Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home (TCoLaD Book 2)

Meetings

~ Qvattorday, 23th of Aprilis, 11831 ~

Pierre once more read over the missive he had received from the prison that morning. It confirmed there had been enough evidence that the incarceration at His Grace's pleasure would have held for the chief if he had been alive. For a year and a day Augustin Raoul would have been held there and his deeds published so that it may be known what he did. If Pierre wished for a longer sentence or death then a trial would be arranged and a judge would decide the appropriate sentencing. Similarly, if the accused claimed his innocence he could demand a trial after the year and day. If the accused won he would then be compensated for his time, and the stain on the duc's reputation would be great.

There would still be a pamphlet written up about what Augustin had done: evidence against him, interviews with his staff, and the information that he had hanged himself shortly after his arrest. It would hopefully quell those that thought similar things and send a message throughout Piques.

Now Pierre needed to know if Feuilles or his sons had been involved in the attempt on his life and if there was any connection with Augustin, the hospital, and the poison he recognized.

Unlike with the chief he had no evidence or witnesses, only a feeling and a possible motive in rumors that Comte Frederick wanted to be duc. Pierre could try and have the comte and his sons imprisoned at his pleasure, but doing so to fellow nobles was a far more difficult issue than with a subject of the kingdom. The noble could appeal right away, their imprisonment being such that they were confined to their homes and not a cell or dungeon. It would give them time to destroy evidence, come up with alibis, find allies. Without solid proof it was not done. And that he did not have.

It was possible Comte Feuilles was involved and lords Jourdain and Renaud were not, of course, but that seemed unlikely. If both were intelligent men, and Aimé would not have had them as advisors otherwise, then they would have realized what it meant when their father sent them both to be advisors and had even now not sent for either to return.

"Pluta, my dear," Pierre said, folding the note and putting it into his drawer. His familiar meowed back that she was there and listening. Pierre tried not to roll his eyes. "I have a request of you. A meeting with the advisors will take place tonight after dinner. Can you find a way into Lords Jourdain and Renaud's rooms? Try to find anything suspicious or questionable."

Pluta poked her head out from under the desk, blinking up at Pierre before jumping up into his lap and agreeing to help.

***

"I have been somewhat preoccupied in the past several days," Pierre began. His advisors, save Elwin, were all sitting in the same chairs they had had in the first meeting only two weeks past. Without the margrave and the large gap between Elwin and the rest of the advisors they all seemed more of a team to be working on a common goal. That they only seemed to work together well without Elwin was a worry to add to all the current commotion. "I apologize for my distance."

"How is the girl, Your Grace?" Tibault asked. "She is healthy now, I hope."

"Yes, Lord Tibault. The surgery went well, as has her recovery. Alise is getting ready to leave tomorrow with her parents."

"Good. Father wrote me and wishes for you to know that he supports your decision with the hospital. He will in fact also be inspecting those around Bladeren. He is not a doctor himself, but my uncle is, and Father says he has picked up a few things over the years."

"That is an excellent idea. Do tell him to contact me if he so desires, I welcome his input."

"And I have been keeping up with the goings on of our hospital," Vivien said. It was a task that His Grace had given him after their talk a few days past. "Adam Roland has been instated as the chief doctor of the hospital in the stead of Augustin Raoul, who died last Iunday night. He was found having committed suicide. Several members of staff have also been fired, or outright quit. Others have on the other hand been promoted and a number of new doctors and nurses are being interviewed for positions. Is there anything you would like to oversee personally, Your Grace?"