Cécile: Gates of Gold

No Safe Place

The next day, Philippe scratches again at the door. When Cécile answers it, Philippe calls her Rosebud and kisses her right on the lips! Cécile can feel the blood rush to her cheeks; what if someone saw! Philippe explains the boys have returned from Meudon, and are requesting for Cécile and Stabdille.

They proceed to the boys’ chambers. Madame de Ventadour is there, with the boys, who are weeping and playing quietly. They don’t seem interested in playing with Cécile or Stabdille. Cécile understands they are not in the right emotional state to play as normal.

Cécile takes some blankets and pillows, and makes a little fort by the windows. Eventually, Bretagne and Anjou come to sit down next to them. Immediately, she can feel Anjou is hot with a fever. Cécile reads quietly with the boys until they drift off to sleep.

Then, she calls over Madame de Ventadour to point out the patchy redness on Bretagne’s face and the heat of Anjou’s fever. Cécile can see the worry and concern in the faces of the staff members standing around the room.