EMILIE STORMED PAST the guards to Anne's bedchamber. Please, ma'am. One guard went to restrain her. The lady is resting.
Emilie's blood was surging. The duke had returned the night before, yet it was not Stephen who was in her mind but Anne, her mistress, the person she served, who had lost touch with right.
All morning, Emilie had prayed about what to do. She knew she had crossed a line with Hugh. My God, she had given aid to someone who'd killed a member of the duke's guard. For that she could be imprisoned2. She had asked herself over and over, If I cross this line, am I prepared to lose everything? My family's blessing3, my position in the court. My name... And each time the answer had come back clear and strong. How could I not?
She pushed open the large wooden door to Anne's chamber1.
William, Anne's nine-year-old son, was about to leave, dressed in his hawking4 attire5. Anne waved him off. Go. Your father awaits you, son. Catch a prize for me.
I will, Mother, the boy said, running off. Anne was in bed at this late hour, still wrapped in bedclothes.
You are ill, madame? Emilie asked.
You storm into my chambers6, Anne said, turning her face away, as if concern were not the issue at all.
On the contrary, I have much to take issue with you, Emilie said.
Take issue, child.... No doubt this, as all things, concerns your prot俫? the fool.
You are right, madame, he is a fool. But only to have trusted you. As am I.
So, this is no longer about him, I see. But you and me...
You have wronged him in a great way, my lady, and by doing so, wronged me.
Wronged you? Anne laughed coldly. Your Hugh is a wanted man now. A murderer, a deserter as well. He is sought in two duchies and will be caught. And once he is, he'll be hanged in the square.
Emilie stared, aghast. I am hearing your voice, lady, she said, but the words do not seem as if they could come from you. What has become of the woman who was like a mother to me? Where is the Anne who stood up against her husband? Who ruled in his absence with even temper and grace.
Go away, child. Please go. Do not lecture me on things you do not know.
I knowthis. Your men raided his village. They killed his son, stole and imprisoned his wife. She is dead now. In your prison. You knew.
How would I know? Anne shot back. How would I know some worthless harlot thrown in our dungeon7 was in fact this man's wife. I do not govern these Tafurs. They are my husband's. I do not know whom they rouse and what insane deeds they do.
These deeds, lady. Emilie met her eyes. They are now imprinted8 on you.
Go. Anne waved her away. Do you think that if I knew the person we sought all along was here, at Bor俥, in our court, your jester would still be running around, pained and aggrieved9, butalive? He'd be as dead as his wife.
You sought Hugh? Emilie blinked. For God's sake-why?
Because the fool holds the greatest prize in Christendom, and he does not know it.
What prize? He has nothing. You have taken everything from him.
Just go. Anne sank back in bed. And take with you your mighty10 sense of what is right and just. All that propelled you to run away from your father and your destiny. Go, Emilie! In her anger, Anne turned to face Emilie, exposing for the first time what she had concealed11.
There was a large red welt. And much worse.
What is that? Emilie moved forward.
Stay away, Anne snapped, shrinking into her pillows.
Please, my lady, do not turn from me. What is the bruise12 on your face?
Anne took a sharp breath. She dropped her head. It is myown prison, child. You want to see it-well, look!
Emilie let out a gasp13. She rushed over and, against Anne's efforts, gently stroked the wound. Stephen did that to you?
You should know it, child, for it is the verytruth that you claim to know so well. A woman's truth.
Emilie recoiled14 in horror. The side of Anne's face was swollen15 to twice its normal size.
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1
chamber
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n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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2
imprisoned
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下狱,监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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4
hawking
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利用鹰行猎 | |
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5
attire
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v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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6
chambers
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n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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7
dungeon
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n.地牢,土牢 | |
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8
imprinted
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v.盖印(imprint的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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9
aggrieved
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adj.愤愤不平的,受委屈的;悲痛的;(在合法权利方面)受侵害的v.令委屈,令苦恼,侵害( aggrieve的过去式);令委屈,令苦恼,侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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10
mighty
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adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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11
concealed
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a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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12
bruise
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n.青肿,挫伤;伤痕;vt.打青;挫伤 | |
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13
gasp
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n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 | |
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14
recoiled
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v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 );退缩;报应;返回 | |
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15
swollen
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adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀 | |
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