Henri approached Simon the next morning the moment he returned to Château Arles. Yet another night Simon hadn’t slept. After tossing and turning in his bed for hours, he’d given up on sleep and gone down to briefly check on his ships, then to Robert’s stable. A long ride had improved his disposition somewhat this morning. It had cleared his head of his moonlight beauty. Though this perilous situation he was in with Fouquet still hung like a noose around his neck. “Monsieur le Marquis wishes to see you. His things are packed, and he is ready to leave.”Simon swore under his breath. He’d meant to join Robert early this morning, well before his departure. “Wait, Captain. There is more,” his loyal servant advised. “The king’s ships have just arrived. And the two missing men… They’ve been found.”The words hit Simon in the gut. “Gilbert and Daniel? Are they…alive?” “Yes, Captain. They were found at the French border and brought here while you were out. They are weak but alive.”Relief flooded through him.
