Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 28: Home

The next morning, Ysabeau and Philippe started their day before the sun. The inn dark and still. She had lost much sleep due to raging thoughts. There was Philippe's enigmatic comment about her regret in her upbringing. What did he know? There was nothing mysterious about her childhood. Only Andrién coming and going, the fierce fights between her mère and him. He trained her, that is, until his wife died and learning that Marguerite was only his mistress and she, the bastard child. Ah, that must be it. That was his regret.

Then there was theQueen-Mother's sudden demand upon seeing her. Philippe had said it was nothing she did, but the King. Was it regarding his infidelity in attempt at bedding her? The Queen Catherine in an outrage of jealousy? Ysabeau did not ask for it, she never once agreed! And now, Philippe's mention of spies horrified her. Would she be dragged and killed by order of the Queen?

What of the missive that declared her own mysterious death? That had her on edge the most, as for her unrelation with Mathieu, she did not know if that mattered any longer. One thing she promised to do before the day was done, was read that letter! Ysabeau sent a sidelong glance at Philippe. Though his amoral acts with the fairer sex aggravated her, there was no denying her feelings for him. Animal as it was, there was a promising streak of gold within his soul that she loved.

How anxious she was in unraveling each piece.

"Where are we headed?" Ysabeau kept her voice low as she surreptitiously scanned their surroundings beneath her hat's brim. They did not head westward toward her home, but north.

"To patrol the King's favorite ground."

"The King's—" The only place she knew of so near was where Andrién had caught her by the falls. "Whatever for?"

"Because that is what we do."

"Ah." Undercover. Philippe could not go directly home because of spies. "Why would we have spies following us? We have not done anything wrong."

"One may never know if he is being followed, Pierre."

"Pierre?"

The corner of Philippe's lip curled. "Have you forgotten your name already? Or did the woman steal that, too?"

How lousy an actor Ysabeau was. Very well, she would act the part. "She must have, but you had no problem letting her run with your purse." She laughed, wrapping the reins in her gloved hand. "She must have been some woman for such generosity."

"She was."

"I feel badly for your wife." Ysabeau's pang of jealousy returned. "Too bad we are a lascivious lot without morals."

He shrugged. "We work hard, sometimes months on without end. As for our wives, they will never know."

"What a horrible way to live. No integrity whatsoever. I will never marry, why risk having bastard . . . children." She paled, her voice trailing off. Though facts presented in an obvious fashion and she knew that Andrién was not faithful to his wife with Marguerite, it was still an insult.