1416940146(FY) by Cameron Dokey Read Free Book Online Page B

tricked me!" Oswald protested. "You played a game with me, but never told me its rules. You played me false, Uncle."
    "No, Oswald," said my father. "And I am sorry that you think so. When you are calmer, I think you will realize I speak the truth. But I suppose it is too much to expect you to think so at this moment."
    A thousand painful things seemed to chase themselves across my cousins face, each one hard upon the heels of the one before it. Then, as if he had seized a curtain and yanked it across a scene he had never intended to reveal, his face went blank, though his eyes continued to smolder. I was glad he did not turn them upon me, much as I wanted him to know that I was sorry for what was happening. I had not known what Papa intended any more than Oswald had. But I greatly feared that he would blame me for it.
    "Madame," he said to my mother. He pushed back from the table, tossing his linen napkin onto his plate. "The dinner you provide is excellent, as always. But I fear I may have suddenly become unwell, for I find I have no appetite for it. You will excuse me, I hope?"
    My mother cleared her throat before she spoke. "But of course,"she replied.

    37

    Oswald rose from the table, his back as hard and straight as iron. He bowed in turn to each of my parents, then gave me the lowest, most elaborate bow of all. He departed without another word, the heels of his boots striking so hard that sparks flew up from the flagstones.
    "Well, that's that," my father said, when he had gone. "I suppose there was no way to avoid hurting him, but even so ..."
    He broke off, shaking his head, then picked up the knife and began to carve the chicken once more.
    "I hope you know what you're doing, Philippe," my mother said.
    "Bien sur," my father answered simply."I am doing what must be done. It will be all right, Mathilde. You must trust me."
    "I do. You know I do. But I hope to God you're right in this, Philippe," Maman replied. Her eyes stared at the door through which Oswald had departed."He has the nobles' love. He has made it his life's work."
    "He is like his father in that," Papa replied."It may be enough for the son of a younger son. But not for one who will govern.
    The one who will do that must see beyond the palace walls."
    "He would make a dangerous enemy," my mother cautioned.
    "Then we must take care that he does not become one,"
    answered Papa. "He is angry now, but his anger will pass. He is too smart to hold on to it for long. Now, if it's all the same to everyone else, I'd like to finish the rest of my dinner in peace and quiet."
    "As you wish, Philippe," Maman said. And she held out her plate for some chicken.
    But I said."Merci, Papa."
    At this, he smiled. "You are welcome, Aurore. But, I think it is I who should thank you."
    "For what?" I asked in surprise.
    But it was Maman who answered, and in a way which brought tears to my eyes.
    "For growing up the way we hoped you might," she said.
    After which none of us felt the need to say anything more.

    38

Chapter 5
    And so the next six years of my life began, with a proclamation read aloud the next morning from high atop the palace walls. In it, all my fathers people learned that I would be his successor, no matter how long it took, rather than my cousin, no matter how great his charms, though naturally the proclamation itself was more diplomatic on these points.
    The reactions to the announcement was predictable. Dead silence from the nobles inside the palace; wild cheering from the people outside the walls. For apparently the fact that my father loved me dearly and had cherished high hopes for my future was well known outside the palace. As well known there as it was little known inside. (Not because he had said this to anyone directly, I think, but because, to the people, this was the natural order of things. What should be so.)
    When it was further announced that the king and his daughter would shortly be riding forth, the cheering from outside grew so loud as to be