Lady Therese De Beauharnais of Roche

9 October, Year 32 of King Frederick V of Monrique's reign

Bordeux Castle, Bordeux

Monrique

"You look rather bad-tempered."

Jules eyed me warily, as I sat down next to her that evening. Lisa took a seat next to her bed as well, observing my countenance with narrowed eyes.

"How can you tell, Jules?" Lisa asked her, bewildered, "her face looks the same as ever: calm, disinterested and unbothered by anything and everything around her."

I remained silent, curious to hear her answer.

"Observe her eyes closely. They can scorch anyone to ashes at the moment," Jules pointed out, offering me a weak smile, "by God, Tess, who are you so vexed with?"

"My mother," I admitted darkly, "her arrival has made it all the harder for me to go to my classes, or visit Lady Madeleine in the dungeons. I swear to God, she seems to be watching me from a corner everywhere I go."

It had only been a week since she had arrived, and she was already up to no good. She had taken to following me these days to find out about my daily schedule - who I met, what I did, and so on - which was, as she had taught me all those years ago, the first step to any scheming.

I had successfully eluded her to come here tonight, but Lord, I did not want to play this game of hide-and-go-seek for the entire duration of my stay in Bordeux.

Jules' eyes widened in horror. "Lady Rosanna is here? In Bordeux?"

I sighed.

Truth be told, she had good reason to be afraid. The last time she had visited Roche two years ago, my mother had tried to drown her in the lake behind our Manor, merely for burying the hatchet with the Crown Prince.

The Lord knew what she would try to do to her now, now that she was married to the same man, and was heavily pregnant with his child.

Lisa placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are safe here," she assured her fiercely, "your food is being tasted before it is served to you, and there is no way she can enter these chambers with all those guards placed outside."

"I am not afraid, Lisa," Jules snapped, "I have nothing to fear from her."

"To remain unafraid of the threat she poses to your safety and that of your child, is rather courageous of you," I remarked quietly, "but to believe that no such threat exists is plain foolishness on your part. You know, as well as I do, that she is capable of anything."

She fell silent.

"However, I agree with Lisa," I smiled weakly, "you and your child are much safer from her here, in confinement, than anywhere else."

"I know. Even if she does manage to enter these chambers, I shall face her without fear," there was a hard gleam in her eyes, "I may be pregnant, but I am still a warrior."

"That is the spirit, Cousin," I remarked briskly, before, "in any case, I came here to inform you both that I have made a list of all the heiress presumptives among the nobility. I am in the midst of writing letters to invite them to meet us here in Bordeux so that we can explain and discuss everything about the petition with them face-to-face. I do not wish to risk putting anything in writing, in case it gets intercepted."

"May I take a look at that list, please?" Lisa requested, "I wish to see if I can add anyone else to it."

I nodded, passing her the piece of parchment I had brought with me. She began to study it at once.

"Good thinking, Tess," Jules pondered in the meanwhile, glancing over at the list in Lisa's hands, "we will also need to find a way to hold a good three-hour meeting with all of these women you have listed without raising suspicion or being overheard."

Lisa shook her head heavily. "There are at least forty women listed here," she bit on her lower lip, "how are we supposed to talk to such a large group without attracting anyone's attention?"

I crossed my arms. "Very true," I agreed, "which is why we should choose a day where there are many, many people in attendance at the royal court – so many, in fact, that a gathering of forty within the castle would not look too odd to the passer-by."

Jules and Lisa nodded, thinking.

"And preferably soon," I added, frowning, "my mentor informed me today that Lady Madeleine's father, Lord Bertrand, is trying to push forward the date of her hearing to have her convicted sooner."

A momentary silence fell over the bedchamber, as the three of us plunged into our own thoughts. The castle was rarely ever crowded. The only time it was teeming with guests was when foreign sovereigns visited, or during state functions.

Neither of which was going to take place this winter season.

Suddenly, Jules sat upright and stared hard at me. "There is such a day coming up soon," she told me slowly, thinking before the words left her lips, "not only will we have sufficient time to write and send out those letters, but the women will also have enough to make up their minds on whether they wish to meet us."

Lisa leaned forward. "When?"

Jules did not avert her gaze from mine. Dread began to stir in the bottom of my heart. Somehow, I already knew of the day she was referring to.

Rationally speaking, it would be a good day for our meeting. All of the nobility, most especially its women, would be flocking to attend the event happening on that day. It mattered not how I felt about that day, or about the event.

It mattered not at all.

"Seven days from today," I whispered, "Ned and Evie's engagement day."

***

Later that evening, Lisa insisted on walking me back to my chambers. She and Jules were adamant that I should not roam the hallways alone, now that my mother was living within murdering distance from me.

They spoke true, but I was not accustomed to such concern.

"I noticed that you included Liv," Lisa was saying now, "in that list of forty women."

I tilted my head at her. "Of course I did. She is the Duke of Tessensohn's only daughter, and the heiress presumptive to that dukedom," I answered quietly, "is there a reason why I should not have?"

"Oh, nay, I did not mean that," she assured me, "since she is your closest friend, I was only wondering if she already knows about the petition you are going to draw up."

I remained silent for a long while. "Nay, she does not," I admitted reluctantly, "she does not even know I am studying law, let alone that I am helping Lady Madeleine with her case."

Lisa simply raised an eyebrow at me.

"I will speak to her about it before I send out the letters," I added evasively, "now will you cease staring at me?"

She began to laugh. "Oh, Tess – "

Just as we were about to turn a corner, however, I suddenly noticed a whirlwind appear out of nowhere. Before the image could register in my mind, it collided hard against my legs.

A soft gasp left my lips. I glanced down to see a familiar little boy fall back on his bottom, clinging to the edge of my gown for support as he did so. His baby-blue eyes became unfocused, as he gazed around himself, disoriented.

"By God," Lisa murmured in astonishment, her eyes wide.

For a fleeting moment, I could only blink in surprise at the toddler. I had not seen him - or his formidable mother - around at Court for at least a quarter of the year. The child had grown quite a lot within the short period, and had clearly become more active too.

Suppressing an amused smile, I knelt in front of him. "Tommy?"

He gazed up at me, a toothy grin tugging his lips upwards as he recognised me. "Hullo, Tessie," he mumbled, "I am sorry I bumped into you."

Chuckling, I gently reached out to set him on his feet once more. "No harm done," I assured him, "does it hurt anywhere?" I checked his extremities in concern.

He shook his head. "Nay, Tessie," he assured me, "I - "

"Get your filthy hands away from him!"

A familiar honey-blonde woman, who seemed to have run the whole length of the corridor, skidded to a stop in front of us. She looked forebodingly tall in her peacock blue gown, as she glared down at me now, utterly cold and unforgiving.

Lord.

I bit back a sigh. Truly, as wonderful as it was to see Tommy again, I wished I had heard of his arrival a little earlier. It would have given me sufficient time to prepare, and keep out of his mother's way for as long as she was due to stay here.

The mere sight of her threatened to further dampen my already miserable days.

In the meanwhile, she had snatched a protesting Tommy out of my hold, and carried him up into her arms. I could almost see smoke billowing out of her ears in pure rage, as she twisted one of Tommy's ears none too gently.

The child did not even wince. But I did.

"Thomas Richard Delaborde, what have I told you about speaking to her?" she hissed at him, tossing her head in my direction, "why do you insist on disobeying me so every time we come to Court - "

Lisa broke out of her shock just then. "Rochelle? Tommy?" she let out a sharp breath, "when did you reach Bordeux?"

The woman, Lady Rochelle of Alençon, offered her a tired grimace. "Only a few minutes ago," she answered, "it is quite a coincidence that we ran into you both first." Her tone indicated that it was anything but a pleasure.

I cleared my throat, determined to keep my cool. "Good evening, Lady Rochelle," I greeted her quietly, inclining my head, "I hope you had a safe journey from Alençon."

She adjusted Tommy on her hip, as she glanced at me. "I suppose I did. I am here, am I not? Or were you wishing otherwise?"

Oh, joy. Nothing had changed between us.

"Of course not. It is a pleasure to see you again, my Lady," I crossed my arms over my stomach, "you, and Lord Thomas." I gestured to the toddler.

Tommy made a small bow from his mother's arms. "Thank you, my Lady," he recited in a small, lisping voice, "it is a pleasure seeing you again also." When he was certain that his mother was too busy glaring at me, he beamed up at me with absolute adoration.

Lady Rochelle, however, lacked the same manners. "I am afraid I cannot say the same about you."

Lisa was appalled. "Rochelle!"

I shrugged. "That is your problem, my Lady," I was blunt, "but as good as it was seeing you at Court again, I am afraid Lisa and I have a matter of much greater import to attend to. Therefore, please excuse us."

With that, I offered Tommy a small, discreet smile, and beckoned an anxious Lisa to follow me, making move to walk past Lady Rochelle. I wanted to reach my chambers before my mother caught me in this mess.

Before I could take another step forward, however, I felt a slender hand clamp down hard on my shoulder.

Sharp nails dug into the bare flesh, as I was turned around none too gently to face a very furious Lady Rochelle.

I noticed she had handed Tommy over to Lisa, who was attempting to put the worried little boy at ease. Her forehead was creased despite the small smile on her face she maintained for Tommy, very much troubled.

The tension in the air was so thick that it could be easily cut with a knife.

Lady Rochelle plunged on in the meanwhile. "I do not care about your other urgent jobs. When I am talking to you, you had jolly well stay and listen until I have finished," she hissed, her baby blue eyes blazing with loathing for me, "do not dare - "

I met her gaze unflinchingly. "I said I have something important to do," my tone was dangerously quiet, "just as you do not care for my jobs, I cannot be bothered about your leave to be excused. I merely asked for the sake of formality."

I turned away once more, when her next few words stopped me short.

"How do you live with yourself?"

I paused. "I beg your pardon?"

Her voice was cold, filled with contempt. "How do you live with yourself? You are so calm, as if what you did to my younger brother was nothing of consequence," she hissed venomously, "you piece of shit, have you any idea how much Ned - "

Lisa sucked in a sharp breath. "Rochelle," she whispered, "there is no need to bring up – "

My countenance became blank, as I firmly seized hold over my emotions upon hearing his name. In this lifetime, I had my fair share of victims, and a long record of lives that I had destroyed. One of them was Lady Rochelle's younger brother, Lord Raymond Fourier, Earl of Testalt.

Lord.

I shook my head clear. "I dare, because I do not care," I stared straight into her baby-blue irises, "I do not care a whit about how Lord Testalt is suffering at the present."

Mayhap if I repeated it enough, I would one day deceive myself into believing it.

Lady Rochelle let out derisive laughter. "Suffering? Whatever gave you that idea?" she snickered, "he might have been slightly morose for the first few months, but he has already moved on from the likes of you. Good riddance." Her tone was dripping with disdain for me.

Lisa cleared her throat at that moment. "Rochelle, Tess, I will be with Tommy in the gardens," she interrupted quietly, covering Tommy's mouth, who was clearly bursting to say something, "I will return - "

I shook my head at her, smiling weakly. "Stay here. I will not be long."

"But - "

"Lisa."

She nodded, sighing. "I will walk with him up and down the corridor until then," she compromised, and turned away.

In the meanwhile, I turned to Lady Rochelle and leaned close to her. "Your brother could be drowning in his misery at the moment, and even then, it would make no difference to me," I told her coolly, "therefore, I would suggest wasting your time and mine with news of him."

With a dismissive toss of my head, I turned to walk past her, when -

"Ned has also arrived this night, with Evie."

Despite myself, I paused. Lord Testalt was in Bordeux already?

Fortune seemed to have deserted me completely these days. First my mother, and now him. Why did people whom I did not want to see keep coming to Bordeux?

Lisa turned around as well, surprised. "So soon?" she was confused, "there is a week yet to the engagement, yes?"

"Well, yes," Lady Rochelle smiled slightly, "but many Ladies of the Society wrote to my parents to request him to come earlier. They still cannot believe he is to be engaged." She chuckled in amusement.

I suppressed a sad smile. Lord Testalt was very much popular with the Ladies, both married and unmarried. I would be lying if I said that he did not enjoy their attention.

He did, and excessively so.

Thus, I could understand why most noblewomen still found it difficult to accept that he had agreed to pledge himself to one woman for all eternity.

"Is he...is he looking forward to his engagement?" Lisa queried quietly.

Lady Rochelle nodded. "More so than I expected," she broke into a beam, "truth be told, I thought Ned would hate the little minx in the beginning. But now..." She smiled fondly at a memory.

Lisa smiled uncertainly at her, glancing at my blank countenance as I felt my insides freeze.

That was when Lady Rochelle turned to me, her expression hardening. "This is the happiest I have seen him in almost two years," she growled at me, "if you cared for him even a little during the years you deceived him, you will stay away from him."

I do. I still do. More than you think.

Once more, I pulled myself together and rolled my eyes. "I have nothing more to do with Lord Testalt. He was merely a part of a scheme of mine," I scoffed, "and when that scheme ended, so did our acquaintance. He is no longer of any use to me." I wrinkled my nose, shuddering for good effect.

Lady Rochelle was stunned into silence by the cruelty in my voice. Even Lisa seemed disbelieving.

It was only Tommy, the dear, innocent child, who tilted his head at me in a knowing manner, staring straight into my fast tearing eyes that I attempted to keep lowered and hidden for fear of discovery.

Eventually, Lady Rochelle found her voice. "You are a heartless witch," she pronounced coldly, "there is not a moment that I do not curse the day you walked into Ned's life."

***

Later that night, I found myself pacing back and forth in the gardens, restless and uneasy.

Sleepless nights were nothing new to me. The news of Lord Testalt's arrival, however, made sleep and peace of mind even more elusive than they usually were.

I hope I do not run into him while he was here.

"Tessie?"

Emerging from my heavy thoughts, I raised my head to see a small toddler standing alone on the threshold of the Castle kitchens backdoor, already dressed for bed. His baby blue irises, so like Lord Testalt's own, regarded me with uncommon intelligence for one so young.

He stared at me. I stared at him.

Slowly, he raised his chubby little arms towards me, almost in a hesitant manner, as if he was testing my mood. Like so many others, he knew of my aversion to physical displays of affection on normal occasions.

But this was no normal occasion. And he was no ordinary child.

Allowing a gentle smile to unfold on my lips for him, I masked my troubles and grievances as always. I knelt down on the snow-covered ground to his height and held out my arms, beckoning him forward.

Breaking into a blinding beam, he began to run as fast as his plump little legs could carry him, and pummelled straight into my embrace. He managed to knock me onto the ground flat on my back, as he wrapped his tiny arms tightly around my neck.

"Lord, child," I gasped out, startled, "was there a need to push me to the ground? A nice, simple hug would have sufficed." Holding him gently, I sat upright and placed him such that he was sitting on my lap.

He pulled away to shrug at me. "Simple hugs are not amusing."

"Simple hugs are not painful, either."

He waved a tiny hand at me. "You will be fine."

"Why, thank you very much for your concern."

For an answer, he patted my cheek fondly, not comprehending the sarcasm. "You are most welcome."

I shook my head, amused. Children.

"In any case, what are you doing here?" I asked him curiously, "surely your Mama did not allow you to come outside on your own so late at night, to meet me, of all people?"

Indeed, Lady Rochelle despised me even more than her brother did, having known of my true nature longer. Since the day Tommy turned a year old - and she realised that he had taken a liking to me - she had been drilling into his mind that I was the wicked witch of Monrique who roasted children alive and ate them for dinner.

I had to admit, she was very creative.

Still, she had been correct about one thing: I did not like children very much. They required a lot of attention, for someone to be always be by their side, to love them and look after them. How could I offer them either of these, when I myself had no idea how that felt like?

However, Tommy did not - nay, refused - to comprehend that.

Like a true glutton for punishment, he continued to stick by my side, away from his mother's eyes, and disregarded my grouchy dispositions with a determination that quite surprised me. The child was able to understand my moods on a level even I failed to comprehend.

It was a strange friendship, ours.

Tommy now tiptoed towards my ears. "I sneaked away when Mama fell asleep," he confided in me in a fearful whisper, "she snores very loudly. Like the giant in Jack and The Beanstalk. I do not think she noticed me leave." He nodded vigorously, willing me to believe him.

I smiled at his earnestness. "How do you know how loud the giant snores?"

He glanced around to see if anyone was eavesdropping on us. "I have seen him, Tessie," he answered conspiratorially, "he sleeps like the dead on my bed at night, snoring so loudly that my bed shakes every day." He frowned, bewildered.

I chuckled softly at his active imagination. "Do you not like the giant?"

He shook his head. "Nay, he is a meanie," he pouted, "sometimes, he even calls me bad names, and he makes a lot of noise every night. He refuses to leave me alone."

I brushed a hand across his curls soothingly. "Well, the next time you see him, come and find me," I told him firmly, "we will attack the giant and chase him away together. How does that sound? He will never bother you again when I am through with him." I promised, pretending to flex my muscles.

"Truly?" He seemed hopeful.

I nodded, smiling. "Truly."

His baby blue irises lit up. "Thank you, Tessie," he mumbled, leaning against me, "but at the moment, it is still very noisy in my bedchamber. Can I stay here with you tonight, please?"

My smile faded. "Tommy, we are in the gardens. You will catch a cold and - "

"Please?" he begged, "I cannot sleep in there. Let me stay here with you, please, please, please with a cherry on top?" He pleaded with his blue eyes adorably and impossibly wide, as he did every time he wanted his way.

How could I say nay to that face?

"Oh, all right," I grumbled, "but if your Mama asks tomorrow, you were with your giant. I was never here."

He nodded happily, snuggling into my arms. "I do not think she will believe me," he giggled, "but thank you, Tessie. You are the best." He wrapped his chubby arms tightly around me, burying his head in the crook of my neck.

I froze, surprised for a moment.

Hesitantly, I put my arms around him and held him against me in a gentle cuddle. A wave of tenderness blossomed within me at that moment, unlike anything I had ever felt before.

But then again, Tommy was no ordinary little boy.

Smiling softly, I placed a small kiss on top of his blonde curls. "Good night, mon ange."

A small breath blew against my neck. "Good night, Tessie."

***

A/N: The photo above is of Lord Thomas Delaborde, Earl of Alençon, also known as Tommy :) As always, you can imagine anyone else you wish to in his place!