Chapter 40 #2
Philippe looked back at Alex, and she released his hand. Laure reached out to put her arm around the girl, while Philippe went to stand before his father.
“First of all,” said the Duke. “You went far too long without informing me of your progress. By doing so, you endangered yourself and your men.”
Philippe stood eye to eye with his father, his jaw clenched, saying nothing.
“Second,” continued the Duke. “You, along with your brother, made the decision to place the Marquis under house arrest without my permission.”
Philippe’s fists clenched. Laure hoped her husband wouldn’t be too hard on him. She did not know the extent of Guillaume’s anger, but she knew he struggled with it, and it could blow the palace apart if he let it.
“You made an outlandish request on behalf of his co-conspirator, this Giroux,” he continued.
“On that,” said Philippe, “I know I am right.”
“I’m not finished,” barked the Duke. Everyone from footmen to prisoners, the company men to her own family, stood in uncomfortable attention. Laure braced herself for the storm.
“Where is Girard Giroux?” the Duke asked, taking his heavy stare off Philippe and scanning the party.
“Here Monsieur,” came a clear voice from the crowd. Laure watched as two of Chevalerie’s men pulled a man, bruised but by no means broken, from a horse.
Giroux’s hands were bound in front of him, and he stood tall as the Duke approached him. Laure noticed he was an absolute monster of a man, but still maintained a quiet dignity about himself.
“Unbind him,” the Duke said.
The men at Giroux’s side complied, cutting the bindings. Giroux rubbed his wrists as he watched the Duke.
Her husband continued. “You were flawed in your means. However, I feel you did what you did out of good intentions.” He paused. “I have learned from my sons about your character, and I don’t believe they misjudge you.” He stared hard at Giroux. “And the Northern villages still need assistance.”
“That was always my singular objective,” Giroux said with a bowed head.
“You come from a noble family,” the Duke said. “I remember your grandfather from my travels. There wasn’t a more honorable man in the region.”
“I have always tried to act with him in mind,” Giroux looked down. “I am sorry to have failed.”
The Duke pulled back and looked at the man with concentrated scrutiny.
He folded his arms in front of him and began to speak once more.
“I am still waiting for an answer, but I have written a letter to the King’s palace on your behalf.
I have requested that your lineage title of Comte be reinstated.
Regardless of his answer, you shall be my steward in the North.
The one we will trust to receive and equitably distribute funds from Chevalerie. ”
Giroux looked up at the Duke, dumbstruck. “You would trust me to do that?”
“No,” the Duke said. “Not quite yet. But I will give you the opportunity to earn my trust. Don’t think you will be left alone up there.”
Giroux stared at him, “I would be ever honored to serve you.”
“Come.” The Duke waved to the footmen. “Take him to a room and get him settled. He will continue his recovery here as my guest.”
A ripple of words went through the onlookers.
Laure was pleased with Guillaume’s proclamation.
She had counseled him in these days on how to proceed with all the stinging thorns left by the Marquis, but she didn’t know which direction he would take.
She was proud of him for leading with instinct, rather than protocol.
It had always proven beneficial for them, for their home.
Michel and Philippe looked especially pleased with this announcement. They nodded at Giroux as he was led into the palace. Philippe approached his father, smiling, but the Duke turned to him, anger back in his brows. “The last thing you are guilty of,” the Duke continued.
Philippe’s smile dropped from his face, the dressing down not over.
Guillaume sighed and let his face relax.
“You worried your mother.” He clapped Philippe on the back of the neck and pressed his forehead against the young man’s.
“You did well, my son. You stopped an insurrection without the proper resources. You helped bring new leadership to the land. I am very proud of you.”
With that Michel went over and grabbed Philippe around the neck, pulling him down into a headlock. “Come Little Brother, get settled. We have many things to discuss.” They scuffled a moment before Philippe was able to push him off.
“Excuses moi, Monsieur,” came a voice. It was Alex. She approached the Duke. “What is to become of Emily, the Lady Marquise? And her home?”
The Duke watched Alex for a moment. “Yes, Emily,” he began. “She surprised me.”
“She surprised us all,” said Alex.
He continued. “Her husband, Etienne du Ponce, will no longer be a Marquis. He has lost that privilege and responsibility.” He put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “But his wife, Emily. She will retain the title. In her own right. I would like to see what she does with it.”
Philippe and Alex looked at each other. They grinned.
“I am happy to hear that,” Alex said.
“I am too,” Philippe agreed. “I think she is good for the task.”
Guillaume grunted a nod and with that, movement started immediately.
Philippe reached out to take Alex’s hand.
Guillaume lost himself in the crowd, organizing where prisoners would be taken and where the men would need to debrief before going to their homes.
The attendants buzzed, ready to take care of all the additions to the palace.
Laure approached Michel. She linked her arm through his. “Michel. Michel my dear,” she said.
“Yes, Mother,” he replied.
“I am happy for this outcome. I am.”
“I, as well,” he said. “I believe Father acted quite fairly.”
“Don’t discount your influence on him. He trusts your opinion and recognizes your talent in such matters.
Besides, these will be all your decisions one day.
” She sighed, content, as they continued the walk back to the front doors.
“You know,” she began, “we shall be planning your younger brother’s wedding.
And once that is finished, we must turn our focus to finding you a bride.
And then after you, the much greater task of finding one for your other brother. ”
“I am happy as I am. I will take a wife when it suits Chevalerie.”
“Ah, don’t be so sure some young coquette won’t catch your attention.
You can’t plan for everything, you know.
” Up ahead, Philippe struggled to keep his arm around Alex as attendants attacked them from both ends.
Soon enough they were pulled apart, Alex being directed towards her room and Philippe to his.
Philippe waved to her as he was led away.
“You see that fool up there,” Laure continued.
“It will be you soon enough,” she laughed. “It just takes the right girl.”