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moonlight it looked mysterious and peaceful. However, her reverie was interrupted as a
young page approached her.
You are the lady Comtesse de Montcrief?
Yes. Do you have a message for me?
Sir Anton Gifford awaits you in the courtyard, madame. I am to take you to him.
Thank you& Marietta smiled her relief. She had been foolish to worry. Anton would
not forget her. Please lead the way. I shall follow you.
The page started off, and Marietta followed. She had thought he might mean the
courtyard overlooked by the Great Hall, but it seemed he did not for he led her down a
long dark passage which seemed to go on endlessly and take several twists and turns.
Eventually they reached a door, which the page indicated.
The courtyard is beyond, madame. You will find the gentleman waiting.
As he turned away, Marietta noticed a smirk on his face. Did he imagine she was meeting
a lover in secret?
She opened the door and peered through it. The night air was very cool, but the moon
was full. Somehow reassured because of the light, Marietta ventured outside.
Anton& are you here? she asked, for although there was a small fountain, a stone bench
and what looked like beds of rose bushes and lavender, as yet not in bloom, she could see
no one. The courtyard was bordered with high walls. Anton& I have come& She took a
few steps into the open space and then heard the door slam behind her. Suddenly fearful,
she rushed to the door and tugged at the latch; it would not budge. Someone had locked it
from inside. Open this at once! she cried, and beat on the door with her fists. I am
locked out here and it is cold&
No answer came. Marietta felt an icy trickle down her spine. She was trapped, because
she could see that there was no other way out of the courtyard. Someone had sent the
page in Anton s name to lure her here but why?
She shivered, feeling the cold of the night air begin to seep into her flesh. Who had
trapped her here? Was it the Bastard of Rouen? A moment or two of reflection told her
that had it been he she would already have been dead or his captive. Someone else had
done this but who could it be?
Marietta began to walk around the perimeter of the small courtyard, hoping that she
might find a gate, or some other way of leaving it. However, there was none. Someone
had planned this well, but why shut her out here? Was it merely to frighten her, or were
they hoping that she would remain here all night? She shivered, crossing her arms over
her breasts, hugging herself to try to keep warm. She must move about or she would not
be able to bear the cold. If only she had found a servant to send for her cloak but she
had not given it a thought. Usually Anton did these things for her. He had taken care of
her and she ought not to have doubted him.
Tears caught in her throat. Anton was often stern, and sometimes harsh, but he was a man
of honour. Surely he would look for her when he realised that she was missing?
She went back to the door and banged on it again and again, calling out for help.
Please help me. I am locked out& she cried. Please help me&
I shall wish Your Majesty goodnight, Anton said. The hour is late, and the Comtesse
will wonder where I am.
Forgive us, Gifford. We have kept you too long. The lady will begin to think that you
have deserted her.
Anton bowed and left him. He was thoughtful as he returned to the Great Hall to look for
Marietta. He had made up his mind that he would ask her to marry him. She needed the
protection of an honourable man, and their night of passion had shown him that she
would be a wonderful wife. His hesitation had been because he was afraid to trust again,
but now he decided that he must take the chance. No other woman would satisfy him. He
must have Marietta or no one.
Glancing round the huge hall, he saw that it was almost empty now, for people had begun
to drift away after the King s departure. A brief glance told him that she was not here, but
he saw Miguel talking to one of the ladies and went up to him.
Have you seen the Comtesse?
Not for some time, Miguel replied. Perhaps she tired of waiting and went home?
Anton s gaze narrowed for a moment, then he shook his head. She would have no idea
of how to get there. She would have waited for me to take her.
Perhaps she went to meet someone a lover?
She knows no one here. You wrong her, Miguel. Anton frowned. She may have
wandered off looking for me and got lost. This place is a rabbit warren if you do not
know it well. We must search for her. I shall question the servants. Someone must have
seen where she went&
I can do that for you if you have more important business.
You can search outside the palace with some of my men. Anton looked round. I shall
start with that serving woman over there. She looks to be ordering the others and may
have some sense&
He left Miguel and went over to a woman dressed in a grey gown made of good cloth,
who seemed to be ordering the servants as they began to clear away the debris and
discarded wine cups left lying about by the courtiers.
Good evening, madam. I need to find a lady. This is her first visit to the palace and I
think she may have got lost. Can you help me to search for her?
Yes, sir, the woman said. I will summon the pages that have not yet retired. They are
always about, and see much that happens. One of them should have seen her. Can you tell
me the lady s name?
She is Comtesse de Montcrief and she is under my protection.
I shall help you all I can, sir. She beckoned to a young woman and spoke to her, then
turned back to Anton. Bethany will take you to the room where the pages wait until they
are required or given leave to go to bed. I am certain one of them will know something.
Thank you. Anton took a silver coin from his jerkin. I am grateful for your help.
He was frowning as he followed the younger woman. Why had Marietta left the hall?
Surely she had known that he would return for her?
How long had she been here? Marietta hugged herself to keep out the chill wind. She had
walked round and round the courtyard a hundred times, every now and then going to try
the door and call out for help. No one had come, and she thought that perhaps this
courtyard was seldom used. She might be here for a long time.
Supposing no one came tonight? Supposing no one came for days?
Fear rippled through her. She was close to tears, but crying would not help her. If the
walls had not been quite so high she might have tried to climb them, but there was
nothing to help her gain a foothold.
She was trapped! She might die here!
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