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Chapter 2 The Unexpected Assignment l When Queen Louise requested an audience, there was only one answer, so Lord High Chamberlain turned and headed toward the throne room, and Jacob fell into step behind him. In the three years he had been at the palace, Jacob had never known the queen to receive nor request audience of anyone at this time of morning. She never dealt with anything at that hour of the day unless it was absolutely urgent. He assumed she must have heard of the attack and was calling him in to find out more. But, he considered that she had never called him in before. She was content to trust an individual to handle the duties to which he was assigned. Every time there had been a breach in security, he had discussed it in great detail with Lord High Chamberlain, and others on the security council, but never with the queen. By the time they reached the door into the palace, his breath was coming quickly, accompanied by the pounding of his heart. His mind was racing as he tried to think of what he could say to put the queen’s mind at ease about the security situation. As they proceeded down the long hall to the throne room, everyone seemed to stop and stare. Jacob didn’t know if he was imagining it, or if they were talking about him. The farther they walked the more somber everyone seemed, from the oldest noblemen gossiping, on down to 8