"Oh, this is even better than you said," The Cardinal turned and looked at Milady "Treville's right hand in Athos has resigned; and Aramis has destroyed trust in the regiment"
"Without the total binding protection of the Musketeers the queen is left vulnerable" Milady walked over to the Cardinal "and if some unfortunate accident should befall her then the king would have to turn to his beloved Mistress to stand by his side and if I should become with child then he will marry me, and I shall become Queen of France"
"You are not of the right stock to bear the future King of France Milady" The Cardinal began to walk away from her "But you can be a very prominent member of the court you are more useful that way".
Constance opened the door to the Queens apartment and stepped back allowing D'artagnan to go in and lay me on the Queens bed.
"That will be all you can all leave us" the Queen instructed her ladies. She came into the room and closed the door as Constance put a cold compress on my head "For acting that was more than a little real" the Queen stood at the foot of her bed and looked at me as I groaned
"I assure you your Majesty it wasn't the plan to hurt Estelle" D'artagnan said with his brow furrowed.
"Wow I swear I saw stars" I said easing myself up with Constance's help
"That was foolish" D'artaganan said sitting on the edge of the bed next to me "getting in between anyone fighting is bad enough but you know how dangerous Athos and Aramis are "
"I know" I put my head in my hands as the room spun a little "but at least it was an elbow and not a blade"
"Have you got any idea how he is going to be feeling because of what he did?" D'artagnan pushed up off the bed "it's not like he can see you"
"She understands D'artaganan" the Queen put her hand on his arm
"Do we know where he's gone?" Constance asked
"He will be in a tavern where he knows Milady will find him" D'artagnan rested his hand on the hilt of his sword "I hope that it was good enough that the Cardinal and that woman fell for it"
"I'll shoot her myself if it isn't" I hissed reaching my hand up and feeling the bump on my temple
"That wouldn't surprise me" D'artagrrave to get to the Garrison He pulled out a pistol and handed it to Constance "You know what to do if you have to use this" she nodded and he bent his head and kissed her "And Estelle" I looked up at him "Stay out of trouble" He bowed to the Queen "Your Majesty" he walked out closing the door behind him.
Athos rubbed his temples as a jug of wine was put in front of him, he looked up and tipped his head and the woman in front of him pushed back the hood of her green silk cloak.
"You look like a man in need of a drink" Milady sat down and filled two cups
"Leave me alone" he pushed the wine away from himself "You are supposed to be dead" he slurred picking up his own cup and sinking the wine in it
"Only by your hand" she purred "I hear that your whore is bedding Aramis" Athos reached across the table and grabbed her by the throat making her gasp and people look around but they all knew not to cross Athos.
Milady drew a knife from her belt and pressed it to his cheek making him let go and push her back. Athos wiped his hand across his cheek and he looked at the blood on his fingers
"Get out of here" he growled
"I hear that you are still in love with me" he looked at her and narrowed his eyes "Oh I overheard everything that your wh..." she paused "that woman and D'artagnan's lover talking in the palace" he signaled and the innkeeper brought him a bottle of brandy.
"You a sneak in the shadows" he filled his cup and took a deep drink
"But you do not deny it" she reached across the table and put her hand over his "No woman can satisfy you like I can and I am the only one you can trust when your own brothers in arms bed's the woman you've been with, the woman you took to our home"
"MY HOME NOT YOURS" he snapped "and what are you other than nothing but the Kings whore"
"I am a woman that had nothing and I am trying to make sure I have something in my life" He shook his head "I can make this a better life for both of us, I have the kings ear, I can have him make you a minister, You can be the Count de la Fere again, with me at your side"
"I do not wish to be a minister. I want away from Paris, away from memories of Estelle and the musketeers, Everything is a lie here" he sank his brandy and poured another "come away with me to the estate and look after the farms" her face sank
"We need to be here in Paris Athos, you need to show then they can't treat you this way" She moved around and crouched on the floor next to Athos "The Cardinal is more powerful than the King and he has a plan"
"A plan for what?" Athos frowned
"Just a plan, you are a respected soldier even if you have given up your commission in the Musketeers, join the red guard and you will..."
"I am not a solider any longer" Athos pulled his hand from hers and got to his feet and swayed and walked by Milady out into the street
"Athos" Milady hurried after him and caught his hand turning him and pushing him against the wall "Come to the Cardinals Palace tomorrow he has plans for the future of France" she held his face in her hands and kissed him with a passion and a hunger "I never stopped loving you Athos" she pushed away from him and pulled up the hood of her cloak and disappeared in to the darkness.
Athos wiped his hand across his mouth and watched the darkness.
"Two women in love with you, I never thought the Might brooding Athos would even have one" Aramis chuckled moving out from the shadow behind a stack of grain sacks.
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...
