Page 80 of The Rebel's Prize

Of course, that was the least of her problems faced with the more immediate issues of the investigation.

* * *

She reached the carriage, and Oscar, their driver, opened the door for her. She stepped up and swung herself into her normal place opposite Lucien, only to realize that he wasn't alone.

"Good morning, Chloe," Jacqueline de Roche said.

Seated next to her son, she was as immaculate as ever, dressed in a green and bronze day dress that made Chloe all too aware that her uniform was rumpled and travel stained. She managed to clamp down on her immediate instinct to get straight back out of the carriage, instead casting a startled glance at Lucien, who was looking studiously polite. She made herself smile and turned to face her mother-in-law. "Good morning, Jacqueline. How kind of you to come to meet us."

She saw Lucien's eyes widen fractionally, but he just thumped on the carriage roof to let Oscar know they were ready to leave.

Almost immediately the carriage lurched into motion.Perfect. Trapped with her no doubt disapproving mother-in-law for the duration of their journey home.

Jacqueline smiled tightly. "I had to see for myself that you had indeed returned to the city after all the drama of your wedding ball."

"Mother," Lucien said warningly, "what happened at the ball was not Chloe's fault. It was an attack on the emperor. If not for her, many people could have died."

Jacqueline pressed her lips together, straightening on the seat. "Be that as it may, it does not change the fact that your ball turned into exactly the kind of scandal that we were trying to avoid."

Lucien stiffened, and annoyance pulsed through the bond. "I don't care about that. I don't think many people consider an assassination attempt a mere scandal. The attack on the emperor would have happened at some point, regardless of whether or not Chloe and I were having a wedding ball."

His tone was sharp. Chloe wished she could turn invisible. Of course, she could ask Octarus to shield her, but she could only imagine what Jacqueline's reaction would be to that.

But at least the woman's attention was temporarily focused on her son—who was getting the full force of the famous de Roche glare. "There are those who say she was involved."

"And I say she was not. The only narrative we will be accepting is the one where Chloe averted the attack on the palace. She then bravely followed one of the perpetrators and helped the Imperial mages track her down, enabling us to bring her and some of her fellow conspirators back to the city to be interrogated so we can get to the bottom of this whole damn mess. A narrative which, may I add, has the benefit of being true. Do you understand?" Lucien glared back, green eyes turning cold. Of the two, Chloe rather thought he was the more intimidating.

"I—" Jacqueline started.

"No," Lucien said firmly. "Do you understand?I accept that you were not thrilled about the manner in which Chloe and I were married, but we held our second wedding as you requested to address that. The fact that someone chose to use our ball as a target is not something Chloe or I could have controlled. And her reputation as mywife," he growled, “is one that you, as a senior member of this family, will do nothing but support. Do I make myself clear?"

Jacqueline blinked at him, not answering.

Chloe didn't say anything either. Lucien was daunting in his Truth Seeker mode. Apparently, he was equally impressive when he chose to play the marq in earnest and put his foot down.

"Well?" he asked, staring at Jacqueline.

Jacqueline's mouth flattened, but then she nodded. "I understand." She looked at Chloe. "As long as you understand the position of this household."

Chloe nodded. "I'm well aware of the importance of the Castaigne estate and the family. That's one of the reasons why I want nothing more than to see the empire returned to peace. It's safer for all of us, including the future of this family. And I hope you understand that I honor the vows I make, including those to the emperor and to the Imperial mages. That may make me different from other people who have been the marquesse before me, but that does not mean I cannot be a good one or that I do not understand the importance of the undertaking. And I think it would be easier for all of us if we could work together rather than apart."

Lucien leaned forward slightly. "And working together, Mother, does not mean that we will simply accept everything that you want us to do. The responsibility for the house is ours now. And while we will appreciate your guidance and counsel, final decisions will also be ours."

Jacqueline settled back in the seat. Her expression was stern at first, but then reluctant approval stole over her face. "Good," she said finally. "I am glad that you are both aware of your responsibilities."

"Mother, there has not been one minute of my life that I have not been aware of my responsibilities to the family. You and Father raised me well, so now you have to trust me to do what I consider is right."

"But your magic," she said. "You cannot—"

He held up a hand.

"I have rarely employed my ability as a Truth Seeker in matters of the house," he said. "And, after all, neither you nor Father had that ability, and you did well enough, as have many generations of our ancestors. The current limitations to my magic impact my role as Truth Seeker, not as the marq. And, if I have my way, they will be temporary."

"Does that mean you have found the people who carried out the attack?" Jacqueline asked.

"You know I can't talk to you about my work," Lucien said. "So, now that we've cleared the air, perhaps you can tell us what's been happening here whilst we've been away."

That much she was happy to do. Chloe and Lucien only had to murmur the odd word of encouragement for the entire length of the journey back into town. They delivered Jacqueline to Maison Castaigne, and Chloe blew out a breath of relief as the carriage set off again.

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