Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 32: Bitter Defense

Philippe pressed her head to his chest, whispering words of comfort and promises that she could not believe at the moment. Too much to bear. The foremost thing that pained her was Andrién's audacity in baring her to both the King and Queen. Her heart stopped. It was no wonder the Queen demanded an audience with her! "Does Andrién mean to have me killed?"

She turned to meet his eyes, holding them still so as to discover the truth.

His eyebrows pitched, his face grieving. "He would do no such thing, I assure you."

"And the King, how could he be so callous and have both mother and child—the child is me, is it not?" It was no longer relevant for her relation with Mathieu, her life was in so much deeper peril than she thought possible.

His face blanked and he tilted his head.

"Is it not?" Her voice rose and she pushed from him.

"Ysabeau, it is written in that specific missive the inquiry of the bastard child as well as its mother regarding both their deaths."

"Really?" She lowered, her lip snarling into disgust and she screwed her gaze. Mathieu never mentioned so much.

"I understand how you feel betrayed by Andrién, but it is not he who has betrayed you, but it is he who has protected you. From what I gather and from what I know, he has lied to the King and Queen regarding both your deaths so as to stop them."

She remembered her mère's irrational fear of horses and knew now it was not for the horse, but of the death sentence upon her head by both King and Queen.  "Why, then, has he taken me to court?"

"One can only guess, but that riddle is to be answered by Andrién himself."

"I do not understand. I am still as confused as before. The reasons to hide everything from me, the secrets that could mean our lives. How Andrién took me to the very den of lions!" All she wanted to do was enter a state of blissful sleep. To curl up and shut the world out.

Philippe wrapped his arms about and hauled her to his lap and brushed his cheek alongside hers. His embrace possessive and fierce. "Life is full of unknowns, petit amour, but I am here for you and steadfast."

"Were you there? How much did you witness?" she stammered, her nose growing cold from tears that threatened to break. "What was your age?"

"Indeed, three years your junior you are now."

"Thirteen?"

"Oui."

"Do you recall them sneaking off together?"

"He was so in love with her."

"What of his wife and child here?"

"He ignored my warning and said court life is much different as it is separate than home and as his wife bore no interest in his work or the court, it became easy."