“Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold.” W. Shakespeare, As You Like It. Act 1. Scene 3. The only sign of the night’s violent storm is the sheen of rain on the flagstones of the inner courtyard, glistening beneath the early morning sun. Marie Cessette stands at the window of her bedchamber, transfixed by the … Continue reading Chapter Ninety-Two, Le Maupertus, by Mordaunt
Chapter Ninety-One, Mistress of Normanville, by Mordaunt
First, a little bit from the Canon, for inspiration. Alexandre Dumas, The Man in the Iron Mask, chapter 83, ‘Porthos’s Will’: “As to my personal or movable property, so called because it can be moved, as is so well explained by my learned friend, the Bishop of Vannes—” (d’ Artagnan shuddered at the dismal remembrance attached … Continue reading Chapter Ninety-One, Mistress of Normanville, by Mordaunt
Chapter Seventy-Nine, Jeu de la Bête, by Mordaunt
Jeu de la Bête was a 17th c French trick-taking card game, derived from the earlier (16th c) Spanish game Ombre (Homme, in French). It is named after the bête (beast), a term that referred to the penalty for failing to take the required number of tricks or for various infringements. The silence that envelops … Continue reading Chapter Seventy-Nine, Jeu de la Bête, by Mordaunt
Chapter Seventy-Seven, Gilded Lilly, by Mordaunt
To gild refined gold, to paint the lilyTo throw a perfume on the violetTo smooth the ice, or add another hueUnto the rainbow, or with taper-lightTo seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.(William Shakespeare, King John, Act 4- Scene 2) It has been more than a fortnight since Layla’s encounter … Continue reading Chapter Seventy-Seven, Gilded Lilly, by Mordaunt
Chapter Seventy-Five, Le Mat d’ Escalier (Two-Rook Checkmate), by Mordaunt
Leaving Glénay is not easy. There is too much uncertainty for those Raoul and Marie Cessette leave behind. There is too much uncertainty for the two of them also, even though neither has revealed the true extent of their concerns to their loved ones. At the courtyard of Glénay they say their last farewells, full … Continue reading Chapter Seventy-Five, Le Mat d’ Escalier (Two-Rook Checkmate), by Mordaunt
Chapter Seventy, Veiled Child, by Mordaunt
Outside the door of Alessandra’s chamber the only sounds are the shuffling of the people coming and going and their careful whispering. It was not the same when Sylvie gave birth. It was not the same when Petite was born. It was never this quiet. Seated next to Athos at the bench outside Alessandra’s room, … Continue reading Chapter Seventy, Veiled Child, by Mordaunt
Chapter Fifty-Eight, Light that Remains, by Mordaunt
“Agreed. You drive the carriage. But I will be riding right beside you.” Lucien’s patronizing tone should have annoyed Athos once, but he is no longer bothered about such things. There is planning involved in their escape, but besides insisting he drives the carriage, Athos is content that Lucien has taken charge. All Athos cares … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Eight, Light that Remains, by Mordaunt
Chapter Fifty-Three, Son of France No More, by Corso
End of the second dog watch – aboard the Belladonna … ‘Ahoy the deck!’ ‘I see it,’ the quartermaster of the Belladonna M Jabari holds the spy glass steady. ‘Merde,’ he mutters to himself just able to see the blink of light in the early evening hour. He counts the number of times the light … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-Three, Son of France No More, by Corso
Chapter Fifty-One: Vanishing Act in Seven (Easy) Steps, by Mordaunt
Step One: Learn from the best “I assume that you know all,” Aramis begins. “Enough to be abhorred that an innocent man finds himself imprisoned,” Layla replies. “Some might say that he is not an innocent man,” Aramis pushes, although it has been a losing argument; although even he no longer agrees. “He is my … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-One: Vanishing Act in Seven (Easy) Steps, by Mordaunt
Chapter Fifty, The Price of Clarity, by Mordaunt
Faites votre devoir, et laissez faire aux dieux.(Do your duty and leave the rest to Heaven) Pierre Corneille, Horace, Act II, Scene III (1639 Aramis does not stay at Noisy-le-rois as he planned. He rides back to Paris with Louis. “Not to Versailles, no I will not make it easy for you,” Louis pushed, “I … Continue reading Chapter Fifty, The Price of Clarity, by Mordaunt
Twelve Years After 