I paced the floor of the shop before making a sign for the door saying I would be closed for a family emergency for a few weeks. I took a trip to the bank leaving no money in the shop and made sure that I was ready for what I was about to do. I touched my fingers to the small book shaped pendant around my neck that had been the last gift from my grandmother before she died.
I sat back on the couch and cradled a glass of brandy as I thought about what I was about to try to do.
"You're crazy" I sighed I looked a the photo I had hung on the wall between the shelves of my Grandma when she first opened the shop "Am I doing the right thing?" I asked hoping that she would answer me "I mean you gave up the chance of your forever because of me, and I have a feeling that you would probably yell at me if I didn't... I only meet the Musketeers once, am I just getting swept up by the romance of it all" I rubbed my neck and curled up on the couch pulling the blanket over my legs.
I took a sip of the brandy and picked up the book the faded gold lettering on the front made me smile and the worn patches where over the years the book had been read and held. I took a deep breath and opened it up to here I had left of reading the last time. I got lost in the words and felt my eyes grow tired and heavy as I finished the glass of brandy.
I opened my eyes and looked around at the timber framed houses and the stalls in the street. I looked down at my clothes again I was in a deep green dress with a corset that felt like it was squeezing the life out of me. I shivered a little against the chill that was in the air. I made my way through the streets not knowing where I was going, just taking in the things around me
"Estelle?" I turned at the sound of my name as Constance made her way toward me quickly "Estelle, where have you been? where did you go? are you alright?" she took my hands and looked me over "have you been ill?" she put her hand on my forehead
"I had to go home for a while, I'm fine and I've just had a lot to think about" I squeezed her hands
"But you left without saying anything to anyone" She linked my arm and we walked through the street "You had us all worried for you" she frowned "The musketeers all looked for you"
"I'm sorry" I rubbed the back of my neck "I just had to..."
"Well you are back now and I know that someone will be happy to know that you are safe" she giggled "Where are you staying?"
"I hadn't thought about that" I groaned and stopped walking "I have a few things that I can sell for money"
"Nonsense you can stay with me" She shook her head "My Husband won't mind, I'll tell him you are a cousin of mine he'll never know"
"Husband?" In my head I was trying to search the story in my head and I had a vague recollection that Constance was actually married
"Yes, He is a cloth merchant and my family wanted me to have a good safe marriage so they found Monsieur Bonacieux" She forced a nervous smile
"You don't seem happy?"
"He's a good man he really is" she looked around "It's just" She hung her head "I do not love him, he is twenty years older than me and... he bores me" she said in a low whisper as if he was behind us
"But what about D'artagnan?"
"He is the man I would choose for myself" She sighed "and I have not been a good and true wife to my husband; I have been unfaithful to him with D'artagnan" She hung her head "You must think I am awful"
"No, Not at all if you are not happy, and you should be allowed to marry for love nothing more" I hugged her tightly
"I cannot believe that I am telling you all of this; I hardly know you" She shook her head as we walked through the streets "D'artagnan lives in the house with us renting room from my husband" I couldn't help my eyebrows raising "Please do not say anything when you seen him"
"I won't I promise" We waited while the carriages rattled across the street before we crossed to a shop front that was filled with rolls of cloth. Constance opened the door and waited while I stepped through it, the warmth from the fire in the hearth filled the room.
"This way" she lead me through the shop and up a flight of stairs to a large room with table and a range stove in it "We have a spare room that you can have next to the one that D'artaganan currently has"
"Thank you for this can I help make dinner?" i asked
"I will always take help with that" she grinned the two of us chatted and giggled over anything and everything until we heard the door downstairs close.
"Constance, Constance" She looked at me
"It's my husband" She wiped he hands on the apron around her waist
"CONSTANCE"
"I'm in here Charles" she huffed as a man with Salt and pepper colored hair and a slight stoop walked in to the room "I was calling you" He took off his hat
"And I am right here" She took his hat and coat "We have a visitor" He looked me up and down "My Cousin Estelle from Calais is going to be staying with us for a while"
"Who?" he frowned
"I'm her cousin, Constance and I haven't seen each other for a long time, I thought it would be a chance to catch up Monsieur"
"I told you a month ago she was coming" Constance said looking at me to play along "But you must not of heard me"
"Very well, Can you cook girl" he said sitting down and warming his hands on the fire
"My Name is Estelle and yes I can" I frowned
"I see she has your family spirit Constance" he shook his head "I need some wine"
"I will get it" she walked out of the room
"Maybe you can charm the boy we have living here that looks at my wife like she is a prized bale of silk" he grumbled
"I believe that he is one of the King's Musketeers?" I stirred the stew in the pot
"He's a Lothario; that is what I do know. A man with a stream of women behind him no doubt, he's all pretty hair and face" there was the sound of the door again closing downstairs "CONSTANCE WINE NOW" Constance walked into the room and handed her husband a tankard of wine as D'artaganan walked into the room
"Good evening" he said with a smile as he looked at Constance who flushed on sight of him
"Kill anyone today Boy?" Monsieur Bonacieux said not even looking up from the fire
"No, just protected the King and the Queen" he looked around the room and his jaw went slack as he looked at me
"D'artaganan, I'd like to introduce you to my cousin Estelle she is visiting" she kicked him in the shin
"Mademoiselle, It is a pleasure to meet you" he came over and took my hand and kissed it
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...
