Constance looked at me and waited for me to tell her about Athos, I felt my cheeks heat up and I fidgeted in the chair
"A certain Musketeer?" She giggled
"Why is every conversation in this house... MY house about the Musketeers" we both jumped as Bonacieux walked in looking rather worse for wear "Breakfast Constance" he demanded with a click of his fingers sitting down "and best gown today if you are attending the Palace with me"
"I was asking Estelle about a Musketeer that has taken her eye that is all" Constance said getting up and walking to the pot filled with what I assumed to be porridge and filled a bowl and put it in front of her husband and put a wooden spoon down along side of it
"I hope it is the one that lives under this roof" he huffed and looked at me through bloodshot eyes "Well is it him? because I will not allow fornication under my roof unless you are married" I choked on the tea
"I am not planning on fornicating with anyone under your roof Sir" I said getting up "I can find a barn with a warm haystack if I wish to" Constance stifled a laugh and turned away "And it is D'artaganan" Constance dropped a bowl on the floor "I shall get ready" I walked out
"Well your charms on that man don't seem to have worked" Bonacieux chuckled "but I mean what I say when I say she is not to bed with him, It will look bad on my and your family if she becomes with child"
"I will speak with her and she will not embarrass you at the palace today" he looked at her "the Queen wishes to meet with her, D'artaganan mentioned something about it at dinner last night do you not remember?" she asked trying not to sound like she was lying
"No I do not, but If her Majesty requests it then who are we to turn her down" he raised his chin "Speak with her about how to act" Constance nodded and walked out and closed the door behind her and came to my room.
"Estelle, what you said..." I held up my hand
"I told him that it was D'artaganan so that it stops him looking at you and him" she sat on the chair and sighed "I am not interested in D'artaganan, that I can promise you" I walked over and crouched down by her "I see that you love him and I will help you see him if that is what you both want" she hugged me "We just need to tell D'artaganan what we are doing" I smiled at her "and I like seeing your husbands face when I say something I really shouldn't"
We got ready and there was a carriage outside waiting for us, Bonacieux was supervising the loading of several reams of fabric as I sat next to Constance in the carriage and she pulled a fur blanket over our laps.
"I told my husband that the Queen requested to see you" she whispered watching for Bonacieux
"Well what's going to happen when we get there and she has no idea who I am" I chewed my lip
"We will get around that, The Queen is close to the musketeers and that is why she asks for me to attend with my husband" She took a deep breath the door to the carriage opened and Bonacieux stepped in.
The journey through the city was strange people hurried around in the bitter cold fires burned in braziers thought out the city. Guards flanked the gates as we drove through them. I scrapped at the ice that had formed on the inside of the glass and got my first look at the palace.
I was taken aback as I knew it in modern day and the Museum where the Moan Lisa was on display; but in 17th Century France the Louvre was a royal Palace. We pulled up and were shown through the building into a large red room with a lot of gilded statues and large portraits hanging on the walls at the far end were two thrones in a plinth raising them by a couple of feet.
There were other people in the room and Bonacieux became almost creepy with the way he fawned over some of those people to include a man in red robes with a large jeweled crucifix around his neck. I tugged on Constance's arm
"Who is that?" I nodded in his direction
"That is what some people say the most powerful man in France; his name is Cardinal Richelieu, he is dangerous" her voice was next to a whisper "He hates the Musketeers and he has his own Red guard that is a law unto themselves" he looked up and smiled and walked toward us "he has countless mistresses' and illegitimate children as well" she straightened herself and put a tight smile on her lips
"Madame Bonacieux it is a delight to see you again" the Cardinal smiled a sickly smile and took her hand
"Your Eminence" she kissed the large ruby ring on his hand
"And who is this pretty thing?" he looked me up and down
"This is my cousin Estelle, she is staying with my husband and I for a while" she said stepping between the two of us
"Then I hope that you will come to court more often; and if you should need some religious guidance I would only be too happy to take you under my wing" he literally licked his lips and making me feel violated even fully clothed
"Madame and Monsieur's, The Queen" Constance caught my hand as the Cardinal turned away from us and bowed low as the Queen walked in with five women trailing after her.
"Your Majesty you look beautiful today" The Cardinal simpered moving closer to her she stopped walking and looked at him with distain.
"I do not remember requesting your presence Cardinal, I am picking silks for a new gown for this coming winter ball. I do not need divine inspiration to help with my choice. You are dismissed" she waved him away. The nerve in his cheek twitched and he turned on his heel and strode from the room. "Ahh Monsieur Bonacieux; I do hope that you have something pretty for me" the Queen relaxed a little as she faced Constance's husband
"Of course your Majesty only the best new silks from China" he clapped his hands and four men walked in carrying the fabrics that he had picked out. The Queen looked around and her face softened into a large smile as she saw Constance,
Constance nudged me and dropped into a curtsey; I followed her lead
"I am so glad you were able to attend court today" the Queen said walking away from Bonacieux "I have missed your council" she held Constance's hands she glanced at me
"I have also missed our talks Your Majesty' Constance nodded "I brought my Cousin with me we are very alike in personality"
"Then maybe the council should expand by one" the Queen smiled before turning back "Monsieur, I hope that it would not be an inconvenience for you if your wife and her cousin stayed here at the palace for the evening, I have a lot to discuss with her"
Bonacieux grew wide eyed and red in the face, you could tell that he hated the idea but he wasn't going to tell the Queen of France no.
"I would be honored to allow them to stay Majesty" he nodded bowing deeply
"Wonderful, now shall we pick a fabric, or two"
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...
