“I’m pleased to see you,” Charles said in the arrogant, regal tone she knew so well. “Now to business. Sir William has outlined your King’s proposals and I fear I cannot accept them in their entirety. He seems to see England as a small, insignificant neighbor with no ambitions of its own….”

I should not be here, she thought. This was a mistake!

And then Louis’ words to her flooded back. “Your every move and gesture must indicate self-control. Betray no emotion.”

“…he wishes us to stand by while he invades Holland and steals their trade. This is unacceptable. He proposes to aid us in our relations with the Pope…”

“Hold his gaze. Play on his weaknesses.”

Henriette’s eyes scanned the room. It was then she truly saw what was before her. The crumbling walls. A rat sniffing in the corner. The shoes of the guards badly worn and splitting at the seams. A broken window and water on the floor from a leak in the ceiling.

“But with what guarantee?” said Charles. “In short, his proposals lean too heavily in France’s favor.”

Henriette turned her face back to her brother. “Hold his gaze. Play on his weaknesses.” She took a deep, silent breath of rediscovered self-confidence and looked the King in the eye. “How much do you want?”

Charles frowned slightly. “I beg your pardon.”

“You may seek to impress me with your castles and defiant speeches, but you do not fool me, brother.”

The frown increased. “Fool you?”

“You are bankrupt.”

Charles forced a chuckle. “What a charming thought!”

Henriette felt the tables turn. She now held the winning cards. “Six years ago, the city of London was struck by a plague. Two years after, it was destroyed by fire. You are bankrupt but don’t care to admit it. I repeat, how much?”

The King’s advisors watched the brother and sister, yet said nothing.

“This is not how we conduct such matters,” said Charles.

“It is how I conduct them.”

“My dear sister –”

“I prefer you address me as Your Highness.”

Charles’ jaw tightened. It was a moment before he spoke. “We had in mind something in the region of half a million per month for a year. In return –”

“Three hundred per month for six months.”

“But one can do so little with that.”

“Two million crowns spread over a six month period. Furthermore, we will provide you with a personal armed guard of five thousand men.”

“Whatever for?”

Henriette folded her hands primly and tipped her head. “If the people of England choose to rise in rebellion again and demand the King’s head as they did our father’s you will need a trusted body of men to protect you.”

Charles looked at his advisors, and after a moment Sir William gave a slight yet certain nod.