“I do a great many things that I have been warned against doing,” He said, teasingly. “And what, might I ask, are you doing wandering about all alone so very near the spot where a man’s very life was taken from him?” He asked, “Alexandir Godiva is kept under lock and key, yes, but have you considered that there may have been an accomplice to his crimes? That very person could have taken you by surprise, just as I have,” He said, resisting the urge to smile at her once more, “If I may, allow me to accompany you on the rest of your tour of the gardens,” He said, “I would surely not be much use against the man who was able to kill such a warrior as Jon Valles, but if it just the mastermind behind the crime, perhaps we might be able to outwit him together.”
Dmitrei exhaled, shaking his head, “If I knew the answer to that question, I would do it myself. No one deserves to have such a thing happen to them, but your cousin perhaps least of all. She is as fairer than even the brightest of these roses, both in appearance and character.” She had the allure of the soft petals, which hid her sharp thorns underneath that would pierce you as you tried to take it for yourself.
“You must forgive me for my remark about your safety,” He said, “I hope it did not make you uneasy. I will agree that it may not have been Alexandir Godiva, and that the man responsible may still be on the loose … but, I do not think that there is a safer place in all of Aragoth than here.” He said, “Your cousin, the Queen, has taken every precaution, as has your aunt and brother. What happened to Jon Valles, will not happen to anyone else. Still, I do think it would be wise to exercise some extra caution until it is resolved, but I should not worry if I were you.”
“It very well might have been the pirate,” Dmitrei said, “He seems to delight in both causing trouble and making poor decisions.” He paused, “But, whatever the truth, I’m sure we can trust the Queen to find it.”
“How very shocking!” teased Cordelia with a bright smile. “Whatever shall we do with you, my lord?” Arching her brows, Cordelia turned towards him proudly. “I am not afraid!” she declared in a tone very convincing for someone who had just jumped at the sound of a nearby footfall. “Not with you here by my side, Lord Massard. I don’t believe anyone should be witless enough to attack the both of us: a member of the queen’s own council and her niece beneath her very window!” She paused. “Besides, we are much more pleasant than poor Lord Valles ever was. Who would ever want to harm us?”
That Jon Valles had provoked Alexandir Godiva, and that Alexandir Godiva had provoked Jon Valles, could not possibly be called into question. It was a fact, witnessed by half the court, and indisputable for all that. Whether further provocation had occurred - or vengeance simply taken - was less sure, but there seemed no one more likely. Even if Alexandir had murdered Jon, Cordelia didn’t much blame him. Naturally, the Queen could not overlook a murder and some slap on the wrist would need to be administered: perhaps she would give Raimbeaucourt or Evie elsewhere, perhaps Alexandir would be kept under house arrest for some time...Nothing was clear, but as murders went, killing a man like Jon Valles didn’t seem so very awful after all.
“Is there a particular accomplice you suspect?” inquired Cordelia in a conspiratorial tone. “You’d not keep such a thing from me, would you, my lord?” she added with a soft smile. “Our friendship is much too important for the keeping of any such secrets, I’m sure.” Folding her arm into his, she smiled brightly. “I should be very glad of a gallant companion,” she replied. “One cannot be too careful in such circumstances, but I shall feel very safe indeed in the company of the cleverest man in Aragoth.”
Her spirits, kept artificially high by the social necessity of conversation and distraction, dipped again at the thought of Lynessa’s misery. It puzzled her how such a wonderful woman might be so easily and all-consumingly ensnared by such a blackguard, but her regard could not possibly be questioned, now. “That is so,” agreed Cordelia. “She has all the beauty of both her native Houses.” Cordelia’s Aunt Avelina was fond of saying how very great the resemblance was between Lynessa and Nycole Arrington of old, but Cordelia didn’t think it could be so exact as her aunt insisted. The descriptions did sound right, but one could never say for certain after so many centuries. Still, it was a comparison Avelina had always proved eager to draw.
“It is not you,” assured Cordelia. “I confess I am...agitated, but if there is a fault in it, it is owing to my own anxiety over Lynessa,” she paused, before going on. “And if anyone has been stirring me up, well, I’ll own Arthur has me rather in a state, as well. I think he fears greatly that, rather than Jon, it might have been I who was killed. Which is ridiculous...Jon had a great many enemies, but who on earth should want me dead I can’t for the world imagine!” she declared, naively. “He has been most affected by the events, certainly. I suppose he feels a bit responsible for our cousins, as he is the head of House Arrington, but I really don’t see what on earth poor Arthur could have done to prevent this heinous murder,” she added, insensible of the irony in her words.
Cordelia’s eyes widened. It made a great deal of sense to her that it should be this James Garin. After all, he’d proven himself an enemy of House Beaumont. Why not steal one sister and murder the bridegroom of another? This was, she had always been told, the nature of criminals: to seek out evil and perpetrate it. “How awful! For first one sister and then the other to suffer so cruelly at his hands. I am grateful he was stopped before he could exact such a toll upon my aunt or Evie!” she paused, and this time spoke in all seriousness. “Perhaps it was he who was my lord the Duke’s accomplice! Perhaps it was he who put the idea into his head!” There was, after all, nothing more sinister than a pirate.
romaincrisis
blakekathryn
stormborns
annaxmalina
ellievsbear
baratheonpilled
