Louis was far from alone when Reinette entered his rooms, but he knew enough of her to all but immediately dismiss his advisers. They left, eyes wide and gossip already on their tongue. As if she had not already made enough of it.
Then they were alone. Then, the words came.
Masks were for hallways and ballrooms, not for here. Every bit of her distress was evidenced on Reinette's features. She did not have the thought to hide it as she ignored the gentle familiarity of the space and the man before her. There was no comfort in it now.
Indeed there was a great deal less. Words like hurt and distrust came far too easily. The writ. His seal. His signature.
Jack.
What had he done?
A misplaced glance at a truck in the far corner sent Reinette there. She knew people and their thoughts far too well not to follow the gaze. She pulled it open only to find a familiar coat. She wrapped it about her arms like armor only to discover something far more disturbing beneath. His wriststrap.
Whatever had been done to him, wherever he now was? There would have been no escape.
Reinette stood silently as Louis, now just as distressed at the sight of her reaction, fumbled through his words and his reasoning. A dance. Misplaced attentions. What could only be translated to Reinette's ears as damaged pride. Coldly she reminded him of all his other attentions, all the countless other women she had done nothing too other than a few sharply made opinions.
It was because of her. All that time, he watched.
It was all beyond ridiculous, and ----
His next mishandled confession left Reinette cold.
She moved to stand in the space Louis' next breath would come from. There was no mistaking her anger.
"You put him underground?"
What came next was a flurry of words and action. She demanded Louis write Jack's pardon then and there, informing him she would deliver it to the Bastille herself. He attempted to object, of course. But a few more well placed words brought him to silence.
And then she was in her carriage, two of Louis' strongest footmen following behind. She left him with no promises of when she would see him again, if at all.
They stared, at course, as she entered the guardhouse and demanded to be taken to Jack's location. There was no mistaking the king's seal. They attempted to object when her intention to follow them down into his cell was made clear. It only took a look to silence them now.
Reinette climbed further into the darkness, gaze already searching for Jack.
no subject
Then they were alone. Then, the words came.
Masks were for hallways and ballrooms, not for here. Every bit of her distress was evidenced on Reinette's features. She did not have the thought to hide it as she ignored the gentle familiarity of the space and the man before her. There was no comfort in it now.
Indeed there was a great deal less. Words like hurt and distrust came far too easily. The writ. His seal. His signature.
Jack.
What had he done?
A misplaced glance at a truck in the far corner sent Reinette there. She knew people and their thoughts far too well not to follow the gaze. She pulled it open only to find a familiar coat. She wrapped it about her arms like armor only to discover something far more disturbing beneath. His wriststrap.
Whatever had been done to him, wherever he now was? There would have been no escape.
Reinette stood silently as Louis, now just as distressed at the sight of her reaction, fumbled through his words and his reasoning. A dance. Misplaced attentions. What could only be translated to Reinette's ears as damaged pride. Coldly she reminded him of all his other attentions, all the countless other women she had done nothing too other than a few sharply made opinions.
It was because of her. All that time, he watched.
It was all beyond ridiculous, and ----
His next mishandled confession left Reinette cold.
She moved to stand in the space Louis' next breath would come from. There was no mistaking her anger.
"You put him underground?"
What came next was a flurry of words and action. She demanded Louis write Jack's pardon then and there, informing him she would deliver it to the Bastille herself. He attempted to object, of course. But a few more well placed words brought him to silence.
And then she was in her carriage, two of Louis' strongest footmen following behind. She left him with no promises of when she would see him again, if at all.
They stared, at course, as she entered the guardhouse and demanded to be taken to Jack's location. There was no mistaking the king's seal. They attempted to object when her intention to follow them down into his cell was made clear. It only took a look to silence them now.
Reinette climbed further into the darkness, gaze already searching for Jack.