Fabien forced himself to sit up. “What do you know of love potions? Stimulants to the act of intercourse?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Imagine two people took a love potion that contained poison. How is it possible for one to suffer the effects of the poison while the other did not?”

Claudine put the magnifying glass down. “Either that person succeeded in vomiting the poison before it took effect or they took an antidote prior to taking the potion.”

Fabien rubbed his neck and bent over, clearly still feeling the aftereffects. “I want you to send a message to Bontemps, the King’s valet. “Tell him I need to see him.”

Claudine nodded, then knowing he couldn’t see her, answered that she would.

The dilapidated farmhouse sat beside a low-flowing stream, and countless snakes and turtles had come up from the water to make it their home. Montcourt was the first to arrive and spent his free time stomping reptiles and kicking them out of the house. Cassel came next. He watched Montcourt boot a particularly long snake through the doorway. Then he studied Montcourt’s torn, faded clothing with a look of disgust.

“I must give you the name of my tailor in Paris,” he said.

Montcourt wiped his face. “Fine clothes serve little purpose when one lives in a hut in the forest. I’ve nothing and no one to help me. Indeed, I wanted to ask if we could start our little business enterprise again?”

“Noble residents at the palace are barred from all forms of commerce.”

“I thought you hated Versailles.”

“I do, but it’s not without attraction.”

A moment later the door opened and Beatrice entered with several other noble conspirators. Cassel turned to her. “Why are we here?”

She frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Didn’t you summon –?”

“It was me,” came a deep, raspy voice from the shadows on the far side of the room. The nobles looked at one another then turned to listen. “I’ve good news for our cause. The King is sending his sister-in-law to England to see her brother, King Charles. For whatever reason, she will not survive the journey.”

“You will kill her?” said Cassel. “And then what?”

“You will learn soon enough,” said the unseen man.

Beatrice shook her head. “I say we kill the King.”

“Come now,” said Cassel. “I hate the King as much as you.”

“I doubt that. He destroyed your castle. His father destroyed my entire family and thousands of Huguenots.”