One week. Nothing had happened with Robert.
"He asked nothing of your presence at that meeting?" William pried.
She shook her head. "He simply asked how many languages I spoke. I told him 5 including english. He did not even react to that. He acted as if the whole thing did not happen. As if we did not discuss strategy. Create a list of those who we persuaded immediately, with the information on those documents. And assigned targets for those we knew we could pay to disappear." She lied. Robert did not ask many questions but he was not delighted at the task she assigned him. He always had a light of warm affection, probably from the opportunity of children she provided."He did not even ask why the King chose me. The most natural of questions." She was slightly resentful.
William looked out the window, slightly disgusted by the view of street urchans and rabid dogs. He covered his mouth to prevent the odor. "What do you expect, men fear women who are intellectual equal. Why do you think so much of your previous work has been through your affairs. Men like women on their backs and air in their heads. You would be better off convincing a gentlemen you can't speak english before telling him how to win a simple game of chess." He turned toward her in remembrance. "What is your best time?"
Eleanora gave him a sly side eye. "5 minutes. Helda has her work cut out for her."
William looked impressed.
That was the reaction she was looking for from people. Unfortunately, she would probably search for it her whole life.
"Now tell me about Barbara Villiers" She said the light conversation now vanquished. The impending approach to the tunnels making her hands clammy.
"She is the king's royal mistress. She has an apartment with in the palace and has sired him children."
"Male?" She asked.
"The first" He responded instantly. "He treats her like a queen. And she flaunts it in front of her majesty. "
"The girl lacks decency." Eleanora stated disgusted.
"You're jealous of her."
"Jealous of a woman who can't win a card game and has put the king in debt."
"So you have heard of her"unsurprised. He made a leap. "I think you are jealous of the life she lives, that was meant for you.
"He chose her, not me." Eleanora observed evenly.
"Your mad, can always tell your mad when your calm."
"I'm always calm." She countered.
Eleanora felt the carriage pull to a halt. "Why are you in a good mood?" She asked suspiciously. His indicator for joy was when he teased her.
"I have been trying to get you to listen to me for weeks. You think you can do what you want. I look forward to the sisters setting you straight." He informed joyfully.
The door swung open and a young boy held his hand out to her. "Thank you Elliot." She smiled down. The young one armed boy just barely smiled.
When William held his hand out, Elliot turned his head as though he heard someone call his name. Causing William to humph in frustration. The boy looked around. Amazed by the surrounding, like it was the new world. Silently he pointed with his good hand. She nodded in approval. He ran away without a word.
Eleanora watched carefully.
"Why do you bring a little boy, but not your lady in wait?" William poked.
Eleanora straightened her skirts from the long journey, before responding with her own question. " Why are you here William?" She asked sarcastically. William was not amused. "I wanted you stay behind, but you insisted I need you. As far as why I bring the boy." She paused to look up into Williams eyes with a ferocity she did not hide under a calm facade. "He is none of your concern."
She did not wait to respond she entered the tunnels that ran below the city.
Women dressed in various attire lined the walls of the tunnels. Some clean and elegant. Others in ragged clothes who looked like their spirit had been broken. Eleanora stomach shrank. She could have been one of these women, if she hadn't been good with kings. She could imagine an assignment in the back alley of some lowly nobleman's favorite haunt.
In a domed shaped room with fresh candles that looked out of place in an ancient stoned lined room. The putrid stench of moist earth was a reminder of decay. Things once beloved and used often become the haunt of those of lowly status and then the are renewed, into something that would be resented if it were not so well concealed. A thin woman stands at the center of scrutiny. Her skin was tan and her eyes deep black she did not flinch as a woman dressed in masculine examined her like a prized horse.
Helda claimed inspection of product allowed her to get to know her ladies better. Eleanora was certain it was to press them into submission.
Helda tilted her head in thought and to hear their appcoach. "What do you think Robert?" She called not turning around.
Eleanora stopped at the mouth of the chamber. He looked with intensity at the foreign woman. His lips pressed out in thought. That shade of red is really not her color. Who is she for?"
"Lady Mary, the one with the husband that drinks himself into a stupor while she runs the land and the house." Helda finally turned to look at them, her brown eyes bright with admiration. "She want this one to seduce her husband so she might be free of him. But she also wouldn't mind if the girl wondered into her personal chambers." A smile of mischief played across her wide mouth.
Helda was young to be head of the sisterhood. A ancient society that used its wiles to shift the balance of power. The concept was always there powerful women marrying, bearing and submitting to an idea of man. The using that affection to get what they needed. The architects could be found in all literature. It just took the write woman to capitalize on it. Helda is one of many in the line of succession to oversee this. She is the first to allow men to pay for these services.
She looked at the woman and smiled. "Eleanora, tell her to got to the market and find a man to buy her for the night."
Eleanora felt her stomach tighten. "Why can't you?" Her voice even.
Helda's smile was still bright, so genuine, she relished in torture. "Why everyone knows you are so are very good with your tongue."Â Â She made a purposeful pause. "I mean everyone knows you speak multiple languages, and she only speaks arabic." Helda stood beside the girl and put both her hands on her shoulders. As if holding her to be shot by Eleanora.
Eleanora looked between Helda and the young girl's eyes of indifference. Then spoke arabic to the girl.
The girl looked surprised.
Helda made an audible sigh. Then nodded at the girl. and watched with appreciation as she walked past Robert and Eleanora.
Helda's eyes landed on Eleanora, and the sexual appreciation fell away and was replaced with contempt. She walked to sit at the top of the stairs with her sisters. Who dressed in more feminine attire "I'm disappointed Eleanora, I was told you were much better with languages. I told you to tell her to 'prostitute herself' and you told her to 'take a walk' those are two different things."
Eleanora did not let herself be intimidated. "Then why let her go forth. You have corrected it."
Helda smiled and looked her two sisters as though they laughed at an inside joke. "Oh I told her before you came to do that. I just wanted to see if you obeyed me." Helda smile fell. "You failed. Once again to listen. Just like you failed to heed Robert's words about saying yes to the Kings first question."
ELeanora took a step toward the sisters. She ignored the ones beside Helda, they were ornaments, their tongues had been cut many years ago as to not question Helda. She was the power. "I have infiltrated at a much deeper level then any before me. I will not only get secrets, I will be instrumental in the decisions the King makes."
"That was not why you were sent there." Helda boomed.
Eleanora made a face of confusion."Then what is the purpose if not for the ultimate control over our lives."
That caused Helda's face to go dark. She descended down the steps, leaving her sisters behind. She approached Eleanora to the point that Eleanora could hear the buttons on her waistcoat scrap the fabric of her delicate corset. Helda's wide mouth stretched to enunciate every word. Her white teeth perfectly visible as she threatened in a low taut voice. "You can not be trusted."
She waited to ensure Eleanora processed her words."The only place I want you is on your back. Whispering in the King's ear what I tell you to say. And once I deem your time with him done, you will spread your legs for next man and all the ones to follow. So long as I command it. You don't get to ask me what the purpose is. I know what is best for us." Helda placed both of her hands on the side of Eleanora's face, her hands held firm. But Eleanora, didn't flinch she kept her face still. "If you want your secret kept, I suggest you get in that carriage and beg the King to take you tonight. Understood?"
Eleanora didn't blink. She didn't acknowledge her heart beating faster than it did. She was not afraid of Helda, what she was afraid of was herself. The lengths she was willing to go to keep her secrets. She had to gather her thoughts, she would leave right now if she could. But, there was a boy running around waiting to go home.
Eleanora took a step back, once Helda allowed it. She was tired of people grabbing her. "You may threaten me Helda, but threats do not get you what you want. You still answer to someone, you let that happen when you took someone's money and made them a promise. While I do not know what you promised. It was enough to send someone before me and you failed to keep her under your thumb. Which is why you brought me back."Â She knew it was dangerous to remind Helda of her failures, Barbara would no doubt be a sore spot.
"You want my cooperation, I do it my way. You tell me what your goal is, I assure you. I will deliver.But I want out when it is done."
Helda looked down at her. She weighed the current balance of power. "Fine."
She said simply. "You get me what I need. I let you live your boring life with that husband you didn't want to marry. And with that mutilated boy, that just somehow fell into you lap." Helda smiled darkly as she spoke of Elliot.
Eleanora didn't let her anger show. But she wanted to stab William. "That's it. You agree." She didn't hide her disbelief.
Helda returned to her seat. "I am a woman of my word, and hear your logic. This can be mutually beneficial. But I need a show of good faith. Something that would make us both happy. She leaned back her chair hands folded near her mouth.
Eleanora didn't like the direction this was going. "What do you want?'
Helda leaned forward. "I want you with the King tonight. I want you to seduce him as we all know you want to. Then I want you to get one secret to Robert. Confirm if the Queen is with child."
Eleanora did not like the order, but she could get the information. She nodded. Not waiting to hear more from Helda she walked out the long tunnel. The light getting closer, her breath becoming more audible as she felt like running to it.
When she emerged her eyes searched wildly. Until they rested on the coachman kicking and orange around with Elliot. She sighed in relief.
The she felt the presence. Then she smelt it. "You told them."
William looked down the only time he has ever shown regret. "Helda offered me something I could not refuse."
Eleanora watched as the orange went from foot to foot. Small dents created as it was kicked. "It had better be worth it. Because if this deal scares Helda enough to find me. That means there opposing forces against her and me."
"I am here to protect." He didn't look at her.
She turned to stare at the side of his face. "You better hope you do. Because if anything happens, my secrets will only grow into a promise of those who endanger what I want."
Eleanora climbed into the carriage to fulfill what she had been fighting since her wedding night.