"Please tell me that Estelle is alright?" Athos said as he and Aramis hurried through the back streets
"I do not know, and I didn't know she was going to try to intervene" Aramis pushed open the door to an abandoned house
"Athos" Porthos hugged Athos to him as Treville put a hand on his shoulder
"Estelle is she alright, I hit her" Athos turned on the spot "I hit her"
"Estelle is fine a little dazed but she is fine" D'artagnan said coming in from the rear door of the house. Athos sighed deeply and sat heavily on a chair "She is with Constance and the Queen"
"I need to see her" Athos looked up
"No, it's too dangerous there is a chance she is being watched" D'artagnan reached into his jacket and pulled out the ring "She asked me to give you this to hold for her until this is over" Athos took it.
"I will make sure Estelle is alright" Aramis said sitting next to Athos "After all I am supposed to have swept her off her feet" Athos took off my book necklace that he still wore and slipped the ring onto it before putting it back around his neck.
"It didn't take long for Milady to find you" Treville said leaning on the fireplace
"No, she didn't, and she had a few offers for me" Athos got to his feet and lent on the mantle over the empty fireplace
"Offers?" Treville frowned
"Yes, to go to see the Cardinal tomorrow and offer my services to the Red Guard" He turned and faced the others "Apparently the Cardinal has a plan for the King"
"A Plan for what?" D'artagnan frowned
"I do not know, but I think me going to the Cardinal is probably the best idea, we had a fear that the Queen was in danger now it could be the King instead" Athos rubbed his hand over his beard
"You need to keep us all informed and keep up the pretense of what we have started" Athos nodded
"Please make sure Estelle is safe"
"You have my word" Aramis hugged Athos "Now we must leave here".
I sat by the fire and nursed the brandy that Constance had given me as I watched the leaping flames.
"You look lost in your thoughts" The queen came and sat next to me
"I am just worried for Athos and the others, your Majesty. I know that this is a plan is a risky one" the Queen reached for my hands and held them
"It is but we are safe within these walls, we have the love of the Musketeers" she swallowed hard "There is going to be a new beginning for France" she put her hand on her stomach as Constance brought in food
"I don't understand"
"I am pregnant" the Queen looked nervously from me to Constance
"That's such a good thing" I smiled "The king must be happy?"
"I haven't told him, yet I am going to in the morning" she looked at her hands still holding mine "But I am sure that he will be more than excited for the thought of an Heir it has been long awaited"
"How far along are you?" I asked
"I have not bled to two months" I couldn't help the expression that came across my face "Yes you see my dilemma" the Queen got up and paced the floor, I looked at Constance who shrugged
"Have you told Aramis? I said in a hushed voice, she shook her head
"I have something to ask of you Estelle" she faced me "You have been my messenger before"
"I have" I nodded
"I need you to be my messenger to Aramis"
"You want me to tell him?" She nodded "I cannot trust anyone else other than Constance to do this, but with what is happening with the plan you are not going to be under suspicion of being around him" her tone was almost a one of begging.
"Very well" I nodded "Do you want me to go tonight?"
"If you feel well enough" She wrung her hands
"Constance" I looked at her
"I will fetch your cloak and gloves" she walked away I rubbed my temple and winced at the bruise that was beginning to form
"I shall forever be in your debt; I hardly know you and I know that I am not your Queen, but you have shown me nothing but utter loyalty and discretion"
"I know what you mean to people that I love" I nodded "And that's all I need to know" Constance came back in and helped me on with my cloak.
"Go right to the Garrison" she said walking with me to the door
"I'm not planning on going anywhere else at this time of night" I squeezed her hand "Look after the Queen"
I hurried down the hallway there were very few candles lit at this time of night everything seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
"What are you doing" I muttered to myself "You must be mad" I pulled my gloves on and rounded the top of the staircase and stopped in my tracks as Milady was walking up the stairs toward me, I felt my heart leap into my throat. She lifted her head and looked at me and a wry smile spread across her lips
"Well look it's the fallen woman of Athos" she chuckled
"And look it's the Kings whore" I ground my teeth
"I might be the Kings mistress but all you seem to do is cause problems within the Kings own Garrison of Musketeers" she walked up to me "Just how many of them have been between your legs, Is Captain Treville next or did you start with him" I raised my fist and hauled back with all my strength knocking her off balance and sending her on the cold hard floor.
"I am not having a good day and I do not need you spitting your evil venom at me"
"I can see why you are a charm to them" she got to her feet and wiped the blood from her lip "But a word of warming you should not cross me. You would never have been enough of a woman to keep Athos happy, and now you have destroyed him and his ideals in the Musketeers. Remember what is to happen is down in part to you" she turned on her heel and walked away.
I sank to the floor and tried to control my breathing, what had I been thinking even thinking of taking her on. I would give anything to be tucked up in Athos's bed right now.
YOU ARE READING
Lost in the pages
RomansHave 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...
