“Of course you can, my lord. I am surprised you even have tomake such a comment.”
“Lady Marion, if you do not require anything, I would ask that you return to your chamber until the morning servants arrive to assist your morning routine. I will see you at the morning meal,” he said and stalked off toward the great hall.
Marion stood there with her mouth agape. She had done nothing wrong, and while she could understand something upsetting had occurred, she did not think she should be discarded as such for attempting to help.
She was about to go after him and tell him so when the library door opened again, and a very teary-eyed Jean emerged. She looked startled when she realized she was not alone.
“Lady Jean, you are safe with me, I promise you.”
“Where is my brother?”
“Well, after he ordered me to be discreet, he marched off to the great hall.”
Jean’s face was tear-streaked and she wrung her hands together hard while staring in the direction of the hall.
“I do not know what to do,” she said.
Marion wrapped her arm around Jean’s shoulder and squeezed.
“Is it really that bad?”
“Aye, you should have heard him. He is ready to banish me.”
Shy of plotting his murder, what could she have possibly done to warrant that kind of reaction in him?
“Lady Marion, I asked you to return to your chamber,” a booming voice said from behind her.
“I was about to when your sister emerged from the library. I assure you, my lord, I am not here to add to your strife.”
“Then release my sister and do as I bid.”
No one, not even her father, had ever spoken to her in such a way. Oh, she would go to her chamber all right and pack her belongings and leave this place before he could say morning meal.
Marion kissed Jean on the cheek and then lifted her chin to look Alexander square in the face. “I understand something has passed here that has upset you, and for that I am sorry. But I have done nothing except offer assistance which would have come with discretion. I shall return to my chamber and when I emerge again, I expect transportation arranged to return me to my parents.”
With that, she turned on her heel and with squared shoulders, she ascended the stairs and made her way to her chamber. Once inside, she bolted it and then flung herself on her bed to let loose her emotions.
How could he possibly be so callous with her after all he’d declared the night before? She’d been understanding of the situation and his current state; he need not take his anger out on her nor insinuate she was not capable of discretion. Did that even need to be said? After what they’d shared. And now she only had mortification to accept at being so wanton with him and trusting that his feelings were as true as hers. Well, no more. She opened her clothes chest and quickly filled it with her belongings.
But now that she was ready to leave, she was not sure how. She’d eat her own tongue before she spoke another word to that odious man, but she would need him to arrange a carriage for her and have her chest brought down. And what about her dear friend Queen Margaret? How would she explain her need to be out of that man’s sights without disclosing why?
Marion paced with one hand on her hip and another tapping her lips. Her heart raced as she realized she was in a predicament which she could not reason her way out of. Did she want to leave now? Aye, she very much did. But how could she leave without alerting others and drawing more attention to the situation?
She was trapped and she despised the panic rising within her. There was no way she could remain. She would have to find a way to get word to the queen. She glanced around the chamber and spied aquill, ink, and some parchment tucked behind a fat candleholder.
A few minutes later, she signed her brief note to the queen and folded it as neatly as she could. Maybe she could leave it for the servants to find.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
‘My lady, it is Jean,” a quiet voice spoke from the other side of the door.
Marion opened it and saw that both brother and sister were on the other side.
“What is it that you want?” she asked.
“We wish to apologize,” she said.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Lady Jean. I have asked for transportation and assistance with my belongings. Has that been arranged?”
