ELEVEN

WHEN THE KNOCK finally came and the same servant called to take her to the upper hall where the Baron was waiting for her, Adalene jumped like a frightened goose. She felt so on edge.

Do not think. The day will pass and you will survive this, she told her wide-eyed reflection in the mirror. It cannot be as bad as when you and your cousins faced that boar in the woods and you were so frightened for your life. Or... or if you are right now in Louis’ chamber and you are suffering the touch of his probing hands and the terrible smell of his rotten teeth!

As if she was running away from something terrible from the room, she bade the servant to enter at once. There was only the youngest one, Juliet. She determinedly faced her, shy but sure about what she wanted to know.

“Juliet, I need to ask you something.”

“Yes, Mademoiselle,” she replied, and the gently teasing smile on her face told her Juliet knew what she was about to ask.

Her face warmed up but it didn’t stop her from asking. “Have y