Royal Assassin

I stepped in, greeting Lacey warmly, and then glanced about for Patience. She was in the other chamber, I surmised. But in a corner, eyes lowered over needlework, sat Molly. She did not look up at me or acknowledge my presence at all. Her hair was tidied back in a bun under a lacy little cap. On another woman, her blue dress might have been simple and modest. On Molly it was drab. Her eyes stayed down on her work. I glanced at Lacey to find her regarding me levelly. I looked at Molly again and something inside me gave way. It took me four steps to cross the room to her. I knelt beside her chair and as she drew back from me, I seized her hand and carried it to my lips.

"FitzChivalry!" Patience's voice behind me was outraged. I glanced at her framed in the doorway. Her lips were set flat in anger. I turned away from her.

Molly had turned her face aside from me. I held her hand and spoke quietly. "I cannot go on like this anymore. No matter how, foolish, no matter how dangerous, no matter what any other may think. I cannot be always apart from you."

She pulled her hand away from me, and I let it go not to hurt her fingers. But I grasped at her skirt and clutched a fold of it like a stubborn child. "At least speak to me," I begged her, but it was Patience who spoke.

"FitzChivalry, this is not seemly. Stop it at once."

"It was not seemly, nor wise, nor appropriate for my father to court you as he did, either. But he did not hesitate. I suspect he felt much as I do right now." I did not look away from Molly.

That won me a moment of startled silence from Patience. But it was Molly who set aside her needlework and rose. She stepped away, and when it became clear that I must let go or tear the fabric of her skirt, I released it. She stepped clear of me. "If my lady Patience will excuse me for the evening?"

"Certainly," Patience replied, but her voice was not at all certain.

"If you go away, there is nothing for me." I knew I sounded too dramatic. I was still on my knees by her chair.

"If I stay, there is still nothing for you." Molly spoke levelly as she took off her apron and hung it on a hook. "I am a serving girl. You are a young noble, of the royal family. There can never be anything between us. I've come to see that, over the last few weeks."

"No." I rose and stepped toward her, but forbore to touch her. "You are Molly and I am Newboy."

"Maybe. Once," Molly conceded. Then she sighed. "But not now. Do not make this harder for me than it is, sir. You must leave me in peace. I have nowhere else to go; I must stay here and work, at least until I earn enough ...." She shook her head suddenly. "Good evening, my lady. Lacey. Sir." She turned aside from me. Lacey stood silently. I noticed she did not open the door for Molly, but Molly did not pause there. The door shut very firmly behind her. A terrible silence welled up in the room.

"Well," Patience breathed at last. "I am glad to see that at least one of you has some sense. What on earth were you thinking, FitzChivalry, to barge in here and all but attack my maid?"

"I was thinking that I loved her," I said bluntly. I dropped into a chair and put my head into my hands. "I was thinking that I am very weary of being so alone."

"That is why you came here?" Patience sounded almost offended.

"No. I came here to see you. I did not know she would be here. But when I saw her, it just came over me. It's true, Patience. I cannot go on like this."

"Well, you'd better, because you're going to have to." The words were hard, but she sighed as she said them.

"Does Molly speak of it ... of me? To you. I must know. Please." I battered at their silence and exchanged looks. "Does she truly wish me to leave her alone? Have I become so despised of her? Have I not done all you demanded of me? I have waited, Patience. I have avoided her, I have taken care not to cause talk. But when is an end to it? Or is this your plan? To keep us apart until we forget each other? It cannot work. I am not a babe, and this is not some bauble you hide from me, to distract me with other toys. This is Molly. And she is my heart and I will not let her go."

"I am afraid you must." Patience said the words heavily.

"Why? Has she chosen another?"