The Marshal Is My Mate novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Poison

"Then test everything," Lucan said.

He said it loudly enough to carry to the doors.

"Test every glass on this table, Majesty. Mine first. And the Duke's wine, and the bottle."

The Empress lifted one finger.

An old man in a white coat came out from behind her chair, and she nodded to him.

"My physician," she said. "He is thorough and he is bored. Go on."

The physician knelt beside Perrin and drew blood from his wrist.

He sniffed the broken glass. He sniffed the bottle. He tested a drop of wine on a small gray strip.

The strip stayed gray.

"There is nothing in the wine," he said.

"The Duke touched it!" Ansel cried.

"I never touched his glass," Lucan said. "I passed the bread. Every servant in this room saw it."

"Three servants did," the Empress said. "I asked them."

The physician looked at the blood sample, then at Perrin's pale lips.

"This is a Sentinel suppressant," he said. "A heavy dose, and not from tonight's meal. He took it an hour ago, perhaps less."

A murmur went through the hall.

"He took it himself," Ansel said at once. "He was in pain. He didn't want to storm in front of the Empress."

"Then he'll have a vial," the physician said. "Lord Corval, would you be so kind as to empty your pockets?"

Ansel's hand went to his coat.

It was a small movement, and everybody saw it.

"Please," the Empress said gently.

Ansel took out a handkerchief, a pen and a small brown vial.

He set them on the cloth one at a time.

The physician held up the vial against the candle.

"The label has been scratched off," he said. "It is a quarter empty."

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