Chapter 13 #2
Isabella considered for a moment, then opened the portal. To her relief, the two men were the only ones in the corridor and at her nod, they came inside. Raymond was the younger of the two brothers and his gaze darted around the solar before landing upon her.
“My lady, I am aware that much changes in this moment, but I would make a proposition to you. It has been agreed for some time that there would be an alliance between our houses and my father fully expected as much when he agreed to Marguerite’s marriage to Lord Denis.”
Isabella gave no sign of her surprise that the negotiations has been of such duration.
“It was less desirable in his view for your father to be the bridegroom, but your uncle was most persuasive and my father agreed.”
Isabella understood that a sum of coin had exchanged hands to ensure this result.
“Now, however, Marguerite has no future at Marnis. My brother, Antoine, and I would prefer to provide a solution to our father that he will find palatable, therefore, I present myself as a candidate for your hand.”
“In marriage?”
“Of course.”
“But I am wed.”
“I had understood that you intended to seek an annulment.”
“You were mistaken in that, which is not surprising as it was my father’s plan.”
He studied her with intensity. “But not yours?”
Isabella shook her head and he caught his breath.
“My brother will be interested to learn of this. Knowing that there effectively is a new Lord de Marnis may spare him a most unpromising alliance.” Raymond bowed politely. “I thank you for your attention, my lady, and wish you every good fortune.” With that, he pivoted and strode to the door.
“No doubt he would ensure that his brother does not propose to Lady Faydide,” Simon murmured, then winked at her before hastening after the other man.
Isabella found it incredible that a man would wed Faydide to secure Marnis, but then, she supposed he might have children already. Either way, the holding was rightfully hers. She barred the door again and when she turned, the keys on the string beneath her skirts collided with her thigh.
She lifted the keys in her hand. Where had her father kept his prizes? In the treasury, of course. Would these keys unlock its contents?
The treasury was hidden behind a wooden panel that did not appear to be a door, one that matched the others around the perimeter of the chamber. Isabella remembered which one it was, and how it had to be touched to reveal its secret truth, though it had been a long time since she had seen it.
Behind the door was a chest built into the very walls, with a doughty lock upon it. She glanced toward her father’s bed and saw that there were no keys upon the table beside it. Nor had there been any keys on his person when he had been removed from the hall.
She soon discovered that one of the keys held by Denis unlocked the treasury. It could not have been the sole key, for her father would never have surrendered it to Denis, particularly when Denis was riding to Montvieux.
Did Denis possess a duplicate key?
Had her father known?
Who had claimed her father’s keys?
The treasury contained a number of compartments, each with a small fitted door, several with locks upon them.
There was a shallow box of indifferent craftsmanship which was not of interest to her.
There were three trunks, all filled with coins, which surprised her.
She had not realized her father possessed that much wealth, but the larger trunk was filled with gold coins.
Then she noticed that all three were graced with the insignia of Montvieux.
If her father had claimed the wealth in Montvieux’s treasury, had he been responsible for the death of Amaury’s father?
She found it easier to believe him a thief – or even more likely, one who exhorted coin from others under threat of violence – than a murderer, but perhaps she gave credit where it was not due. She had no doubt of his cruelty.
A second key on Denis’ ring opened the smallest of compartments in the treasury, but it was empty.
In that moment, someone tried the door to the corridor. Isabella froze, spinning to watch. The latch clicked but the door did not open, given that she had shot the bolt.
Finally, she heard stealthy footsteps retreat and dared to exhale.
Isabella quickly closed and secured the various compartments, then locked the door to the treasury, ensuring that the panel was back in place. She then opened the door to the corridor, knowing she should not truly have been surprised to find no one in view.
Who had tried the door?
Sadly, the door to the solar had no lock upon it, only the latch, which could be dropped only when she was in the chamber. Isabella closed and secured the door, considering her course. There had to be another set of keys, though she could not guess who possessed them.
One thing was certain: on this night, she would not sleep.
It was well after midnight when Amaury finally embarked upon his quest to reach the solar of Marnis.
He eyed the silhouettes of the sentries on the summit of the wall surrounding Marnis on this side.
Over the past few hours, he had watched them surreptitiously, taking note of the patterns of their surveillance – and the frequent gaps in their diligence.
He thought perhaps the remaining wine in the hall had not gone to waste.
When the guests were ousted from hall and kitchens, Amaury had taken refuge in the stables, where a number of celebrants slept off their indulgences.
There was much gossip and speculation about the Lord de Marnis, and he was not the sole one to consider that the lord’s demise might not have been a natural one.
When the shadows fell, he coaxed a tabard in Marnis’ colors over the shoulder of a sleeping squire.
He donned it himself so he would be less likely to attract scrutiny.
As it grew later, the gaps between watches grew longer and the diligence of each sentry diminished.
When they were away from the closest side of the wall, Amaury moved slowly.
He progressed in steady increments, making his way from the stables to the hall, clinging to the shadows all the way.
The portal to the hall might well be secured, but the door to the kitchens was yet open.
He slipped through that space, now much quieter than it had been earlier.
There was still considerable food left from the meal.
Avoiding anything that had been close to the roast swan, he gathered provisions for Isabella, in case she had not eaten.
He added a few bones, just in case he was challenged.
Finally, when all was quiet save the snoring of the cook in one corner, Amaury crept toward the stairs.
Men slept on straw pallets cast around the perimeter of the hall, many showing the influence of the wine.
The fire burned down to embers and a dog lifted its head to watch Amaury’s progress.
When he stepped toward the stairs, the dog bristled and bared a tooth to growl, but Amaury quickly cast it a bone.
The dog fell upon the prize with satisfaction, no longer interested in Amaury.
A second dog noted the transaction and stood, ears up, but Amaury cast it a bone, too.
When both dogs were gnawing contentedly, he slipped up the stairs.
The stairs were straight and wide, providing no place for an assailant to hide and no cover for him.
Amaury’s heart thundered as he silently ascended.
The landing was empty, to his relief. There were three doors, a light shining beneath the bottom of the middle one.
Its occupant might be awake and he moved quietly.
Which chamber would Isabella use? He guessed the one behind the middle door would be the largest, as the roof was slanted.
It would have the highest ceiling so must be the solar.
The adjacent rooms were likely smaller. Isabella must have been in the habit of using a smaller chamber, like one on either side.
But she had claimed her father’s ring.
Amaury hoped that meant she would claim the solar, as well.
He would likely have only one opportunity to locate her. Amaury moved closer to the doors, flattening himself against the wall to listen.
From behind the first door, he heard snoring. He eased past it as silently as he could manage.
He bent, but could not look beneath the middle door. The gap between the bottom of it and the floor was only high enough to emit a band of light.
From behind the third door, he heard steady breathing. It sounded like two people slept there. Isabella, he was certain would be alone.
And possibly awake.
Amaury looked left and right, then reached into his purse and removed the dried floral coronet. He kissed it for luck, then slid it silently beneath the middle door, and stepped back, hoping for the best.
Isabella heard the barest whisper of sound, something dry and light sliding across the floor.
She saw then that something had been pushed beneath the door to her chamber.
It was late and the keep had fallen quiet. She had cast off her kirtle and wore only her chemise, her feet bare and her braid hanging loose over her shoulder. She had not been able to sleep at all.
Who came to her at this hour?
She rose, heart leaping, and stepped toward the door.
She stood on one side of it, so there would be no visible shadow of her feet to whoever waited on the other side.
To her astonishment, she saw the withered remnant of the daisy coronet she had worn at her wedding.
She quickly bent to put her eye to the crack.