In the morning, Daniela had to face writing another letter to Charles without any good news to share. Should she tell him about the conflict between their two friends? He certainly would be interested to know it, but it didn't feel right when he was so close to the captain. For now, she would keep it to herself.

Dear Charles,

You must forgive me for taking an extra day to respond. I have no excuse, so I will take full responsibility for all resulting despondency. Next time I will

A faint knock interrupted her. "Enter," she called, but they didn't come in from the door to the hall, rather the door to her shared room.

"Anne, what is it?" Daniela got up. The maid was frightened. "What is the matter?" Daniela asked.

"Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty, I wanted to speak with you privately."

"Yes, of course, what is it?" Daniela led the girl to a chair.

"It's about Lord Sutton. It's something that I overheard. Only, I didn't think it meant nothing so I didn't tell, but then I thought it might be important."

Daniela waited for her to go on.

"It's just that a while ago I heard Lord Sutton arguing with Duke Pearson. And Duke Pearson was raving mad at him."

"Duke Pearson? He left long before Lord Sutton was killed."

"Yes, milady, I know, which is why I thought it didn't matter. Except then I remembered what they said."

"Tell me. What did you hear exactly?"

"Um, here's what I remember. Lord Sutton was laughing at the duke, he said, 'It's just a little gold, what does it matter to you?' Then the duke was angry; he said, 'It's not about the money, you bastard, her reputation is on the line.' Forgive my language, milady, it's what they said."

"He said 'her reputation'... Do you know who they were talking about?"

"No, milady, that's all I heard. I ran away when I heard them arguing like that."

"And when was this?"

"It was not long after Your Majesty's wedding, I think, when most of the guests were still here. It was near the duke's chambers. Normally I wouldn't work anywhere near that part of the castle, but since we were so busy I was running all over the place."

There was someone else involved in that argument, Daniela thought, and she could still be here. "Thank you Anne, you have helped me very much." She rose. "Go out by the king's room, like you came in. And don't tell anyone what you told me here."

"Yes, milady." Anne scampered out.

Daniela needed a way to find this woman. She thought about writing to Charles and having him ask Duke Pearson directly, but if the unknown woman and the duke had had an unseemly relationship, or worse, if the duke had been involved in the murder, it could cause more problems. First, they would search Duke Pearson's room as discreetly as they could. Daniela and Captain Phillips went in alone.

For a man who had packed up and left in a hurry, there was remarkably little out of place in the duke's room. None of his papers had anything to do with any woman or paying money to Lord Sutton. There were almost no personal effects at all. However, underneath the bed, the captain pulled out a single pearl earring.

"It could belong to the woman we're looking for," Daniela said. "Even if it doesn't, whoever it belongs to might know Duke Pearson well enough to know who the woman is."

That evening, Daniela had her four ladies-in-waiting come to her room to choose some fabrics for the dressmaker.

"I think this dark blue looks lovely on you, my lady." Marie held up the blue velvet next to Daniela's face.

"No, the silk is much finer," Lynette insisted.

"Her Majesty does not need more fine dresses, she wants something simpler for everyday wear," Paulina reminded her.

"Should I fetch some more samples?" Nicole walked toward a bundle on the bed.

Daniela watched Nicole out of the corner of her eye. "Don't you think dark colors look too severe on me?"

Nicole stooped down by the bed. "My lady, I think you've lost some jewelry." Nicole walked over to the group of women, holding the pearl earring in her palm. Daniela disliked trying to trick her companions like this, but the sooner she could clear them of any involvement, the better.

"Her Majesty does not wear earrings," Paulina pointed out.

Daniela was about to ask if it could be one of theirs, but she didn't get the chance.

"Oh, that's mine," Lynette said. "I was wondering where I'd lost it. Thank you, Nicole." Lynette pocketed the earring without a thought. Nicole raised her eyebrows, and Daniela's heart sank.

"Um, I'd like to see my dress for tomorrow," Daniela said nervously. "The green velvet. Marie, Paulina, would you fetch it for me?"

Nicole took the hint. "Oh, I left something in the dressing room, I'll go with them." She followed them out, and Daniela was alone with Lynette.

"Lynette, I need to ask you something."

"Of course, my lady."

Daniela was hesitant to broach the subject. "Can you tell me what your relationship is... with Duke Pearson?"

"Duke Pearson? I barely know the man. Why do you ask?" Lynette was relaxed. Too relaxed for a noblewoman suspected of an improper relationship.

"Please, Lynette. It would be best if you told me everything now. Whatever it is, maybe I can help you."

"Your Majesty, there is nothing to tell. What are you implying?"

"Lynette, that earring wasn't lost in my room. I found it in Duke Pearson's bedroom."

Daniela could see Lynette turning the information over in her mind, and watched her careful composure fall away. "You tricked me?" Lynette raised her voice. "How could you?" Her eyes flicked around, panicking. "I have nothing to do with that man! There are a thousand ways it could have gotten there!"

Daniela tried to remain calm, but her voice shook. "Lynette. Tell me where you were when Lord Sutton was killed."

"What? I had nothing to do with that! I was at home! How dare you!"

"Lynette, I beg you. Just tell me the truth. What is your relationship with the duke?"

Lynette ran to the door. She yanked it open, and Captain Phillips stood blocking her way.

"Captain Phillips, have your men escort Lynette to a cell."

Lynette was enraged, but she complied and went with the guards. Daniela stepped out into the hall, where the other three ladies had been waiting with the captain.

"Nicole explained it to us." Marie rubbed Daniela's trembling arm. "Do you really think she was involved in his death?"

Daniela shook her head. "We don't know yet. There is some connection, we just have to figure out what it is. If only she would tell us."

Captain Phillips interrupted as politely as he could. "Your Majesty, I would like to make a visit to the manor of Lady Lynette's family. Perhaps they can confirm that she was there."

"Yes, good thinking. Go tomorrow if possible. In the meantime I will go to the stables and find out exactly when she left."

The captain excused himself. Daniela looked mournfully at Paulina and Marie. "I am sorry for deceiving you two. I truly never thought the earring could belong to any of you. I just needed to rule you out before looking elsewhere."

"Do not fret, my lady," Paulina reassured. "We take no offense."

Fog clung to the grass as Daniela walked to the stables the next morning. She couldn't stand to wait any longer, and had gone out before breakfast.

"Jefferson, are you there? Can you spare a minute?" she called out as she approached.

The gruff stable master appeared and bowed. "Your Majesty, shall I saddle a horse for you?"

"No, not today. I need to speak with you about the investigation. Are all your stable hands here?"

"Aye, milady, but I already gave a full list of everyone who took out a horse that day to the guard."

"Yes, but I fear I have overlooked something." Daniela pulled up the hem of her skirt as she entered the stables, and waited for Jefferson to call his young crew.

"Is it true that Lady Lynette took out her horse on the day that Lord Sutton was killed?" she asked generally when they were assembled. "And that she returned it the next day in the afternoon?"

"Aye, milady," Jefferson confirmed. "She arranged beforehand to have her horse ready at midday, and we were not to expect her to return until the day after."

"But she didn't come at midday when she said she would," a boy piped up.

"She didn't? Did you actually see her here?" Daniela hurried over to the boy, who became nervous.

"Aye, her horse was still here until much later than that. I don't remember when, but the sun had long been set."

"Are you sure it was her?"

"Aye, indeed. The pretty lady with the yellow hair. I thought it was strange that such a fine lady should travel in the dark all alone."

Daniela thanked the stable hands and walked back into the castle. Lynette may still have been in the castle when Lord Sutton was killed. Daniela wanted to run to her and demand an answer, but it was best to wait for word from Captain Phillips.

She spent the greater part of the day in anticipation.

"Won't you please sit down, my lady? There is nothing you can do." Nicole was keeping her company, and doing her best to keep her at ease.

"You're right of course, though I am too distracted to think about anything else." Daniela paced by the window. Her room faced the back of the castle, so looking out of it would give her no sign of the captain, but she couldn't help herself.

The best she could hope for was that they had detained an innocent woman and that their investigation had failed. The worst was unspeakable.

Finally, a knock at her chamber door. Captain Phillips strode in without minding the mud on his boots, and lay an object wrapped in coarse fabric on the table.

"We found this at the manor." The captain was still catching his breath.

Daniela pulled back the cloth and revealed a thin, unembellished blade about two hands in length.

Nicole gasped. "Is that it? Is that what was used to kill Lord Sutton?"

The captain addressed his reply to Daniela. "We spoke with Lady Lynette's parents, the Viscount and Viscountess Adelbert. They said she arrived late at night. The Adelbert manor is only an hour away. Even if she had been delayed, she should have arrived there by sunset."

Daniela nodded. "I learned at the stables that she didn't leave until it was night. She could still have been here. Do you have reason to believe the knife is related?"

"Her parents said they had never seen it before. And there's this." He lifted the knife so Daniela could see the end of the hilt. It bore the Sutton crest.

Daniela took the knife and turned it over in her hands. "I need to hear it from her. Captain, do you need a rest from your journey?"

"No, Your Majesty. I am ready."

Daniela squeezed Nicole's arm to silently say, wait here. Then she rewrapped the knife and followed the captain down to the lower floor of the castle, past the cellars and storerooms. A guard was waiting outside the door to Lynette's cell.

Lynette was sitting properly, upright on the bed in all her finery. It was hard to believe she had spent the night there. Daniela entered and stood directly in her line of sight. The captain stayed close, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Daniela steadied herself. "Lynette, I will give you one more chance to tell me where you were on the night Lord Sutton was killed."

"I was staying with my parents."

"I learned at the stables that you left for home much later than what you told me."

Lynette was unfazed. "They must have been mistaken."

Daniela unfolded the fabric and held the knife out in her palms. "Did you bring this to your family's manor?"

"I have never seen that before in my life."

"Your parents said the same thing. They thought it was yours."

"Then they were mistaken!"

"Your parents agreed with what the stable hand said. They said you arrived late at night."

"Then they are lying! Those fools!" Lynette shouted. "How dare you accuse me!" She dug her fingers into the side of her bed.

Daniela tried to keep her voice steady. "If you are not responsible, you must tell me who is. Tell me who put you up to it! The only people who could possibly be involved are you and Duke Pearson. If it was him—"

"No!" Lynette shrieked. "No! No! It wasn't him!" She broke into ragged sobs.

Daniela waited silently for her to speak. Watching this beautiful, wretched woman fall apart was heartbreaking.

Lynette looked up beseechingly. "I'll tell you everything. Please... please..." Slowly her crying eased and she was able to speak clearly.

"Leo and I... Duke Pearson and I... were involved, before he went away. Lord Sutton discovered us; he walked in on us together in my bed. He said he would tell everyone at court and I would be ruined if I didn't pay him."

Lynette twisted the sheets from the bed tight in her hands until her fingers were red. "Leo didn't care! He just left! And that weasel Sutton kept asking for more and more money!" She dropped the sheets and laughed. "I said goodbye to sweet little Marie, and at midday I went into that bastard Sutton's room. I found his knife and hid in the closet. I knew he would come back drunk, so I waited and waited for hours so no one would see me. He fell asleep right away."

Lynette's eyes widened, and she looked down as if Lord Sutton were right beneath her. "Then I just... killed him! I slit his throat!" She laughed harder. Daniela felt sick. "Then I just climbed out the window and went home." Lynette shrugged playfully and leaned back.

"If you were being blackmailed, Lynette, why didn't you come to me? Maybe we could have—"

"HA!" Lynette pointed at Daniela. "Yes, maybe I should have gone to our perfect little princess for help. God, I knew you were pathetic, but I didn't know you were such a fool."

Daniela had heard enough. They left the cell and locked the door.

"She will likely hang, but I will wait until His Majesty returns and can pass judgment. It's over now."

They left the lower level, ignoring the continuous cries coming from Lynette's cell.