"You told me you sent a letter," Richard seethed in anger. He had waited all night to see the famous right-hand man, but she never showed up.
What was she playing at. Did she think that she was smart, that she could stop him. He couldn't even understand himself; if it was a man, he could have understood his fear. 'Why was he scared of a woman? A stupid lowlife bitch,' he thought, wiping all the items on the table off angrily.
Vivianne flinched and looked fearfully at the man. She hated it when he was in this mood. It wasn't her fault after all, was she to force the lady to the ball? Did she not play her part by sending her the invitation.
"Just this one instruction and you've failed me, pumpkin," Richard whispered angrily.
It was absurd to yell out for ears to listen.
He sat down on the bed trying to control himself. Vivianne was dull and stupid if he wanted anything done he had to get it done himself.
He rushed out not caring he wasn't in disguise, after all there was a ball last night. He could simply be one of the guests who had retired to a room last night in the company of a woman.
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"Tony, I need names. I'm not getting anywhere. Whoever is involved is making progress," Anna remarked, clearly frustrated. "I've been away for too long, this is papa's fault, he sent me away and I have no clue now who to point a finger out. Who are the king's enemy, who has eyes for the throne, who wants him hurt or better still dead?"
"Is there anyone that has an old score to settle, Tony give me a lead.. please. You are the only one that can help me out right now because William isn't even cooperating and you're the only one I trust, even with my life."
Tony looked at her wide-eyed only for a moment before changing his countenance. 'So she trusted him with her life,' he thought. He filed this away and answered her as best as he could, "If there's anyone I would suggest for this.. it's sire Augustus," he said after breaking the silence.
"He holds a deep resentment towards the king."
Tony was among the few people who continued to consider William to be king.
"You see, he had an affair with his wife and Augustus has never forgotten about it. He had told the king he did not forgive easily. He was absent in the royal games, he's my man if you ask me. He has the motive there, has access to the grounds and no one would question him."
Anna weighed this on her mind.. Augustus.
So William's womanising had been the cause of all this; she doubted that. She really doubted that. The person who did this was after the throne and after William's life, not just because he had some grievances.
It was worth investigating though at least she had something. It would not do her any harm to check on sire Augustus.
"I'm grateful," Anna said to Tony. She said as she made her way to her room, "I'll check him out."
She needed to change into something more comfortable, something less conspicuous in which she could move freely.
Anna visited his office later that day after looking up the address in the books. He worked on the royal family's legal matters and was paid by them.
When she arrived, she met a woman who she assumed to be his assistant. Anna was told there was no one in, and the chambers were usually closed that day.
"I'll look in again," Anna replied when the lady asked her to leave a message.
It was unwise to do that if really Augustus was into this.
She gave a fake name and was about leaving when she heard footsteps from inside, "so the lady was lying after all," Anna whispered to herself.
She went outside. The sun was already setting for the evening. She walked around the building looking for a way to go in when she spotted an open window in one of the rooms, she looked around before going in and then waited for some time before opening the door.
There was no one in the long hallway.
She walked gently.. listening intently, she a heard voice and then another. It was obvious that there were people inside the building.
She walked towards where the sound was coming from and placed her head gently on the door, A part of her wanted to open the door, but she couldn't take the chance of getting caught, she could always find out who was involved later on.
"We are going to overthrown the monarchy, we've had enough of these royals telling us what to do, passing bills and shoving us around," a voice said.
She guessed that was the leader.
"We are at an advantage now because William's no longer ruler, he would have given us a fight.. but Vivianne, that slutty bitch is brainless," same voice said again.
'Could be Augustus,' Anna thought.
"Yeah," another said, "you fuck her stupid and she would place the crown and the royal seal in your hand."
They all burst into laughter. "It'll be like taking candy from a baby," another said and they all burst into laughter again.
So it wasn't old news that Vivianne was daft, they were conspiring against the throne. 'What was the punishment for treason.. hanging or burning?' Anna asked herself.
She realised then that they were all silent and decided to leave. It was at this point that someone mentioned hearing a noise outside the room. "Someone is there," he exclaimed.
Anna bolted not reaching the door she had used to come in earlier, but instead she went into another room and closed it gently before anyone could come out. She hadn't been seen entering the room she was sure of that.
She got to the window and discovered that it was closed and stucked. It refused to open. She looked around the room, there was absolutely no where to hide, the room was empty. She was lost on what to do when water dripped on her from the roof.. 'the room was leaking,' she thought looking upwards.
That was when Anna saw it.. A top counter with small doors.
She was sure she could fit into it, once again her petite figure had paid off. She opened it, lifted her gown and grasped the edge lifting herself and squeezing herself in shutting it..
Almost immediately the door opened and someone walked in, peeping through a hole she saw him check behind the door, she had expected that.. her father had always told her, "never hide behind a door without a weapon in an empty room, that's the first place your pursuer is sure to check."