Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 37: Caught

With a muted gasp, she returned to the shadows. What was she doing here? The femme swore to never set foot in this manor. Did she not loathe everything they resembled? Power, wealth, beauty? She shook her head. How her world spun and how she longed to set it right.

"Ysabeau? I can hear you. Come in." Andrién and his accursed hearing.

She cleared her throat, straightened her breeches and hair, and lifted her chin as Andrién instructed ladies do at court. The brilliance of the light blinded her and she moved forward. Philippe stood at her presence. At the end of the table opposite of Andrién, she slid into the chair.

"Oui?" She would not grace her mère with a greeting, nor Philippe who reseated himself. They both deserved pain.

"Ysabeau, where are your manners?" Andrién's eyes turned steely and his jaw hardened.

"Good evening, Marguerite. Philippe." She nodded at each person as regally as any lady at court would. Marguerite scoffed and dropped her fork to the table. To Ysabeau's horror, she saw Andrién reach over and squeeze the femme's hand. Much too incensed to care about propriety, she jumped from the table. "What is she doing here?"

Philippe regarded her with curiosity, but Andrién stiffened.

"Ysabeau, she is your mère and my wife-to-be and it will do you well to show respect that she deserves."

"That femme does not deserve God's good grace, Andrién. She has been selfishly wrapped in her own sorrow to care for the daughter she has born. It is not the Lord's desire for parents to belittle or abandon or forget his children!"

"Ysabeau," Philippe's gentle voice spoke, but she stabbed him with a sharp glare.

"Since when have I truly mattered in your life, Andrién? You have asked that femme to wed you, is that it now? And what will become of me?" She marched forward, fists trembling, eyes searing anger into Marguerite. "Will I go to her hut of a home? At least I will live better than she ever will."

Ysabeau whirled around and marched from the dining hall. How furious she was! That femme did not belong here in her sanctuary, what with her wickedness? So Andrién would be content to bring the devil himself into his home? So be it.

"Fille! You will sit back down in your chair and we shall discuss this as civilized people." When she did not answer, he shouted. "Now, Ysabeau."

Again, she entered with her chin high and kept her anger forward as she stared down her nose at them. Ysabeau lowered into the chair and crossed her arms. "Oui, Père? What is it you need of me?"

Philippe rose, a servant entered and removed his dishware and slid into the shadows. "I shall retire for the night." His gaze lingered upon Ysabeau, but she cared not to return the affection. Everyone betrayed her. She was alone.

Andrién spoke when Philippe's door shut. "How dare you speak to your mère with such disrespect. How dare you frighten her at her home, but, how dare you show little regard to her life. She could have been killed as well!"