“How was it possible for you to reach me and why was Ramón not aware of the existence of the secret passage?”
She felt, because she could not see his face, that the Marquis smiled.
“I expect you have already guessed,” he said, “that you were in the King’s apartments, which made it very easy for me.”
“Why?”
“Because the Kings who have used those rooms have often wished to be visited secretly.”
“Oh.”
It was obvious from the sound Valeda made that she understood for the first time.
“The secret stairway is supposed to be known only to the King,” the Marquis explained, “but because His Majesty and I have always been such close friends, he had few secrets from me, and I also have been useful to him when he was spending the hot months of the year at Esconal.”
There was no need to say more
