The sun was setting as we went under a large archway into a courtyard. On the left was a row of stables along side of a blacksmiths, to the right was a staircase leading up to a walkway and doors leading off of it. In the middle of the courtyard there was a group of Men practicing with swords.
"It is not much but it is home" He chuckled behind me
"You haven't even told me your name" I said as a boy ran from the stables to take hades reins
"ATHOS" a voice called out. An older man walked down the stairs. "You were supposed to ride to the palace with the others"
"They were fine without me Captain. The red guard for all of their worth were with them as well. I had something to tend to" He shifted in the saddle behind me and dismounted.
I looked at him this was Athos in front of me one of the best Musketeers in the King's guard. He reached up and put his hands around my waist and lifted me down. He set my feet on the ground and smiled at me
"Captain Treville this is Estelle... She is alone in Paris..." Athos put his hand in the small of my back "She needs a place because she has no one" Treville's eye brows rose a little
"Athos this is not what..."
"I should go" I looked at Athos as the other's rode through the gateway, that I now realized were Porthos, Aramis and D'artagnan
"No Madame" Treville said stepping forward "Please will you follow me" he gestured to the stairs. I looked at Athos and reached for my hand and squeezed it
"You will be alright with him" I nodded as the other three dismounted "I will come see you in a while" I moved slowly behind Captain Treville as the pain radiated up my back from the fall and then being on Hades.
"You left us for a woman" Porthos laughed watching as I walked up the stairs
"Well she is a beautiful women" D'artagnan said putting his hands on his hips "you have to give him that"
"Do not let Constance hear you say that" Athos said taking off his hat and pushing his hand through his hair, he started to walk toward the stairs, Aramis put his hand on his arm stopping him
"Athos?" he questioned
"I do not know; but it is the second time today that I have seen her and helped her" He looked down
"There are many women that come to this city, they make their own way and I know that you have seen some of those women and helped fund them" Athos shot him a look "Tell me that I am wrong my friend"
"You are not, but she is not a whore"
"How do you know?" Porthos sighed
"Gentlemen" a woman's voice had them all look around as a pretty woman with sandy blond hair came through the gates with a large basket
"Good evening Constance" Porthos smiled "Let me take that while you see your Musketeer" he looked in D'artagnan's direction
"Thank you" She giggled as D'artagnan swept her up in a lingering kiss "So what is happening tonight?"
"Athos has found himself a new friend" D'artagnan smiled
"There is a woman" Athos sighed resigning himself to the fact he was going to be ridiculed by his friends
"You and a woman" Constance grew wide eyed D'artagnan nudged her "Sorry but..."
"He brought her to the Garrison and I dare say that seeing another woman may put her a little more at ease than seeing all these soldiers " Aramis added
'Of course where is she?" Constance looked round
"Treville took her upstairs" Athos said gesturing; Constance moved between them and made her way upstairs. "What am I doing?" he looked at the others
"We asked you the same thing, we have never seen you like this" Aramis put his hand on Athos's shoulder
"I need a drink" Athos moved away and took the stairs two at a time
"I take it that this is not something he would normally do?" D'artagnan asked
"No and that is what worries me" Aramis rubbed his hand over his beard "Athos has a past that he does not like to talk of; he is a Musketeer because of the pain he carries. I have known him take whore once or twice but his solace is in the bottom of a bottle" Porthos walked over to them
"So who do we think she is?"
"I don't know but I think we find out" D'artagnan said heading to the stairs.
I looked around as the door opened to Treville's office where I was sitting by the fire with Captain Treville across from me and Constance at my side. I looked for Athos but he wasn't with them, I felt a sinking feeling that he wasn't with them.
"Estelle is a guest of the Garrison" Treville said getting to his feet and standing in front of the fire "I have instructed that a bed be made up for her in exchange for her helping Constance with her daily jobs
"Good" Aramis smiled a tight smile "Welcome to Paris Estelle"
"Thank you, Where is Athos?"
"He went to the tavern" D'artagnan said without thinking earning himself a clip around the back of the head from Porthos "Sorry" I looked down.
"I think we should let Estelle get some rest" Constance said standing up. "I'll show you where you can sleep" I walked out with her leaving the four men in Treville's office
"A job?" Aramis frowned
"Yes" Treville lifted his chin
"What do we know about her?" Porthos filled a cup with wine and took a drink
"That she knows not how she arrived here and she is English, even if she is fluent in French" He looked at them "She said she woke in a barn and then was saved by Athos from being run down in the street"
"Her French is perfect" D'artagnan said looking out of the window "Do you think she is a spy?"
"I don't know. I do not think so because meeting a Musketeer could lead to what?" Treville held out his hands
"It can lead to the King" Aramis pointed out "we are the four closest to the King as his guard"
"You have a point" Porthos drained his drink
"You are all fools" they all jumped as Constance walked back into the room "She is terrified you only have to look in her eyes and you can see it" she shook her head "getting to know a Musketeer gives you nothing because you rarely know what you are to be doing each day and of all of you Athos has the tightest of lips so he would be the wrong Musketeer to get to know"
"Is she settled for the night?" Treville asked
"She is and I told her l would come and bring her some clothing tomorrow... Right now I want to find Athos"
"Why?"
"He brought her here and then he just abandoned her" She huffed "Captain, can you check on her in a short while?" Treville nodded as Constance fastened her cloak around her "Good night" She pushed upon her toes and kissed D'artagnan, and walked out lifting the hood on her cloak as she walked down the stairs
"Is she going to the Tavern?" Porthos said looking at D'artagnan and then at Aramis
"I do believe she is" D'artagnan nodded
"I think you should go save Athos from the wrath of Constance" Treville smirked trying to suppress a laugh as the three of the bolted for the door getting caught in it at the same time before they pushed their way out.
YOU ARE READING
Lost in the pages
RomanceHave you ever got so lost in a book it's as if you were actually there. Estelle Bennett was left a little Old bookstore that used to belong to her grandmother, it was a place that Estelle had loved since being a child and her Grandmother had always...
