Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 36: Waking

With the help of Marie who showed up later and after tending to Mathieu as well as dressing him for the funeral the next morning, Andrién left Philippe and Ysabeau to see to Marguerite's safety. The fire within the stables was under control by the time the sun set, casting an eerie red glow across the forest. There was nothing left but black char and stone as declared by Andrién. She was not about to investigate, for fear of breaking down again. The servants long taken the horses to the stable beyond the hill. Ysabeau sat, dazed, upon the bench that overlooked the estate. Smoke lingered like a mocking enemy.

Philippe sat in silence beside her, enjoying the evening, his wound dressed. Neither had spoken much, but she had listened to his account when Andrién inquired once they had entered the manor for proper care.

"I miss him." First words spoken at all since Andrién's arrival. Ysabeau was at first furious with Philippe for departing so hastily, the feeling of abandonment doing her in, but Mathieu's unexpected death made everything else pale and whither to dust. She squeezed her eyes shut and released a staggering sigh. Though Philippe and Andrién discussed long the goings on, she had drifted through every bit in shock. "Philippe?" she dared, testing her raw voice.

"Oui?" He shifted, his warmth brushing along her side, but she did not respond.

"I have been entertaining this thought, but why did you leave? If you had not—" The void in her chest stabbed her heart and she choked, her hand covered the emotional wound.

"You must have not heard when I informed Andrién. I felt impressed to do a perimeter check and had discovered prints where we had swum."

Chills skittered every which way across her skin and she finally met his eye. "You suspected?"

He nodded, his face pained and he released a slow breath.

"Why did you not mention as much?" Ysabeau would have hunted the devil down and killed him on the spot.

"Because I had an inkling if you had known, fear would be lost on you and you would have searched for him."

She huffed without humor, without emotion. Numb. That was all she felt. "If I remember correctly, there was only one?"

"It would seem that way." He snapped a leaf from the flowering garden and bit down on it. "The fire started and the servants called out as I arrived from my route. Mathieu darted into the thick and that is when I heard swords."

"It is unlike him to carry a sword. I wonder why?"

"He confessed to thinking it was me who set the fire."

"He did not like you very much." Ysabeau shivered, so wishing to see Mathieu's smile once more. To hear his voice. She clamped her lips and strove for control.

"It was not always so. I had taught him a few tricks and we have gone hunting a few times." She blinked in disbelief. Until the other day, she had never met Philippe—of course, not counting when she was a petit bébé. He chuckled once upon reading her shocked expression.