Lost in the pages

Losing my s*#t

I knew the way to the palace without much thought I'd ridden it enough times. Thoughts of my old life and the bookshop came into my mind as we rode, and I felt sick to the pit of my stomach at the thought of even thinking of returning to it; away from seventeenth century France.

"Estelle" I blinked a couple of times as Porthos dismounted and came over to me "You've been in a world of your own since we left the garrison"

"I'm just tired and irritated " I put my hands on his shoulders as he lifted me down

"Red guard" Aramis said as he helped Constance 

"And a lot of them by the looks of it" Porthos put his hand on the hilt of his sword

"We should go to the Queen" Constance said linking my arm and pulling me with her Porthos and Aramis were at our heels as the red guard stopped walking and watched us. 

"Those men make my skin crawl" I muttered as we moved inside and up the sweeping staircase

"They irritate us no end" Porthos smiled at me "We will wait here to make sure no one comes to the Queens apartments" he said as Aramis looked at him a little wide eyed 

"Very well and you" Constance poked Aramis on the arm "do not need to set tongues wagging with the Queen" she said lowering her voice he hung his head 

"Maybe you should both return to the garrison and try to talk to Athos and make him make some kind of plan to deal with that woman" I looked between the two of them

"Oh, we will be talking with him, but we are not going to be leaving here while you are in with the queen" Aramis said folding his arms over his chest "I do not wish for Athos's wrath if anything happens to you"

"Estelle" Constance was already at the Queens door. I walked to her, and we stepped inside. All of the ladies in waiting looking at us as the Queen called us through to her rooms"

"Close the door" I closed it behind us "I understand that your Musketeer, knows my husband's Mistress?" the Queens tone was clipped as she looked into the flames in the hearth

"He does" I nodded "Is this why you sent Constance to fetch me?' The Queen turned her head and looked at me

"It is" she got to her feet and faced me "How does Athos know this woman?"

"That is for him your Majesty" I saw Constance get wide eyed at my reply 

"I am your Queen and I asked you a question now you will answer me" She yelled "This whore is in my husband's bed and while he has had many mistresses during our marriage this one is blatant, and she does no care who knows who she is. Now tell me who this woman is"

I walked over to the fire and shrugged out of my cloak; my dress felt like it was suffocating me. I braced my hands on my waist.

"Estelle" Constance's voice was almost a pleading tone

"She is his wife" I fought back the lump in my throat "She is a dangerous murderer who has killed one husband and defrauded a second and bigamously married Athos when he was just nineteen"

"Athos is married?" The queen sounded shocked

"No, she married him when she was still married to her previous husband" I sighed sitting heavily on one of the chairs by the fire "Athos is actually the Comte de la Fere"

"He is nobility?" Constance sounded shocked "Why is he living at the Garrison and being a Musketeer?"

"The woman we all know as Milady broke his heart and this is why he is the way he is" Constance handed me a drink "tonight was the first time that he was properly face to face with her and believe me your Majesty if Porthos hadn't stopped him tonight he would have killed her" I lifted my chin and looked at the Queen 

"I had no idea" the Queen sat across from me "Estelle" I shook my head 

"The man that I have fallen in love with sentenced his wife to hang for her crimes" I looked back at the fire "He thought she was dead and then when he found out that she..." I stopped talking and remembered the night Athos had got the letter from Milady "I said some things tonight to Athos that I really should apologize for" I put the drink down and got to my feet.

"We need to take this information to the King or at least let Captain Treville know so he can speak to the King" The Queen looked up at me

"Captain Treville knows Athos's story" I picked up my cloak "I need to see Athos" 

"Of course, I am sorry for pulling you from him again, but you have to understand my reasoning" All I could do was nod. I put my cloak on and walked from the room and back out into the hallway. 

"Estelle" I looked up at the sound of Athos's voice

"What are you doing here?"

"He wouldn't stay put" D'artaganan said holding out his hands 

"I am the second in command of the King's Musketeers, I go where I wish" Athos said with a snap

"Yes, but there is a time and a place to do this" Aramis said shaking his head

"That woman is in this Palace somewhere and..." Athos cut me off by taking my face in his hands his eyes searching my face

"If you were a normal woman, I would put you over my knee" his voice softened "I have never been so infuriated with a woman"

"And I've never been so annoyed with a stubborn man before" I swallowed hard Athos frowned and moved a hand and wiped away a tear that had fallen. I stepped back from him and looked down. 

"Athos" We all looked around as the Queen walked from her rooms with Constance and her ladies in waiting behind her. The four men in the Hallway all deeply bowed to her "Please forgive me for asking for an audience with Estelle tonight; but I have to ask this of you" He looked at her "Is my husband in danger from your wife?" Athos's eyes grew wide, and he looked at me.