“She is my intended,” Davien added smoothly.
Louis raked his gaze up and down Cosette’s frame. “You’re a lucky man to have ensnared one of our own, Blackburn.”
As the king’s attention was diverted by another one of his companions, Davien calmly escorted them away. “That was intense,” Cosette breathed. “For a moment there I was afraid that he might invite me to his chamber.”
Davien merely snorted. “He could try.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “How chivalrous of you, Blackburn, to insinuate that you might take on the King of France for me.”
He glanced down at her, absolute seriousness in his gaze. “I would take on the entire country.”
And somehow, Cosette knew that he spoke the truth.
~ ~ ~
Some considerable time passed as they paused to clap as Cosette nearly groaned. “It’s only the third act?” she whispered. “How many are there?”
Blackburn’s lips twitched. “Five.”
“I can’t wait any longer. I have to use the necessary.” She rose to her feet. She was about to try and locate a footman to show her the way, when the queen herself appeared.
“I was needing a break from the entertainment as well,” she said kindly. “Shall you join me?”
Cosette felt her mouth go slack, but recovered quickly enough to say, “Of course, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
Cosette glanced at Davien before she left, but he gave her an encouraging smile, so she felt confident enough that she wouldn’t make any unforgiveable blunders on the way to the ladies’ room.
“I’m sure you wondered why I singled you out,” the queen said, loud enough for Cosette to hear, but not such that the few ladies-in-waiting trailing her could.
“There was a reason?” Cosette returned with more than a hint of trepidation in her voice.
Marie merely smiled, although it was tight. “I can tell that my husband fancies you. But I suppose he has fancied quite a few pretty faces over the years.” She sighed. “One would think that after ten children he might have remained faithful.”
Cosette said nothing. She knew the way of the world enough to know that Louis wasn’t the only monarch, or married man, who took a mistress. Wasn’t she one herself?
“But I didn’t seek out your company to tell you of my misfortunes. I have come with a warning.”
Again, Cosette didn’t speak. In truth, she wasn’t sure she could. She feared that her earlier concerns weren’t only concerns after all, but the beginnings of a true threat.
So it was with more than a little surprise when the queen lowered her head and murmured, “You made a mistake coming here tonight. Not only is the king’s interest piqued, but there are others that you may not wish to encounter should you remain, those that hold no love for the English, and who might find your appearance here as a threat.”
Cosette thought of the voice that spoke to her during her visions. “I appreciate the caution, Your Majesty, but I was hoping to stay long enough to learn more about my parentage.” She wasn’t sure how much to reveal to this woman, but she decided that honesty might gain her more ground at the moment. “I’m an orphan, you see, raised at the Heavenly Heart. I had planned on paying a visit to see if anyone might remember . . .”
The queen was already shaking her head. “I’m afraid that’s impossible. The orphanage burned down nearly three years ago. Very few survived, and the ones that didn’t perish from the blaze have scattered all over France.” There was a slight sympathy in her gaze. “I fear you have embarked on a fool’s errand.” She nodded at one of her ladies, who scurried off. “I will have someone collect the duke, but I beg you to heed my council. You need to leave Paris. Tonight.”
~ ~ ~
Cosette was already seated in the carriage when she finally caught sight of Blackburn. Instantly, her chest unfurled from the weight that had settled there. Following the queen’s warning, where she had been ushered outside and bundled into the coach, she had been anxious to do as the lady instructed and depart immediately.
Davien climbed inside and tapped on the roof, before he turned to Cosette with a mocking expression. “You must have made quite an impression if we are to miss the last half of the play and flee the city with all due haste.”
Cosette sighed, feeling the beginnings of a headache. “This is a disaster.”
“Only if you allow it to be so,” Davien said softly. “The way I see it, it may just take longer to remove that necklace.”
She glared at him. “I’m glad you’re taking this so well. Have you forgotten that I have been instructed to kill you, not only once, but twice?”
He shrugged.
