.
“She’s rather persistent , especially with a new face like yours. You should given her a cuff round the head and a kick or she’ll think you like her. You’ll never be rid of her.”
“I would never sink so low as to strike a woman in anger!” Jonah protested.
“You’re one of those god-fearing types, ain’t ye?” Vignon bared his yellowing teeth in an evil smirk. ”All bible thumping and heresy no doubt. That figures. De La Reynie would send someone like that here. Idiot.”
Jonah was nettled by the informer’s scorn and disrespect of his new boss. How can De la Reynie trust this disreputable man? He thought to himself. “What do you know of these poisoners we seek?”
“There are many. It’s a veritable cottage industry among the women. Tell a few fortunes to a load of credulous aristos and burgher’s wives. Give them a few powders and philtres and tell them to recite some harmless mumbo-jumbo over them. An easy way to make a living, isn’t it?”
“What do you know of Catherine Montvoison?” prompted Jonah. “I’m told she is a soothsayer and midwife.”
“Ah, la Voisin. We are really starting at the top, aren’t we?” Vignon said with a snide edge to his voice. “La Voisin’s one of the best. Extremely succesful in her field. I’d reckon half the court got to her. I know some of her suppliers though-”
Eve’s got her work cut out for her thought Jonah . He resolved to try and meet her with the information as soon as possible.
“Now la Vigoureaux on the other hand... She’s another one. Very popular. La Bosse, La Filastre, La Bergeron... The women are in close competition for the custom of the court. I heard rumour that Madame de Brinvilliers herself used to frequent both establishments-“
This was the kind of thing he was searching for. Links and information. Maybe Vignon will earn his keep as an informant , no matter how difficult and obstructive he seems to want to be.
“Can you tell me more about the Brinvilliers case? Monsieur De la Reynie tried to brief me when I arrived from London. I saw the execution myself-“
“Ah, a strange business. I still think the woman wasn’t quite right in the head. Of course if she hadn’t been a noble her fate would have been far worse.”
“You believe that Madame de Brinvilliers got off easily?”
“The whole of Paris thinks so! She was protected because of her family connections. Lawyers and leeches, the lot of them. Stands to reason they would shield one of their own, doesn’t it? Like the Pennautier bastard, bold as brass in his sins but no one can touch him. Not even De la Reynie, am I right?”
“Monsieur De la Reynie is committed to seeing that justice is done. No one whether Prince of the Realm or peasant shall be exempt. There is no question of anyone being shielded- ”
“D’ye really believe that? Or are you just parroting the party line? Look, I realise you’re new to all this. Maybe you don’t understand the undercurrents of what’s going on. I don’t doubt that De la Reynie means well. He seems like that type. Finger in every single pie. Always trying to reform everything. I suspect you two are very much of a type.”
The door of the tavern flew open as a motley group of customers sauntered in. As the innkeeper shuddered behind the bar, Vignon gave a curse under his breath.
“Of all the damnable luck. The last people I want to see me hanging round with the likes of you!”
“Who are they? What are you so afraid of them? You hardly strike me as the type to be scared of anyone.”
“La Volpe and his gang. The most vicious and bloodthirsty gang of criminals in Paris. My life isn’t going to be worth living if they realise I’ve done a deal with De la Reynie for information-“
Jonah looked at the leader speculatively. “It may be worth my time consulting these fine gentlemen for their perspective. I’ll talk to the leader-“
“Are you foolhardy or just insane, Englishman?” Vignon hissed back. “These are cold blooded killers. Vicious damned souls. They’ll slit your throat and throw you into the Seine as soon as look at you.”
So am I- thought Jonah. Only you don’t even know it, Vignon.
“There’s no harm in asking-“ Jonah replied tranquilly, absorbing the warmth from his cider through his cold hands.

La Volpe was a huge brute of a man with a decided glint of animal cunning in his eyes and an air of barely concealed menace.
“You!”
Vignon shrank away, trying desperately not to bring attention to himself.
“I want to talk to the foreigner.” He pronounced, like a savage king. “Bring him here!”
Two of his minions went for Jonah, judging him by his appearance and underestimating his speed and skill in the fight. He saw the glint of a knife palmed in one of their hands and decided he would have to finish the fight decisively before it got out of hand, remembering De la Reynie’s strictures that while he tolerated ‘bad apples’ for the sake of the investigation he expected Jonah to show some self-control and would hold him accountable for his actions during the case.
Seizing one hapless gang member of them by the throat, and crushing him against the wall of the tavern, he addressed La Volpe in calm even tones. “Call off your men, sir-“
“What if I don’t want to?” sneered the leader. “Vignon here told me you work for De la Reynie-“ he spat scornfully onto the dirty floor, while the tavern owner quivered in fear behind the bar.
“Yes, I do.”
“- And that you want information? On these poisoners? Is that also true?”
“Yes, sir.”
La Volpe growled, as if he thought he was being mocked by Jonah’s courtesy. “What do you want?”
Jonah tightened his grip on the man pinned to the wall. “Monsieur De la Reynie wants to know where these poisons come from. Whether any of your men know anything that could help the investigation.”
“And why should we help him, tell me? We don’t want to work for no stinking policeman-“
“He is prepared to do a deal for information. Of the right sort.”
“So he sends an agent to do his dirty work for him.” mused the leader. “What think you?”
He addressed his second in command who drained his tankard of ale wiping his mouth with a filthy cuff before fixing Jonah with a glance full of malice.
“What if we simply slit your throat stranger, and dropped your body in the Seine for the tide to find? ‘Tis easily and swiftly done.”
“You could try-“ Jonah assured them “-But I have to warn you; anyone who thinks they want to try it should not complain if they get hurt. You may be poor men, but manners cost nothing-“
“Hark at the man, prating to us ‘bout manners!” mocked the second in command, an evil sneer on his face. “-Knock him out, boys!”
The knife flashed viciously. Jonah disarmed the ruffian after a fraught tense struggle, reversing the blade back on him, so it slashed his assailant’s throat. The man lay dying at his feet, the sickening death rattle seeping from his mutilated windpipe. The gang members stared at him, unable to believe such a mild looking gentleman had bested the man in a knife fight.
He wasn’t prepared for the sheer visceral longing for the blood as it welled out of the dying man. Almost before he was master of himself he raised his bloodstained hands and licked them clean like a cat with cream on it’s paws.
“Who are you?” La Volpe sounded scared. His minions shrank back from the strange man genuinely scared now.
Jonah tried to control the bloodlust surging within him, the longing for more. He shouldn’t have consumed the blood not in front of the witnesses. That was rash beyond all crediting: what had he been thinking of exposing himself like that? If it got back to De la Reynie-
“I am De la Reynie’s man, and that is all you need to know.”
“What do you want? Will you harm us?”
“Not if you are prepared to give De la Reynie information.”
----
Chapter 5
The Return of the Princesse d’ Argenteuil

Eve tried to stop her hands shaking by putting them in her lap as her carriage approached the Avenue de Paris, but it failed to work. The oppressive orange and lemon scented atmosphere of the coach as it travelled down the broad avenue, the stiff sticky lacquer and pins securing her hairstyle, a fantastical mass of snaky ringlets and waves coiled and secured into a high chignon only served to unsettle her and increase her mounting apprehension. She could feel herself fighting for air against the prison of her stays, the panic rising like scent around her.
“Eve, are you alright?” Benôit asked, kind eyes misted by concern. “You look deathly pale again.”
Her lovely grey eyes ringed in dark brown khol were wide and dilated with fear. “ I- I don’t know if I can do this, Benôit-“
“Ma’am, you’re shaking like a leaf.”
“They’ll realise I’m a fake as soon as I walk through the gates.” She muttered, biting her lips until there was nothing left but a stain. “How could I have ever thought that I could fool anyone? Let alone make an effective spy. Oh God, give me strength-“
That wasn’t fear: that was sheer panic in her eyes. He acted quickly, sensing an emotional meltdown. “Stop the coach! Pull in! Now!“
The vehicle came to a slow stop.
“Kneel down, head toward the floor if you can, my lady. I know ‘tis difficult in your stays-”
Adele stared at her mistress in horror before bursting into sobs. “Madame? Oh God, help her Benôit-“
“Keep your head, Adele!” he snapped nerves pulled taut. “I can deal with a breakdown, but not both of you at the same time!”
Shocked out of her hysterics she blinked, pulling herself together for the sake of her mistress. She helped him guide Eve who was hyperventilating badly to the floor of the coach.
“My lady, speak to me-“ Benôit soothed, stroking her silk-clad back as if he was gentling a skittish horse . “Try and take as deep a breath as you can. In, out. In, out. You can do this-“
“I’m sorry-“ Eve whispered in mortification, a hectic flush staining her face, looking down at the cream and pink striped silk skirts of her gown. “I panicked and utterly lost my head. What must you think of me?”
“I think you’re trying your hardest under a great deal of pressure, Eve. I understand that this must have been hard for you. But don’t forget that I’m here to support you all the way. You are not alone.”
“Hold my hand.” Adele urged.
She nodded, eager for the comfort of her friend’s touch. “I’ll try not to crush it, Adele. Thank you, both of you.”
“Nearly there. Just five minutes away-“ he said gently, not wanting to distress her. “Shall I ask the coachman to start?”
“Yes, Benôit. Thank you.”
The carriage pulled up at the gates and Eve prepared to embark on her new life back at court.
“The palace looks so grand now-“ said Eve , looking about her in dazzled wonder. “His Majesty has made a great deal of alterations to the place since I was last here.”
“It’s as grand as they say-“ said Adele whose dark eyes were as round as dinnerplates looking at the imposing facade of the building looming up in front of them. “-And this is where we’re going to stay now.” She pulled at her dress of olive green satin with it’s embroidered lace collar, which was the finest thing she’d ever worn.
Babette would have given every single one of her teeth to wear this, even though it is mighty uncomfortable even without those awful corsets Eve was cursed with. No wonder Eve nearly fainted in the coach. She looks absolutely ravishing in that pink and cream silk gown though. Madame Vernet may have been a Tartar of the first order but she surely get results!

The Captain of the Guard approached them.
“Madame d’ Argenteuil?”
She stiffened her spine and Benôit could see that she had steeled herself to the task ahead. From somewhere deep down she had dug deep and found her courage.
That’s my girl, Eve. I knew you could do it. He thought with satisfaction as he followed her.
“His Majesty knows you have arrived, but I’ll take you to the gardens first, Madame. The Duchess d’Orleans ordered me to take you there as soon as you arrived.”
The crunch of gravel under the heels of Eve’s high- heeled shoes alerted the group lounging by the fountain in the summer sunshine that she was here at last.
“Here she comes, Madame-“ she heard someone whisper before she turned the corner. “–The prodigal returns at last...“
“Madame, it is my humble pleasure to announce the Princesse d’ Argenteuil, Countess of Ardenham Evelyn Ginevra de Mortemart de Rochechouart. Rightful widow of the late Nicolas de Mortemart, Prince d’Argenteuil-”
“Evie!” she found herself embraced by a fizzing petite bundle of energy in primose satin and chestnut curls.
“Madame, you do me too much honour-“. She swept into a deep graceful curtsey, secretly gratified that she still had the grace to pull it off. She’d been praticising with Benôit for three days to get it right.
“Turn round, let me see you!” ordered Henriette-Anne rather imperiously but with obvious affection in her voice. “That pink and cream silk is to die for!”
“That’s got to be a Vernet. I can tell that cut anywhere!”
Eve nodded, a smile breaking out on her face at the sight of her old friend. “Yes, it is, Gabi. It’s great to see you once again.”
She kissed her twice on both cheeks, embracing her with real unfeigned warmth.
“Marvellous.” Gabi pronounced with evident satisfaction afer carefully apprising her outfit from every angle. “You look amazing. And that hat, at that rakish angle... it’s a touch of genius. Vernet’s done it again.”
“If you want to look like an overgrown milkmaid-“
She heard a snide snickering from the back of the group and tried her damnedest to ignore the sound even though the colour rose in her cheek. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Athénaïs’s smirk before she wiped it off her face and became the innocently serene picture of respectability.
What’s her problem? I’ve done nothing to her! Eve thought buring with resentment. She noticed the Duchess de Vivonne hiding a snide smirk behind her hand painted fan and presumbly whispering something derogatory in Athénaïs’s ear.
That woman has never liked me. Why is she even at court anyway? I thought she didn’t like to attend the King. Just my luck she would turn up today.
“I can’t wait to present you to her Majesty! She’ll be delighted to see you again-” Gabi chattered still holding on to her hand.
“-And of course His Majesty will be so pleased to see you at last. You should never have stayed away so long!” she scolded affectionately. “I understand you were grieving for Nick, but really it’s not been the same round here without you!”
“You grieved for Nick? Really? Considering how badly suited you both were, I’m highly surprised-“ remarked the Duchess her snide smile broadening.
“He was my husband. However I felt about him and our relationship, he did not deserve the death he suffered.” Eve said with a spike of dignity. She would not sink to Antoinette’s level. Not yet anyway.
“Yes, it was all very mysterious, wasn’t it? Lots of conflicting stories flying about, wasn’t there?” She looked at Eve, daring her to rise to the bait. “What’s the official story? Murdered by ruffians in a rough part of town? Very convenient for you, considering you inherited all his money-”
Gabi took offence on her best friend’s behalf. “Now is not the time or place to be discussing such terrible subjects, Antoinette! Come let’s find her Majesty, Evie cherie-”

“You’re not upset by Toinette, are you? You know what she’s like.” Gabi asked as they walked down the path.
“I’d hoped she would have forgotten her grudge against me in time, but she’s just as unpleasant as ever. How can Louis-Victor bear to be married to her? She’s a horror!”
“She’s jealous, you know-“
“Jealous? Of what exactly?”
Gabi carried on unperturbed by Eve’s question.“I would have thought it was obvious-“
“No, it’s not.” Eve said, truly confused by the complications of court intrigue so early in her stay.
“You’re famed for your beauty, wealth and musical ability. What has she got except for her wit and her marriage to Louis-Victor-“
----
The Fall of Evelyn Foley

“My lady, can I escort you from chapel?” Vivonne said,smoothly slipping his arm through hers and guiding her out of the church before before anyone else could make a claim on her time. Since the couple of weeks since she had arrived at court he had gone out of his way to spend time with her and make her feel welcome. In truth, she wasn’t sure that she knew what she would have done without the support of Gabi and him.
“Vivonne, how kind-“ she said with a genuine smile playing across her face. She’d always liked him: he’d been so kind to her that desperate night he and Nick had found her clinging to the edge of the Pont- Neuf willing herself to jump into the deceptively calm waters of the Seine below. It seemed so long ago-
1664: Paris
The innkeeper at the inn proved to be extremely stubborn. Vivonne had to use all his considerable wit and charm to get them admitted.
“Who’s this? And what do you nobles want? It’s far too late for decent folk to be out and about.”
“Open the door, good man. We have more than enough pistoles and louis to pay for our board. All we want is a room that will hold three people for the night- ”
The innkeeper looked out suspiciously. “What are you doing with that girl? If you are planning some kind of debauch, then you can go elsewhere. This is a decent house, sirs-“
Nick was losing all patience with the man. “The lady is a friend of mine! She is cold, tired, hungry and she is in distress! Now is not the time to indulge in stupid arguments about morality!”
The innkeeper was about to take great umbrage at Nick’s tone when Vivonne stepped in to soothe the situation. “My good friend is merely concerned for the welfare of his friend. It is very late and we’re all weary. Please do not take offence, sir-“
With a ill-will the innkeeper finally let them in, muttering curses against lords who think that they can do as they please.

The room was a cosy little room with a crackling fire but the three of them didn’t mind too much. All they really wanted was the bed.
“Get in Eve. Rest, sleep-“
She settled in between the covers, looking very young and vulnerable. They got in besides her, providing warmth and comfort. If that was my sister, Marie-Madeleine, or Athénaïs in such a terrible bind, I would like to think that someone would help them. They wouldn’t be as alone and unhappy as this troubled sensitive girl, little more than a child still.
“We’ll stay with you all night and day if we need to. You shall not want for a thing, not if I and Nick can help it.” Vivonne said comfortingly stroking her chilled arm.
Nick looked on him with an unfriendly eye. “Don’t you have to meet Toinette and Athénaïs tomorrow for that picnic at the Tulieries? They’ll just make a fuss you know, about how you’re neglecting the family duty gadding and carousing til the early hours with your disgraceful reprobate cousin?”
“Damn, I hadn’t thought of that. Athénaïs in a temper could argue the hind leg off a donkey. Well, this is more important, isn’t it Nick? We do a good work tonight. The salvation of this poor girl’s soul-”
“Don’t think that will wash with Toinette somehow-“ Nick observed. “Admirable as it may seem-“
Vivonne knew his cousin well: well enough to be able to see that something was up.
He’d never seen him so tender about anyone, and he was pretty sure that it wasn’t on account of his latest mistress Pippa Foley, known as the diva La Seraphina. Did the diva have any idea where Eve was? Or how desperate and miserable the girl must have been to attempt to end her life on a cold and lonely bridge far from her native land?
Was he involved? Nick was notorious for his relentless pursuit of women and his callous disregard of them once he’d got his own way. Had she become one of his victims abroad and decided to end her life in despair that he loved her no longer?
“Can I speak to you for a moment, Nick? Alone?”

He closed the door firmly behind him, facing his cousin.
“What’s going on? Are you involved with this one? Is that why she was about to throw herself off the Pont Neuf?”
Nick’s handsome face curved into a smug smile. “There was a certain something going on in the wilds I must admit. Most entertaining-”
“You seduced her? Nicolas, you are utterly incorrigible!”
“I haven’t slept with her yet, but she wants it. She craves me-“ Nick drawled. “-Give me a little credit for having some class-“
“And it amuses you to play with a young girl’s heart like that?” he said with a disapproving glnace at his cousin. ”What have you done?”
“Nothing! Her husband was a brute, scarcely deserved the boon of a lovely young girl like that in his bed every night. I was doing him and her a favour by intervening-“
“La Seraphina mentioned some kind of murder investigation. The husband died in his bed from stab wounds. You know anything about that?”
As Nick smiled his charmer’s smile, Vivonne felt a chill of foreboding. He’s in up to his aristocratic neck, I’m sure of it! He thought.
“Don’t fuss, it was the only way-“
So you are responsible, Nick. What have you done? thought Vivonne in alarm.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at, but you’re playing a dangerous game.”
“A dangerous game, but worth every single bit of risk. I think she is the one, Louis-Victor, I really do.”
“You want to marry her? Really?” Vivonne couldn’t hide his surprise.
“Why not? My father wants me to marry. Secure the family name, bring forth an heir. Why not her?”
Vivonne shook his head, troubled by Nick’s cynicism. “You are crazy. There’s no way in hell that the Le Grand Marquis will allow you to marry a girl like that, never mind her background. With La Seraphina as an aunt... an actress, a singer-”
“A courtesan? Don’t mince words I know what you meant. I’ll have you know that Pippa Foley is of noble blood, Louis-Victor. Maybe not as pure and noble as ours but she has nothing to be ashamed of. As for my illustrious father, at this point I dare say he’d be glad if I shackled myself to anyone-“
“You are a Rochechouart by birth! You should have more pride in your ancestry.”
“If ‘having more pride in my ancestry’ means roping myself to some inbred high born woman, then I’ll none of it. Get this straight, I want Eve Foley, body and soul-“
“You want me to leave her to your advances? Alone with you all night?-“
Nick’s dark eyes narrowed appraisingly. Vivonne was reminded sharply of the Le Grand Marquis and his ruthlessness. Sebastién de Mortemart, Prince d’Argenteuil was famed for his guile, arrogance and his utter conviction that his every desire should be met at once. Nick was truly his father’s son at that moment.
“It would help, dear cousin. Let nature and emotions take their course, for who would be fool enough to argue with fate?”
Vivonne was troubled by his cousin and the girl but agreed, ignoring his uneasy conscience. Maybe it’s not my business to interfere. He wants her and she must be in love with him. If Nick wants her so badly-
“Don’t hurt her!” he burst out, unable to conceal his true concern for the girl.
Nick’s smile turned positively vulpine. “What? Are you getting all sentimental on me, dear coz?”

“I have to go-“ Vivonne said abruptly as he made to leave the room. “Nick has very kindly reminded me that I have unavoidable commitments elsewhere tomorrow, and it will not do to neglect them-“
He tried not to look at Nick’s triumphant smug smile from the bed. Perhaps this is exactly what the girl’s true desire was. Perhaps she is playing an audacious gamble to ensnare a rich well-connected man like Nicolas, dazzled by his ancestry and his handsome face. If they were lovers already, maybe all he played was the role of the spare part- second best. He hardened his heart and tried to ignore her calm sweet gaze from the bed. He’s welcome to her! La Seraphina’s pupil indeed!
“You’re leaving, Monsieur de Vivonne?”
“Yes-“ he said rather tersely ignoring the rebel twinge of sympathy she awoke in him. “ Nick here will take care of you I’m sure, Eve-“
“You’re not angry with me?” she asked in a small voice.
He almost pitied her, lying there with Nick’s possesive arm wrapped round her as if already marking his victory and possession. Has she any idea what he is truly like? His chronic inability to be faithful to anyone? His utter ruthlessness and callous disregard for others once he had gained his desire? Maybe Eve had taken his measure and made the decision it was worth the risk to gain entry to one of the greatest families in France.
But there was something in the innocent guileless gaze of those grey eyes that told him the girl naively believed in his cousin and his love. She was destined for nothing but disappointment and misery. Once she saw the real Nick, shorn of pretence. For one insane moment, he wanted to drag her bodily from the bed, take her away from Nick and win her for himself.
Ah so that’s what this is. You desire her for yourself, you selfish excuse of a man. Never mind that you are married and can offer the girl nothing. Nick at least talks to her of marriage. What can you offer her except for a couple of months as your mistress holed up in some poky Paris garret, reputation shot to pieces and the enmity of your wife? She is better off with Nick. Let her go.
“Will you not take your cloak? It was kind of you to lend it to me-“ she said.
He gave her a sad smile, knowing he must turn his back on her despite his misgivings. “Keep it, Eve-“

Nick stood with Eve on the doorstep of La Seraphina’s smart Paris apartment three days later. It was daytime but the lamps were still shining through the windows. The regular flow of patrons and fashionable ladies that frequented the flat were absent.
“She’ll be angry with me. I don’t blame her. I should have tried to contact her immediately-“
Was the girl having second thoughts?
Outwardly he smiled indulgently at his new lover, affectionately stroking her hand to reassure her. “Let me do the talking sweetheart. I’ll make everything right, I promise you. Do you trust me, my love?”
She gave him a shy sweet smile. “Of course I trust you, Nick. Completely-“
“Good.” He said with satisfaction, ringing the doorbell.

Horatio opened the door with a grave look on his dark carved face. “Where have you both been? Pippa’s been worried sick- she’s sent messages all over town. You’d best come in-“
Eve was just about to open her mouth to apologise when Nick intervened.
“Let me do the talking, remember Eve?” he whispered to her.”Horatio, it’s a long story. Is she in?”
He gave them a long appraising look as of he had worked out exactly what had happened. The servant’s mouth thinned with disapproval. “Upstairs-“
Pippa ran down the stairs at the sound of their voices. “I’ve been worried sick, Eve! Where have you both been? Where did you go for three whole days? No word, no note! Anything could have happened-“
“I’m sorry-“
“Well?” Pippa said impatiently. “What’s going on? I came back from seeing a client and you were gone. Without a trace-“
“I found her on the Pont-Neuf at the dead of night.”
Pippa looked astounded. “What were you doing there? ‘Tis no place for a girl at night.”
“She was clinging to the edge about to throw herself in. Vivonne and I had to talk her down from the ledge-“
Pippa clung on to the bannister in shock. “What? This cannot be true. Evie-“
“Such a desperate act. Why would you ever think of doing such a thing? Of committing your soul to perdition? However bad things are for you now, that’s not the answer!”
Her instincts were on high alert. Why couldn’t she look her in the eye, damn it? Why was she allowing Nick to speak for her, almost looking to him for confirmation? A horrible thought struck and all at once the pieces of the puzzle fell sharply into place. Her grey eyes so like Eve’s watched him keenly. “So this is what you mean by ’you want to talk in private’, do you?”
She turned to the wretched girl. “Evie darling, would you mind giving us a bit of space for a while? Nick and I need to have a long chat. I’ll come and see you afterward. Perhaps if you rest for a bit.”
The girl nodded, and Pippa fancied she noticed a gleam of guilt in her eyes. “Yes, Aunt-“

She closed the door of the salon behind her and bolted it facing him at last.
“What happened, Nick?” she said battling to keep her voice even. “Don’t lie to me.”
“It was as I said, Pippa-“ he tried to placate her, keeping his voice at a soothing pitch. “We found Eve about to jump and we talked her down. It was late so we found an inn for the night-“
“Did you sleep with her?”
He had the grace to look a little guilty at least. “Yes-“
“How could you?”
“Let me explain-“ he said with a smirk on his face that made her long to hurt him.
“You don’t need to! How could you do this to me?” she said coldly, the tears threatening to choke her voice. “I loved you, Nick. I was prepared to give up everything for you; my career, my clients, everything. You promised to marry me!”
“Marry you?” he said cruelly, the gloves off at last. “Why on Earth would I want to do that, Mademoiselle Foley?”
“Nicolas!” Pippa stared at at him as if seeing him for the first time, as if she didn’t believe he was capable of such treachery-
“My father Le Grand Marquis would have had a fit if I’d suggested such a thing. Me, a Mortemart marry a courtesan! My dear Pippa , it is time to stop living in a dream world-“
“So what makes her so different from me? If I am not good enough to marry just to swive, why her? It’s not as if she is even still a virgin. Why do you want her so much?”
“Eve is young and charming. My father will love her; she’ll be the perfect ornament at court.”
“You mean she is gullible and easily manipulated to your will! And when you tire of her, as I know you will, what will happen to her. You’ll discard her like a broken toy.” She said angrily. “ Nicolas, I never dreamed you could be so cruel-“
“What do you care, Pippa?”
Her face went white with supressed rage. “She is my niece, Nicolas! My niece. How could you turn us against each other? She is the only relative I have left in this world. My Thomas’s little girl!”
“How touching. You don’t expect me to believe that you actually care about the girl?”
“Do you?” she challenged him. “ If you wanted to dip your pintle , you could have had any girl in Paris to do your bidding as soon as you told them your title. Why my Eve? And don’t you dare to tell me-” she sneered. “-that you love the girl. I don’t belive you’re capable of the emotion. You will marry her, or I will go straight to your illustrious father and tell him everything-”
“Everything?” he sneered. “I doubt he’d even see you! What will you have to tell him?”
“I will tell him you seduced my niece. Murdered an innocent man in cold blood to have her, drove her to the brink of suicide with your emotional games. Because you believe your birth makes you better than everyone else.”
“Do it. Do you think I care what you plan to do?”

When Eve heard Pippa knock on the door of the bedroom, her heart started pounding in her chest, almost as if it was trying to escape. She knew she was angry: she’d heard her screaming blue murder at Nick. What on Earth would she do to her?
“Can I come in?” she asked tersely, walking in before Eve had even replied in the positive.
“Aunt Pippa, I know you are very angry and disappointed in me-“ she started trying to placate her, feeling the weight of her guilt for wat she had done with Nick.
“Be quiet-“ she said in a voice of pure venom. “I have a lot to say to you so listen to what I say, and listen well.”
“I should blame you for Nick straying. I should say that you stole the only man I have ever loved from right under my nose. I should be fucking angry with you right now. But do you know what? I pity you-“
Eve was so surprised by her statement she forgot herself. “You pity me?”
“I said. Be. Quiet!” Pippa snarled. “You have no idea what that man is capable of. He will treat you like dirt and yet again you’ll take it because he’s filthy rich and handsome, of good family. You will be miserable, I promise you but this time I won’t save you Eve . Not any more-“
“What do you mean save me? I don’t want you to save me-“
“Good.” Pippa said with unmasked savagery. ”Because you and me are done. I want you out of this house. I don’t want to see you again, Eve. I think it would be best, don’t you? Horatio will pack your bags and you will be gone in an hour, do you understand?”
She nodded, accepting her fate.

Eve was pale when she left the room, her world having fallen apart at Pippa’s harsh words.
“Eve? Talk to me . you look so pale-”
She looked at Nick with huge reproachful eyes. “She wants me out of the house in an hour. She hates me. What have I done?”
As he held her in his arms he could hear the frantic beating of her heart. “I will protect you I promise. We’ll get lodgings in the city. You will not regret being with me, my angel-”

Even though she was decked in her finest clothes Pippa was still nervous as she ascended the steps of the Mortemart’s town residence. The grand imposing facade of the building seemes calculated to inspire fear into the heart of any that approached. Pippa didn’t frighten easily , but even she felt a thrill of fear as she seized the door knocker.
The door opened and she was faced with a forbidding maid dressed in the very latest most chic cut of clothes. As the maid raked her with an insolent glance she flushed with shame. Would she never be good enough for these Mortemarts? Who did they think they were? Royalty? The ancient blood of Celtic Kings runs through my veins. I need not bow my head to anyone! She thought with a flash of pride. Nicolas and his kin have absolutely no idea who they are dealing with.
“Who shall I say is calling, Mademoiselle?” she said in a barely civil tone of voice.
Pippa almost had to stop herself from bobbing a curtsey.
“You may tell Lord Sebastién that Phillipa Foley wishes to speak to him on an urgent matter that concerns us both. He know I am on my way.”
Despite herself the maid looked interested. “Pippa Foley?”
Pippa gave her a thin little smile , sensing that she had finally managed to gain the upper hand. “La Seraphina herself.”

Lord Sebastién stood by the hearth , displaying himself to his best advantage. On seeing him, Pippa was reminded how much Nicolas resembled his father. She hoped he would have the goodness to listen to her, before throwing her out of the house.
“Mademoiselle Foley.”
“Lord Sebastién-“ she curtseyed prettily, noticing his eyes on her. That’s right, you’re a typical man. I know you desire me. How your eyes linger on the curve of my breasts in this gown, the length of my throat.
“What do you want? I am perfectly aware of who you are and your unfortunate relationship with my son Nicolas.”
Her chin went up defiantly at his words. “ I loved him, Lord Sebastién. There is no need to mock me.”
His mouth curved into a knowingly cruel smile. “But he loves you no longer. You have been usurped by your own niece. That’s got to hurt.”
“I am not concerned for myself. A woman like me can easily find any number of gentlemen friends willing to spend time with her. And of course my career keeps me busy. I am certainly not pining over your son.”
“And money, no doubt. As long as they spend that-”
“We both have no illusions as to what I am. Your mockery has no effect on me.”
He gave her a long appraising look. Bold as well as stunning. If the niece was anything like her, and he’d heard rumours that she was, Nicolas had done well for himself.
“So what do you want Mademoiselle Foley? Why did you demand a meeting with me? I am a busy man , and my time is valuable.”
“I want your son to do the right thing by my niece. He seduced a young and vulnerable girl. I will not have him discard her once he grows tired of her. It’s not right.”
“What makes you think I have any influence over what my son does? Do you think that I wanted him to get involved with you? A whore and a singer? To spend his days dabbling with paint and pencils instead of gracing the court? What do you want me to do?”
Pippa smiled serenely. “You should encourage him to marry her.”
He laughed in her face.”You cannot be serious Mademoiselle Foley. My family is one of the oldest and most prestigious in France. Why on earth would I allow my only son and heir to marry a girl of no good family, whose only living relative by all accounts is a ‘courtesan’-“ he said the word with such scorn, she had to control her desire to flinch. “-Why would I allow such a mesalliance?”
She was perfectly prepared to stand her ground , if she had to. “It is the moral thing to do. Do you not want him to take responsibility for his actions? Or will you allow him to run havoc through other people’s lives forever, just because of his noble birth?”
“Let us level with one another, and cease to insult my intelligence. I heard you say ‘I will not have him discard her once he grows tired of her-’ . What am I to take from that Mademoiselle Foley? That you think that he would stray from his new love?”
She stuck her chin out stubbornly.
“You think he would cheat. You do, I can see it in your eyes.”
“I just want him to do what is right.”
“Why would you want your niece shackled to a man like my son? I hear that you were angry at the girl. Threw her out of your house in a pique of rage, which is why my son and her are shacked up in a apartment in the city.” He eyed her speculatively. “Is it because you know they won’t be happy together eventually?”
“I am not as mean spirited as you seem to be.”
“I told you not to insult my intelligence, Mademoiselle Foley!” he smirked with that knowing wicked smile. Pippa was shocked how like his son he was, from the cruel curve of that mouth to his still handsome face and silvering blond hair
“What do you want from me?” she asked with a candid look from underneath gold lashes.
He exmined his finely shaped aristocratic hands witha delibrate slowness, keping her on tenterhooks.
So that’s the game you want to play she thought grimly. D’ye think I’m such a green idiot as to give away my position of strength so early. Believe me , I am too old and experienced to fall for such a rookie mistake.
“If I were to consider your proposal; which I might do, what would be in it for me?” he asked with a deceptive idleness.
Pippa’s eyes narrowed. Mmn, I can see where Nicolas got his selfish gene from.
“It is the right thing to do.”
His lip curled with derision and she nearly kicked herself for miscalculating him so drastically.
“Do you honestly think I care about ‘the right thing to do?’”
She realised that heartfelt appeals to his better nature would have no effect as he clearly didn’t have one. If she was to win her point, she was going to have to rephrase her words to appeal to his needs; not hers.
“Between you and me, settling down will be the best thing for him, I see that now.”
“Really? Forgive me, but Iwas always under the impression that you encouraged him in his rebellion.”
Pippa that what he said was completely true, yet she was not willing to concede the point.
“If he marries her and goes to court, as he plans-“
“You know this?”
I hope I can be convincing enough. This is a vital, yet tough role I’ve taken and I do it for Eve’s sake, even she little deserves it. She let the tinge of bitterness colour her voice hoping to convince him of her sincerity.
“-He took great pleasure in telling me so.”
“Poor you, you must have been so hurt by his betrayal.
-----
(later in the chapter)
“May I just say how glad I am that you’ve returned at last to us at court. “ he said politely, bringing her mind back to the present. “Gabi is so happy, I can’t tell you. She talks of nothing else-“
Eve looked up at him, dazzled by his blue eyes so like his sister’s and the golden hair tied back negligently in a queue.
“You look as radiant as ever, but there is a sadness in your eyes.” He said softly, his voice a caress against her ear that brought a flush to her cheeks. “Dearest Eve, I would not have you sad for all the world-“
What is wrong with me? I’ve just broken up with Ghislain who I love more than anything, but I find Vivonne attractive. I can’t deny it. This is so wrong, but I can’t stop it. God give me strength to resist-
“Come with me to the garden. We can talk about old times in peace without being disturbed. Such bliss to get you alone at last.”
Taking the path of least resistance she allowed him to lead her to the garden.

“Where is he?” demanded Antoinette de Vivonne querelously as soon as she was able to leave the chapel. “That man is the bane of my life. Always sneaking off. You would think he was ashamed of me-“
Gabi knew exactly where her brother had gone to escape his wife; with Eve into the rose garden. The last thing he needed was Antoinette on the war path. For some reason the two women despised each other with a grand passion. Antoinette couldn’t resist bitching about the poor woman every single day, and Eve was less likely to tolerate her snideness now. That was one benefit of her stay away from court. Eve d’Argenteuil was growing a backbone!

“Where have you been, ma cherie? I was so concerned about you when we heard of Nicolas’s demise. We all were. You shouldn’t had had to go through this alone-”
Eve felt awkward. She didn’t like lying to him, especially whe he was going out of his way to be kind , but what could she say? She didn’t think she could turn around and tell him the truth: Nicolas d’Argenteuil had met his end at the hands of a vampire intent on revenge.
“I didn’t want to come back to court. Nicolas’s death affected me so much I just wanted to lock myself away and immerse myself in the world. Lose myself in the crowd-“
“You’ve managed to survive? No more dark despairing thoughts?”
She remembered that he’d been there that night Nick had found her, that he had been kind giving her his long woolen and silk cloak. She vaguely recollected lying between them in the bed trying to get warm, shivering in the darkness. His abrupt departure before Nick made his move to seduce her. She wondered had Nick planned it, persuaded Vivonne to leave.
What would have happenned if it had been Vivonne who stayed in that bed and kept me warm? Would I have been happier? Would I have ended up Vivonne’s mistress instead of Nick’s unhappy wife?
Don’t be foolish Eve, Vivonne was already married by that time to Antoinette, nothing would have ever happened and you know it. You mustn’t think of these things!
“No dark thoughts, Louis-Victor. I’m not that lonely desperate girl you rescued from the Pont all those years ago. I want to live!”
He smiled at her. “I’m glad to hear it, ma cherie. For the world would be much impoverished if you were no longer in it.”
She smiled back at him. “You know le Grand Marquis once said something like that to me, a long time ago. I did grow to be quite fond of him, after a fashion. Of course he didn’t like me at first. Thought I was nothing but a gold digging whore with only my beauty to recommend me-“
“A harsh man and very ruthless, to be sure but a good judge of character. He saw your true worth in time and knew you were more than worthy to be a Mortemart.”
“So am I still part of the family? Not some poor relation to be pitied?”
“Absolutely not!” he said, outraged at the thought. “You know I don’t think you ever realised how much we all valued you. Gabi, of course, Athénaïs though she tries to cover it up with her too ready wit and temper, Marie-Madeleine...myself. It was Nick that isolated you from us to suit his own purposes. I cannot tell you how distraught we all were to find out what you had been through in England due to his plotting. And as for that grasping amoral actress he’d got entangled with..well, I have no idea what he was thinking-“
“Bex Hardinge-“ she said coldly, the thought of her rival still rankling painfully in her heart.
“You are one of us now, Eve.” He reassured her. “This is your rightful place, at the heart of court, at the heart of the family.”
“Have I ever thanked you for your kindness, dear Vivonne?” she murmured looking up at him shyly. She blushed to realise that she’d been staring at his mouth for the past two minutes, wondering what it would be like to feel his lips on her flesh.
Oh dear Lord I really hope he never realises what was going through my mind! I need to stop this , exert some self-control. He’s married to Antoinette and has been for a long time.
“A thousand times, dear Eve, you do not have to thank me any more...” he said with a winning smile. His hand strayed to tuck up one errant curl fallen from it’s pin. She sighed at his touch.
“Eve-“ he breathed.” My sweet Eve-“
“Louis-Victor , you mustn’t-“ she sighed.
Before she knew it , she was backed up against the willow tree, kissing him with a passionate urgency that shocked her with it's intensity. What the hell am I doing? she thought. Why am I letting him kiss me senseless? Why on earth am I winding my arms around his neck and pulling him closer? I don't desire him. I can't desire him.
“Do you know how many times I kicked myself for letting you go that night? Leaving you alone with Nick? I was a fool but I won’t make that mistake again.” her murmured.

“Louis-Victor! Louis-Victor! Where are you, Vivonne? Why do I constantly have to chase you round this palace ? Anyone would think that you were ashamed of me!” Antoinette’s piercing voice rang out , shattering their reverie.
“Damn it , my wife!” he said bitterly. It was striking, Eve though with wonder, how tenderly he speaks to me, and how cold and bitter he is about that woman. “God knows, that woman would put me on a silver chain like her monkey if she could. Tie it to the bottom of the bed while she swives every man in the palace-“
“Maybe I should go, Vivonne-“ demurred Eve, trying to prise herself free. “ I would not like to be the cause of any discord between you and her-“
He held on to her, his arm slipping round her slim waist. She sensed the way her heart beat faster at the touch of his body against hers. The way she fit so neatly into the planes and hollows of his body. That stolen kiss up against the tree... did she desire him?
I can’t. I love Ghislain, why is this happening? Now, when I need to concentrate on the case? I’ve got to fight it. My weakness for handsome golden haired rakes who seduce me and then break my heart.
You would think I would have learned my lesson by now: Nicolas who stole my heart but in truth I was miserable with, John who I risked everything for but we just couldn’t be together and now Louis-Victor de Vivonne. Ghislain was my dearest friend, my best friend. I cared for him for than any of them, but I lied to him. I threw away the only true love I have ever known because I couldn’t be honest with him. No wonder he walked away from me.

“I might have known you’d be here.” Antoinette’s unpleasant voice brought her back to the present. “Hanging round this bold foreign adventuress like a bad smell. Really, my Lord Vivonne you must take care not to appear so obvious!”
“What do you want, Antoinette? “ he snapped.”Or do you just like keeping tabs on me? Why don’t you run along and dally with one of your myriad lovers?”
“Really, I must leave-“ Eve demurred hating to get involved in their marital struggles.
“You should be more respecttful of Eve. She is my cousin Nicolas’s widow . She is just as much a Mortemart as you are.”
“Respectful? Of her?”
“Yes, Antoinette. I’m sure you can manage it.”
She glared at her husband in resentment of him defending her. “You seem very careful of her honour, Louis-Victor. Are you sure it’s not just because you want the privilege of delving up her skirts.”
“There is no need to be so crude. You just make yourself ridiculous Antoinette.”
She gaped at him in disbelief. “No more ridiculous than you Louis-Victor, chasing after your cousin’s widow! You ought to be ashamed of your self! Have you been lusting after her all this time?” she hissed.
“Enough!” he snapped. “ I will not talk to you, if you cannot speak to Eve or myself with the proper civility. I suggest you take a few weeks to think about your actions at our Paris abode. Take yourself out of my sight.”
“You’re sending me away from court. For her sake? What kind of a hold does she have on you? She’s barely got here!” Antoinette was torn between astonishment and suspicion.
“I’m glad to see your intelligence hasn’t been impaired by your brief sojourn at court, Antoinette. I’ll tell your maid and your valet to start packing.”

Antoinette was still steaming with rage as she met Gabi for tea and gossip in Athénaïs’s apartment.
"I hate her and everything she stands for." hissed Antoinette, pretty face twisted with rage until she looked unpleasant . "How dare she come back here. all primped and preening in her expensive finery!”
Not again- thought Gabi with a barely supressed groan. Antoinette was ranting about Eve’s return, yet again. What was her problem? She was extrordinarily jealous of the girl for some reason.

“-Making eyes at Louis-Victor and naturally he's so godamn dumb that he falls for it instantly. Rubbing it in our faces she inherited all Nicolas’s wealth undeservedly. I’d black her eye if I had half a chance-"
“Would you rather it went to the actress? Rebecca Hardinge. Straight from the streets of London . No breeding? Eve is his lawful wife. It was only just she inherited his position and worldly goods. It’s a bit mean spirited to begrudge her after all she had been through at his hands.”
“No, of course not!” Antoinette snapped. “Nick had no family pride! No wonder Le Grand Marquis was ashamed of him.”
“Lord Sebastién was very fond of Eve. She managed to win him over by her own natural gifts. Said at the end she was more than worthy to be a Mortemart. I think she’s a good addition to our group. The King likes her. Madame adores her. She seems to have the knack of talking to everyone and befriending them.“
"I really can't see why you dislike Eve so much. I have to agree with Gabi, to be honest with you, Toinette. Just sounds like envy to me.” Athénaïs said admiring her complexion in the mirror indolently.
“She is trying to steal my husband!” Toinette’s black eyes snapped furiously. “-Or have you forgotten that!"
"Calm down, she'll never keep him. I don't know why you're upsetting youself so much." Athenaïs said with maddening calmness which just irritated Toinette further
"I don't like her and I don't trust her. And neither should you.”
“Why not?” asked Athenaïs idly.
“ Why has she come back anyway? She obviously thought she was too good for court. What is she up to? All those meeting with Louis? I bet she is spying on us."
"Spying? Now you're just being ridiculous!" scoffed Gabi.
"Am I? Why is she always watching. Always on the outside. I don't trust her, I tell you."
"Will you calm down? There is no way Eve could be a spy. Who would want to spy on us?”
Toinette looked at her pityingly. "See, this is the thing when you're stuck at Versailles. You don't hear all the news . You don't realise what is going on in the wide world outside these walls. Louis has us all in this bubble running round after him. The Chambre Ardente are looking for more murderers and poisoners. They suspect everyone. That interfering bastard De la Reynie’s convinced the King there are plots everywhere and he spies on us. Waiting to catch us all out so he can drag us to the tumbril like Brinvilliers-”
“Come on!” laughed Athénaïs. “-the tumbril?”
“It’s true! I’m not lying!”
" Who do you think wants to spy on us? Seriously. Toinette,I think you're getting paranoid because of your jealousy.” Gabi said.
“I? Paranoid?” she spat outraged at Gabi‘s defence of Eve.
“ And I think you don't have much room to talk. You cheat on Louis-Victor all the time. You don't even like him. Why does it bother you whether he and Eve have a fling? It's not as if he can leave you for her. Its just a silly little summer fling. It probably won’t go as far as a few stolen kisses in the garden.” Gabi insinuated with a wicked little spike at finally speaking her mind to her sister in law.
“You cheat on Claude all the time!” retoted Toinette.
“That's not the same!” snapped Gabi irritated by her sniping.

(from Chapter : Marriages like Death)

“Time for me to unveil my latest masterpiece.”
The crowd pressed round, excited. Nick’s paintings were so accomplished and exquisite, the court could forgive him taking up such a lowly plebeian art form as he was such a genius at it. Everyone desired a portrait for their apartments and houses. Even better, they wanted the unparalleled honour of being immortalised in paint. And as for the coup of getting Bartolomeo Venerello, Europe’s finest artist and the man who taught Nick all he knew to unveil this commission for his Majesty, it was a stroke of genius. He already had ten new commissions to start immediately and the prospect of thousands of pounds flowing into his overstuffed coffers. The entire court was crammed into the King’s bedchamber, eager for a glimpse of this work of art.
“It seems a shame that Nick has this incredible talent.” mused Anne Hyde as she waited with her husband, the Duke of York. “He’s so rich and indolent; he’ll never take it seriously.”
“Anne?”
“It just seems hard for all the poor struggling artists out there that starve in garrets for years, while someone like Nick will do a painting or two for fun and earn even more cash for it. People seem to be just throwing money at him.”
“Come Anne, don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?” Charles protested gently. “I know you’ve taken an incredible dislike to the man, but there’s no denying his skills as an artist. It’s pleasant to see him using his time positively, instead of whoring and drinking. Having talented men gracing my Court merely adds to the glory of my reign. Cousin Louis always says it, and for once the old stick in the mud may have a point, much as I might hate to admit it in public."
Anne subsided, although she couldn’t help shooting Nick the occasional venomous glance.

“What’s eating the duchess?” asked Barbara Palmer tartly from over the other side of the room. “I swear the stupid cow is trying to corrode his periwig with her evil glance.”
“Aren’t you excited about the new painting?” asked Lady Betty bursting with anticipation.
“Of course!”
“He asked me to pose for his latest painting, but I told him I was too busy. Such a shame.” Lady Shrewsbury whispered behind a languid flutter of her fan.
“Course he did.” Frances didn’t trouble to hide her sarcasm. “Because unlike everyone else at Court there was absolutely no way you wanted to be immortalised by an artistic genius. No way.” Frances fluffed her glossy blonde curls with an air of superiority. ”Of course I’ve already done it, and it’s quite an experience I must say. He’s very fussy ‘bout who he paints tho’.” Her voice lowered to a confidential whisper. ”Anne Hyde wanted him to paint her as Venus and Nick roundly told her to clear off and stop wasting his time as he couldn’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. She was furious.” She turned to Lady Shrewsbury, all innocence. “Maybe that’s why he hasn’t painted you yet?"
The other ladies in waiting laughed openly, causing Lady Shrewsbury’s fair face to flush an ugly brick red.
“Dunno why she’s so godamn smug!” hissed Barbara. “Her portrait didn’t even bloody look like her! Could have been anyone!”
“Does anyone know what it is about?” asked Lady Bridget who was fidgeting with impatience.
“No. Apparently, it’s meant to be top secret He’s been holed in some poky Cheapside garret for the last three months finishing it. Not even Eve knows.”
“Oooh!” Lady Betty’s eyes flew wide open, sparkling as fiercely as the flawless diamonds at her throat. “A Mystery!”
“That’s got her.”
“You know how Betsey like her intrigue.” Nell nodded with wisdom beyond her years.
“They’d best unveil it now or she’ll wet her britches!” Aphra retorted as dry as ever. She was stood at the back looking for her Majesty and Eve, who were late. “Where is Eve? I told her to meet us here. It’s not like her to be late.”
“It’s possible she’s the model, ain’t it? She is his wife after all. And if none of us have posed for it-” asked Betty.
Barbara laughed. “Eve? I doubt it. I heard this picture is very erotic, why do you think that we’re all stood here in the King’s bedchamber, instead of downstairs in the gallery? And I know for a fact that he hasn’t touched her for years. That marriage is all but dead.”
“What’s the subject for your latest, Nick? Come on, don’t keep us in suspense.” asked Lady Betty who was practically hopping round with excitement.
Nick gave her a broad grin.
“Venus and Adonis.”
The crowd looked at each other, eyes round in excitement.
Charles looked round impatiently. “Well, we can’t wait anymore for Her Majesty and Lady Ravensbourne. I can’t think where they’ve got to. If Signor Venerello would like to unveil the painting, please.”
Signor Venerello bowed, his heavy peasant bulk and paint stained coat looking even more out of place at the glittering Court.
“It’s a shame Venerello didn’t make an effort to dress up. I know he’s a genius, but he looks exactly like a tramp.” Lady Bridget said to her neighbour Winnie.
“That coat’s got more paint than the ceiling! Probably used it to clean up his studio!”
The ladies in waiting tittered at Winnie’s jibe.
“Ladies and gentlemen I am proud to unveil Nick Ravensbourne’s latest painting. Ever since I first met him in Padua I have watched and nurtured his amazing talent. His latest works have been quite astonishing. In Signor Nicholas, you have an artist that England can be proud of. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you: “Venus and Adonis.”
Venerello pulled off the blue velvet drape with a flourish to a polite smattering of applause. There was a press to see the painting first, then a deathly hush.
“Do you like the picture, your Majesty?”
After an agonising moment, Charles composed his face. “It’s very beautiful. Very accomplished. Well done Nick!”
The audience glanced, embarrassed at each other.
“Has Lady Ravensbourne actually seen this picture?” asked Lady Betty in a small voice.
At that moment, the door opened and Eve arrived with her Majesty in tow, cheeks flushed and red gold hair streaming.
“Sorry we’re a little late. We were having a music lesson and we forgot the -” Her face changed as she looked up and saw the painting displayed on the wall.
She stood in the middle of the room, pale and frozen as if she was a bud which had been blighted by a sudden cold snap.
“Poor lass, look at her! She’s shivering and shaking like a leaf.” whispered Lady Betty.
“My lady? Evie?” Charles stepped forward
She didn’t seem to hear him as she stared up at the painting, transfixed by the larger than life sight of herself entwined erotically round Lord Rochester.
The spell was broken by Lord Mulgrave crassly bounding up to her and goosing her.
“I had no idea you had a fantastic body like that, my Lady Ravensbourne. You should pose for a picture with me, eh? " he leered.
The crowd actually shrank back from the look that she gave him.
“Take your hands off me, Lord Mulgrave.” She walked towards Nick, and stared at him coldly.
“Why did you do it? Why?” Her face crumpled.
“Evie?”
“She‘s going to faint, I’ll wager!” whispered Frances.
Eve’s face had taken a sickly green pallor.
“Please, I’m going to be sick.” she whispered.
Charles strode forward, grabbed her firmly and dragged her behind a finely painted screen near the door. The audience looked at each other awkwardly as they heard the unmistakeable sounds of retching and sobbing.
Aphra and Nell decided to investigate what was going on.
“Eve?”
Charles was sat on the floor holding her bright hair away from her face as she retched into the chamber pot. Unsure of what to do, he contented himself with comfortingly stroking her clammy forehead and murmuring endearments.
“It’s alright, my darling. I’ll help you.”
“Crisis?”
Charles looked up, sheer relief daubed all over his face.
“I’ll say. Look, you couldn’t help get all of them out of here? This is going to take all day to sort out.”
“Don’t leave me, Charlie, I need you.” Eve clung to his richly embroidered coat.
“Eve, what’s going on?”
She turned towards her friend.
“How could he? How?”
“You think Nick did this on purpose?”
"All this is to denigrate me even further. As if I haven’t been humiliated enough, he would do this in front of the whole court. I wish I were dead, then this hell would be over at last-”
“You mustn’t say such terrible things, Eve!” Charles said alarmed by the intensity of her despair.
“Yes, you have everything to live for! The favour of the King, your talent, your beauty-“ Aphra said earnestly. “Please, don’t let yourself think such dark wicked thoughts. Don’t let Nick drag you down-“
She looked at her friend through reddened eyes. Nell was chilled by the blank numbness in her lovely eyes. What has Nick done to you that you honestly believe oblivion is the only way to be happy?
“I should have had the strength to throw myself off that night. Why did I ever listen to his fine words?”
“Stay with her. I’ll talk to Nick. This has gone far enough-“ Charles said firmly.
(from same chapter)

1668: At Bedlam Railings

Evie woke up feeling woozy. She looked frantically round at the damp walls of her cell, confused as to why she was there. She tried the door only to find it was locked, which sent her into a panic.
“Oh, so you’re awake, now are ye?” grunted the warden, a short heavyset man with greasy curly hair. As he approached the cell, Eve’s nose wrinkled. Obviously good hygiene wasn’t high on his list of priorities.
He thrust a plate through the hatch.
“Eat up girl. That will have to do until suppertime.”
Evie was ravenously hungry. She tore a hunk of the bread and started to cram it greedily into her mouth.
“Ugh!” She spat it out, trying to control the urge to heave.
“What’s the matter with you, Princess?” sneered the warden.
“That bread is crawling with mould!” She sniffed the stew, confirming her worst suspicions. “The meat in this stew is bad! And what is this?” She held up an unidentifiable food substance on her spoon, “You can’t expect me to eat this muck!”
The warden wasn’t having any of it.
“Ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that” he said truculent as ever, examining the item held accusingly up at him.
“That’s a ...um...a mushroom! Good honest mushroom that is straight from the field.”
More like straight from the prison walls! thought Eve darkly.
“You didn’t even know what it was!” she cried accusingly.
“Now my lady, don’t you get cheeky with me!”
Eve’s fair mouth set in a stubborn line. “I’m not eating that slop!”
“What’s wrong with it? Everyone else is gobbling it up!"
Eve restrained herself from shouting that since they were in a mental asylum the fact that everyone else was eating was no guarantee that it was a sensible option.
“It smells like Satan’s armpit! And it doesn’t taste much better either.”
The warden was astounded by this turn of events. He’d never been spoken to like that in years, let alone by one of his charges.
“You ain’t at Court eating your posh ragoos and fric’sees now. You’ll have to just make an effort and get used to the fayre round here.”
“It’s foul!” Eve was close to tears from the mere smell of it. “Please don’t make me eat it!”
“Stop whining, do you see anyone else causing a fuss?”
“I notice you aren’t eating any!” Eve leant back and stared at him defiantly.
“Had some first thing this morning. Filled me up a treat.”
Eve’s eye’s narrowed, “Go on.”
“What?”
“Have some more then.”
The warden shook his head. His wife and daughter would have a field day when he told them about ‘Lady Muck’ as Suky had nick named her and her latest airs and graces.
“I won’t eat any unless you have a spoonful.” she said crisply “So eat up.”
Stung with righteous indignation, she saw him seize the spoon and make as if to shove it into his mouth. By the look on his face, even he had to admit the oily glutinous mass didn’t look too appetising. The grimace he tried to suppress as he swallowed confirmed her stance.
“You didn’t like it either! I saw you! Don’t try to deny it.”
The warden lost his temper.
“Shut up and eat it, otherwise you’ll starve till suppertime d’ye hear!”
Eve mutinously pushed her spoon around her congealing plate of stew, trying to force herself to eat it.
“Alright, I’ve had enough of this.”
The key turned in the lock.
“What are you doing in my cell?” she snapped.
“You’re going to eat that stuff if I have to force it down your gullet myself!”
Eve backed away into the corner.“No!”
He seized her and tried to pin her down.
“Get off me, you oaf!” she fought like a caged wildcat, scratching and lashing out at him.
“Easy now, Princess.”
“How dare you manhandle me! Get off!"
He forced her jaw open and crammed a large spoonful into her mouth. She was still struggling to spit it out, so he forced her head back, compelling her to swallow or choke.
“C’mon lass try to eat it or I’ll have to do this twice a day. is that what you want?”
As he let her go, she sat on the mattress, bitter tears of humiliation running down her cheeks.
“Another couple of spoonfuls sweetheart, that’s all. Was that so bad?”
By an effort of will, she tried not to think too hard about the contents as she swallowed obediently.

Lord Nicholas entered the cell an hour later.
“Did she eat it?"
The warden wiped his brow.
“Eventually. I’ve never had such a struggle feeding a charge, she put up a real fight. Almost as if she knew what was in the stew.”
“Is that where you got the scratches?” asked Bex, who was leaning possessively against Nick and shooting glances of real venom at the prone figure of Eve.
“Well, we got the result we wanted, didn’t we? You’ll be well rewarded for your pains.” Nick smiled smoothly.
The warden had a very bad feeling about the two of them. He kept his mouth shut. He’d agreed to the plan at first. The couple had paid him an obscene amount of gold to help them. Meeting Lady Evelyn today, he felt sorry for her. He would have sworn in a court of Law she was as sane as anyone, and if anyone knew about zanies he thought I might have been a national expert. She was stuck with this scheming Court Rat who probably dumped her in here as soon as he tired of her. He liked the woman even less, spoilt jealous bitch. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was all her idea.
“Remove her jewellery.” ordered Nick.
The warden looked at him, doubtful. “I dunno, if that’s a good idea. I might get accused of thieving. More than my job’s worth."
Bex scowled.“It’ll be more than your job’s worth if you don’t do as he says. Take them off her!”
“Now hang on a second!” the warden protested. “I’m helping you out now, there’s no call to be threatening me!”
“Now, now Becca, the warden is right. He is doing us a favour. There’s no need to antagonise him.” Nick reproved her mildly.
He turned to the warden, all charm. “But it’s important I have those items from the patient, so if you’d be so kind...”
Reluctantly the warden slipped the rings from the unconscious girl’s hands.
“They’re handsome rings, en’t they?” the warden ventured, “I’m not surprised that you want them back.”
Nick’s smile turned frosty.
“I want them in my keeping because I don’t want her using them to trade them for comforts- isn’t that how it works in these places? Find her rosary- it’s round her waist. And the crucifix. The clasp is at the back.”
The warden couldn’t help being slightly chilled by Nick’s businesslike tone of voice.
“She’ll probably starve if she’s nothing to trade, you do know that don’t you?” asked the warden.
“I’m not going to let her starve, she was my wife! I’ll pay for her upkeep and she can eat the prison food.”
“This isn’t actually a prison, Sir. This is meant to be a ‘ospital.” The warden interjected.
Nick looked at the man as if he were dumb.
“She’s not getting out, so what’s the difference?”
Bex was rooting through the spoils.
“Where’s that big gold ring with the griffin with the amber eyes? And the ring with the silver and diamond star? I want that Nicky, you promised!”
Nick patted his mistress on the bottom, indulgent as ever.
“Of course, Becca darling. Take whatever you want.”
He turned to the warden sternly.
“She’s not to communicate with anyone! No visitors, no letters and no messages. You know your part of the deal! Stick with us, and there’s plenty more gold where this came from.” He pressed a bulging bag of gold into the man’s hands.
“I trust you will be discreet, won’t you?”
“Let’s get out of here, Nicky, the sedative will wear off in half an hour.”
The pair swept out of the cell, leaving the warden quite shocked by their callousness.

He still hadn’t quite got his head round the incident when he got home.
“What’s t’ matter with you?” said his wife Betsey as he walked through the door. “Got a face on you like a wet weekend.”
The warden sat down heavily.
“Me conscience is troubling me.”
His daughter laughed at him.
“What are you talking about, Pa? Have you gone soft?”
“I can’t help thinking that I done summat wrong today, drugging that girl just so her husband could take all her jewels. Don’t seem right.”
Betsey, who was very astute, looked up keenly.
“What do you mean, Jerry?”
“The way him and that slut of his were gloating over her, it was wrong, I know it. She wern’t able to defend herself. ‘S not sporting.”
“Dad, he’s paying us a flaming fortune to help him keep her here so why don’t we just let him?”
“You’re not seeing the point, Suky as usual. It ain’t about money, it’s about morals.”
The girl merely laughed at him. “Morals, Dad? You sure you haven’t just fallen for her? I hear she’s quite pretty, ain’t she? If you go for carrot tresses of course. Some men are strange like that ‘ent they? Can’t think why!” She patted her black curls and smirked, smug as any Court lady. “Not averse to charming a man into doing what she wants.”
Jerry was insulted by Suky’s line of questioning.“I’ve only eyes for your mother as everyone knows-” he protested hotly. ”Is it wrong to feel pity for a fellow human being?”
“Oh spare me the bleeding hearts Dad.” Suky sneered.
“You didn’t have to hold her down to force some spiked broth into her mouth! It was terrible, the worst thing I’ve done in my life. I’m actually ashamed of meself and that’s a fact.” He flopped into his chair heavily.
Betsey brooded by the fire.
“It is a problem and no mistake, He has paid us a handsome sum for helping him and God knows we need the cash, but ther’s summat dodgy going on. So do we give ‘im back the cash or what?”
Suky was outraged.
“We’re not bloody giving that cash back! No way!”
“Suky!”
“No! we’ve been poor for too long. Now some rich nob is throwing money at us and you want to give it back! It’s a crazy as most the inmates in this bloody dive.”
Jerry shook his head. How had he ever brought up a child to be so heartless? So selfish?
“I’m going to check on the inmates. I’ll be back for supper.”

“Princess?”
Eve sat on her rough mattress, pale and shivering. Cold sweat covered her brow as she as she clutched her stomach, willing herself not to spew. Whatever was in that godamn stew hadn’t agreed with her or the baby one bit.
“What’s the matter, Princess?”
Eve rushed to the corner of the cell and heaved violently.
“Blimey, Princess!”
She slumped on the floor groaning, unable to move.
Jerry entered the cell quite alarmed.
“Eh, I might have been a bit harsh on ye this morning. Betsey- that’s my missus says you’s prob’ly a bit delicate, you being a real lady an’ all.”
“Come on lass.” He picked her up and laid her on the matress. For someone who was heavily pregnant she was terribly light. Too light.
“Floor’s no place for a lady like you.”
“Thank you, sir.” she said weakly.
“My lady, I’ve come to have a talk with you, if you don’t mind.”
“Yes?”
“Miss, I’m an honest man. I don’t like taking things what ain’t mine.”
Eve managed a faint whisper of a smile.
“It’s fine. I never suspected you of taking anything, I swear.” Instinctively her hand which had slipped habitually towards her crucifix found it missing.
“What is it, Princess?”
Eve groped around her waist frantically.
“My crucifix! My Rosary! My rings!”
She looked at him, panic stricken. “Do you know who can have taken them?”
Jerry felt worse than ever.
“See- that’s what I’m a- trying to tell you.”
“Do you know where they are, sir? You said they hadn’t been stolen.”
“Well Princess- " Jerry wrung his hands. “See you’ll be angry with me. I know you will.”
“I won’t, I promise” she pleaded, desperate to know. ”What happened?”
“That stew was spiked. With Laudanum. You’ve been knocked out for hours. Sir Nicolas’s orders.”
Eve’s heart sank. “Hs he been here?”
“Yeh. ‘Im and some bird . Took the rings off your hands while you was out of it.”
“All my jewellery...anything of value I possessed. Now I have nothing. ”
“So begging your pardon, I don’t see how I can help you, seeing as how you don’t have anything to trade.”
Tears of rage and misery flooded her eyes.
“Please , I need your help! He’s robbed me! Don’t you see? He’s evil!”
“Look” said Jerry kindly. “I didn’t want to get involved, but it seems I am whether I like it or not... Trouble is, if I do anything for you for free, it will get straight back to him. He’ll know you’re planning to escape. And that Bex. She’ll have me job, soon as you can say Jack Russell.”
“This is war. He thought that if he locked me away I would disappear, and he could shack up with his mistress. When I’m finished with the pair of them-”
“Are you planning revenge?” Jerry asked alarmed.
Eve smiled grimly. “I know enough about his financial dealings to put him away for a long time if I wanted, believe me.”

Eve swept the yard, careful to keep her head down. She hated the gawping of the crowds who peered and poked at her through the bars. On show night and day, like some surreal zoo.
“Why don’t you do some tricks, Princess? Get yourself a few more pennies? You’ll starve otherwise.” Suky sneered as she came round with the meagre rations for the day.
“What?”
“Everyone does it. I’m surprised you haven’t caught on to that yet.”
“Does what?” Eve honestly didn’t understand what Suky was talking about.
“Acts up a bit. Get the bugger’s sympathy so they throw you a few coins or a crust."
Eve was shocked.“You mean to say that not all of you are unfortunates?”
“Of course not.” interrupted a greying middle aged man who had a suppurating boil on his leg which made Eve sick when she saw and smelt it. “Ain’t nothing wrong with me, love and I’ve been here nearly five years.”
Eve stopped sweeping. “You’ve been here five years? Why?”
“Better than the workhouse, ‘ent it? Or begging on the streets.” He poked his sore with remarkably dirty fingers.
“What about the rest of you? It can’t just be him, can it?”
“Well, we like to give the punters what they want to see. You’ll work that out. After a few months you’ll learn the ropes Princess, won’t she Sukes?”
“A few months? I won’t be here that long, I promise you.”
“That’s what they all say, ent it? Before you get resigned to this place.” said a haggard woman who sat in the corner, obsessively worrying at her dirty rag of a chemise.
Eve’s fair mouth set in a thin determined line.
“I will never get resigned to this place. I will leave here and pretty damn soon.”
“What makes you think that you’re better than the rest of us, eh?” Sukey’s face twisted into a nasty mask.
“Did I ever say I thought that I was better than you? Did I?”
“You didn’t need to. It‘s written all over your face, you snooty witch. Well I’ll tell you, you ain’t so damn pretty with carrot hair and your freckles. You cross me and you watch out! You’ll wake up one morning and you won’t be looking nearly as cute, I’ll warrant ye.”
Eve had had enough of her insolence and hostility.
“You just try it.” she glared at the girl, forgetting that she was stood there, in little more than a short chemise. Her grip tightened on the broom she was using.
“You might have been some big shot at Court but you’re here now ‘ent you? You’d better start getting used to your surroundings.”
“I’m warning you. Touch one hair on my head or threaten me again in any way, and I’ll- ”
“You’ll what?” Suky sneered. “Don’t forget my father’s the warden. You lot all depend on us to keep your miserable carcasses alive. I only have to say the word and you’ll have no food for a month. Is that what you want? Not too healthy for your brat is it?”
“Do you know what I’m in here for?” Eve said with a coldness she summoned up from she didn’t know where. “Cold blooded murder. Apparently, I’m a vicious mass murderer. So it’s not a good idea to antagonise me, is it Suky? Not if you don’t want to wake up with your throat slit, or a pillow pressed across your face-”
Suky saw the look in her grey eyes and shrank back. “You wouldn’t!”
“Wouldn’t I? I’m insane aren’t I? There’s no telling what I might do.”
“Did you hear that? She tried to threaten me!”
The old man beggar scratched his filthy scalp. “Ar, I didn’t hear anything, Suky love. Sorry-”
“There’s no need to act bloody stupid now!” hissed Suky, backing away from Eve who still stood there in the middle of the yard, gripping her broom for dear life.
“Stay away from me, Suky. I’m warning you right here, right now.”
Suky scuttled away, taking fright at the look in Eve’s flashing eyes.
The woman in the chemise looked up from unpicking the stitching on her ragged garment.
“Bad idea to pick a fight with that one, Evie dearie. She’s a nasty piece of work. Hard labour and short rations, that will be your lot.”
“Aye, well she’ll soon find out I’m not one to be messed with. I’m sick of being pushed round by everyone.”
“Can see your blood’s up missy, eh?”
“What have I done to her?” she could feel tears seeping out of her eyes against her will. “Everyone thinks that they can push me around without protest. That little Evie Ravensbourne will just smile sweetly and take whatever’s coming to her. Well, it’s not true. Not any more-”
“Give the girl some space, she‘s all upset, ain’t she? Come ‘ere my hinny and don’t fret. That Suky ain’t worth a freckle on your nose.” She was enveloped in a bony embrace that was a little ripe, although Eve appreciated the feeling behind it. It was such a long time since she’d had any affection at all. The woman stroked her bright hair almost maternally. “‘Ent you got such pretty hair! Like copper and gold!”
“Thank you for your kindness.” she turned to the woman. “Sorry, I don’t know your name.”
“Beth Smees, at your service.”
“Why are you here, Beth?”
Beth cracked such a sad smile it fair broke Eve’s heart. ”No one wants me Evie dear. My son and his new wife said I was a mouth too much to feed. I offered to go out to work, earn my keep but they wanted to get rid of me. So they told everyone I was senile. Sent me here.”
“Didn’t anyone try and stop them? How awful.”
“Who would? No Eve, we are the forgotten people. Flotsam and jetsam of this glittering age, Ain’t that what they call it in them woodcuts?”
“Ar-” said the old soldier who was scratching his arse with a determined air.
Beth turned on him. “Toby, must you do that? It’s disgusting! You have worse manners than a pig!”
Beth rolled her eyes, the picture of exasperation, and Eve smiled.
“That’s it, Miss Evie. You smile. I’ll look after ye. You and the bairn won’t go without.”

In the shadows observing the group, Jerry fidgeted uncomfortably.
“Look, normally, for the price you’re offering, I’d consider yer proposal like a shot. But this one-” He jerked his thumb towards Eve who sat embraced by Beth. “She’s delicate. Very nervy. ‘igh strung. I couldn’t just let yer ‘ave yer way. It would break her. We’ve ‘ad enough trouble feeding her on the hospital rations. Who knows what might happen. Eh? Besides-” He lowered his voice. “Shouldn’t really tell you this ’cos it’s meant to be a secret, but she’s a noble woman. Very high born. So you see lads, I dunno if I can help you with wot yer require, so to speak.”
“A noble woman? Even better. This is perfect. I knew she was special. Not your common mad scrubber. I can’t wait to see under that chemise. I know she’s pregnant but there’s plenty I could get her to do.”
“Sir, I ain’t quite sure you’ve understood.”
“What?” The other gentleman stepped out of the shadows. “My friend and I want a night with one of ‘yer scrubbers’. Can you arrange it or not?”
Jerry wrung his hands. This was getting worse and worse!
“Really, I don’t think- I mean you have no idea who she is, Lord Buckingham sir...” He trailed off weakly.
The second man stared at her hungrily. “Oh yes, I know who she is, alright.” The grin that spread across his aristocratic face was devoid of any human feeling. “And let me assure you, we’ll pay any price for a night with that one. So arrange it. We will be here at eight o clock. We want a whole night. No cheating, you hear?”
“Here is some money now.” A heavy bag of gold dropped into his hands.” There will be lots more when we get what we want.”
He tried to give it back but the lord wouldn’t accept it.
Miserably, Jerry shook hands with the lord. “I’ll try my best, my lord Buckingham.”
“You do that. Or we may see fit to report to the estimable Dr Selkirk what goes on in his asylum at nighttimes, won’t we?
The men laughed at Jerry’s look of horror at being outwitted.
“We’ll see ourselves out.”

Jerry sat on a bucket with his head in his hands. He had never seen such troubles. It was even worse now that he’d belatedly discovered his conscience, due to Eve Ravensbourne. Now what was he going to tell her? The last thing he wanted was to tell Betsey about his dilemma. He couldn’t see much option though. His wife would wring his neck when she found out, and with good reason.
“Betsey! Oh it’s you, Sukes.” he sighed.
“What’s that? Even more gold?” she grasped at the bag.” Has Lord Nicholas been here again?”
“No!” Suky was a little too interested in Lord Ravensbourne if the truth be told. What’s the Court Rat been up to? Sniffing round my daughter? thought her father suspiciously.
“Who else’s paying you loads of cash then, Pa?”
Her sharp eyes spotted his hesitation and honed in.
“I’ll tell Ma! I will! I bet that Ravensbourne slut is involved. Five guineas on it!”
“Now Suky-”
The girl’s swift mind came to the right conclusion, dark eyes narrowed shrewdly.
“Those blokes wanted a tumble, didn’t they?”
“Suky, you’re too young for matters of this sort!” He protested, even though even he didn’t believe his own words. That child probably knows more about sex than him and Betsey put together.
“When are they coming then?”
“I dunno if I’ll allow it yet. Ain’t right really.”
Suky narrowed her eyes shrewdly .
“You going to have to, ain’t yer, Pa?”
He never ceased to be amazed at how cold hearted she had become. What happened to the sweet little girl I used to dandle on my knee and play pat a cake with?
“Look, If you don’t let these guys do their business and Lord Nicholas finds out, you can wave goodbye to all that lovely gold.”
“We can live without. We did before.” he said stoutly.
“Not once Ole Selkirk finds out how you’ve been earning a spare crust on the side! We’ll be on the street soon as you can say Jack Russell!”
Jerry had no choice in the face of Suky’s irrefutable logic.
“Just tell her she has to do as she’s told, Pa.” She said blithely.
“No, I’ll tell ‘er the truth meself. I owe the poor lass that at least.”

Jerry reluctantly pushed the door of the cell open, feeling worse than he had ever felt.
“Jerry!” Eve was trying to hide the hope in her eyes and failing. “Did you manage to get some paper for a message? Some pens?”
“No, Princess.” He couldn’t bear to see the disappointment on her face.
“Sit down. I’ve got some bad news for you. Listen to me and don’t interrupt.”
She sat down meekly at his feet and looked up at him. “Yes, Sir?”
Why couldn’t have he had a child like this Eve? Where were her parents anyway? Who was looking after her? A vulnerable girl like this shouldn’t be left to fend for herself in this harsh world. ’Taint right I say.
“There’s two gent’s wot want the pleasure of your company this evening.”
“What, to talk to?”
“I said don’t interrupt, lass!”
“Sorry.”
“They want -” He looked at her innocent shining face upturned to his and he couldn’t carry on. He could feel the tears pouring down his grimy face, washing tracks down his old wrinkled visage. He was conscious of her hugging him as he bawled into her chemise.
“What’s the matter Jerry? You’ve been so kind to me. I know you didn’t mean to feed that stuff to you. Nick made you do it. Please don’t cry.”
“They want to swive you, Princess.”
She shrank away from him, pale and trembling.
“Jerry, no!”
“I can’t let them do it, but they’ll- They’ll put me family out.” She saw the desperation in his face.
“I can’t do this, Jerry. You do understand, don’t you?” she said gently as she embraced him, comforting him.
He didn’t expect anything less, but it seemed impossible. He might as well tell Betsey to pack their things and start begging on the streets.
“That Lord Buckingham, he’s got me by the nadgers. If I don’t arrange it he’ll grass me up to ole Selkirk.”
Eve was stunned. “Lord Buckingham?”
“You know the gentleman, Princess?”
“He’s no gentleman.” growled Eve. ”He’s one of Nick’s cronies. He’s hated me ever since I refused to sleep with him, years ago. Nick knows how much I loathe him. How could he do this to me?”
“What time are they coming?”
Jerry was caught off guard. “What?”
“What time?”
“Are you planning to meet them?”
He didn’t like the impassive look upon her fair face. Whatever Eve was planning, it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“Maybe.”
“Don’t do anything stupid will yer, Princess?”
“Jerry?”
“Yes?”
“Why don’t we tell Dr Selkirk? Lay a trap for them.”
Jerry stared at her with utter disbelief.
“Have you lost it? He’d chuck us out!”
“Would he?” Both of them jumped as a voice emerged from the shadows.
“Betsey! You fair took five years off me life!”
“I followed you ‘ere. Suky came home talking ‘bout how you’d lost yer mind. Thought I’d better not interrupt till I’d found out the truth.”
“But Betsey, I’ve done summat terrible!”
“Aye well I won’t argue wi’ that. You daft beggar. What were you thinking of?” The kindly woman’s face crumpled as she hugged her wretched husband. “Did you think I wouldn’t stand by you, eh?”
“But.” Jerry sniffed and blew his nose on his sleeve. “We might end up on the street.”
“It might not come to that if you do as I say. For better or worse, Jerry Conlon. Ain’t that what they say?”
She looked askance at Eve’s ragged chemise.
“I’ve got yer summat to wear, luv. It’s a bloody disgrace letting you walk about in that ole rag. It’s not much, and I didn’t know yer size-”
“Thank you so much. You’re so kind.”
“I wouldn’t thank me too much.” retorted Betsey gruffly. “It’s none too clean, and it’s wool. Prob’ly going to be powerful itchy.Wash it before you attempt to wear it-”
“Anything is wonderful. I can try and alter it if it doesn’t fit.”
“That’s me girl.” Jerry patted her hair in an almost paternal fashion.
Betsey, ever the practical type, got straight down to business.
“Now if we all go to see ole Selkirk and tell him what’s going on, he’ll help us to trap these men-”
“- and they won’t have a hold over you. Betsey’s right!”
Jerry gulped.” We’d better get this over and done with, eh?”

Dr Selkirk was surprised to see that motley group outside his office ten minutes later.
“What is the meaning of this? Come in.” He glared at Eve’s naked limbs. ”Why are you not dressed, Lady Ravensbourne? I cannot have you clad like this. There’s no telling the effect it might have.” In truth, he was as struck by her shapely slender legs in no way covered by the scrappy rag of a chemise as any man would.
“We need to speak to ‘bout a plot by some visitors to assault our female prisoners.”
“What? Start from the beginning.”
“First, you have to promise not to be angry with Jerry. Please, Dr Selkirk-” pleaded Eve.
The doctor frowned. “Why would I be angry with Jerry? Oh , all right then.”
“Jerry, hand over the gold.” prompted Betsey poking her husband.
He dropped it on the table with a solid thud. The bag split open and cascaded over the desk. The group gazed at the profusion of riches on the table.
“That’s a lot of cash, ‘ent it?” breathed Betsey.
“The gentlemen, and I use the term extremely loosely, offered Jerry gold for the privilege of entering my cell at eight o clock tonight and having their way with me.”
“Is this true, Conlon?
Jerry nodded shamefacedly.
“Has this happened before?”
The warden fidgeted .“I ain’t proud of it, sir but-.”
“What made you admit your guilt, then?” Dr Selkirk asked with interest in his reedy sctoch voice.
Jerry looked him straight in the eye, glad to be honest at last.
“I was sick of being bribed by rich nobs wanting me to break the rules to suit them. Besides Lady Eve is a good honest lass. She doesn’t deserve to suffer like that.”
Dr Selkirk scratched notes onto his vellum without looking at them. They looked at him fearfully. Would he help them?
“What time did you say they were coming?”
“Eight o clock.”
Dr Selkirk steepled his hands in front of him.
“I will be there, don’t you worry.”
“Aren’t you going to punish me then?” asked Jerry fearfully. “I know I’ve let you down terribly, Dr Selkirk.”
There was the merest hint of a twinkle in the old doctor’s brown eyes.
“I can’t say that I’m too happy about your abuse of your position as warder, Conlon. “
Jerry bowed his head. “Me and Betsey will be off the premises tomorrow morning.”
“However, I feel that perhaps your conscience and your wife have punished you enough, haven’t they?”
“You mean I can-”
“Go on, get out before I think better on it and change my mind.”
“Thank you Dr Selkirk.” Eve flew to give the doctor a kiss on the cheek.
“Steady, Princess!” Jerry exclaimed. They all laughed.
“I’m afraid we may have to get you to do a bit of playacting, Lady Ravensbourne. Are you up to it?"
She nodded. “Let ‘em come. I’m ready for them.”

Lord Buckingham let himself into the asylum back door with a smug smirk. I’ve been longing for this day for some time. At last I get my way with that snooty little bitch.
“D’ye think this is a good idea?” said his companion nervously as he followed him down the darkened passageway.
“What?” said Buckingham sneeringly. “Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts now are ye?”
“What if we get caught? How will we explain ourselves?”
“Will you stop worying about things like that? Seriously , if you have no stomach for our revel then step aside and leave the field to me!”
His companion’s greed and lust awoke. “No! I want her just as much as you, Buckingham.”
“Well then, be quiet. D’ye want to wake the entire asylum?”
They opened the door of the darkened cell. Buckingham was already undoing the buttons on his breeches. “I go first. Understood?”
He approached the bed with a leer on that aristocratic face but got a shock when he felt the cold steel of a blade against his crotch.
“What the hell-“
“Touch me in any way and you die, Buckingham.” Eve snarled. “I mean it.”
“What are you going to do about it?” he leered, not troubling to hide his arrogance. ” I can do anything I like to you Eve, and you can do nothing to resist. Who will they believe if you tell them? A lord of the realm or a poor zany imprisoned in Bedlam for her own good?-“
Eve merely looked at him with naked hatred in her eyes. “Doctor Selkirk? I need you here, please.”
The doctor stepped forward, looking more angry than she had ever seen him. “Lord Buckingham , I am disgusted with you! How dare you invade the sanctuary of this hospital to sate your disgusting lusts for our patients. How many times have you done this?”
“How dare you dare you interfere with my will! Do you know who I am?”
“Eve Ravensbourne is a patient under my care. I will not allow this, sir. I care not for your title. It doesn’t give you to right to sneak into here and take her by force!”
-----
The paperboy ducked and weaved through the hordes of worthy Londoners come to ogle the unfortunate inmates. Over the hubbub of the crowd, only one subject occupied their minds.
“Extra! Extra! Snap up the latest Woodcut on the Whitehall murders!”
A sizeable crowd pressed round him, eager for news.
“What’s going on?”
“Have they caught the bitch yet?”
“Full details are in this pamphlet ‘ere”
“Aw come on Garve, don’t be tight!”
“Don’t be daft! If I told you the news, you wouldn’t want to buy the wood cut now would you?”
“I heard it was that mad Ravensbourne girl Old Rowley’s crazy ‘bout.”
Garve couldn’t resist giving his captive audience a tantalising snippet.
“Oh no.” Garvey nodded knowingly. “Didn’t you hear? She’s dead.”
“What?” Several shocked voices joined in.
“Died in childbirth. Most tragic. It’s all in this here pamphlet”
The resourceful young paper boy did a roaring trade as the crowd bought the slightly grubby sheets fresh from the press and devoured the shocking news.
“But it can’t be... People are still getting killed up at the palace. It’s a bloodbath up there!” muttered one citizen as he scanned the sheet.
“‘xactly!”
“Don’t believe yer.” said another. “It’s her. I’d wager a pint on it. I bet it’s some kind of cover up.”
“Aye.” agreed a group of huswifes, sharing a sheet by the window.
“She’s done it before . Knocked off her old man.”
“Aye, an’ she would have hanged if Old Rowley hadn’t fallen for her and stepped in to save her.”
“One thing I will say ‘bout her. She was a real beauty. Fair breaks my heart to hear she’s dead.” said one stout citizen sadly.
“Eh? How can you say that about a murderess?”
“Well Sam you never did see her in the flesh. She used to come into my shop in happier times with her husband or Lord Rochester on her arm. Huge sad eyes and gorgeous pale skin without a scrap of paint. Natural beauty she was. Not like most of those other ladies.”
“She’s still a goddamn murderess tho’”
“Have a bit o’ christian charity man. No one really knows the full story. She might not have killed Peter Nash after all. And by all account he was a nasty piece o’ work. She’d well rid of him.”
“Humph!”
Reading their freshily minted copies, none of the upstanding citizens noticed the shade of a girl in a cell opposite who had been listening closely to the crowd’s opinion shrink back into the gloom.

Eve’s head felt as if it was about to burst.
Dead? She was meant to be dead?
She couldn’t stop shaking and collapsed to the floor of her cell weakly.
Nick has told the entire world that I am dead. This is beyond all belief. This is war. When I get hold of that bastard, I’ll destroy him. I’ll make him pay for everything.
She lay on the floor crying silently with rage and humiliation until she heard a quiet hiss from the barred window of her door.
“Psst!”
She raised her head.“Eve!”
She sprang up and next moment she was at the door.“Nell!”
“God, you look awful” her friend frowned through her tears. “Why on earth are you shivering in a chemise?”
“I had to sell my dress to get paper to contact you and the others."
Nell couldn’t believe her ears.
“Sell your dress?” she echoed
Eve nodded. “I had nothing else to barter. Him and Bex stole my rings and my rosary. You can’t get anything in here if you have nothing to trade.”
“You all right?” she asked, her voice gruff.
Eve nodded gratefully. “Have you heard the latest?” she said lightly trying to lighten her friend’s mood. “I’m meant to be dead, according to the woodcuts.”
“Those scandal mongering-” Nell started to fume against the woodcuts, which she regarded as little more than midden rags then looked at her pale friend.
“It’s Nick and Bex. They’ve done this to me. They’ve faked my death”
“THEY’VE TOLD EVERYONE THAT YOU’RE DEAD?”
Eve’s worst fears confronted her.“He’s going to marry her. She’ll be the next Lady Ardenham.” she said softly.
Nell was more furious than Eve.“Are you going to let them get away with it?”
“How can I fight them?”
Nell looked positively fierce.“Oh no you don’t!”
“What?”
“Backing down when things get difficult. Letting him manipulate you. Nick Ravensbourne has got his own way for far too long in his life. You have to stand up to him.”
“How?”
“Write to Pippa. She’ll help you fight these people attacking you”
“No way!”
“Why not?”
“I can’t! I... I don’t know if she’d want to speak to me ever again.”
Nell knew she was getting close to the reason behind her friend’s marriage to Nick Ravensbourne. Nell had known better than to pry too hard into the details. She couldn’t imagine why Eve had married him.Surely she must have known what he was like. Did Pippa not think to warn her niece?
“Do you want to talk about this?” she asked.
“Nick and I ... We did something terrible. I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me.”
“What did you do?”
“Nick was having an affair with Pippa. He pursued me relentlessly. I really did try to resist him, but it was so hard. I fell madly in love with him almost immediately. He always told me that it was just a business relationship between the two of them- courtesan and patron. I suppose I believed what I wanted to hear.”
“So what happened next?”
“Peter hated him. He was so jealous of Nick. He was everything that Peter wasn’t. He must have realised that I was fond of him. So when I told Nick that I wanted to run away with him but I couldn’t, Peter found out. He tried to beat me to death.
I lost my poor darling baby that night. But I wouldn’t go back to him. And I decided that he had to die. It was him or me."
Nell held her breath.
“A week later he was found stabbed sixty times in his bed.”
“You didn’t stab him?”
“No-”
“Then why does everyone think you committed the murder?”
“I’d been feeding him poison- in his wine , in his food. He probably didn’t react because of the drugs I’d been feeding him. Belladonna, opium... you name it-”
“How on Earth did you get hold of the stuff?
“Nick. He helped me.”
“That explains matters.”
“I planned to do it slowly. Peter would have died within a couple of weeks...”
“But it wasn’t you! You didn’t actually do it!”
Eve looked at her friend with haunted eyes.
“If only it were that simple...Peter’s father Huw- he knew how unhappy I was. He was always harassing me. he’d developed a dangerous passion for me. It was difficult to escape him. We lived in his house. he was always there-”
“Go on...”
“I was desperate- one day he told he’d do anything to have me. So I promised him something I shouldn’t have -”
“When we found the body, he confessed to the authorities that he’d killed his son, so he could be with me. I panicked. I hadn’t promised him anything like that. What could I do? I was implicated in a murder investigation. Would anyone believe me that Huw and I hadn’t plotted the entire thing? I didn’t want Nick to suffer .If it went to the Law Courts, I knew I’d be for the gallows. So one night Nick, Pippa and I ran away.”
“Where to?”
“We ran to Paris. For a month ... I was with the man I loved. I was crushed with guilt. I couldn’t live with what I’d done. So one night I tried to throw myself off the Pont Neuf. Nick found me clinging to the edge. He talked me down from the bridge. He told me he loved me and he wanted to marry me. I said Yes. I loved him so much, and I believed he was the only one who could save me from the abyss yawning in front of me.
“We married in a little chapel the next day. Just us and the chaplain. I thought it was the best day of my life.” Eve tried to laugh ironically but it came out as more like a sob. “The best godamn day of my life.”
“Eve, you must stop blaming yourself. All right, you’ve made some mistakes, but you don’t deserve to live a life of misery ever since. How did Pippa take it? Badly I imagine?”
Eve slumped onto the mattress.
“She was devastated. Wiped out. She was ardently in love with him herself and believed he was serious about her, and then I stole the only man she’d ever loved. I haven’t spoken to her since Nick asked for her blessing. They had a huge fight.”
“She’s family. Whatever happened in the past, if she knew that you were in serious trouble she’d want to help. That’s what families are like. And let’s face it, he isn’t exactly going to want you to in contact ‘wiv each other is he? For her to tell you all his secrets. She’s probably sat at home wondering why you’re not talking to her.”
Eve looked at her friend doubtfully.
“What? Don’t you think that she would?”
“Well I probably wouldn’t in her position. Besides we’ve never been that close. She always used to visit now and again, like some glamorous vision of furs and diamonds, then I wouldn’t see her for years.”
“Blood is thicker than water. Let me or Chas try and contact her. Please.”
“How’s the baby?”
Eve bit her lip. “They can’t be growing well. Not on the stuff they feed us in here. I can’t keep it down.”
“They?”
“I’m convinced I’m having twins”
Nell shook her head. “It never rains, but it pours with you, don’t it?”
“So what do we do now? Tell his majesty I’ve been locked up here against my will. He would have the power to get me out of here, wouldn’t he?”
She noticed Aphra’s frown.
“What Aphra?”
“Nick declaring you dead has caused a big problem, Evie.”
“Well when they see me alive they’ll see him for the scheming lying bastard that he is!”
Aphra hated to break the bad news to her best friend but someone had to.
“If we try and get you back into Whitehall, he’ll probably accuse you of being an impostor on the make. They’ll say you’re a liar and send you back here.”
" I won’t stay here for the rest of my life. I can’t. I can’t.”

He paused as he heard a familiar voice through the wall.
“Wait until all the guests have filtered through. We can’t have anyone saying they didn’t get a chance to see the body.”
“What about the relative? How are you going to fool her? Surely she would realise the deception?”
Nick gave a hearty laugh. "Pippa? Doesn’t actually know her well enough. All that grieving is mere guilt that she was never around enough to show that she cared.”
“We need to return the body by midnight. Are you sure that you will control all access to this room?”
“Of course, it’s my house. That’s why we’re having the ceremony here in the first place."
The other voice paused. “Does it matter that the eyes of this corpse aren’t quite the correct colour? It was a very particular shade of grey green yer wife had.”
“I’ll slightly close the eyes then no one will notice.”
“You really have thought of everything, haven’t you?”
Jonah could almost hear Nick smirking behind the wall panel.
“Everything will go to plan. The perfect crime!"
The door closed as the two left the room laughing.
Behind the wall, Jonah was trying to work out which room they were in. He needed to see that body. He needed to prove it to himself once and for all.
Jonah was thankful he’d had to sense to mark the walls as he went. These secret passageways were worse than a labyrinth, back and forth and doubling back on one another like the coils of a serpent. Through the walls He could hear snatches of sound from the rooms.

It had taken Jonah over an hour to find an exit in the secret maze system without danger of being discovered. Whatever had possessed Nick’s ancestor to construct such a complicated system he silently thanked them. If he kept his head down he looked like a servant and didn’t draw attention to himself, he might pass.
“Here, carry this to the kitchen for me.” said the housekeeper, burdening him with a heavy tray of drinks. He could hardly say no but he knew that it would take him out of his way.
I’ll walk past the room and if anyone asks I got lost. It’s a bit lame but it’s the best I can do. He was so tantalisingly near to the room when Nick appeared.
“You! Over there!"
Jonah groaned inwardly. Just his bloody luck!
“Where are you going, eh?” He could feel Nick’s sharp dark eyes scrutinising him. Ant second he expected his cover to be blown. Jonah thought quickly. “I thought the mourners might like some refreshment, Sir. I hope I didn’t offend.”
“No! I could do with a top up!” shouted Winnie, who sounded well liquored already. “Let him in Nick and stop being such a spoilsport. I know you have to act sad but I need my bloody drink!-"
Nick didn’t seem convinced but he waved him in with a careless air. ”Fine, feed the gannets! What do I care?"
How am I going to get past these women? Surely one of them is going to recognise me as a detective. I interrogated some of them not two weeks ago. This was a crazy idea.
Steeling himself, he entered the room with eyes humble and lowered, ready to deny everything if need be.
No one seemed to notice him.

“You there! Put the drinks over there!” screeched Barbara who had far too much to drink. She lurched over to him, reeking of brandy.
Haven’t you had enough? he thought furiously This is meant to be a funeral!
“Have yer ‘ad a look at yer mistress?” slurred Lady Hamilton who was practically drooling at the mouth. "Pretty corpse ain’t she?”
Despite himself he had to look. See the dead body for himself.
“Go on lift the lid.” slurred Winnie. "I can’t do it. I think that I -hic ‘ad a little too much crandy. I mean brandy!” she went off into flights of giggles and narrowly avoided falling over the coffin.
“There’s no such thing as too much brandy!” screeched Barbara, bottle of expensive Armangnac in hand. She took an almighty swig and let out a belch of heroic proportions.
Jonah privately wondered how his Majesty put up with such a slattern. He peered into the coffin and had to press a hand against his mouth to stop himself from crying out.
Whoever this poor unfortunate was it was definitely not Lady Ravensbourne. The hair, which Jonah remembered touching that day when he had forgotten himself and kissed her in the rose garden wasn’t even the same glorious colour or silken texture. He strongly suspected it was a wig or dyed haphazardly.
He looked again at the face. Where were her freckles? He remembered the sparse sprinkling of gold freckles on her nose, which was smaller and straighter than this unfortunate corpse’s . The eyes had been partly closed but even from here he could tell that the colour of the eyes was wrong. There was one more test he had to make. Was the scar still there?
He remembered a faint red scar , little more than a fine line on the base of her throat. He’d once asked her how she got it and she’d clammed up instantly, refused to talk. It was definitely not there. How could Nick have done this? He must be insane to think he’d get away with this. Where was Lady Evelyn if she was not dead? He knew he had to try to examine the body later on before they buried it.
“Look he’s upset!” giggled Winnie . ”Mark his face!”
My Lord, IT’S ALL TRUE! Jonah tried to pull himself together. He knew that his behaviour was starting to appear strange even to the drunk guests.
“Would you like any more refreshment, my lords and ladies?” he said trying to keep his voice steady.
“Aye, more brandy! Make sure it’s the good stuff! I ain’t drinking no skank!” bawled Barbara banging the bottle on the priceless French table and leaving terrible drink rings all over it.
As he left the room he swore he could see the sharp dark eyes of Bex Hardinge watching him.

The congregation stood outside in the rose garden sadly looking at the late early autumn bloom of the trees.
“So tragic... She was so young and beautiful.” said poor Queen Catherine, whose dark eyes were red raw with crying. “-and she was the kindest friend anyone could ask for.”
“And a good woman. I’m proud to say she was my friend too, my dear Catherine.” Charles squeezed the hand of his little wife.
Frances Stuart was embarrassing herself by snivelling loudly until Nell told her roundly not to be such a flaming hypocrite.
“You were always bitching and gossiping ‘bout the poor lass. How dare you ’ypocritical lot dare to pretend as if you’re sad!”
“Nell!” Aphra protested, even though she heartily agreed with her.
“I’m just speaking the truth!" said Nell with a tilt of defiance.
“Nell’s right.” sobbed Pippa thoroughly in character as the grieving relative. "Where were her friends when she needed us? I feel like we failed her, all of us. I shall never forgive myself for those harsh words I spoke in my disappointment about Nicolas. I was her only relative she needed me, and I turned my back on her-”
“A magnificent performance from La Seraphina. I knew she was a fantastic actress but-” whispered Chas admiringly
“Considering she knows the truth.” Aphra pursed her lips snippily.
“You really don’t like her do you?”
Aphra hardly wanted to admit to her self that it was true.
“It just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Her swanning into Evie’s life when she feels like it and leaving havoc. And now just watching her, acting as if she was her darling relative and they were so close. Why she wouldn’t have known that Eve was imprisoned in Bedlam if we hadn’t told her! And did she thank us? No!”

Stood by himself John brooded by the birch tree where in happier times he and Eve had spent hours fencing and basking in the shade talking about everything.
“How’s he taking it?” asked Lady Bridget tentatively.
"Leave him alone, he’s grieving. That means you as well Betty.” Anne Hyde had spotted the little lady unwittingly gravitating towards Rochester almost in spite of herself.
“Must be terrible for him. Losing his lover and their child in one swoop. Poor man.” Lady Bridget said thoughtfully.
“You pity him, Bridge?” Frances said with a wrinkle of her perfect nose. "Even after all those things he wrote about you?”
“Even satirists have hearts. And she seemed to be the only one who brought out his good side, God bless her soul. He needs comfort.”
“I’d comfort him.” Winnie grinned with a lascivious wink. “Any day of the week. All he has to do is ask!”
"Not now, Winnie!” chided Lady Bridget. “Do you never think of anything else?”
“Where’s Nick?”
Nick was holding court greeting new arrivals that poured to pay their last respects.
“Hardly acts like a widower, does he?” said Nell sourly.
“What are they doing here?” hissed Aphra , beside herself with rage as she spotted Barbara and a gaggle of her cronies sporting black armbands and getting stuck into the alcohol. “They made Eve’s life a misery!”
“This isn't a funeral: it’s a flaming social occasion! I’ve got a good mind to stand up and tell them all the truth!”
“Don’t spoil the plan Nell, whatever you do! Whatever happens Eve must stay securely hidden until -”
“Until what? I can’t believe that she can just stand aside and allow this to happen!”
“Remember our instructions. He has to go through with the whole tawdry spectacle. Then we’ve got him by the balls.”

The small chapel was rammed full with the rich and famous as the bishop read out the tribute in a weak quavering voice.
“We are gathered here to commemorate the short and unhappy life of Evelyn Ginevra de Mortemart de Rochechouart, Lady Ravensbourne, Princesse d’ Argenteuil and Countess of Ardenham, who tragically lost her life in childbirth.”
“I wonder.” whispered Barbara, scarcely troubling to modulate her voice. "How they can hold such a service for a known adulteress! Isn’t it scandalous how the promise of money can make men of the cloth forget their scruples?”
“I heard that she didn’t die in childbirth at all. She knew that she was about to be indicted about the Whitehall murders and she took her own life! ” Winnie smirked back.
“Nick’s just trying to do the honourable thing by the bitch by covering it up.”
“Shame on you crows! Talking ill of the dead!” hissed Lady Bridget absolutely scandalised. "How can you still insult the girl when you’re sat at her funeral?"
Nell jabbed Barbara with her parasol.
“Ouch! what was that for?”
"You’ll get a lot worse when we get out of here.”
Aphra groaned.” For God’s sake don’t fight her, Nell!”
“Why not? She was insulting Eve. I’m sure Pippa would agree with me.”
Pippa shot an evil glance at Barbara and her posse. Obviously she did.
“Many of you present knew the lady in life and could speak more eloquently about her than I ever could. I shall ask anyone who wants to come up and talk about how she enriched our lives and why we will miss her. ”
John stood up and strode toward the pulpit.
“What is he doing?” gasped Lady Betty.
“He’s going to speak about her, of course.”
“I can’t believe he’d do that. Nick will go mental!”
“He’s not himself. He could say anything.” said Lady Betty warily. "I don’t dare to think of the scandal-”. Before she even realised what she was doing she had grasped Lord Rochester by the sleeve and was gently pulling him back.
“Are you sure you want to do this, John?” The others watched them cagily, expecting any moment that Rochester would fly into a rage and give her a vicious tongue-lashing.
“Betty, no! Leave him be, I told you-” started Anne Hyde getting up from her pew.
“I have to do this, don’t you understand?”
“John, you’re grieving. I understand. Truly I do. But I don’t think-”
He looked at the little maid of honour, a faint light flickering in those deadened eyes. “You all misunderstood Eve. I have to speak for her. Make you all in some way understand-”
Gently he extricated himself from her grasp and made his way to the pulpit.
“Do you have something you want to say about the deceased?” said the vicar who had noticed the commotion and sincerely hoped that there wouldn’t be any fights because of it.
“Yes, I do.” He faced the crowd with barely a flinch. “Eve was first and foremost my friend. She was one of the most genuine souls I ever met at Whitehall. Beautiful inside as well as out.”
“He would say that. They were swiving each other for a couple of years at least.” sniped Barbara with a smirk.
John contented himself with giving her a filthy look.
“When she died, she was carrying-” he took a breath, trying to control his emotion. “-she carrying my child.”

The burial took place in a clearing of the wood she had so loved. As the soft golden light filtered through the trees, the group stood there silent and stilled.
“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Thus we commend to heaven the soul of Lady Evelyn. Let us hope her spirit finds eternal peace there.”
A pure voice broke the almost sacred silence in a haunting melody

Join with me as I lament the loss of so beautiful a princess,
One so fair and lovely should never have been taken from this world
The stars themselves dimmed their light so that her radiance might
delight the eyes of the gods on high.
Her eyes as green as the new beech leaves peeping out like shy maidens at the river
As grey as the mist rolling in from the Sea
Her skin as fair as the hawthorn bloom
as pink as the caress of sunset on the clouds of heaven.
Maybe at last my fair princess you will find heaven’s gate open for you
and all earthly torment shall be nothing. A shadow on the edge of memory.
I was never there to comfort you in your times of need.
When you were hungry. When you had no more tears from weeping.
Forgive me. I loved you dearly.
Once in a while let down your hair of copper and gold
To comfort us in our sorrow.

“What is she doing?" hissed Buckingham. "Has she lost it like Eve?”
Nick’s handsome face was grim.
“Pippa’s no godamn fool. Look. She’s fought me with the best weapon she had. Her voice.”
The crowd stood shocked by Pippa’s naked outpouring of grief. Several of the women were crying. The queen took refuge in Charles’s coat.
“Look, even the old cynic himself is moved.” It was true Charles’s dark eyes were bright with tears as he stroked the dark head of his little wife, whispered comforting words to her.
Lady Bridget and Betty Felton stood arm in arm with tears streaming down their faces, ruining their carefully applied makeup. "Oh how beautiful.”
“Poor, poor tragic girl.”
“I hope Danny Kendrick made a note of that melody. I guarantee if he prints it Monday morning he’ll make a flaming fortune.” Buckingham mused as he observed the scene in front of him.
Nick snorted. “You sympathise with those sentimental idiots? They hated her in life. Why are they weeping about her now?”
"It might not be a bad idea to capitalise on this wave of sympathy for Eve. If you’re too blasé about it, people will think that you’re too heartless and that could damage you.”
“Well, what do you want me to do, then?”
Buckingham smirked. “Act like a grieving widower for a bit-”
“I’m getting hitched to Becca very soon. How’s that meant to work?”
"You’re a clever lad , I’m sure you’ll work it out."

The moment he entered the busy hub of the kitchen Lucy grabbed him and dragged him into a dark corner.
“What did you find?”
Jonah shook his head. "It’s not her.”
“Jesus! No wonder Bex wats you out of here. "
“She knows I’m here?“
“She was in the room when you stood there gawking at the body, wern’t she?”
Jonah was rattled. “Well, how else was I going to find out the truth?”
“She got suspicious and sent orders just now. You got to get out now.”
“I can’t.”
“What? Are you crazy? Do you want to get caught?”
Jonah was stubborn. "I’ve got to find out the truth. I owe Eve that at least. Nick is pulling a stunt.”
Against her better judgement Lucy seemed to weaken.
“You must be my penance or summat.” she muttered .“Keep yer head down. I’m going to try to get you back into the passage system. You’ll have to hide out in there until the coast is clear.”
“Thank you Lucy."
“Don’t thank my arse. I told you to keep yer head down and now-"
Jonah let her chunter to herself as she led him to the entrance. " I nicked yer the key to the crypt. Bet yer didn’t think of that one, did you?” She pressed a small rusty key into his sweating palm. “Just find out the truth. That’s all I want, alright?” She shoved him through the trapdoor and disappeared.
-----

Evie was slowly getting used to her surroundings. The dank damp coldness of her cell, the plain food and the hours of mind numbing solitude were more familiar with every weary day. The plight of her fellow inmates filled with pity. Seeing them wandering around helplessly in their disordered private world or shackled to a wall to be gawped at by the general public hardened her resolve. There was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life locked up here.
The squalor appalled her. Rats crawled across the floor at night and she had had to fight more than one off to stop them biting her. After Nell had made a fuss about the chemise incident, she was given another filthy, ill-fitting woollen gown that made her itch frantically.
Her biggest fear was that she would have to give birth here, Eve was convinced that if she did her poor baby would die within a week.
Dr Selkirk was sympathetic to a degree but as he told her, there was little he could do to alleviate her suffering.
“My Lady, we do what we can with the limited resources we have. We don’t get much funding, I’m afraid. We rely upon the charity of our patrons and the public.”
“Limited resources? So how much is Nick paying to have me locked up here then?"
Dr Selkirk blinked in surprise. He’d had many experiences during his work here, but a patient challenging him on financial details was a new one. He didn’t like being put on the spot.
“How much?”
“Well...uh...he has kindly made one or two donations to the maintenance fund.”
“How much?” She watched him carefully.
“Er..”
“Thousands? Hundreds? "
She stared at him, disbelieving.
“Five pounds?”
“I’m not really at liberty to discuss-”
“The tight bastard!” she hissed, her voice filled with venom
“Lady Ravensbourne!”
“He dumped me in here and yet he can’t even provide basic hygienic lodgings! That is just cold! I can’t believe I actually married him.”

Eve was still angry as the visitor entered her cell.
“Morning, Evelyn.”
Evie felt unaccountably hostile towards this girl. She didn’t know why, but it was instant. “And who are you?” she asked rudely.
“Now that’s no way to greet me, especially when Nick sent me to see how you were doing." The girl smiled broadly at her, setting her teeth on edge
Instantly Evie stiffened, pure rage coursing through every vein in her body. How dare he send his bloody doxy to check up on her!
“Bex Hardinge-” she said flatly.
The girl gave her such a smug smile the normally placid Eve longed to box her ears. “Good, so you know who I am."
Eve was so mad she was almost glad she was behind bars because didn’t trust herself not to try and attack her.
“I don’t know how you dare to come here and gloat.”
Bex looked unperturbed.
“Nick always said you were unbalanced. I didn’t realise how much. He did the right thing locking you up.”
“Do you believe everything he tells you?”
“He loves me, so he’ll do anything I tell him to. That’s the way things are now. I wanted to be rid of you.”
“Why? Because you want to be the next Lady Ravensbourne?”
Eve saw she had hit upon the truth as Bex’s smile deepened.
“I practically am the next Lady Ravensbourne, Evelyn dear.”
Eve glared at her.
“Nicolas is still married to me. He can’t marry you. He wouldn’t want to. I won’t give you the satisfaction of a divorce."
Bex was stung by her matter of fact tone.
“He will . There’s nothing you can do about it!”
Eve silently looked at her rival.
“You’re never getting out of here ever. You will rot in this place - you and your bastard brat.”
“Miss Hardinge, I suggest you get the hell away from me and never come here again."

“How are you bearing up, Eve?” asked Aphra as she and Nell entered the cell an hour later. " I’ve brought you a couple of dresses and some pens.”
“And I brought some food. I dunno how well they feed you in these places.” added Nell darkly as she unpacked the hamper and spread it out. ”Tuck in Eve, I want to make sure you and the bairn get a decent meal for once.”
Eve tried to put on a good face for her friends and hide her rage at Bex.
“Do you know who visited me an hour ago?” she said making an effort to keep her voice light.
Aphra and Nell looked at her.
“She did. She dared to come here!”
“Bex?” Aphra couldn’t quite believe it.
“That jumped up little slut! I’d have given her more than a black eye if she’d dared to come and show her face!” Nell scowled who despised Bex from her days as a rival on the London stage. It was fair to say there was little love lost between them.
“What did she say?” asked Aphra levelly as she sat down.
“She came to gloat over my misfortunes, stupid cow. Said Nick would do anything she wanted and she would be Lady Ardenham if it were the last thing. -”
“You wait till we get you out, we’ll black both her eyes, won’t we Eve?” Nell was spoiling for a fight with her rival.
Aphra who was thinking carefully as Nell fumed, looked up.
“Why don’t we use their plan against them?”
“Eh?”
“Bex wants to be Lady Ardenham. So why don’t we let them go through with the plan?”
“But isn’t that admitting defeat Aphra?”
“And then. When they’ve done the deed and it’s too late. Out you come and confront him in public.”
Eve’s face broke into a smile. “That’s actually not a bad idea-In fact I’m starting to like it more and more.”
“I think it’s nuts!”
“Nell!”
“Well I’m just telling the truth. Once Lord Buckingham and Nick realise that she’s not here they’ll hunt her down. If they’re desperate to carry out such a wild scheme in the first place what else might they do?”

Aphra waited nervously by the gate of the hospital for Nell to arrive.
Where the blazes is she? she thought as she pulled at her vizard. I really hope she isn’t going to be late! There’s no way I can pull off a scam like the one we’re attempting without her.
She was about to duck past the forbidding doors when a carriage pulled up abruptly and Nell launched herself out of the vehicle.
“Where the hell were you, Nell?” hissed Aphra
“Stop panicking Aphra! I know I’m late but I’m here now, ain’t I?” she replied breezily.
Aphra stared at her in sheer disbelief.
“Nell, what are you wearing?”
Nell stopped short.
“Eh?”
“We’re meant to be incognito!”
Nell gave her a cheeky grin.
“I am. Look, I’m wearing a big hat an’ everything. No bugger will recognise me in this get up.”
Aphra looked at the ridiculously large straw hat her friend was sporting and decided it would take too long to reason with her.
“Come on , we’d best get it over and done with.”
“If we’re not out in fifteen minutes, send Lord Rochester and Lord Buckhurst in after us.” she ordered the coachman.
“Right you are, Miss Behn.”

Aphra was quietly praying that no one challenged them as they walked swiftly down the corridor.
She looked at Nell, wondering how she seemed to show no sign of nerves. Her own heart felt like it was fluttering painfully against her tightly laced busk.
“Come on!”
“Do you know where we‘re going?”
“We’re heading for Dr Selkirk’s office. He’s the gent what’s in charge of this place. I give’im an earful about Eve’s living conditions after the last visit. He’ll know who I am.” added Nell ominously
Great thought Aphra that’s all we need. You’ve already managed to wind him up. “He’s not going to cause any trouble, is he?”
Aphra pushed open the door of the office.
“Excuse me? I don’t believe you have an appointment-” started the clerk. The women ignored his feeble protest and headed for Dr Selkirk’s office.
“Dr Selkirk, we’ve come about Lady Ravensbourne.” Nell announced as she pushed the heavy door open.
Dr Selkirk looked up, amazed that these two ladies had the audacity to invade his sacred inner sanctum. A flicker of fear passed over his face as he registered who it was. If truth be told, he was more than a little scared of Nell Gwynne ever since the bold young actress had bawled him out about Eve’s living standards in the asylum.
“Lord Ravensbourne cordially requests that you release the lady into our care immediately, if you please."
She slapped a letter down on the desk and stared at him confidently.
Dr Selkirk was rattled.
“Does he indeed? And why could Lord Ravensbourne not deliver this message himself?”
“Lord Ravensbourne is busy at Court. He sent us as his representatives to carry out his wishes regarding his wife.” Aphra piped up.
“Well I don’t know if I can just do that. It’s totally against the rules-”
“Against what rules?” Nell asked sharply.
Dr Selkirk didn’t like being openly challenged by the notorious Ms Gwynne, whose bold gaze under that ridiculous hat quite unnerved him.
“Before I let her out among the general public, I have to carry out some exhaustive tests to make sure she is safe to release.”
“There is nothing wrong with Evelyn!”
“Nell , settle down, will you!” hissed Aphra
“You lot hardly worried whether she was insane or not before you committed her! If you’d actually done the ‘exhaustive tests’ on her before you admitted her then my friend would not have been locked up against her will, Dr Selkirk!”
“Nell!” Aphra quickly stepped in before Dr Selkirk threw them out of the office and banned them from the hospital.
“There’s no need for any unpleasantness Dr Selkirk now, is there? If you could release Lady Evelyn into our care, we’ll be quickly out from under your feet in no time."
Dr Selkirk shuffled his papers and looked suspiciously at the two women.
“I don’t know-”
“What don’t you know about?” demanded Nell.
Dr Selkirk elected to ignore her."Lady Evelyn is an unusual case. I fear for her well being on the outside with this ‘Whitehall murderer’ case. In fact I consider this hospital the safest place for her at this time.”
Nell butted in furiously. “How can you say that!”
“Lord Ravensbourne wishes you to release the patient-” started Aphra, desperate to keep the meeting on a business like footing.
“I am extremely loth to release her at all, especially into the care of his Lordship.”
Nell and Aphra looked at each other. What is going on here? they silently asked each other.
“Why’s that? You know I care for Evelyn. What do you mean?”
Dr Selkirk looked at her. It was true. The bold young actress might scare the life out of him, but there was no denying the fact that she cared about her friend.
“Lord Ravensbourne has imprisoned his wife here illegally. He has alleged to the outside world that she is dead. If I released her into his care I cannot guarantee her safety. At least here he will not be able to carry out his plan."
Aphra and Nell looked at each other.
Shall we let him into the secret? What if he doesn’t go for it?
“Can we trust you, Dr Selkirk?” Nell burst out.
“Nell!” hissed Aphra , jabbing her hard in the ribs with her fan.
“We’re planning to break her out. We’ll take her out of here . Put her in a safe house. He’ll never find her.”
“Bloody hell! Tell the doctor the whole plan, why don’t you?”
Nell smiled beatifically. “It’s fine, Aphra. Me and Dr Selkirk ‘ave an understanding, don’t we?” She gave the doctor a cheeky smile. “Don’t be such a worrywart.”
“I swear this girl will give me grey hairs, she will. " grumbled Aphra. She turned to Dr Selkirk with the glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“Please tell us you’ll help. You know we’re the only friends she was. She can’t give birth here. The poor lass will not survive, and neither will the baby.”
“Do yer want to be responsible for the deaths of two innocents?"
Dr Selkirk shuffled the papers on his desk, the very picture of a man in turmoil.
“How will I explain this to the governors? The other doctors-” he fretted more to himself than anything.
“Those hacks! I’ll like to give ‘em a piece of-”
“Nell! leave it!”
“Just say she was withdrawn from here by her husband, who realised what a terrible mistake he was making.”
“They’ll want a report. It has to go to the board-” said Dr Selkirk weakly, who was slowly starting to get worn down by the persistence of the two women.
“Surely you can wangle a bit of paperwork?”
“It’s not as simple as all that. This is most irregular.” his reedy voice rose in a panic.
“Is everything all right in there, ladies?” called Chas cheerfully.
“You’re asking me to break a serious regulation. God knows what will happen if anyone finds out I was involved in what you were up to. I’ll lose my position , my reputation-”
“For God’s sake, it’s not as if I’m getting you to commit a crime or nuthin’, am I ?” said Nell with more than a hint of impatience.
“Alright, let’s go to her cell.”
They followed Dr Selkirk to the cells trying to conceal their elation.
“I thought that was going to be a lot harder to do , to be honest.”
“Shush, we’re not out of the woods yet!”
They walked into Chas and Rochester who were waiting anxiously for the girls.
“Everything’s fine. Come on lads!” Nell smiled as Aphra shook her head in despair. There’s a lot to be said for working alone. She thought darkly.
“I won’t feel safe until we’re out of here.” she said. “No offence, Dr Selkirk.”
“None taken.”
They arrived in front of the cells where Eve and Beth were sweeping up the yard again. Both of them were hot, dusty and sweaty. They could see Eve visibly wilting
“Suky?”
Suky looked up from her woodcut."Someone call me, did they?”
“Eve needs water! Please-”
Suky wrinkled her snub nose and returned to her woodcut.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“There’s work to be done and Lady Muck ‘ere had better get on with it.” she said casually as she barely lifted his head from the sheet.
“How dare she!” John said face working furiously. ”Any one can see that Eve is suffering! Little bitch!”
“Get your stuff, Lady Ravensbourne.”
She looked up, scarcely daring to hope. “Sir?”
“You are to leave with these people, but you must do it quickly. God go with you, my dear.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “It can’t be...”
Beth hugged her swiftly, trying unsuccessfully to hide the tears trickling down and leaving a clean trail down her filthy face. “Go, my sweet. It’s true.”
“I’ll never forget your kindness, Beth.”
“Nonsense. Think of this place as a bad dream. Don’t remember a thing. You’re young and sweet . You make a life away from that husband and make sure that you’re happy.”
----
from Chapter 9
De Louvois asserts his Authority

“Doing anything important at the moment are you, Mr Wetherby?”
Jonah looked up from his dispatches on the Magdelaine De la Grange case to find Monsieur de Louvois looming over his desk.
“Sir, can I help?” he asked, as polite as ever while restraining his mouth at the arrogance of the other man. Of course I’m doing something important. I’m examining these case files. Do you think I sit here with my nose down in reams of paperwork in dim candlelight for fun?
“I want to discuss this report from Vignon with you.” He pointed to the document in his hand.
For a moment Jonah wondered whether Vignon had cut off his nose to spite his face and informed upon him but surely he wasn’t so stupid. Not if he wanted to maintain his diplomatic immunity by feeding his information to the investigation.
“Come, join Monsieur Bouchard and I for a working supper. The comissioner wants to meet you for himself.”
Despite himself , Jonah was curious and decided to join them.
So this is Ghislain’s father. The man who was so against his relationship with Eve. Well , if nothing else it should be illuminating, shouldn’t it?
“Certainly, sir-“

Within half an hour of meeting Monsieur Narcisse Bouchard for himself he could easily see why he and Louvois were such good friends. Two people as mean spirited and wicked as themselves have more than enough in common.
He entered the well appointed office, which was such a contrast to the draughty, poky hole he and Ghislain had been given. Even De la Reynie himself didn’t have as fine apartments as this.
“Gentlemen, what will you have? Sit, please,sit-“
Jonah took a seat by the window to take advantage of the night time breeze.
“Monsieur Bouchard, I have heard much about you. It is an honour-“
The man looked down his hooked nose at him, watching him appraisingly with those cunning obsidian eyes so like his son’s.
“Mr Wetherby-“ his mouth curved into an unpleasant smile. “I hear you are very familiar with the Ravensbourne woman my son was unlucky enough to get entangled with. Luckily he was able to see sense and extricate himself before the situation got worse. That boy is a trial to me.”
“I’m sure-“ De Louvois’s voice oozed with insincere sympathy. “I have no idea how you can work with such a cocktease. I’m surprised she didn’t try it with you-“
Jonah’s eyes flashed dangerously at the two men’s disparaging comments about Eve. How dare they impugn her name so casually?
“Don’t insult her in front of me, sir. She is a good worker and a friend.” He rebuked them sternly. “Eve is one of the kindest, bravest, most intelligent ladies I know. She doesn’t deserve your hatred or contempt-“
The two men merely smirked. Jonah had no doubt that they would wait until he’d done to insult both of them even more. It made him dislike Comissioner Bouchard even more.
“I understand you went to see De la Reynie’s contact about the poison case. Had a bit of an eventful night by all reports.”
“Yes-“
“Vignon is a disgusting criminal. He should have been hanged ages ago for his crimes. I have no idea how De la Reynie can bear to do do business with such a crook.”
Well, in all frankness Vignon might be a criminal but he was a lot more moral than the pair of you. You’re both nothing but hypocrites!
“Well, you know Nicolas’s weakness. Justice at all costs. And he doesn’t care too much if he gets his hands mucky as long as the job gets done. Associating with evil people...making dodgy deals to gain their co-operation. I mean-“ he turned his malevolent gaze on Jonah. “Getting you involved, for example-“
Jonah froze in consternation. Did they know his secret? Had De la Reynie confided in them?
“-You have a reputation for solving sensitive cases for both Majesties. I’d warrant that you’re more than familiar with the wrong side of the law and how to stay on the right side of it.”
“If you must know I make it a point of pride that I solve my cases within the constraints of the law. There is no question that I break the law.” He said stiffly.
“Come now Louvois, there’s no need to provoke the man so!” said Bouchard almost teasingly.
“Hopefully we should start to get some results from Eve, if she’s as good as De la Reynie and his Majesty say she is. Bezons and I left written instruction she was to ingratiate herself with the Mortemarts and the Mancini girls: The Comtesse de Soissons, the Duchesse de Bouillon, the Marechal- Duc de Luxembourg-“
“I was under the impression he was your close friend!” said Bouchard in surprise.
“It’s because he is a friend that I know what a rogue the man truly is.”
Jonah fought hard to conceal his alarm at Louvois’s indiscreet admissions. So to him, this is a prime opportunity to ruin any one of his enemies.
This investigation is the perfect cover story for the malevolent man to wreck any havoc he wishes on his rival and enemies.
I have to warn Eve of this. She needs to know the true political implications of her spying especially if anyone discovers her true identity at court. They must not find out. People like the Marechâl, the Comtesse de Soissons... these are not enemies you want to make lightly. What about Benôit? He is her field agent, but now I’m seen de Louvois’s true colours can we trust him? Or is he de Louvois and Bezon’s man and as corrupt as his master. Perhaps they set a spy to observe her as she is meant to observe the courtiers.

“I want to speak to you, my son-“
Ghislain looked up with deadened eyes. Just what he didn’t need, another gloating conference with his father while he crowed about the disintergration of his love affair with Eve. Narcisse never failed to twist the knife, slandering the woman at every opportunity.
“Yes, sir-“
Narcisse sat opposite him with a self-satisfied smirk on his face. Ghislain wondered what snide snippet he’d be regaled with this time.
“I’ve been thinking about your little romantic problem, my son and I think that I may have come up with the perfect solution for your woes.”
“Really?”
“Well, don’t sound so grateful, will you ? I exert myself on your behalf day after day and this is the thanks I get-“
“Is there a point to this particular digression, sir?”he said politely, shuffling the papers on his desk. “It’s only that I have a lot of paperwork to trawl through tonight-“
Narcisse leaned forward with a knowing leer. “While I’m truly grateful that at last you’ve decided to dedicate yourself more assidously to your legal career, this is very important, son. I’ve managed to negotiate a very advantageous match for you, Ghislain.”
“Match?” Ghislain was surprised. “What are you talking about? Getting married is the last thing on my mind at the moment !”
“You have to consider these things, son. Especially now your career is taking off. It would be the ideal time.”
“And which poor victim have you got lined up for me this time, sir?”
Narcisse was so pleased with himself he missed the sarcasm in his son’s weary voice. “Monsieur de Courfeyrac proposed an alliance with his only daughter and heiress Marchelline. A most charming girl of gentle birth and excellent manners-“
“I’m sure. It had absolutely nothing to do with the sizeable fortune that the girl has?” Ghislain’s voice was so hostile even Narcisse couldn’t help but notice.
“I’m not sure I like your tone son. I’m only trying to do the best I can-“
“For me, or for you?”
“Ghislain!”
“You cannot expect me to walk into another relationship after all that’s happened and expect me to be happy, sir. I loved Eve with all my heart-“
“As far as I’m concerned you had a lucky escape. How you could have got involved with a cunning little adventuress only out for your money and prestige I don’t understand. Did I teach you nothing?”
“Eve is not an adventuress!”
“She lied to you, didn’t she?” Narcisse said rather callously.
“Whatever happened between us, I will not have you insult her.”said Ghislain with quiet dignity. ”You never tried to get to know her as a person. You went round and insulted her in her own home. Oh yes, I know what you did-“
“Did she tell you that, did she?”
“She didn’t need to.”
“Look, son. I don’t say this to hurt you, but so you can learn from your mistakes. Women like Eve are made to be mistresses and sluts, not wife material. Don’t throw yourself and your prospects away on her. She was unworthy of a Bouchard-“
His son looked at him with midnight dark eyes full of hurt and pity. “Father, you don’t understand. I gave her up not because of her lie. I was angry about it but I understand why she tried to conceal her identity. To be happy with me, no matter what the cost-“
“You want a woman who is prepared to be duplicitous?” interrupted Narcisse harshly. “-Then you are even worse fool than I thought.”
“I gave Eve up because she was so far above me that I knew it wouldn’t work. She needs to do her duty and go back to court. She is the only woman we can trust to infiltrate the court. De la Reynie and his Majesty are relying on her. I cannot let her turn her back on the Princesse d’ Argenteuil any longer-”
“The Princesse? She’s the agent they’re sending to court?”
“Yes-“ Ghislain replied shortly.
“You believe that story about her aristocratic background, then?”
“Why do you think I broke up with her?” snapped Ghislain , losing all patience with his father. “How can I marry a Princesse?”
“Well, it was only by marriage anyway.” muttered Narcisse rather discomfited by being proved wrong. ”She probably inveigled her way into their family as well.”
“It’s over and I don’t want to talk of it any more. I came back home and agreed to do your bidding . What more do you want? Blood?”
“Promise me you’ll at least see Marchelline? That you’ll consider moving on?” Narcisse couldn’t resist pressing the point seeing as he had won the battle.
“I’ll see her, but I do not promise anything sir.”

The meeting with Marchelline was awkward at best, not helped by the fact that Narcisse insisted on attending and making things even worse. Under the scrutiny of her own father and Narcisse she dropped things, blushing furiously and barely saying a word.
Ghislain took pity on the poor girl and decided he would try and talk to her privately. There was no way he was going to be able to get to know her like this with the two gloating over them like two piles of gold. He felt like he was being stifled by their greed, which was almost palpable.
“May we talk to each other outside, Monsieur de Courfeyrac?” he asked politely. He could almost see the gleam of greed in the older man’s eyes as he spoke.
Narcisse went to get his cloak to follow them but his friend stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Leave the young ones alone, Narcisse. They have to start a bond sometime. Why not now?”
“Daniel, don’t you worry about your daughter? Most men would-“
The man chuckled patting his padded belly. “Ghislain could try but in all honesty I doubt she’d let him get anywhere. Besides, he’s going to do the honest thing by her, isn’t he?”
“Of course. My son is no fool. He knows my wishes on this.”
The other nodded in agreement.
“I’m simply concerned about him. You see, you know about that unfortunate romantic attachment he formed with the little Englishwoman?”
“He’s spoken for?” De Courfeyrac said with a sharp edge to his avuncular voice.
“No. It’s over. I made sure of it.”
De Courfeyrac relaxed once more. “Well, he doesn’t have to love her, does he? Just marry the girl and treat her decent that’s all I ask. Is he capable of that?”
Narcisse made up his mind. Sure Ghislain was a stubborn little bastard who’s neck he’d often longed to wring for his insubordinance, but he had a streak of honour that would keep him on the straight and narrow . Once committed he would not back out. Look how he was with the Ravensbourne whore! Once she’d fixed her minxy green eyes on him and bewitched him with her golden beauty and admittedly lovely curvy figure, the lad had stayed. With the right incentive, he was sure Ghislain would stay with Marchelline and the dowry would come to him at last.
“My son is a good lad at heart. He’s capable.”

As Marchelline showed him round the garden, he noticed the redness of her eyes and the dejectedness of her body language. The poor girl almost looked as miserable as he did. It spurred him to at least be kind to her. Although she was a plain looking thing with an unfortunate nose and stolid features, she had kind hazel eyes and masses of wavy chestnut brown hair that fought the confines of her starched linen cap. A gentle sweet smile that occassionally flitted across her broad face as she watched the birds clamouring in the garden for the grain laid out for them made her look nearly pretty. It was such a shame that he couldn’t grow to love someone like her, not when his heart was Eve’s.
“Marchelline, can we talk?”
She fixed big worried eyes on him, waiting for what he was about to say.
“Do you actually want to marry? Only I can’t help but think that you’re not very enthusiastic-“
She gripped his arm in terror. “Please don’t say that, Monsieur Bouchard! If my father were to hear-“
He felt bad that he had distressed the girl and tried to console her as best he could. “I won’t tell him, I promise, Marchelline.”
She’d closed down instantly, not wishing to go down this road. “I will do what my father desires. He wished for our union, so-“
“Marchelline, I don’t want to hear what your father would want!
She looked surprised. “You don’t?”
“I want to know what you think. If we are to live together as man and wife, I need to get to know you-“
He caught the unconscious shudder she gave as he mentioned the marital state.
The very idea repulses her. This is worse for her. I am facing marrying a woman I don’t love and abandoning the woman I adore. She cannot bear the thought of being shackled to me. God, what a mess.
“Be honest, Marchelline. Do you want to marry me?”
She turned hurt eyes on him. “This is a trap, isn’t it?” she said with a fierceness he wouldn’t have credited her with.
“No. I don’t understand. Why would this be a trap? I just want to know whether you want this match.”
She trembled, roiling under the emotional lash on her soul.
Why does it distress her so?
“I would not force you to do anything you didn’t want to. I promise I would be kind to you. I don’t want you to be afraid of me-“ Ghislain said, taking her hands in his, trying to reassure her.
“You must not say anything! If my father found out I had told you how I feel about the match-“ she whispered her mouth close to his ear.
He nodded in understanding. “My lips are sealed.”
“Please don’t take offence, Ghislain. It’s not that you aren’t a very attractive man-“ she said musingly, looking at him as if he was a scientific specimen. “You are tall, well shaped and you have beautiful dark eyes. I imagine you’d break many hearts and are quite the charmer when you want to be-“
He smiled rather ruefully at her candour. “You make it sound like a curse, Marchelline-“
“D’ye want the honest truth? I don’t want to marry anyone. I have a vocation and I want to follow it-“
“You want to take holy orders?”
She nodded, her stolid dependable face lighting up suddenly before the thought of her father and his demands drained the radiance from her, leaving only bitterness. “He won’t let me. I’m too much of a prize on the marriage market and he’s too keen to make alliances with the great and good , like your father. The thought that I would want to throw that away to devote my life to my Lord is enough to make him spit with rage.”
“What would he do to you if you didn’t marry me? Would he hurt you?”
She said nothing, merely uncovering the back of her neck. He gasped at the livid red mark on the freckled neck with horror.
“He did this to you?”
“Yes, he did.” The calmness of her voice as she talked about it made it even more horrific to him. “It took a lot to break me to his will and abandon my pretension to a vocation. I wanted to remain pure when I took my vows and I wouldn’t bend no matter what threats he threw at me. Then he lost his temper at my stubbornness one day and held the poker to my neck until I submitted to him and agreed to the match. It hasn’t healed properly yet, no matter what salves I use on it.” She closed her eyes briefly, summoning her strength as her feelings surged up. “I weakened in my resolve. I gave up my dream because I was too damned weak to stand my ground. Perhaps I am not worthy of my vocation-“
“Don’t say that, Marchelline! You are so brave.”
“Brave? Me?”
“Yes!” he said firmly. “What your father did was wrong beyond belief. If my father can sanction that to gain your dowry, then I am ashamed and disgusted. I know someone who can make a salve for your neck that will work-”.
He thought of Babette and her unparalleled skills with herbs and with a pang of longing for the girls and their sweet unconditional love of him. Rosie’s wise little face and droll sayings, Lilias’s chubby adorable face and ready radiant smile. They were a family and it had been destroyed by his father, De la Reynie and most damning of all his own stupid pride.
“- You shouldn’t have to suffer like that. Does it still hurt?”
“No. It’s very good of you to say so, Ghislain. Thank you.” She said quietly.
“How could they both do this to us?” he whispered utterly appalled at the abusive, manipulative man behind the avuncular facade of Daniel de Courfeyrac. “They tell us they love us, then destroy us for their sport and yet they demand our loyalty and our love in return.”
“Do you not want this either?” she regarded with those childlike clear eyes that seemed to look through his very soul. “Let us be frank. I can’t be the only one to bare her soul here?”
“I’m sorry to hurt you, Marchelline. You are a lovely girl and talking to you, I feel we could get on really well-“
“But your heart is not yours. You’re still in love with her....the foreigner-“ she hesitated, an embarrassed flush on her freckled face. Ghislain was sure that his father had been a lot less flattering to Eve. “-I heard Father and Monsieur Bouchard discussing it a couple of nights ago. I was meant to be in my room but I was listening to them on the stairs all night-“
“I don’t want to lie to you. You deserve the truth, so you know what you’re getting into. I would never cheat on you and would treat you with the respect you merit. But my feelings for Eve-“
He wasn’t sure he could go on. Marchelline’s suffering and the memory of Eve lying on their bed weeping while he forced himself to walk away overwhelmed him emotionally.
He felt the comforting touch of her hand as she brushed away the tears streaming down his face, blinding him.
“You love her. Don’t you, Ghislain?” she said gently. “How ever did you let her go , when you love her so passionately?”
“I am such a heel! Mooning about my lost love when I’m out here and meant to be marrying you by summer’s end. And after what you have suffered without complaint. What a terrible selfish bastard of a husband I would make!”
“You aren’t selfish, Ghislain. You are in love.” She replied tranquilly, that serene smile on her face. “Tell me about her.”
“I couldn’t-“
“Why not?”she asked. “It’s hurting you not to talk about it. You are a friend to me. I want to help you. Please-“
“She was a widow who taught music. That’s how I first met her. I went for a singing lesson and there she was. An golden angel with the voice of a nightingale. That was my pet name for her. It took a long time to convince her I was serious about us. That I wanted her and the children-”
“Do you have a picture of her?”
He withdrew a minature from his breast and cradled it in his strong tanned hand. “A friend painted this for us when I won a wager at the new year. My father doesn’t know I still have this and I know I should discard it, but I can’t bear to let it go. I’m weak-“
She looked at the minature in his hand. On one side there was a group painted in the classical style. The two girls sat at the feet of the tree, playing with a tiny tortoiseshell kitten in the lush green grass. The painter had even in that small space managed to capture a fleeting glimpse of the personalities of the girls and the fun they were having.
“That’s you. You look well. Happy-“ Marchelline said softly as she traced the picture with her fingertip. He was sat by the roots of the tree, his arms around a young slender woman with a stream of red gold hair flowing like a river of copper and gold light down her pale shoulders and extending down her back. They looked into each other’s eyes as if they only had eyes for each other.
“I got a picture of her alone on the other side-“ he said shyly. He turned it over with an unconscious stroke. “Grantaire was kind enough to paint her as a favour to me-“
So this is Eve Ravensbourne, the foreigner- thought Marchelline to herself. How was I ever meant to compete with that? No wonder he’s obsessed with her.
Close up the woman was ravishing. Those huge limpid grey green eyes like willow leaves on the turn which seemed to pierce right through you fringed with golden lashes. The lovely fine features of her face with it’s spattering of freckles as if the sun had affectionately bestowed a kiss there. The shape of her pink full lips as she curved her mouth into a subtle smile, almost inviting the viewer to kiss her.
“Nightingale-“ he whispered, staring at the minature with such obvious adoration and love Marchelline’s tender heart twisted painfully in her chest.
He loves her. He will never let her go. How could I ever compare with a goddess like that?
He whipped the portrait away back into it’s russet leather case and slipped it back to his coat pocket. “Christ, they’ve come out.”
A she saw the panic in his dark eyes, Marchelline kept her head. “Ghislain, make love to me!”
“But- I wouldn’t like to insult you. I know you have a distaste for my attention.”
“Don’t be stupid!” she hissed back desperately. “If my father realises we’ve confided in each other, our lives won’t be worth living! Kiss my hand, try to touch me, whisper fine words. Convince them that you want me now. Pretend I’m Eve if you have to-“
“I couldn’t. It would be dishonest-“ he protested.
“Just do it, for the love of God and stop trying to be so noble!” she snapped. “Please, for my sake-“
It’s a role. You can do this , Ghislain. If Marchelline can summon up the guile and courage to defeat our father’s joint plans then so can you. Stop being such a sap!
“Oh Monsieur Bouchard! Please do not take such liberties with me!” she cried pushing herself close enough that the ruse would be convincing to an outsider.
“Marchelline, be kind-“ he said taking her cue and wheedling her in his most honeyed tones. “-grant me the smallest favour, I beg you. One sweet kiss-“
“Do not think you can take liberties with me, sir! I am not one of your doxies who you can treat with disrespect. I am to be your wife , not your mistress!”
“Oh Marchelline!”
“There you two are! I was wondering what had happened to you!”
“We were just getting to know each other-“ said Ghislain, thoroughly in role now as an interrupted sullen lover.
“You weren’t taking liberties with the girl, were you Ghislain?” said Narcisse with a stern twinkle.
“No!”
De Courfeyrac chuckled. “Leave the lad alone, Narcisse! He knows he has to marry the girl and to his credit he’s at least trying to forge a bond.”
Narcisse was less easy to convince, giving the couple a suspicious glare as they walked back up to the house for supper.

“What are you up to, Ghislain?” Narcisse said that night, once they had entered their own house.
“What?”
“With Marchelline. You in the garden making love to her-“
Ghislain’s dark eyes narrowed sharply. “Father, you insisted I relinquished Eve and married this girl. I am trying my hardest to create a bond with her. If we’re to be married-“
How he wished he could believe that he’d broken the stubborn little shite’s will. He knew his son far too well for that. He was as stubborn as himself. Something had to be going on and he sincerely doubted that within one afternoon Ghis had discarded a gorgeous little poulet like Eve Ravensbourne for Marchelline, who might be rich but frankly was no oil painting and between him and Monsieur de Courfeyrac was so prissy and uptight he doubted whether she’d ever allow him any liberties with her body at all.
“I just think that –“
“What do you think?”
“A woman as wanton and desirable as Eve, will you be able to forget her and be a good husband to Marchelline?-“
Ghislain turned angrily from his father. “I do as you ordered and still you are not happy and find fault with everything I do! What more do you want from me? I told you I would marry her, didn’t I? I’m a man of my word, sir. Stop bothering me!”
Narcisse knew when he had pushed his son too far. Bless him, he was as emotional and as passionate as his mother. When would he understand that he did all these things to make his life better? To smooth his path to greatness?
“I don’t do these thing sto hurt you, Ghis, despite what you might think in your resentful heart. All I want is your well-being and to see you rise to a great position in life. Is that so bad? Because I love my son?”
Ghislain was too proud to bend and Narcisse realised that it was too late; his relationship with his only son had been damaged irretrievably through his need for control and his own ambition.
“If you had loved me less, father, I would have been far happier. Your love is nothing but a curse to me-“ he said bitterly, looking into the fireplace at the dying flames.

-----
(from chapter 13: Intrigues at the Masked Ball)
“My lady, now that you are all finished with your fittings you wouldn’t mind checking in on the rehearsals with the troupe? Just check where we can fit in the courtier’s parts?”
“Certainly. Where are they rehearsing? In the orange grove?”
Eve efficiently did up her deep lilac gown and hung up her costume. It was gorgeous, la Vernet had truly excelled herself. The fluid gold silk brought out the golden tones in her hair and skin highlighting the golden beauty she was famed for. The tiny gilt bells attached to the dress made a delicate ringing as she moved. Madame Vernet had even left off the stays at Eve’s pleading so she moved with a supple sensous grace. I can’t wait to wear it tonight! She thought with satisfaction.
“Can I come with you? I’m so bored. Having millions of pins stuck into me and standing as still as a statue-“ pouted Gabi, linking arms with Eve as they went to the rehearsal. “Let’s go and see the actors and have a bit of fun-“

She could hear the troupe before she saw them, frantically having a run thorough the masque before the dress rehearsal. They slipped into the back of the grove to listen to the sublime music.
This is where she could be herself. Not amongst the artifical and dangerous gilded jungle of the court but amongst artists, writers and singers. She watched Monsieur Lully conducting the orchestra with smart rhythmic taps of his cane, his swarthy dark face and keen eyes watching the stage as the dancers and singers blocked out their parts. A longing rose up in Eve to be back on the stage or even in the pit, anything rather than trapped here, tricked out like an adorable clockwork doll in court dress where she barely belonged.
“They’re playing ‘Orphee et Eurydice’”. Gabi sighed, hearing the music with a shiver of pleasure. “Such wonderfully romantic music. Lully’s best-“
“I remember working on this with Ghis. Such happy times-“ Eve murmured almost to herself looking sad.
Her reverie was dissolved as the tenor strode confidently to the front of the stage clad in a well-cut dark green suit with silver lace on the cuffs. His face was covered by a half-mask but it didn’t conceal the long glossy black hair tied back or the knowing smile on his tanned face as he stepped to the front of the stage and opened his mouth to sing the final song, ‘I have lost my true beloved’ :

One glance behind and you are lost forevermore
Bereft of my dear heart, what reason do I have
to live in this cruel world, come back my love
Ah, you are lost to me forevermore!

Gabi’s mouth fell open in sheer admiration as she listened to him. “He has got the most amazing voice! It’s like honey and sunshine in the fields. Oh Lord, it’s enough to make any woman fall in love with him-“
She glanced at her friend’s sudden pallor. As she touched her on the arm to reassure her, she found the woman was shaking uncontrollably.
What is going on ? It can’t be because she was incredibly moved by the music.
“Evie, what’s the matter? What’s going on ma chere?”
She didn’t seem to hear, having only eyes for the stage and the glorious singer singing on it.
“Oh, Ghis my love-“ she sighed quietly, that Gabi barely caught it. Those grey eyes glittered with emotion as she struggled to conceal her powerful feelings for this mysterious bewitching singer.
She’s in love with him? Well, well, wasn’t Eve d’Argenteuil the secretive one?
Softly she sang along with the soprano’s response, her haunted eyes never leaving his face.
Ah, Orpheus my tender heart you should have had
Your doubt caused you to turn so you are lost to me
forever gone, I mourn your lost sweet love for me
Oh tell me why you failed to have some faith in me?

She couldn’t finish the last phrase. Overcome with emotion she rushed out of the grove, blinded by the tears which streamed down her face making a mess of her kohl.

“Eve, talk to me.” Gabi said once she had caught up with her. “I’ve never seen you so out of control. You frightened me, cherie. Who is this man and why on earth did you react so violently towards him?”
Eve hid her face against the bark of the tree, shuddering with sobs.
“I hate to see you in despair, please-“ she said gently, taking her friend into her arms. “Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“It’s hopeless!”
“What’s hopeless? Are you infatuated with the masked singer? Why did you run away from the grove? Why did you break down in tears? It wasn’t because of the music, was it?”
She shook her head, unable to speak in her misery.
“This is the very madness of forbidden love. Evie, listen to me-“ she said trying to comfort her. “You hear this golden seductive voice sing sweet songs of love and his handsome figure and you fancy yourself in love with him, this mythical perfect lover, that he is the only one for you, but it’s not true. It’s just a pleasant illusion. Don’t break your heart over a dream-“
Eve finally looked up at her disbelievingly. “You don’t understand Gabi. Of course I love him. I am his mistress. Or-“ she hesitated as her emotion welled up in remembrance. “-I was.”
“His mistress? Do you want to tell me what is going on? This is why you were missing from court for so long, isn’t it?”
Eve paused, wondering what to say. She couldn’t tell Gabi the truth about the investigation not when she was gathering sensitive information on the court ladies and passing it back to the King and De la Reynie.
“When Nick died, I was so shocked and unhappy, I left England for good. I didn’t want to take up life back at court. Being married to him had brought me nothing but unhappiness in truth. I didn’t want to be the Princesse any more.”
“Didn’t want?” started Gabi staring at her friend, unable to believe she’d turned her back on her husband’s status and connections.
“I lived a simple life with my girls, right in the heart of Paris. Teaching music to spoilt little rich girls for a living. And do you know what? I was happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”
“And so you met the masked singer. How?”
She gave a small smile of fond remembrance. “I used to work a lot with Monsieur Lully-“
“He knew where you were all this time? That man-“ exclaimed Gabi crossly. “Sorry, I won’t interrupt again-“
“- I played in the pit, and I used to sing onstage occasionally. I wrote some librettos for him now and again anomynously, just little things every now and again on demand. He suggested I take some pupils, to supplement my wages so he introduced me to Ghislain.”
“You taught him?”
“Come on Gabi, he hardly needs teaching, does he? Not with a glorious natural voice like that.” Eve said. “No, I just taught him a couple of roles. Note-bashing, nothing more. We really got on as friends as he was so lovely to my little girls. They adore him. And then I started to fall in love-“
“Head over heels-“ sighed Gabi. “-So you became his mistress.”
“His father is some hot shot lawyer in the city. Wanted him to follow in his footsteps and become just like him. He disliked me because he thought I was some foreign whore distracting his son from his career and his marriage prospects. He didn’t care that I and my girls loved him, he loved me and we wanted to be a family-“
“Didn’t he know who you were?” asked Gabi. “That you are the Princesse-“
Eve bit her lip. “No, I didn’t tell him-“
“Evelyn!”
“I couldn’t tell him about the Princesse.” She looked so pitiful Gabi didn’t have the heart to chide her. “I was so happy at last after all the misery of being married to Nick. All I wanted was him and the family life I’d missed out on. So I turned my back on the title, used the allowance as little as I could, which was why I worked. So I could be independent at last.”
“What made you come back?”
“It was made very clear to me that I needed to come back and do my duty at court. That I couldn’t hide away from my past.”

Vivonne went to visit his sister that afternoon as she was preparing to get dressed for the masked ball.
“Athenais, are you decent?” he called, waiting for the maid to let him into her chambers.
She came to the door herself, dressed only in her fine filmy chemise with a smirk on her beautiful face. “Ah, Vivonne just the man I need to see. I need a male opinion on the perfect dress for tonight. So be a darling and make yourself useful, won’t you?” she pulled him into the room and shut the door behind them.
“Isn’t anyone else here?” he asked, looking round. “ Where’s Gabi?”
Her smile broadened wickedly. “No, just you and me. I want to talk to you alone anyway-”
“What about?” he said warily.
“Honestly, relax dearest brother. Anyone would think you were looking for spies in my bedchamber. What’s making you so paranoid, hmm?”
She held up the first of the dresses against her body. “What about this one? The Bronze silk? Do you think this will arouse Louis?”
“What do you want, Athenais?”
She cocked her blonde head to the side as if pondering his question. “Apart from captivating the King of course? Why I wanted to discuss your love life-”
“There is no need to discuss anything!” he snapped. “Kindly take your nose out of my business, Athenais! The matters of my heart are not some little melodrama for you and your friends to gawp at for your own amusement!”
She didn’t seem to be offended by his outburst; merely amused. He knew she was priding herself on getting under his skin at last but then she’d always had the knack, after all she was his little sister.
“No? What about the cream sprigged muslin? You really must love adorable little Evie, mustn’t you? No wonder Antoinette has practically declared war on the girl. Just imagine, brother they’re fighting over you-“
“There is nothing going on between Evie and myself. She’s my cousin’s widow. And you can’t wear that muslin, it’s positively indecent-“
“Like that’s ever stopped anyone in this place before.” She said airily. “Positively indecent? That sound like it’s just the thing for the ball, thank you darling-“
“She’s a friend, that’s all-“
“Please Vivonne, I wasn’t born yesterday. Do you see her bestow anywhere near the level of affection you get so effortlessly on any of the other men at court? And it’s not for want of trying on their part. I know for a fact the Comte de Guiche would give half his fortune to sleep with her for just one night, depite his other well-known proclivities.”
“Athenais, you can be so damned crude sometimes.”
“What?” she opened her big blue eyes wide. “Everyone at court knows he’s Monsieur’s favourite catamite, I’m not saying anything that’s not common knowledge. Vivonne, you can be such a prude-“
“Hmph!”
“Anway, where was I before you interrupted me? Peguilin de Lauzun follows the woman round like a little lost sheep but she doesn’t even notice him. And yet every time I see you, you’re dallying in the gardens with her, staring into her eyes, sitting with your arms round her”
“We’re friends-“ he protested. How had she known? He’d tried to be discreet but it hadn’t worked. When it came to intrigue and romance at court Athenais had a nose like a wolfhound for it, it was quite astonishing.
“I know you desire her so please stop trying to fool yourself, it’s tedious frankly. Now do you want my help to get her or don’t you?”
“Of course I like her. I always have. Nick was an idiot to mess her about like that. She is gorgeous and a true kind hearted girl. The worst thing I ever did was leave those two alone together.”
“You desired her for yourself. All this time. How you must have writhed with jealousy as dear cousin Nicolas cheated on the girl over and over again. Made her miserable with his petty cruelties. And all that time, you longed tohave her for yourself but cursed the day you were shackled to Antoinette so you couldn’t even puruse her on equal terms-”
He nodded too ashamed of the depth of his feelings to admit them , even to his sister.
“She wants you , you idiot just as much as you want her. Can’t you see it for yourself?”
“What do you mean? Has she said anything?”
Athenais looked smug. “Not to me, but I happened to be in chapel while she was at confession and well, I may have just happened to overhear-“
“What did you hear? Did she name me by name?”
“Evie was talking to the priest about her newly awoken desire for an old kind friend. She knows it’s so wrong and she mustn’t , but she’s falling for him and badly. She is all a fever for his touch. Craving his kisses-“
“It could be anyone!”
Vivonne didn’t doubt Athenais had purposely spied on Eve at confession to try and find out her secrets. “What did you hear? Did she name me by name?”
Athenais merely let that famously knowing smirk spread across her face.
“She didn’t say it was me!”
“Vivonne, it’s you. You know it. Eve knows it. Just let her make the first move. You know she hasn’t had anyone since she came back to court. She must be getting frustrated by now. She’s sure to snap soon , if she’s contemplating sin. And when she does, all you have to do is be there. The easiest seduction you’ve ever done. She practically did all the work for you -”
“What do you get out of all this. I’m sure you’re not doing this out of the kindeness of your heart-“
“Why brother, I’m hurt!” Athenais’s blue eyes widened winningly.
“You want something. What is it?”
“All I want is for you to be happy, dear brother. Is that so wrong? If you’ve decided to pursue the woman , well -”
-----
(later in the chapter)
“My skill is in my voice , not in my versifying, so I crave indulgence for my rough verse from your ladies-“ he said.
“Of course! Of course.” They chorused. ”We just want to hear your glorious voice!”
He smiled at their extravagant praise. “Who would like to go first?” he asked.
“Me! Me! Pick me first!” Angelique demanded beaming with pleasure, pushing herself to the front of the group.
“And what is your name, fair maid? So I know who to address my song to?”
She gave him a flirtateous little look and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “I’m Angelique, sir-“
He cocked his head, regarding her radiant youthful face with a smile. “What shall I sing for you, fair maid? What about this to laud your fresh lovely face prety as a spring morning?”

The bloom of youth has bare begun to stain your cheeks
Fair maid with sunny charm and smiles for all to see,
Allied with natural grace and such sweet beauty rare,
That all must cede the bays to lovely Angelique.

Angelique giggled at the thought of having a song dedicated to her, flushing prettily. “Oh, how charming! You are a very wizard with words, O mysterious and seductive one!”
“My God, she is an idiot!” muttered Athenais to her sister.
“No wonder Louis is embarrassed to have her speak in public. What can he be thinking of chasing a little ninny like that?” replied Gabi, giving her an evil look from behind her fan.
She noticed Eve’s hand clenched into a fist at her side, angry at Angelique’s flirting.
“Peace, Eve. She’s just a little fool who needs to be admired by every man she sees. He’s just being courtly and polite to the little impertinent baggage-“
“What would you sing for me, sir?” Athenais asked, a challenge in those famously azure eyes. “I am not one to have my silly head turned by pretty words, and empty phrases-“
The masked singer regarded the proud beauty for several moments, watching her queenly stature and defiantly held chin. With a courtly flourish, he segued into a lilting beguiling melody
How dare I cast my eyes on such a stunning queen,
Her beauty dazzles and enchants unworthy eyes,
Athenais forgive me, with one lush glance you prove,
That only a true king is worthy of your love.

Athenais looked pleased by his panegryic, counting it a suitable tribute to her beauty and prestige as maitress en titre.
“Well, you certainly do have a voice like honey and sunshine like my sister Gabi told me and a fair way with words. I bet you would break many hearts if you put your mind to it. Won’t you unmask for us?”
He shook his head in mock regret. “As much as I hate to displease you, my identity must remian a secret for now. Besides would it not spoil the magic I weave if you knew my true identity?-“
“He’s right, you know.” Gabi smirked.
“And now for Madame. I hope you don’t mind being left till last. I can only hope I do you justice-“
Royal by birth, blessed many times by a wise God
Vision of fragile beauty and sharp piquant wit
Kind gentle caring soul forged by dark days to gold
All joy and bliss deserved by loving Henriette

“Thank you-“ she whispered, smiling shyly at him. “You are as kind as you are gallant, mysterious sir-“
Impulsively she held her hand out for him to kiss.
“I couldn’t take such a liberty, your Highness–“ he demurred.
“Please, sir-“
He pressed his mouth reverently to her fair hand. “Live long and be brave, fair Princess. If I can serve you in any way, humble or not-”
“You can, fair singer!” Henriette-Anne exclaimed. “Won’t you sing a sweet serenade for my dearest friend Evie?”
He froze, obviously surprised by her innocent request. “My lady?”
She gave him a captivating smile. “Please Sir? Evie is a dear true friend of mine. She’s been so unhappy and yet she is the worthiest of women. For once I’d like for her to be happy-“
“I am yours to command your Majesty , as always-“ said the singer.
“Look! He doesn’t want to, does he?” whispered Antoinette unpleasantly.
Gabi had a bittersweet smile on her face as she watched them tentatively walk towards each other. “Not true, Toinette. He loves her as much as she loves him. I see it all now.”
“He loves her? What are you talking about?”
“Observe them.”
“How can I sing sweet little verses to you? You, who are everything to me? Eve, I cannot stop loving you, no matter how hard I try-“ His voice was rich and slow gaining in confidence as he became eloquent about his lost love. The women listened spellbound as they listened depsite themselves. This was no courtly little game as they knew their serenades had been. There was something between this singer and Eve . He was in love with her and they were witness to something intimate and heartfelt.

Nightingale, beating your wings against the gilded bars
You returned here so they could turn the key?
Back in our paradise we flew so free by day
At night we loved, believe me Eve I would
Give anything to hold you once again.
Worship the fiery beauty of your hair,
Kiss every freckle on your lovely face,
Adore the softness of your pink lush mouth,
And sleep within the heaven of your arms.
But you are far above me, never more will
I in your eyes lose myself in you.
Give back my heart, dear temptress weep no more!
You were not meant for a mean life with me,
But to clasp hands with courtiers and Kings.
Beloved by Princes of the Realm and Lords
Who ‘d shower you with riches and fine words,
As is your due as beauty incarnate.
So I must let you go, not hold you back
From destiny though it does break my heart.
And I must learn to long for you no more
My golden princess, Eve , My Nightingale.

He stroked her face with real tenderness as she looked at him with haunted eyes.
“Don’t leave me, Ghis-“ she breathed before his mouth met hers for a passionate kiss, unheeding of the other women staring in shock in the room.
How sweet it was to kiss her again, feel the softness of her mouth on his. It was still there, that physical chemistry between them. His hand slid round her waist pulling her so close to him, she could feel his desire for her springing up strong and inexorable.

“Madame, I have business with the lady. Would you kindly excuse us for a moment?” he said with effortless politesse as he bowed to Minette
“Why, certainly-“ she said faintly, still rathed shocked by the passion between the couple. “Take as much time as you need-“
“Well, well, well-“ smirked Antoinette enjoying the scandal for too much. “ –Isn’t little Eve d’Argenteuil the dark horse? Who knew all this time she was having a mad affair with a singer! If only my dear husband Vivonne could be here to to witness such a touching scene-”
“Be quiet!” snapped Athenais.
“What’s going on? Why did you snap at Toinette like that?” Gabi hissed under her breath to her sister.
“I think I’ve just done something terrible to our dear brother and there’s no way to rectify it.” Athenais’s face was pale underneath her mask. “I thought she was in love with him-“

“Ghislain, what are you doing here? I never thought I would see you again-“ she looked up at him shyly. “ I missed you so much, my love-“
“I needed to talk to you, so I begged Monsieur Lully to let me have my old role back, just for one night. Just so I could see you-”
“My love! You’ve come back to me at last-“
He stepped back from her, looking worried. “You’re not going to like this, Evie-“
“Why not? I love you so much and I know you feel the same way. You wouldn’t have said that poem to me, poured out your feeling in such sweet verse to me. I need you, Ghislain-“
“Eve, please-“
“No, listen. I’m so sorry I lied to you. I should have told you the truth about me and my past a long time ago. I just wanted to be happy. With you. After all the years of unhappiness and misery married to Nick. Can you understand that?”
“It’s impossible-” he said bitterly.
“Can you not forgive me?” she said quietly, her voice full of pain.
“Oh Nightingale, I forgave you a long time ago-“ he said softly, tenderly kissing the nape of her neck before moving away from her. “–I couldn’t cast you from my heart, no matter how hard I tried.”
“Then what’s the matter? Why are you withdrawing from me? Please, we can work this out. Don’t leave me here alone in this gilded jungle.”
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I should just come out with it. I’m engaged to be married by summer’s end. My father has arranged the match-”
“What?” she stepped back “This can’t be true. No Ghislain, this can’t be true-“ she was shaking.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Eve.”
“Who is she?” she said calmly, trying to keep rein of her surging emotions.
“My father expects me to marry the girl and hers insists upon it. He treated her most brutally until she agrees.”
“You feel honour bound to marry the girl-” Eve said flatly.
“How did you know?” he said.
“I know you, my love. And I know exactly how your father works. There must be a damned good reason why you feel you can’t back out of the agreement. What did he do? Did he make you sleep with the girl once you were betrothed?”
Although she had hit upon the problem with some precision, he couldn’t say it, not to hurt her so thoroughly. He just looked at her with those sloe-dark eyes begging her understand the position he was in.
“He did, didn’t he? He made you fuck her-” she said bluntly; drawing back appalled at Narcisse’s dupicity and cunning. Damn him and his interfering!
“Do you-Do you love her now? Is that what you’re saying to me? That this is truly goodbye?”
“I owed you the truth. After all we have been to each other, for the sake of our relationship and what once was-“
“Do you love her, Ghis? Please tell me the truth-“
“I don’t want to hurt her. She didn’t ask to be embroiled in my father’s plots. She at least is innocent-”
“But she got you and I am left alone with only the memory of your kiss to console me-“
He raised her face to his, kissing away her tears. “Eve, she doesn’t want me. And I don’t want anyone else but you-”
“Why are you telling me this?” she said shaking her head, pulling away from him. “Are you just trying to twist the blade further in? Crush my heart to pulp even further?-”
“She wanted to be a nun. Her father held a poker to her neck and branded her until she agreed to the match. That’s the kind of men he and my father are. Brutes. They practically stood over us until we did the deed. How can I desert her now, after I have dishonoured her?”
He held her as she wept in his arms, realising the futility of their love. “I will never feel the same about her as I do about you, Eve. I know that. Every night I dream about you and wake up tormented knowing that it’s just that: a dream. I should never have walked away from you. You tried to tell me the truth at last and I should have listened to you, not run back to my father. I have lost you through my own stupid pride.”

(from Chapter 14: De Louvois meets an Enemy)

“Come in-”called Athenais idly. She wouldn’t bother getting dressed, not when she was so upset about Louis and his antics with the Scorailles slut. Every time she thought about him and that girl she felt a hot sick swoop of anger. How dare he humiliate her like that!
She froze as she saw Monsieur de Louvois enter the room looking marvellously incongruous against her rich furnishings chosen specifically to highlight her blonde voluptuous beauty.
What did he want here. He must know I can’t stand him. Never have, never will. She shivered with unconcious dislike as she felt his dark gaze on her.
“Ah Athenais, I wanted to speak to you alone.” His tone attempted to be friendly although it didn’t spread to his eyes and rang false as a cracked bell in a carillion.
“I’m busy-“
“Oh I think you have all the time in the world to talk to me, Madame de Montespan.” He said evenly watching the flush come up on her face spoiling her cream and apple blossom complexion envied and emulated by ladies of quality on both sides of the Channel.
“You heard Monsieur de Louvois, go and amuse yourself in the gardens or something. Don’t come back for a while-“ she said carelessly.
“Come on ladies- “ Gabi said swiftly. “We’ll go search for her Majesty-“
Without a word the women filed out of the room with dubious looks towards the minister. Everyone knew there was little love lost between them.What could he want with her, that she wouldn’t want them to hear? They were torn between wanting to stay to hear the scandal and see the battle; her famed sarcastic witticisms versus his brute strength and irredeemable rudeness. It was sure to be an epic battle and they were going to miss it!
“What does he want?” mouthed Gabi to Athenais as she left.
She shrugged eloquently as if to say : ”How am I meant to know?”

“Thank God, they were discreet enough to leave at your bidding. You look terrible, Athenais, there’s no sugar coating the pill-“. There was no a shred of sympathy in his coarse loud voice. She shuddered at the assault on her delicate ears.
“What do you want, Monsieur de Louvois?” she replied not hiding the belligerence from her voice. “I’m sure you didn’t come here to insult me in my own apartments. Even you cannot be that petty?”
De Louvois had a smug self-satisfied look on his face which did not bode well.
“Well, Monsieur de Louvois, don’t keep me waiting!”
“I understand how distraught you must be now that you are about to be deposed. Such an unpleasant feeling. You probably need all the loyal friends you can get-“ his voice oozed insincerity like slime. She actually felt sullied listening to him.
“Where did you get that from? It seems you are misinformed, my dear Monsieur-“ she said in her haughtiest voice, summoning up the fabled Mortemart pride and arrogance.
The cruelty in his dark smile intensified. The arrogant little shit is enjoying every minute of this. How had he found out about anyway about Louis’s fling with Angelique? She refused adamantly to think of it as anything more permanent.
He’ll tire of the brainless idiot and he’ll come back. The trouble would be if everyone at court knew of her weakness. I cannot allow that. If they think I am vulnerable...well I can’t bear to think of it. Wolves would be kinder to their prey than this bunch of preening vicious courtiers, jealous snivelling bastards to a man or woman. I will not allow them to rip me apart, not while I have any strength left.
“Oh no, Madame I assure I am very well informed. When one is privileged enough to be in the inner circle...lucky enough to recieve personal and private meetings with the King on a regular basis-“
“I can see Louis any time I wish!” she declared voice full of bravado.
He looked distinctly unimpressed at her posturing and her heart sank. It’s going to be damn difficult to bluff this one out.
“Really. That’s not what I hear from Monsieur de Noailles?”
Her aristocratic beautiful face wore a scornful expression. “That pathetic little jobsworth! The man takes his job way too seriously!”
Louvois enjoyed reproving her. “He only does what his Majesty orders him to. In every respect. Had you ever considered that?” She could hear the blunt mockery in his voice, the singular lack of respect. Has my star fallen so low already? That this jumped up parvenu can insult me so readily?
“Say what you mean, de Louvois. I’m not a fool-“ she said as bluntly as him all feminine artifice and tantrums vanished. This was not a time to play genteel and civilised games. Not with her position at stake.
He leaned closer to her. She had to force herself not to show weakness and move away in horror despite the fact she knew he was unabashedly leering at her generous, voluptuous curves in her loose dishabille. Disgusting crass creature, staring down her loose neckline like she was a piece of meat, some poulet off the street. I’d have him flogged for insubordinence if I could.
“I know all about your trips to la Voisin. The potions and philtres you spend a fortunes on to restore the royal ardour. God knows , it seems to have flagged of late. Funny that Angelique doesn’t seem to have the same problem-“
“I have no need to hear what Angelique’s problems are!” she snapped, goaded beyond endurance by his sordid bitchy insinuations.
“Indeed, the poor girl complains that Louis’s appetite is well nigh insatiable. It’s a pity you no longer have the same power over him. Perhaps she would be kind enough to provide some pointers for you?”
“Please leave the room, sir. This conversation is over. Good day-“ she said mustering up all the dignity she could, her fair face drained of colour and life.
He laughed at her, his malice finally fully unsheathed.
“Over. It’s not nearly over, believe me, Athenais-”
“Your accusations are completely groundless. I have never bought any substances from la Voisin or whatever the outlandish woman’s name is. And I would never feed the King unknown substances without his consent. What a preposterous idea!”
“Deny it all you want Madame, you and I know better.”
“You cannot accuse me of wicked and evil things when you have no proof I am involved. What, are you going to report me to the Chambre Ardente for having my palm read by a fortune teller as a joke months back? Why not arrest evey single woman at court then? Including the poor Queen herself-“
“I don’t need to report you. If I wished, I could drag you before the Chambre Ardente right now. Torture you until you told me anything I wanted to know and believe me in that desperate situation, you’d say anything. Just to make the pain stop-” His voice fell to a treacle thick whisper as he poured his particular brand of poison in her ear. “The Chambre Ardente is my investigation. His Majesty entrusted it to me-“
“-And Monsieur de la Reynie? The incorruptible? Even you’d have a hard time buying him off-”
The smirk widened. “My keen and willing stooge, my lady. He’ll do exactly what I tell him. For the good of the investigation of course-“
She tried to ignore the fear unfurling at the pit of her belly, tossing her famed golden curls defiantly. “Your tactics are as crude as you are, Sir. You don’t intimidate me. I have nothing to hide and you’re going to have to assemble a lot more than innuendo to indict me, Monsieur de Louvois. Good luck with that-“
“Defiant aren’t you? I’m so going to enjoy bringing your family down. You and those insufferable Mancini sisters. All those years you thought you were untouchable. Your family, why you think that no one in France is as grand as you! Gabi even call his majesty a merchant and a parvenu, doesn’t she?”
“It’s a joke between her and his Majesty! He knows she is only jesting, he takes no offence to it. Why do you?”
Louvois fixed a mean eye on her. “I head the investigation, Madame. Don’t forget it, will you? You can expect no mercy from me if this ever goes to trial. So my advice to you is get back into the King’s good books, by whatever means you can.”
He had his hand on the door when he suddenly stopped and watched her closely. Athenais flinched like his continued presence was a drill to the nerves. “Yes?” she snapped.
“Eve is a very observant girl. Clever, intelligent girl isn’t she? Must have put your nose a little out of joint when she returned, I would imagine.”
What fresh hell is this? Does this man not know when to stop?
“She’s great friends with Gabi and a pleasant enough girl. I have no problem with her. Why are you saying this? “
“Just one last thought before I leave you, Athenais-“
“Eve is one of us.” She said hotly. “ She was my dear cousin Nicolas’s wife and she is a part of the Mortemart clan by marriage. She is loyal to Gabi and loyal to me. Don’t even start trying to foment discord between us all, it won’t work!”
“You think she is loyal to you? Really?” he smirked maddeningly. She had to strongly suppress an urge to strike him.
“Of course. I have no reason not to trust her. Especially since she knows she owes her current high favour to Gabi and I-“
“Really ? You think that of her? Athenais, I had no idea you were so trusting. Ask yourself a few hard questions Madame. Why did Eve come back to Versailles now? She stayed away from the place for years. She lived a quiet life. She didn’t need to come back to curry favour, yet she did. “
“What are you trying to say? She’s been giving you information? On me? She’s the ‘Ange de Feu’, is she? Little gentle harmless Evie?” mocked Athenais. “Monsieur de Louvois, I fear the investigation has turned you paranoid and you see spies and intrigues everywhere-“
“I’m not making an allegation. I’m merely putting out a few facts and leaving them out there so you can use your fabled Mortemart wit and intelligence to come up with a solution that fits. Good day, Madame-“
With an ironic courtly flourish , he finally left.
Athenais collapsed onto her chaise longue, wearied by the strain of dealing with de Louvois. How can one man be so utterly repellent and rude?
“Hateful man!” she sighed, reaching for bottle of brandy even though it was barely midday.

 

from Chapter 15: The Defrocked Priest

It had been a long time since he’d felt the urge so strongly to hunt. The lust for blood , which lay dormant beneath the surface, which he tried so hard to control was winning the fight with his conscience.
He kept to the shadows, following the man down the alleyway hunger surging up within him.
One taste of that sweet tempting blood, that’s all I crave. I promise I won’t drain him.
He knew despite his earnest pleas with his reason that he was lying to himself. He needed the hunt, the kill more desperately than he had for a long while. He could almost taste it on his tongue, rich thick and sweet like broth.
Stop it Jonah. You don’t lack self-discipline and control. You promised De la Reynie you could do this. Don’t betray him and his trust!
Ah, but you need to feed somehow tonight Jonah before you go to la Voisin’s again. Imagine the trouble if you were tempted again by Marie-Marguerite! It doesn’t help that she throws herself in my path at every opportunity. What does that girl want? He hoped she hadn’t developed a fixation on him. He could imagine what Cara would have to say about that. Probably tell him to stop moping about the unattainable Eve and take her, drain her dry.
You’re addicted, Jonah. You shouldn’t have indulged yourself on the boat, Before if you had to you could done without the blood. I don’t know if I can do that anymore. What if one day I can’t control my lust for the blood? For that is what it is, lust.
Stalking the man on his way to La Voisin, waiting for him to lose concentration , make a mistake. I sense he is an evildoer but I can’t justify my own lust for his blood by telling myself that.
The man stopped in the shadows, watching the young lad walking back home late at night. From the darkness Jonah saw him reach into his breeches, stroking himself to completion, muttering obscenities to himself.
Disgusting bastard. Jonah thought. I sensed it , but I didn’t know. Now I feel no guilt about what I have to do. I promised De la Reynie that I would only feed on the wicked ones. This man has preyed on his last innocent.
The man struggled as he found Jonah’s cold pale hand clamped firmly over his mouth. He couldn’t move, couldn’t struggle.
“What were you planning for that one?” he said, a hiss of malevolence in the man’s ear. “Speak well, if you want mercy-“
“Who are you?” the man spat aggressively. ”None of your business!”
“I can do this the hard way, or you can tell me the truth-“
“I’ll tell you nothing-“
“Very well, if that’s the way it must be. You leave me no choice-” Jonah broke into his mind, sifting through the memories and emotions in his jumbled mind.
Wickedness. A strange compulsion that led him out of his respectable house to spy on young defenceless lads and to gain sordid sexual satisfaction before murdering them and getting rid of the bodies in the calm placid waters of the Seine. The guilt that his compulsion was taking over his life, impinging on his everyday life. Spiralling ever further down into more murder, more sin.
“You disgust me.” Jonah said into his victim’s ear. “Tell me why I should deign to spare your miserable life.”

from chapter 17 : The Last Days of Madame

The court waited by the harbour for the royal ship to pull in with Madame. No one was more anxious to see her than the King himself and Eve.
“The ship, was meant to be here at least three hours ago. The weather is fine what can have happened to them?” Eve almost thought he was fretting, he was so agitated.
“Sire-“
“He’s a slippery bastard, but if anyone can get him to sign the treaty, it’s her-“ he muttered. “ I have laboured long and hard over the agreement and all I want is Charles’s consent. I’m paying him enough cash for the privilege-”

At last the boat pulled into the harbour. As they let down the gangplank and the passengers slowly started to disembark to rejoin the court, the band started to play their welcoming song.
Minette looked very frail as she stepped off the boat. The crowd gasped as she seemed to stumble on the gangplank, being saved from a vicious fall by one of the guards.
“Dear God, what’s happened to her? Poor woman, she doesn’t look good at all-“ Gabi said appalled at her appearance. “All the colour gone from her cheeks, she’s lost so much weight, which the poor woman could ill afford to lose-“
“I see the air of her native country didn’t have a good effect on her, as she promised. I’m to be pitied being shackled to a sickly mewling hag like that. Perhap that prediction , I shall marry more than once may indeed come true and sooner than one might think-” Phillipe bitched to his mincing cronies who cackled at his meanspirited jibes.
“That’s uncalled for, Monsieur-“ said Athenais to everyone’s suprise. She was the first one at court to subject anyone great or humble to her witticisms, sharpening the claws of her razor sharp wit , to laugh heartily at other’s misfortune. “She really does look ill-“
Minette had always been slim and petite; it was part of her famed charm that captivated the nation along with her kind heart and elegant intelligent wit. To see her drawn thin face with it’s unnatural pallor accented with the rouge she had attempted to apply to hide her obvious illness was heartbreaking.
The band which had prepared a jaunty song of welcome for her petered out as she made her way painfully slowly to her coach. Through the window of the coach Eve saw her close her eyes and wince as if in immense pain. She clutched at her side, breathing heavily through her mouth to control the agony. As soon as she realised that the eyes of the public were still on her, she tried for a gracious smile and wave but in all honesty, it looked more like a grimace.

When they got back to Saint-Cloud, Madame went straight to bed, too ill to manage her usual salon. Eve hovered in concern until Louise took pity on her.
“Madame d’ Argenteuil, I know she’s resting but you’re worried I can tell. I’ll ask whether you can briefly go in to see her-”
“What happened to her?” Eve asked. “ She was so happy to go back to her homeland at last. It was the only thing that was keeping her going. Now she has returned and-“
“She looks terrible. Let us not mince words, Madame d’Argenteuil. The pain has sapped her delicate beauty, her will to live.”
“It’s sad, so sad-“
“I know. She was so happy. We all had such a marvellous time in Dover-“. Louise’s plump cheeks flushed furiously and she cast her dark eyes to the ground in embarassment.
Obviously Louise had a bit of a holiday intrigue, by the looks of it. Thought Eve.
“As the days went on , and the date for us to finally return approached she just got more miserable and unhappy. She stopped eating no matter what delicious food was prepared to tempt her appetite, was crying all the time-”
“She was in despair?” Eve said.
I know exactly how that feels. That terrible feeling that death would be better than another day scrabbling for survival in a hostile world. Oh Minette, if only I could help you, if only I could help you get away from Monsieur and his petty cruelties.
“When we departed, it was so sad. His Majesty her brother didn’t want to let her go back to France. She didn’t want to go either. They parted three times before he was finally able to let her go, and they both wept passionately. The French ambassador said quite seriously that he didn’t think that Charles was capable of such depth of feeling-”
“His Majesty Charles is a kind man. I will never forget how he helped me throught some of the worst periods of my life. And he loves his little sister as he has never loved anyone else. He will be heartbroken to hear of her illness.”
“You know him well? Very well?” Louise fixed her beady black eyes on her, radiating suspicion. Eve suddenly felt under surveillance. It wasn’t very pleasant.
“I spent many years at the English court. I associated with him and Queen Catherine day after day. Of course I know him-“ she replied evenly.
“But nothing happened between you, did it?”
How did we get on to this subject all of a sudden? Could she be jealous of me for knowing Charles. But why? Surely not, surely she hasn’t got herself involved with him!
“No! I told you we were nothing more than friends. I couldn’t have done that to Queen Catherine, even if he saw me that way which he didn’t I hasten to add. She was one of the truest friends a woman could have-“
“I heard tell he has a nude picture of you and Lord Rochester in his bedchamber. Most scandalously erotic. That’s what all the court ladies told me.”
“You can blame my dear late husband Nick for that. He hardly sought permission before painting me like that. It was very shameful-“ she flushed in rembrance of her humiliation at court.
Louise almost seemed to enjoy her discomfort with a wicked malevolent smile which was like a stilleto to her heart.“They still talk about you and the scandals you used to get yourself embroiled in, you know. Adultery, suspected murder-“
“I’m sure they do.” Eve said icily, not wishing to be reminded of her past at present. “But right now, I’m concerned about Madame so if you don’t mind-“
She swept past the lady-in waiting.

Madame lay against the pristine white sheets of her bed, her famed lily and jasmine complexion appearing gray, unhealthy and sallow. As she looked at the dark circles under her eyes and the sharp fine bones of her face thrown into sharp relief by her drastic weight loss, Eve saw what they had meant by her beauty had been drained by the illness.
“Madame-“ she murmured kneeling at the foot of the bed in obesiance.
She fixed dull blue eyes on Eve, as if she was having trouble focusing. “Eve? Evie d’Argenteuil, is that you?”
“Dearest Minette, I’ve been so worried about you! What’s happening?”
“I don’t know!” she said in a thin fretful voice. ”I’m in so much pain. I try to hide it, it wouldn’t do for a Princess of the blood to scream in agony, but...” she patted Eve on the hand trying to comfort her as her friend’s tears dropped down her face. “Evie, don’t cry for me.”
“I can’t bear to see you in such pain-“
“-And I can’t bear to see you weep, my dearest friend. We must bear this as we can, mustn’t we?” she said with a tiny flash of that wit and joie de vivre which had entranced the court in happier days.
“Oh Madame, I thought that going back home would be happy for you. To finally see your brother after all these years-“
Minette gave her a faint wistful smile. “Dear Charles- you know the only thing that makes me truly sad is that I wil have to leave him behind when I go. I don’t know if he will bear it. He asked after you, you know-“
“I am honoured, Madame-“
“Yes. Gave me a strange message to give to you. He was very insistent about it.”
“Please don’t strain yourself. Conserve your health, Minette-“
“He said...what was it? ‘Tell Evie that the ‘Fiery Angel’ and her dark knight must not get trapped in the mist. They must avenge me. What did he mean by that?”
Eve looked at her friend and decided to take the risk. “The reason I came back to court. Louis wanted me to spy on people he suspects of poisoning and murder. I have to listen to their secrets, their fears and their desires and if they are dangerous I pass the information to Monsieur De la Reynie-“
“You’re the ‘Ange de Feu’. Everyone guesses and talks, but no one knows the truth. It makes perfect sense now-“ she said.
“It’s very dangerous work. No one must know my true allegiances or it will go very badly with me-“ Eve warned.
“It’s a good work. I only wish that I had enough time...to help you. Perhaps after my death I can...no , don’t cry Evie. If I can’t do this-“ Minette tried to sit up in bed. “Come closer, and listen carefully Eve.”
She brought her mouth close to her ear. “I have a memoir. A secret one. I’ve been keeping it for years, all the intrigues and secrets people tell me. No one knows of it’s existence. I wrote it in code, in English. Uncle Rupert taught me it as a girl, and I will give you the key. Use the information to catch these people.”
“I don’t know what to say-“
“I will leave you a casket in my will. You must get hold of it and the key then crack the code. Just-“ she hesitated for a moment.
“What is it?” Eve asked anxiously.
“When you read it, try not to think badly of me. I was no saint and made many mistakes in my youth.”
Eve was surprised at her friend’s wistful statement. “Why would I judge you? I have made many myself and you are a princess of the blood.“
Louise came in with the Comtesse de la Fayette and narrowed her eyes at the intimate little conference the friends were having.
“Are you still in there, Eve? Her Majesty is ill, and it’s not right to take up so much of her time when she is in ill-health.”
“Go, and remember what I have said, Eve!”
She nodded , leaving the room with a curtsey. “Madame-“

The heat of the summer’s day was getting to Madame badly. In a couple of moments she was drenched in sweat seeping through the thin eau de nil satin of her dress. Despite the heat she was still frantically shivering.
“I’m burning up!” she murmured through cracked chapped lips, caked with rouge. “May I have a glass of iced chicory water?”
The maid swiftly got up to do her bidding. “Of course, Ma’am.”
“You’ve not been overdoing it, have you Madame? You did insist on that midnight stroll in the garden and that bath-“
“I needed that bath. I felt so damned grimy especially in that heat.” She took a large gulp of the chicory water to assuage her thirst.
“I hate this stifling heat. Like swimming underwater-“
The cup dropped from her hand. Madame went almost grey and she reeled.
“Madame! Look to Madame!”
She was clutching her side, convulsing in pain. For a moment she didn’t seem to know where she was. She sank to the floor , hand frantically clawing at her side , rending the satin into shreds under her desperate fingertips.
“What’s happening? What’s happening to her?” Phillipe panicked.
The maid who had just handed her the chicory water was trembling with fear, sobbing hysterically to anyone who’d listen. “I drank some of the chicory water and my friend did too! I haven’t done anything! I swear I haven’t!”
“Get her inside. We need the doctor immediately-“ said the Comtesse de la Fayette sensibly taking charge.
“No doctors. Those quacks can’t save me. It’s poison!” she rasped.
“What’s she saying? She must think she’s back in England.” Phillipe’s dark features were drained pale with horror at his wife’s sudden suffering.
Eve’s face was pale in shock. “She thinks she’s been poisoned, Monsieur.”
“Get her inside, we must have the doctor. There’s no time to lose. He can start the bleeding straight away.”
“Eve, help me carry her in. Can you ride Armand?” the comtesse turned to the comte de Guiche.
“Yes, certainly-“ he said gallantly.
“Ride for Versailles and tell the King and the rest of the court to hurry here. Madame is dying!”
When the Comte de Guiche arrived at Versailles and launched himself into the Salon de Apollo, the rest of the court were amazed by such a breach of ettiquette. Especially from such a consummate courtier as de Guiche.
“What is the meaning of this, Monsieur de Guiche? This haste is most unbecoming and unlike you-“ the King said smoothly.
De Guiche fought for breath, having ridden to the Place at full pelt and ran all the way, closely followed by the Guards.
“Sire, he insists on seeing you immediately. He wouldn’t listen to reason-“ gasped Officer Lachanal who was in tight pursuit.
“Madame- at Saint-Cloud....she’s dying....may not last the night.”
“Dying? Madame is dying?” Louis was ashen with shock.
“Sire, please. We haven’t much time-“
Louis made a decision and took action.“Order my coach! We go post haste to Saint-Cloud!”
The courtiers sprung at once to do his bidding in silence , horror struck by the news.

“Where is she?” Louis asked Eve the moment he arrived at the chateau. Athenais hovered behind him, face pale and anxious. Angelique was wringing her hands in distress and making a nuisance of herself by snivelling until Gabi roundly told her to go and be tragic elsewhere.
“In the morning room on the couch, your Majesty. We didn’t dare try and carry her upstairs as she’s in a great deal of pain-“
“Take me to her and tell me what happened for the love of God!”
“It was hot so Madame asked for some chicory water. The maid brought it out and I and several others watched her consume it with no ill-effect. Madame took a gulp and she almost immediately collapsed in agonising pain. It was horrible. She dropped her cup underneath the tree here-“
He stopped, suddenly horrified by what she had just told him. “Eve? Do you think-“
“Sire-“ she dragged him away before he revealed their enterprise and her role in his shock.
“Do you think this is poison?” he said holding her in a firm grasp. “Tell me truthfully, Eve-“
“I don’t know yet, my Lord. Benoit is gathering evidence right now. He has the bottle of chicory essence and he’s questioning the maid. So far she’s claiming innocence.-“
“That means nothing. Oh God, I never thought they’d dare strike her down.”
“They, sire?”
His face darkened. “I want to tell me the truth even if you think it will anger me. Do you think that ...” he struggled to go on, recoiling at the traitorous thought himself. “That Monsieur might be involved. He disliked her intensely-“
“Monsieur was just as shocked as everyone else at her sudden decline. He has not the skill to play a role, not at a time like this. I really don’t think he is involved. Truly Sire-“
“Do you think that one of his minions-“ his face twisted in disgust. “ –Might be involved? Even if he personally didn’t stoop so low, perhaps one of them did it to please him and he merely sneezed at it-”
Eve looked him in the eye. She passionately disliked Monsieur’s little coterie and the cruelties they’d inflicted on Madame. The handsome, vicious and venal Chevalier de Lorraine, the beautiful feckless Comte de Guiche, the Chevalier de Rohan.
But this was a serious investigation. She couldn’t allow her own personal dislikes and prejudices to influence things not when the consequences were so dire. De Louvois may use this inquiry to futher his own petty vendettas , but I will not.

The Comtesse de Layfatte poked her head round the door. “I’ve found a priest for Madame. Bossuet was absent, we’re still searching for him, but I brought Father Feuillet with me. Is that suitable, Monsieur?”
“That Jansenist!” Phillipe remarked. “I think I would rather die without the consolation of confession than have that mean spirited old buzzard attend me, but if it’s the best you could do-“
Father Feuillet’s drawn face peered at Madame, lying on the couch and biting her lip to stop herself, screaming in pain.
“What happened here?”
“Madame has been suffering from bad health since her return from England. Today she drank some chicory water and fell into a terrible decline. I fear she will not last the night-“
There was not the slightest shred of pity on the austere priest’s face as he watched her frail emciated body writhing in pain. “Offer up your pain as a suffering to our Lord, Madame-“
She looked at him with unfocused horrified eyes as he harangued her on her misfortunes. “This discomfort is a punishment sent by our Heavenly Father for the appeasement of your sins-“
“This is no place to prate about sin. Does the man have no heart? Madame doesn’t need to hear this and he would not dare speak in this fashion if the King was present-“
“If this is a punishment for my sins, then I must have been a true Messalina in life! I know that I was no saint, but I do not believe that to be true-“ she gasped, tears starting to fill her eyes.
The English Ambassador Ralph Montagu was furious with the priest. “How dare he speak this way to our Princess! The idiot should be flogged and I would be happy to oblige-“
“Hear, Hear. I never thought I’d see the day when I would agree with the English Ambassador but it seems that day has come.”
“Peace, I will speak to him if you don’t mind, Monsieur-“ Eve interceded.
“Father Feuillet, may I speak to you in the alcove please?” she said in a civil tone , but one that clearly brooked no argument. He followed her without a word.
“Madame d’Argenteuil? What do you want?” he looked down his hooked nose at her in obvious disapproval.
She didn’t care. “Father Feuillet, Madame is one of my dearest friends and she is dying before my eyes at an appallingly young age. Now is not the time to harangue her on her supposed sins!”
“You would not dare to presume to advise me on my job, Madame?”
She shook her head at his pitiless stance. “I warn you, Sir-“
“I have a job to do, and I will do it! I do not have to be lectured on morality by a court lady who in all probability is no better than she ought to be!”
Eve lost the battle to control her temper. “How dare you? I shouldn’t have to lecture you to have some pity on a dying woman!”
“I only try to do my duty under the most trying of circumstances-“ he said , drawing himself up sanctimoniously.
“You call yourself a man of God. Let me tell you sir, if you spoke that way to me on my deathbed, I would summon every last scrap of my strength and cast you from the window myself-“
“Well, I have never been spoken to like this by anyone in my entire life! It is not to be borne. Not at all-“
“Then it’s about time someone did then. I came out to speak to you for Monsieur Montagu and Monsieur le Duc both wanted you thrashed for your rudeness and insolence. If you cannot find it in your heart to afford Madame some solace in her hour of need, then perhaps you should leave-“
“Maybe I will-“ he blustered, obviously not taking her at her word.
“The door is that way, Father. I am more than capable of showing you the way in case you happen to get lost.” She gave him a tight insincere smile.
----
(from same chapter)

“Eve?”
It had barely been an hour since she had finally managed to get to sleep on this terrible day. She opened her eyes to find Adele standing over her, shaking her awake.
“What? What is it?” she mumbled, fox gold hair all mussed up and stuck haphazardly to her face. She opened her eyes blearily. Benoit stood at the foot of the bed , looking at with anxiety and almost pity she fancied in her half asleep state.
“Monsieur de Noailles waits outside. The King wants you urgently. You must go to him-“
He thrust her quilted satin dressing gown at her, which she pulled on as if in a dream.
“Did he say what he wanted?”
Benoit sighed. “He is in great distress. Eve, he needs you.”
Monsieur de Noailles looked as tired and rundown as she did when she saw him in the ante chamber. “Good. You understand how urgently we need you.”
“You do not mind I am hardly dressed?”
“We have no time for that, Madame d’Argenteuil. I am very worried about him. In truth, I have never seen him like this. Never. He asked for you in particular-“
She made up her mind. “Lead the way Monsieur de Noailles. I will do my duty.”

They padded down the secret passageways towards the Royal bedchamber, Eve silently following him. What did Louis want?Was he angry that she and Benoit had found no conclusive results and were unprepared to straight out accuse the Chevalier de Lorraine without concrete proof? Was she to receive new orders for the investigation. Was he grieving for Madame? She didn’t know.
Monsieur de Noailles knocked on the door of Louis’s bedchamber. “Sire-“
There was no answer from the chamber.
“What’s going on? Please, Monsieur de Noailles. I need to know the facts if I am to help him.”
Noailles seemed to quail as if he was unwilling to betray a hard won confidence. “His Majesty has taken the death of Madame very hard indeed. He weeps, he reproaches himself. He cannot be consoled. I worry, Madame d’Argenteuil. I worry about his state of mind.”
“Sire?” she said hesitantly. “Louis, please, it’s Eve. Let me help you.”
In the silence she looked at Noailles. “What shall I do?” she mouthed.
“Comfort him. By whatever means necessary-“
Noailles opened the door and gave her a push in the small of her back into the bed room. “No one will judge you for your actions, Eve. No one will know, I promise. Try and help him in his grief , if you can.”

Louis looked up at her dully, tears streaming down his face. Eve was shocked by the intensity of his mourning. It was strange to see him, normally so powerful and in control showing her weakness.
“Sire?” she stepped forward. “Please talk to me. I cannot bear to see you in such distress-“
She felt incredibly protective of him all of a sudden. “Oh my lord-“ she breathed, cradling him close in her arms.
She felt the press on his body against hers, seeking comfort from her motherly embrace.
“She’s gone. How can I live without her?”
Let him him talk . He’s obviously in some distress over Madame’s death and I cannot let anyone else see him like this. I wonder why de Noailles thought I should be the one to comfort him?
“Talk to me, my Lord. Sometimes , it’s best to let it out . Talk about it with someone you can trust.” She coaxed, trying to encourage him to open up to her.
“It ‘s a long story, Eve-“
She gave him a gentle smile to reasssure him. “I will stay with you as long as you want me to. I will listen. Please, my Lord-“
“This is a story in which I do not appear well. I was a young fool and I paid the price . We both did.”
“When I first knew Madame, I was a young Prince who wanted for nothing and she was a dispossessed Princess , torn from her native land and little more than a pauper dependent on charity from my family.
I remember one time my mother went to visit hers-poor tragic Queen! The family were in bed during the day and we all found it strange. Queen Henriette told us they were very ill and to excuse them for not receiving us properly.”
Eve knew this story, having been told it in confidence by Minette years ago. “You weren’t to know what bad straits they were in, Sire. She never held it against you-“
“They were so poor, they stayed in bed for warmth and for shame that their clothing was little more than ill-fitting rags. That was no way to treat a fellow Royal family. No way at all-“

“My mother took pity on them and used to invite them to court, allowing her to participate in the masques . She was a tiny little thing, looked like a child for so long. I remember once I refused to dance with her; foolish proud little Prince that I was because I didn’t want to be seen to dance with a child. I snubbed her for Laure Mazarin. She was crushed , I know it.”
“You didn’t mean to hurt her, Sire. Please try and forgive yourself-“
Lost in his reminiscence, he scarcely seemed to hear her. “I never knew that I would fall in love with her, but by then it would be to late. I was promised to Marie-Therese of Spain and by then her brother had regained his throne, with little thanks to me and she had been promised in marriage to my brother.”
“They were a bad match, but it couldn’t be helped, Sire-“ Eve said sadly.
“If only I hadn’t been a fool in those early days. She would have made a worthy Queen of France, unlike poor Marie-Therese and I could have loved her with all my heart . As I have done ever since. You knew of this?-“ he said, surprised at her acceptance of his words.
“We were friends, we spoke of many things and I was prepared to keep her secrets as she did mine.”
“That glorious summer , so long ago. You were there, you’d just married Nick and come to court, innocent as a new hatched chick and totally unprepared for this new and glittering world. That was a another terrible match. He was no good for you, anyone could see that.”
“ I loved her and I didn’t care who knew it. We were both so rash in love, heel over heels for each other”
“That was the summer you started to fall for Louise-“
“Poor Louise. I wronged her too. Led her astray and plunged her into sin , but I wouldn’t give her up. She was just meant to be the decoy, but it got out of hand. I couldn’t help falling for her and I hurt Minette to the quick. But she always remained my truest servant. My true love-“
“Did you ever-“
He looked at her, without words.
“You did?” she breathed. “ Did Monsieur ever find out the truth of your feelings for her?”

“He was terribly jealous. All his life he’s had to play second fiddle to me, play the role of spolit feckless prince when I know he has talents that I dare not allow to give him free reign. I remember too well from my mother’s stories the trouble my Uncle Gaston caused my father during his reign. Now I made him play second fiddle in his own marriage. I had no choice but to ruin his life, Minette’s life, even my own."
She held him in her arms, cradling him as he wept.
“Weep, sire. You don’t have to be proud and all powerful with me-“ she said softly.
He looked into her eyes a finger tracing the outline of her mouth. The air charged with desire and expectation round them.
“Eve-“ His kiss was so gentle it almost didn’t register at first.
She saw the need, the longing in his eyes How I can I refuse him, at a time like this? Confronted with Death, perhaps it was only natural for him to seek something that reaffirmed his vitality , that he was still alive.
“Eve, be kind-“ he murmured in between the kisses he lavished on her bare flesh. “ –just for tonight. I need you-“
“Sire-“
He held a finger to her mouth, with a small shake of his head. “Louis. Just Louis-“
----
The doctors huddled round the slab set up in the room for the autopsy. The Princess’s body lay there looking tiny and even more childlike then in life. It was hard to believe that just two months previously Minette had been full of gaiety and her irrepressible laugh would no longer be heard.
Benôit and Eve sat at their vantage point trying to ignore the palpable resentment of the doctors. They did not appreciate the fact that lay persons like them had been allowed to observe and maybe criticise their arcane procedures. As for allowing Eve, a humble woman to be part of that party, well to Doctor Babin’s mind it was not to be borne! His Majesty had insisted, claiming that she was an important part of the investigation into Madame’s demise and would not listen to any protests to the contrary.
The surgeon made the first incision in a long line down the body.
“Faugh! What is that smell?” exclamined Benôit to Eve who turned her head away from the body to prevent herself from being sick at the insupportable stink coming from the body.
“This is bad-“ tutted one doctor as he examined the viscera, pulled out for examination by the other doctors. They murmured in agreement.
“Bad? What’s the matter? Madame only died a couple of days ago. There’s no way the body should be in such an advanced state of putrefaction now-“ Benôit said.
“The gut has been corroded in three separate places. Do you see here-“ Doctor Babin pointed at the blackened gut with the fine tip of his scapel.”-here and especially here? It’s almost as if it’s been burnt away, the damage is so extensive.”
Eve’s face looked on in horror, realising the true nature of her best friend’s plight and feeling sickened at the pain and suffering she must have endured. “She must have been in so much pain. Poor Minette-“
“Yes, especially, as damage like this has got to have occured over a long period of time; months, maybe years. There’s no way that this is the work of a single dose or even a couple of doses.” added Doctor Abadié.
Benôit was disgusted. “Madame was poisoned over a course of years?”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure of this, I’m afraid. I realise you were a friend of the deceased . Seeing this must distress you greatly, Madame d’Argenteuil.”
“What would have caused damage like this, sir?” Eve asked bravely facing the facts.
Doctor Babin looked at the woman appraisingly. He hadn’t approved of her being present , but she was handling the situation quite well so far. No hysterics. Calm and logical, asking the right questions, examining the facts. “It is my professional opinion that this is due to a mixture of caustic elements introduced to her food and drink and a low dose course of cantharides administered over a course of months at a time.”
“Cantharides? Introduced into her food and drink?”
“Whoever did this to her had access to her food and drink for a long time either as a servant or employing one of her servants to work for them right under the nose of her husband and the King. I suspect the final collapse was brought on by a dose of the Tofana poison by which time Madame ‘s system was far too weak to withstand it.”
“It was premediated? Someone added Spanish fly to her food and drink on a long term basis?”
Doctor Babin looked grave. “Yes, I fear so.”
Eve looked horrified. “How do we tell the King of this? King Charles will have to be informed. He will be furious. It could cause a grave international incident with our ally, England. If this gets out to the general public, it will cause a tremendous scandal. Madame was well loved by the populace. They’re already up in arms about the Brinvillers case and the Pennautier allegations-“
“You’re absolutely sure of your verdict?” Benôit urged. “The consequences are dire. Madame does not exaggerate the importance of the correct verdict here.”
The doctor was grave. “ I would stake my career on it, Monsieur Courtois. This is a clear case of death by poison.”
-----
When Phillipe entered the room to face his brother’s cold silent regard, he was terrified for the first time in ages. Louis didn’t speak to him or acknowledge his presence in any way, merely looked at him with eyes of scorn and revulsion. It made him feel unclean and guilty.
“Sire, my brother , what is the matter? I received orders to come and see you right away.”
Louis didn’t answer.
“My Lord?” Phillipe started to get scared of him, privately wondering whether he had lost all reason.
“My brother-“ he said
“I do not know in what way I have displeased you-“ Phillipe started.
“You don’t, Phillipe?” There was no mistaking the ice in his regal voice.
“No, Sire-“
“I want to ask you a question and I want you to answer me truthfully , on pain of death-“
“Death?” Phillipe echoed going pale under his paint. “ Why do you talk of such terrible things, Louis?”
“Did you poison your wife? Did you murder Minette, Phillipe?”
“What? No, Louis I did not. I know we did not get on , but I didn’t, I wouldn’t do such a thing-“ cried Phillipe sickened to the gut. Did his own brother believe the malicious rumours circulating round the court? Everyone thought that he was deaf to the whispers, that he couldn’t sense the curious malevolent glances, the ghoulish curiousity of the courtiers, all convinced of his guilt.
With a hissed curse Louis towered over him, his silver topped ebony cane in hand.“You worthless piece of dirt-“ he gripped the cane as if about to strike.
Fear made him bold loosening his tongue to say things he wouldn’t have dared to say before.
“You think I did it? That we plotted against her. How can you think such evil of me?”
“You are wicked. To the core. I always knew it, Phillipe.”
“This isn’t about Minette at all. This is about you and what you truly think about what I am. You are ashamed of me.”
“Yes, I am.” He breathed so quietly Phillipe nearly didn’t hear him.
“Did it never occur to you that I am what you and our mother made me?” Phillipe said bitterly. “The pretty little thing, clad in silks and jewels, twittering about fashion and frivolities? It wouldn’t have done to bring up a brother who might one day become a rival or a threat like Uncle Gaston.”
“I made you into this monster?” he said incredulously.
He would probably get hanged for sedition treason or worse after this Louis was in the grip of such a murderous passion , so what was the point of holding back anymore?
“From a young age, you knew how I was brought up. And while it suited you , you didn’t object to what was done. How can you say I am a monster? I see your heart now, brother and it is as black as you allege mine to be-“
Louis was amazed that Phillipe dared to speak back to him. At a time like this. He would never would have had the bravado to say such things before!
“I see you have many things on your mind brother. Feel free to unburden yourself.” He said coldly.
If Phillipe had been wiser and kept a cooler head he would have kept silent and been wary of the danger. He was too angry to heed it now.
“Then you must know that your grief over Minette is seen by many as excessive, frankly. Your tears, embracing her as she was dying. People talk most maliciously, and how does it look if you are constanyly standing in my light? I am the widower here in case you forget.”
“My grief for Minette is excessive?” Louis said dangerously. “I loved her.”
“I loved her as well!” He cried thoroughly above himself. “ You forget that, my brother.”
Louis laughed bitterly. It was a horrible hollow sound. “Phillipe , that was for two weeks maximum by your own admission. I hardly think it counts.”
“She was my wife.”
“What about the Chevalier de Lorraine? Your true love? The Marquis d’Effiat? Are you as convinced of their innocence, Phillipe. Did they feed her poison?”
Phillipe flushed with confusion. He could feel his hands tremble and he shoved them in his pockets to hide his fear.
“I asked you a question, Phillipe.” His brother’s voice was like a cruel whiplash on his soft pampered skin.
He couldn’t speak, pleading with his implacable brother to have some mercy on him. How could he ask him to incriminate the man he loved? He couldn’t live without the Chevalier, he must know that.
“I will ask you again, Phillipe. Did he do it? Was this foul and heinous act done by your orders?”
The tears started to fill his dark eyes. “I – I can’t.”
“If I thought that you and he were involved, I would drag you to the scaffold by your hair ribbons and tighten the noose around your neck myself.”

Hidden in the alcove Eve listened appalled at the bitter things the royal brother said to one another. Thank God , she’d had the presence of mind to ask Louis whether she could be in the room yet concealed. She stared in horror as Louis had taken his cane and nearly struck his brother in anger.
“Benoit!” she hissed into the other room.
“Yes, Madame?”
“Summon Monsieur de Noailles and Monsieur Lachanal here. I fear this interview has got way out of hand.”

“Go on, do it! Strike me! You believe the worst of me. You want to wreck your vengeance on me, so kill me-“
“No, don’t do it!” Eve cried putting herself between Louis and his terrified brother. “Please don’t hurt him, Sire!”
Louis fixed crazed eyes on her as if he didn’t know her in his fury. A chill ran down her back as a spike of fear uncurled in her belly. For a terrible moment she feared that he would direct his anger towards her, strike her in his stead. A long dormant terror awoke within her as she remembered Peter Nash’s unreasoning rages.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t do it! He murdered Minette in cold blood. For months and years. You heard what the doctors said. They were feeding the woman poison. Killing her slowly and surely.”
“He is your brother! You are angry and you suspect him of terrible things, but he isn’t the guilty one and you know it in your heart.”
He shook her in a fury. “Why do you defend him, Eve?” he was nearly shouting in her face. His kingly visage flushed with rage.“You hate him. You hated what he did to your beloved mistress. How can you bear to speak for him?”
She trembled, rigid with fear but she stood her ground. “I want justice for her. Your Majesty spilling his blood unjustly will not bring her back. And he is your brother. You love him.”
“He is protecting his mignon, that foul wretch de Lorraine-“ he gritted out.
She raised a shaking hand to his face.“Perhaps he truly didn’t know whether the chevalier was involved or not. Thast was why he hesitated-” She pleaded, trying her hardest to calm him down. “He has lost his wife in the worst circumstances. It would be inhuman if he didn’t have some doubts about everyone, even his best friend. It isn’t proof of his guilt, Sire.”
Louis let her go. As the white heat of his anger drained away, he seemed like an empty shell emotionally. With a look of utter disgust at the cane which he had nearly struck his brother with , he snapped it abruptly and threw the pieces out of the window.
“God forgive me for losing control so utterly. I am not myself-“

After Louis left the room in a great passion, Monsieur and Eve didn’t move, simply staring at each other in shock for several moments. Eve was still shaking. She had never seen Louis lose his temper so completely. Threatening his own brother with death and violence. Thank God she’d had the sheer presence of mind to insist on being present, albeit concealed and that Noailles and Lachanal were not too far away to prevent a catastrophe.
“Madame d’Argenteuil, you are trembling-“ he had to hold her upright, her knees were so weak they refused to support her.
“Drink this, it’s from Louis’s personal stores I haven’t touched or tampered with it. I promise you-” He forced the cognac down her throat and waited until she swallowed, starting to choke a little as the smooth burn hit the back of her throat.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m- I’m sorry.”she said her voice still shaking.
“You had a shock. It’s understandable.” She was surprised to hear his voice so gentle.
She looked at him with wide grey eyes. “I’ve never seen him so angry. Never. I thought he would strike you or worse. He frightened me-“
“May I ask you a question? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”
“What, your Majesty?”
He looked at her pensively as if regarding her for the first time. “Why did you save me? Why did you plead for my innocence? I know how you feel about my friends and they way I treated your mistress and best friend, the woman you loved like a sister. You thought I was a cruel husband. Why did you attest to my innocence? I’d really like to know-“
Her lips trembled as she tried to smile. “Monsieur , I don’t think you did it. I don’t believe you are capable of such a foul murder. And I want to see justice done. For Minette’s sake. For the investigation’s sake . Unlike some, I’m not prepared to use the Chambre Ardente as an instrument of petty revenge.”
“You are full of surprises, Eve d’Argenteuil. Just as I think I have you all pegged , you go and surprise me all over again.”
“ Thank you. I have to go. His Majesty expects me.”
“What is going on with that? Why were you spirited away in his chambers in the first place? You were able to calm him where no one else could. “
His curious dark eyes watched her carefully, but she turned away reluctant to talk about her relationship with Louis, even to him.
“Are you his mistress now?”
She bit her lip, imploring him with her eyes not to make her talk about it.
“Oh Eve, what have you done?”
------
from chapter 18: The Chemists
Eve met Jonah at their usual meeting place in the yew hedge. Straight away he could see the pallor of her face. The last few days and the sad events of the last few days had taken it out of her, he could tell.
“Eve?”
She flew into his arms, seeking the dependable stolid comfort of his strength. He patted the heavy black silk of her dress.
“Jonah-“
“Shush, I’m here.” He soothed. “ I know things have been tough these past few days with Madame’s death.”
He was so tempted to probe her mind, find out what was really going on, but he stopped himself in time. I must not betray her trust. If she wants to tell me, she will. I don’t have to right to invade her mind, to still my own fears.
“We need to talk, Jo-“
“About what?”
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.“Madame left me a copy of her memoir. She said there was a code she was working by taught to her by her uncle Rupert-“
“Prince Rupert of the Rhine, of course. Do you know what would be in it?”
“She told me she used to write down all the intrigues and secrets people used to tell her. She hid it because she was worried that Monsieur and his cronies would get hold of it and find out what she really thought. “
“An explosive document. Especially now-“
“Do you think that you’re going to have any trouble getting hold of the text?” he asked. “This could be it! The secret weapon to find out the guilty secrets of the court.”
Eve’s brow furrowed in thought. “ I haven’t tried yet in depth. I’m working on cracking the code, but it’s complex. Prince Rupert was a fiendish codemaster and there’s many stages involved before we get a result.”
“What about the poison suppliers? Have you had any joy tracking any of them down? They can’t get all their supplies from abroad, not with the dangers of being discovered . They must know De la Reynie and De Louvois are watching the ports. “
“I’m still finding out about most of the manufacturers in the city. Vignon has a list of names and Ghislain and I are working through them.”
“D’ye trust him?” Eve asked . “He seems a bit untrustworthy to me, to be honest. He owes no loyalty to you or De le Reynie-“
Jonah thought about what she said, the concern shining out of her cool grey eyes. “So far, the information he’s given us is good. An informer is only as good as his currency and as long as we get the results we need, I can put aside my own personal feelings about the man-“
“But he saw you and your true nature. That day you fed on the blood at the ‘Pomme de Sangue’-”
It troubled him as well, but he tried to still her fears. There was no need to worry her, noit when she had a job to do.
“In all honesty I think it put the fear of God in to him and La Volpe. There’s no way La Volpe would have respected me enough not to obstruct the investigation out of sheer spite if he hadn’t got an inkling of how dangerous I am.”
“I worry about you, that’s all Jonah-“
“I know-“ he said.
“How are your investigations up at the Palace going? I got the file on the Marechâl-Duc de Luxembourg and the Duchesse de Bouillon.”
“You did remember that my conclusion was that there was no concrete proof about the Duchesse?” she said anxiously.
“Yes, I did. De Louvois is determined to besmirch her though. We must be on our guard that he doesn’t sabotage our hard work through sheer malice.”

When Jonah approached La Voisin’s that night, he resolved to ask Marie-Marguérite for her assistance. Surely she must be able to observe the deliveries her mother took in, help them track them back to the original source.
“Psst!” she was already waiting for him at the door. “Mother’s at church , so I don’t have much time. Lesage is sneaking round as usual.”
“I have a request. I hope you’ll be able to help me Marie. I appreciate everything you have done for me so far.”
“What do you want?” she said rather bluntly.
“We’re trying to track down where your mother’s gets her supplies of poisons from. She can’t manufacture all of them herself. If we could find out where her supply chain originates, we can cut it off at the root and save some lives-“
“That’s a big undertaking you’re attempting. Mother isn’t dumb enough to use one supplier, she’d be screwed if something went wrong. There are two main suppliers though, right in the heart of Paris. The whole things organised by some money men in the City. A man called Pierre Cardelan runs things here and abroad-”
“And abroad? What is this? An international consortium of poisoners?” said Jonah, appalled by her revelations. The further down the rabbit hole he went, the more complex this case became. Double crosses and plots wherever he turned . No wonder De la Reynie privately despaired and told him they were surrounded by an impenetrable darkness, a dark and evil fog.
She smiled. “Glaser’s pupils...the old man taught them all well.”
“So it slowly starts to all fit together. All the pieces of the puzzle... Godin Saint-Croix, Egidio Exili-“
She nodded at his swift understanding of the issues. “ You get it. Good.”
“Can you tell me about them? These Parisian suppliers-”
“Arséne Theriault and Emilién Sordeau. They’re two former students of the Academie who supplement their incomes formulating poisons for clients like my mother. I go there sometimes to pick up deliveries.”
“When’s your next scheduled pick up?”
Marie-Marguérite thought for a moment. “In a couple of days. I’ll send you and Bouchard a message and you can observe. We must be discreet and careful though . We cannot afford to screw this up. If Mother and Lesage found out-“
He realised she needed reassurance. Until they were brought to justice she was under an great deal of danger acting as their agent.
“If you are worried about the danger, I can take it from here. You’ve given us enough to work on , Marie. I don’t want to put you in danger unnecessarily.”
She looked agitated. “Do you not want my information any more? Do you not trust me any more, Jonah?”
“No of course not!” he hastened to reassure her. “I just don’t want you to be in danger and I don’t trust Lesage and his scheming. You’re at immense risk and I feel responsible for your safety-“
“Don’t. I want to help. Do you think I would have accosted you if I didn’t? I know the dangers I am running.”
He still tried to dissuade her. “Marie, this is not a game. Your mother may yet end up on the stake for her crimes.”
Marie-Marguérite ’s pale face was implacable. “Good. I hope she does.”
“You don’t really mean that, surely. I know she is a godless woman capable of many disgusting things but she is your mother.”
“Yes, I do mean that. I hate her. I want to see that bitch brought down low and by my hand. I’m prepared to run the risk and spy for you inside my own home. And you need my help, don’t you?”

Jonah though about what Marie-Marguérite had told him, pondering on the new information she had laid before him. Everything is coming together, slowly but surely, but what is the missing link? The scarlet thread runing through the case that I just haven’t grasped yet? He rifled through his meticulously gathered notes, spreading them over the desk, trying to create a discernable pattern.
Cadelan, Glaser, Exili...the students, Sordeau and Theriault. The Clients: La Chapelain, La Voison, La Bosse, La Vigoreaux all profiting from death. The nobles coming to seek their twisted desires...the Marechâl, the Comtesse de Soissons, the Duchesse de Vivonne-
I need to go back to the catalyst. The Brinvilliers case. I need the original case notes, all of them and I’m going to have to get Ghislain Bouchard to tell me everything. He’s got to be still here in the building . He can’t have left yet.
“Ghis? Are you there? I need to ask you something.”
“Yes?” Over the past couple of week he and Jonah had come to a fragile accord. While they were never likely to be best friends.
“The Brinvilliers case. I need the original case notes.”
“I was wondering when you’d come and ask me about it.”
“I just want to save this case. Start agin. Do it right. Will you help me?”
Ghis looked at him with those dark inscutable eyes. Jonah felt as if he was being mentally put on trial. The young man seemed to make up his mind . “Here are the case notes for the Brinvilliers case. Desgrez and I worked extensively to bring the Marquise to justice." Ghislain said from his desk handing him a heavy file. "I gathered as much as still remained from the case notes. You may find some of it useful-" he shrugged.
Jonah scanned the paperwork in surprise. If only he had known that Ghislain was far more involved than he'd first thought. We should have teamed up far earlier than we did , but my pride got in the way. How much time have we lost bickering ?
"I didn't know you and Desgrez were part of the undercover team that actually arrested Madame de Brinvilliers. How did you do it? Please, I need as much detail as you can give me. Perhaps we can save this case with your help."
Ghislain sat back in his chair. "We rode to Liége where she'd sought sanctuary in the convent thinking we wouldn't dare to invade it and arrest her . The nuns protested, but Desgrez and I were determined that this time she wouldn't escape us. She said that she would come with us, but again and again she tried to wriggle out of it . When she realised that we were serious and that we were going to subject her to the full force of the law then the woman became desperate.”
"Desperate?" aske Jonah following the subject closely. " How? What did she do?"
"I caught her swallowing pins in an attempt at suicide. I had to prise her mouth open before she consumed it and did herself irreparable damage. "
Jonah was horrified. " Swallowing pins? "
That wasn't the only thing she did." added Ghislain grimly. " When the woman realised that tactic wouldn't work, she bit the edge of a glass and tied to harm herself with that. It was quite a stuggle of wills with her in all honesty. I never thought she would go as far as she did though."
"That wasn't the only thing that she did, you see."
"What did she do?" Jonah asked, half not wanting to know the answer.
"She tried to harm herself by penetrating herself with a bottle."
Jonah winced in disgust. Now he understood why she was so reviled by the populace. He would have never thought that she would ever have resorted to such depraved and wicked methods . Such terrible intent to harm herself. That mild looking woman he'd locked eyes with before she mounted the tumbril. Well, you never truly know what people are capable of . Not until you are faced with the evidence.
"In the end, Desgrez and I had to keep guard over her until we could bring her into Paris. She tried every means to to corupt us into giving her freedom. She even tried her damnedest to seduce us both, Can you imagine such a thing?" he said.
In all honesty Jonah couldn’t.
"We also found letters she'd written to her lover in which she begged him to try and save her from us. He was meant to abduct her from us along the road from Maastricht . "
"I take it that plan didn't work?"
Ghislain laughed . "No. I get the feeling at that point he would have been glad to see the back of her at that point."

"Personally, I didn't want to subject her to the question as quite frankly I doubted her sanity, and considered it would do her no good, but De la Reynie insisted we try and find out exactly what happened.”
"She had used La Chausée as an accomplice. Boastful idiot. He didn't do her cause any good , not by any means."
"Wasn't his testimony one of the first pieces of evidence you collected?”
"Yes. He insisted that he was owed money from the estate of one of the deceased brothers as he had been caring for him. When he was accused and the autospy was carried out he was under suspicion. Just to think if he’d kept his mouth shut, the whole case may never have come to light. "
"What about Françoise Rousell, the maid? She claimed she was one of the victims as well. She was poisoned by a dish of gooseberries and ham which she was given by the Marquise but she said that Brinvilliers had given her an antidote because she regretted her actions."
“Who taught her the antidote?”
“Exili, I would imagine through Sainte-Croix. He had a racket devising poisons and selling the antidotes. A very dangerous man but we never had enough proof to execute him. He’s been areested innumerable times and thrown out of both France and Italy for his activities. It frustrates De la Reynie no end that we cannot bring him to justice. ”
"She did that quite a bit, didn't she? She would poison someone and then change her mind and try to save them. An important element of her modus operandi, I would say. "
"She seemed to veer between an overweening arrogance about her evil plots, and regret for having taken such action.
“You could almost say that she was almost emotional in her methods."
"I hadn't thought about it in that way-" pondered Ghis . "It's a feminine mindset. Poison in some ways is a very feminine method of revenge. It doesn’t take brute strength. It relies on stealth and deception. And it seems to be very popular as we are finding out to our cost with Eve’s finding from Versailles."
“What did you come up with for motivation? It seems so random that someone with all the benefit of a good birth would resort to murder."
"Well, rich people are still flesh and blood. They love and hate just like us. Madame de Brinvilliers hated being thwarted in her affair with Saint-Croix. When her father and brothers obtained that lettre de cachet to have the rogue arrested and her family life was tangled.
There was a lot of secret hate and resentment floating about between the siblings and the father. It would be worth following that up if we can. We never did any deep work about why. It was more important that we caught her and brought her to justice while we could."
-----
Jonah awoke from his swoon to find himself cradled in Cara’s arms. He could still feel the cool touch of her soft red lips against the hollow of his throat
He stood up abruptly as if he had been stung.
“What have you done to me?"
Cara just looked at him silently with a faint sad smile .
“I should be dead. What’s going on? I need to know!"
When Cara spoke all cruelty and anger had left her voice. Jonah fancied that he heard a note of pity in her soft seductive voice.
“You are dead Jonah. Dead to the world. I did this to you."
“What?"
“I made you just like me."
The shock of her words hit him like a blow to the chest.
“I’m ...I’m a vampire? Like you?"
Cara looked at him sadly.“’Tis hard to come to terms with at first, Jonah."
A terrible blind rage filled his heart as the realisation dawned on him. “Why did you do this to me?” he shouted. He was so angry he did not know what to say.
“It was selfish of me, I know.” she sighed. “I understand if you’re angry-”
“YOU HAVE MADE ME INTO A MONSTER!"
Cara’s brilliant blue eyes filled with tears.“I tried to kill you but it was harder than I thought it would be. I saw ... I saw you were a virtuous man. A good man. I should not have done it. It was selfish of me. But you did truly love her and I couldn’t bear to just snuff your life out.“
Jonah felt the bitter sting of her words.“Why did you do it Cara? I try to be good. I live for my work ... and her.” he added after a long pause. There I’ve admitted it at last. I loved her.
“But don’t you see? I’ve saved you! You don’t have to be parted from her now!”
If only that were true he thought before he recoiled with disgust.
“For her sake and mine, I must never see her again. I don’t know whether I will be able to control my lust for this blood. I may harm her or her children and I couldn’t bear that! I‘d rather be dead!”
She moved closer to him, her hand so gentle he barely knew she was touching him.
“Do you feel it now?” she asked him almost tenderly. "The blood lust, do you feel it?”
He shook his head, unwilling to admit to the hunger surging through his new made vampiric body.
"Don’t be ashamed...” she crooned enfolding him in her marble white arms. She exposed a pale expanse of throat which gleamed temptingly in the candlelight. “Take it from me. Make yourself strong, my love. You need my blood or you will starve.”
“I mustn’t... I can’t.” Jonah struggled against the urge , growing stronger every second.
“Why do you resist the one thing that can nourish you Jonah?” her mellow seductive voice was like a siren’s call to him.
“It’s unclean.” he struggled to say, the words thick in his mouth which was parched with the blood thirst. “Taking the blood from innocent living people is a sin. I may be damned but if I can -”
“Jonah, your regulations that ruled your mortal life don’t apply to you anymore. Don’t you see? This is a chance to remake your life anew. Take it.”
Her hands guided him to the pale expanse of neck she exposed for him. The smell was driving him insane. It was like the worst kind of gut-wrenching hunger and there was only one thing that would soothe and assuage it, one thing that would make it all better; her blood.
“God forgive me-“ he murmured as his newly sharpened fangs grazed the pale skin of her throat. “Forgive me, for not having the strength to resist.”
“Do it, Jonah- she sighed, half submerged in the seductive rapture of the blood. “Drink from me, my love. And I will give you such sweet visions. I will soothe your pain and make everything better. Drink my love-“
His fangs pierced the skin, flooding his mouth with the blood he craved so much. He wasn’t prepared for the hit of esctacy that flooded his body as the blood flowed down his throat.