The King's Eye

Chapter 50

       Clasping my necklace in place, I traced the ribbon that sat around my throat as if remembering a distant memory.

Behind me, Elodie messed with my wig, for hours she had hunched over it. The night before was nothing in comparison to the woman I saw now. Her shoulders were in a forever state of anxious preparation, I watched her hands tirelessly twirl, curl, and set. She barely looked up from her work as I began preparing to dress.

Although she had been with me for the rushed fitting, I gave her little details about the gown. A statement for a woman who should be mourning the death of her husband, but had no grief to spare.

Walking across the room, I cracked the door of my armoire to admire the work of the dressmaker. It had been an honor to work with her majesty's own choice when it came to dresses, and to have created something so rebellious made all my ideas of fear and failure fade away. I wished my mother could see how truly powerful I had become in my choices. How my mind I had evolved into something better than she had taught me to be.

"Elodie?" I stood in front of the ajar door, blocking the view of my gown from her.

Taking a pin from between her teeth and placing it, she did not look at me. "I am almost done."

"Can you get Anne to help me dress?"

She put a pearl ended pin down and turned to me. "Anne?"

"I would like my sister's help with this." I confirmed her question. Only Anne would see me before I revealed it at the masquerade.

I grew up completely and eternally jealous of how perfect Anne was. Despite being older, I was clumsy and did not have the patience for grace. This would be my moment to prove I had it in me all along, but I needed Anne to be there as my guide. She knew how to work around conversations. I barely could speak to the commander of the national guard without vomiting.

When Jacques and I had finally broken our silence as we walked back to our chambers shivering, I had told him it was the wine. We both knew that was not the case.

"I am your dressmaid, Sophie. It would be odd to not have me dress you." Elodie talked in a tone I had never heard, persistence lingering on every word.

"Is something bothering you?" I walked toward the table she now leaned on.

"I am fine."

"Elodie." I chanced looking over my shoulder to make sure I shut the armoire. "I know you are not fine."

"I. Am. Fine."

I gulped down the annoyance I felt. Had I ever felt so on edge with Elodie? Had she ever made me this upset so easily? I took a deep breath. "Tell me the truth, Elodie."

Hesitating, she didn't meet my gaze. "I wrote the letter," she sighed before pulling out the folded paper from a pocket in her apron. Holding it with both hands, she stared at it as if the tension her grasp made would tear it in half. "But I am worried that after tonight, I may never see my son again. There is just so much I have done that–"

"I will not let that happen," I said, gently taking the letter from her hand and placing it into my box of letters to be sent out. "I made a promise to you, Elodie. Like my husband, I keep them."

She looks at me, words trying to come out as her mouth opens and closes. "Please promise me that no matter what happens tonight...you will make sure Tomas lives a good life. That he is truly happy."

"You talk as if you won't be there to see him live that happiness." I shake the odd feeling away. Elodie was hiding something beyond the letter I was to send for her son. It felt as if we had just met all over. "Are you sure there is nothing else you wish to say?" I took a step toward her, making her back away.

"No," she wiped tears away from her eyes. "Just a lot of emotions. I'll send for your sister?"

I nodded. "Thank you." But what I really wanted to say to my only friend was that she was an awful liar and that her lying made me fear tonight was going just how I felt.

Poorly.

⚹⚹⚹⚹

While she helped me get ready for the night, Anne quietly listened as I told her every detail of the months we were apart. I told her of the emotional and physical abuse that almost truly took my life. About falling in love with Jacques and marrying him in secret, and still not forgiving him entirely for working for the man who had hurt me. How I was a spy for the king and that somehow pushed me to burn down multiple buildings along the Seine.

Through it all she said nothing, her hands moving through laces and adjusting skirts. When I finally sat before the mirror and she was placing my wig, she took a deep breath. Adjusting it and pinning it's immense weight on my neck in place, she locked eyes with me. "You listened to me?"

"Que?" After all I had said, I was not sure what she was asking me.

"Before mere, died. I told you that you deserve to be loved." She squeezed my shoulder, our eyes still stuck together between the mirror. My fingers quickly laced through hers. Batting her eyes, she let her eyelashes flutter away the tears that began to silver across the edges. "Now...how am I helping with this plan that isn't a plan?"

"By telling my sister-in-law a lie," I smiled deviously.

"I understand why the military man said this isn't a plan now," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I think Therese has been the real messenger all along. It was never Francis, he just helped with the presses themselves." I turned to her, the weight of my wig making the bones of my neck scream. "She is the one who provided the pamphlet at the first masquerade. She put emphasis on it." I let my shoulders sag, the pressure of my corset pressing against my ribs. "I am well aware it is foolish. Childish, even, to think this plan will work. It's all I have and Lafayette has guaranteed there will be extra soldiers guarding the palace to ensure the safety of the royal family."

Anne, bit at her lip as she contemplated what I was saying. "It is clear you did not pay attention to any of the lessons our mother put us through as girls." She put her hands on her hips as she began to pace. "The lie has to be slipped into conversation casually."

"Why do you think I have asked for your help alone?"

Her laugh brought a smile to my face, but it was short lived as the thoughts of dread began to fill my mind. Recognizing my anguish, Anne again appeared behind me still as a statue. "You look beautiful, Sophie." She smiled, showing no teeth. "And you are not the girl who hides anymore, so stop acting as if you are. Let them look upon you. Let them divulge on your secrets." Fixing a piece of hair that had fallen from the wig, she adjusted the necklace I wore. "All you have to remember is to...

"Stand up straight. Hold your chin high. And smile." We said it together, mocking our dead mother's voice as we laughed.

Giving my shoulder one more squeeze, Anne kissed my cheek and left the room.

Once I knew I was alone I stood up and walked to the standing mirror that sat next to the window. The setting sun reflected onto my dress in dancing flames as I took it all in and slid the mask over my face. A fox that had met me so many months ago.