"If he kills me," said the Princess sullenly, "he will take a life that is worth nothing to me." She twisted round in Rénèe's grasp to throw insult at the two men standing foolishly side by side.
"And you could neither strike a blow nor say a word, tricksters and churls!"
She said nothing more while Rénèe led her back through the palace until they came to the great staircase window which looked on the courtyard.
A cavalcade, muffled against the weather, was leaving the palace gates.
"My husband going to the Council," muttered Anne. "My husband!"
When they reached the Princess's apartments, Rénèe locked the secret door and took away the key.
Anne watched from where she crouched over the fire.
"I suppose you despise me, hate me now?" she asked.
Rénèe turned her beautiful haggard face towards her mistress, and for the first time in her long bondage she spoke what had ever been in her heart.
"I always despised and hated you," she said.