Last Life

Book 3: Interlude 6

Herouxville

The Manor of the Duke de Gondy

PRINCE LOUIS STOOD at a broad window overlooking the Duke de Gondy’s manor garden and, pressing his overheated head against the cool glass, thoughtfully looked down at the happy, fussing groups of young nobles idling away on the edge of the miniature pond. Each of them had visible red bands on their elbows.

Louis sighed bitterly. They were supporters of his elder brother, Prince Philippe. Here... In the house of his beloved... Oh gods! How hard it was!

Louis, setting all etiquette aside, had come uninvited to the de Gondy manor. Furthermore, he waited for the duke himself not to be home for a one-on-one with the marchioness.

Blanca wasn’t answering his letters. And Louis had written her a minimum of ten since the de Gondies came to the capital. Without a single response!

Prince Louis refused to believe Blanca de Gondy was intentionally ignoring all his letters. What was more, he wasn’t even considering it. His Blanca could only not be answering for one reason — she simply was not receiving his letters. This was a plain conspiracy against their love! That was what Prince Louis was really thinking. And burning with emotions overflowing his heart, he lost patience and hope with every passing day. Which was why he decided to come on his own.

He was brought into a big stone room and asked to wait, being told that the marchioness was not expecting His Highness to visit, and thus had to get herself together.

It took an unbelievably long time. There were also the people out the window making merry and laughing hideously... Louis was certain his Blanca had been forced to tolerate the presence of Philippe supporters in her home. The courtly and highly educated marchioness was most likely suffering greatly from the company of the stupid and simpleminded people. She simply could not disobey her father’s will, or that of the king.

Recalling his father, Louis clenched his fists and squinted. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. He would never forgive him... Never!

Finally, the far door flew open and in strode Blanca de Gondy, accompanied by her handmaid. Middling height, raven hair, and dark golden skin — just how he remembered her from their first meeting.

For a moment, Prince Louis took in the marchioness’ beauty and found himself tongue-tied. But suddenly, he realized his love for the woman had only grown over the past year. He admired her refined chin, sensuous little mouth, thin waist and chestnut eyes — the most beautiful eyes in the world.

Blanca de Gondy immediately performed a perfect curtsy and, hurriedly waving a fan embroidered with little rainbow pearls, came:

“Your Highness, I beg forgiveness for keeping you waiting so long.”

The familiar aroma of crimson orchids wafted through the room. It smelled just like the marchioness’ letters.

“Ah, dear Blanca!” Prince Louis exclaimed and walked over to the marchioness. “You needn’t apologize. I am the one that should be begging you forgiveness for the intrusion!”

Taking Blanca’s hot little hand in his, he raised it to his lips and, closing his eyes for a brief moment, froze to savor the scent and warmth of her skin.

When he raised his head, he realized a slight rosy glow had taken hold on the marchioness’ cheeks while a strange little light flickered in her chestnut eyes. The prince found an easy explanation for her state — Blanca was happy to see him.

After a quick wave, her handmaid bowed and went out the door. The prince and marchioness were left alone.

“My love!” Louis exclaimed shakily and took a step forward. “I do not understand... You haven’t been responding to my letters...”

“Ah, my prince!” Blanca shuddered and looked toward the door warily. “Please! We must maintain caution!”

“But...”

“Have you forgotten that I am engaged to your older brother?” a sad, bitter look was frozen in the marchioness’ eyes. “And you will be going north for your future wife...”

“Oh, gods!” Prince Louis clenched his fists. “I... I’d sooner die! I...”

“No, my prince,” the marchioness shook her head, covering her little mouth in fear with a hand. “If something were to happen to you, the grief would kill me. I will throw myself from the cliffs into the raging sea just like the Copperhaired Hélène in Antoine de Thoriez’ Moonlight Verses.”

“Oh, gods,” Louis whispered and, clutching the marchioness’ hands, started smothering them in tender kisses. “What should we do, my dear?!”

“We must submit to fate,” she sighed heavily, and led a hand over the prince’s cheek. “But our love shall live in eternity!”

“Eternity!” Louis eyes were alight with a flame of passion.

“And here a year ago, I thought the Most Luminous Mother had answered my prayers...” she said sadly. Tears shimmered in the corners of her eyes. “But our parents decided otherwise... Although, let me tell the truth. My father was glad to find out about our love...”

“It was all my father!” the prince hissed angrily through his teeth. “That vile little dwarf put it into his head...”

With a fearful shudder, she touched her fingers to the prince’s lips, then turned toward the door warily.

“I beg you, stop, my love...” she whispered. As if hypnotized, Louis looked at her sensuous little mouth, tiny white teeth and pink little tongue. “Even the walls here have ears. If His Majesty finds out the things you’re saying...”

“I swear I’ll be cautious, my love!” the prince whispered hotly and, no longer able to hold back, buried his face in her plump lips.

At first Blanca pulled back in surprise, but then she lurched forward and, eyes closed, kissed him back. It didn’t last long. Just a few moments.

Placing her little hands on the prince’s chest, she pushed away gently, with an air of reluctance.

Looking down and fully blushing, she covered her face with a fan and said choppily:

“My prince... I beg you...”

“My love...” Louis took another step forward.

“No!” Blanca exclaimed in fear. “We cannot... It isn’t right... My father will be back soon... It’s time for you to go...”

“I’m going!” the prince said, squeezing both of her hands in his. “But promise me that the flame of our love will never be extinguished!”

“But we are not destined to be together, my love...”

“We’ll see about that!” the prince exclaimed.

His cheeks filled crimson, while a fire of passion and determination set his eyes ablaze.

Somewhere outside, many voices cried out in delight. Blanca shuddered and looked out the window in fear.

“My prince! Please! You’d better go before they see you!”

“Yes, my love!” Louis nodded and pressed his lips to her hand one last time before hurrying outside.

In the doorway, he turned and said:

“Remember, my love! You will be mine one day!”

When the door slammed shut behind the prince, and the sound of his footsteps faded, Blanca de Gondy breathed a sigh of relief. Shaking her head, she took a little lace kerchief from her sleeve and wiped her lips in disgust.

A moment later, next to the fireplace a wall curtain slid to the side and a broad-shouldered young man in a dark blue kaftan with gold embroidery appeared. A self-satisfied acrid smile danced on his thin lips. His powerful chin was slightly upturned while a little light of superiority and disregard burned in his dark eyes.

“Blanca, don’t you feel the least bit bad for my poor brother?” he chuckled. There were clear notes of derision in his commanding voice.

The marchioness sighed and walked over to a silver pitcher of wine on a tray on the table. Prince Heinrich, and that was who it was, jumped ahead a bit, taking the pitcher off the tray and pouring two glasses of the bright ruby liquid into the silver gemstone encrusted glasses.

After a little sip from her glass, the marchioness gave a smirk and answered:

“I seem to recall someone assuring me recently that he did not consider him a brother.”

“You are mistaken, Blanca,” Heinrich replied and, draining his glass in a single gulp, came over to the marchioness. His powerful muscular hand enwrapped her thin waist and pulled her dainty feminine body toward him. So hot, and so saturated with desire. “That was in the past. Now, my great-great grandmother’s portrait hangs in the royal gallery. It is the spitting image of my younger brother, who adores you and who you care not a whit about.”

“Your brother has a role to play in our plans,” she came softly and, slightly raising a right brow, asked: “And by the way, are princes even capable of love?”

Heinrich and the marchioness met eyes. The prince felt Blanca’s body shivering in his hands. Her dark eyes were slightly squinting. The tip of her little tongue licked her full lips and she chuckled. She was like a kitten obediently allowing herself to be picked up, but ready at any moment to put out her claws.

Heinrich laughed back. That really was Blanca de Gondy. Cruel, calculating, and volatile. But he had known her true face for many years. That of Vestonia’s future queen. His queen.