Chapter 10: What She Said About Marguerite

Liora found Marguerite in the castle chapel before the sun was up.

The chapel was small, cold and lit by a dozen candles, and Marguerite knelt alone in the front pew with her black hood pushed back.

She did not turn around.

"I wondered how long you'd take," she said.

"You told me to keep him off the bridge."

"Yes."

"You brought a silver cup to his door."

"Honey and willow bark, for his arm." Marguerite turned at last. "I used to bring him that when he came back from the garrison."

"You pour cups," said Liora. "You wear a hooded cloak. You were betrothed to him."

"The woman in my cards stands next to him."

For a long moment Marguerite just looked at her.

Her face was very white.

"Is that what you've been thinking?" she said, almost gently. "That I'm the one?"

"Are you?"

"I would rather die."

"Then tell me what you know about the bridge."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not brave," said Marguerite, and her voice broke. "Please. Leave it alone. For both of us."

She rose and walked out past Liora without another word, and her hood trailed behind her.

Liora stood alone among the candles and felt, for the first time, entirely sure.

Nobody who was innocent begged like that.

She went to the study.

Bastien was already there, in his shirtsleeves, putting the small brass wheel into a clock with his tweezers.

"You went to the chapel," he said, without looking up.

"How do you know?"

"The chaplain told Isaure, and Isaure told me." He set down the tweezers. "I told you to leave her alone."

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