“If he’s away it’s probably for the best. He willnae want to be present if, despite our efforts, Emilie ends up marrying Matteo.”
* * *
Louis XIII watchedas his men set up the massive royal tent they’d brought along with them. Leaving the palace yesterday morning, they’d taken their time traveling to their final hunting spot. “This is an ideal time for a hunting trip, don’t you agree, Robert?”
“What’s different about today than any other day for hunting?” Robert asked, not really caring what the answer might be as his thoughts were elsewhere.
“Nothing really.” Louis said. “I was tiring of life at court. I was bored and my mother was being maddening. I had to get away from her.”
Robert only nodded and listened. Louis and Marie were at odds more often than not and he’d heard all about it on many an occasion. Marie was having a difficult time adjusting to the fact that Louis had come of age faster than she liked and would soon be king.
Louis gave Robert a sideways glance before continuing. “All she can talk about is Emilie and Barbieri and the wedding.”
Robert closed his eyes, exhaling his frustrations regarding Emilie.
“I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t talk about that with you, should I?” Louis asked.
Robert knew him well enough to know that he had purposely chosen this topic knowing it would be upsetting to him. “Ye are the king. Ye can speak of whatever ye wish.”
“You know the wedding is tomorrow, or hadn’t you heard?” Louis asked.
“Nae. I hadnae heard.” Robert tried not to look shocked and did his best to calm the urge to hop on his horse and race back to the palace. He couldn’t believe she was going through with it, although what choice did she really have? The thing that bothered him was how she changed course on him. One day she was convinced Edna would solve all their problems and then, after her father’s death, she was convinced she was going to marry Barbieri because it had been her father’s wish. There was nothing he could do about it, but in his heart he wanted to save her from herself.
“What are you thinking?” Louis asked.
Exasperated, his response to Louis was anything but the way one should respond to a king. “Why do ye care? Do ye wish to bait me even further with talk of Emilie and her marriage?”
“You sound frustrated,” Louis observed, seeming unfazed by Robert’s response to his question.
“I am frustrated. There is naething I can do to stop what is about to happen. I thought I’d have time to convince her…”
“To convince her of what?” Louis asked.
Robert tossed aside his irritation with Louis. “To convince her that she should be with me. That she should disobey everyone who has control over her and run away with me.”
“You could still do that.” Louis seemed to be having a moment of wisdom.
“How?” Robert asked.
“Ride back to the palace. Find her. Tell her your plan. If she loves you, she will defy my mother to be with you.”
“Ye want me to do this because it would make yer mother angry. Am I correct?”
A crooked smirk appeared on Louis’ face. “You are.”
He didn’t care what Louis’ motivation was. What mattered to Robert was whether or not he could convince Emilie she was making a mistake she would regret for the rest of her life. He had to try. He couldn’t forgive himself if he didn’t. He gazed at Louis, who seemed beside himself with glee.
“Go!” Louis said.
“I doona think I should leave ye. What if ye need me?” For Robert, his duty to the king always came first and although he wanted nothing more than to leave, he had sworn an oath of duty to the king.
“Do you not see the many men here? If they cannot be of service then I have chosen the wrong group to accompany me.”
Robert glanced around the field. There were several very capable guards and servants present. Louis was right. He’d be fine without Robert.
“I will see ye back at court,” Robert said as he vaulted onto his horse and galloped away. Emilie would hear what he had to say and he would accept her answer, no matter what it was.
* * *
