I woke up as I tried to turn over and pain radiated across my back. I hissed and pushed myself up Athos was sound asleep in the bed next to me. His brow was furrowed, and his hair was falling over his eyes. I bit my lip as I shifted to the edge of the bed and tested my feet on the floor.
I eased myself up and gingerly put one foot in front of another until I got to the window; I moved aside the curtain to see brilliant sunshine glistening off the thick pure white of the snow. I looked down at my hand and saw the ring that Athos had given me back on my finger.
"ESTELLE" Athos jolted awake and looked bewildered as he looked at the empty spot on the bed next to him
"I'm here" he took a deep rattling breath and blinked a couple of times as if trying to focus
He moved off the bed wearing just the thin undershirt and nothing more and came over to me. Athos took my hands and put his forehead against mine.
"You should be resting" he sighed
"I'm fine" I smiled at him "My back is sore, but I can't lay in bed all day, I want to show the Cardinal that he hasn't won" Athos looked at me "I know it was him that gave out the punishment"
"He did" Athos nodded "But it was Milady that wanted him to" I looked at Athos and hung my head "She had been arrested for Treason" he lifted my chin "The plan didn't work quite as we wanted, but the Cardinal knows that he is being watched" I closed my eyes "Estelle, she can never harm you again"
"I brought this on myself" I said quietly "I hit her because she told me that I was just your whore, and I couldn't make you happy"
"She was a jealous woman, for you have made me happier than I even though possible, you have made this old soldier take care more with his own safety so I can come back to you" he held my face in his hands "As soon as you are well enough we will be married" he moved his head closer to me and kissed me in a way that my knees felt like they were going to buckle. "You will be the wife of a musketeer and the new Countess de la Fere" he kissed me again "now please humor me and get back into bed"
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The door knocked as Arthos was dressing and putting on his sword belt
"Come in" Athos called out
"Good morning" Constance said walking in with a stack of clean bandages and a bowl of water "How did you sleep?"
"As well as can be expected" I sighed Athos came over to me and kissed me
"I shall be as quick as I can"
"It's okay" I smiled at him
"I love you" he kissed me again
"Athos the others are waiting for you" D'artagnan was in the doorway "Morning Estelle"
"Good morning" Constance waited until they walked out and closed the door after themselves
"How are you really feeling?" Constance asked sitting on the side of the bed and putting the bowl down
"In pain, a lot of pain but I want to show the Cardinal that he hasn't won" she tipped her head and looked at me "I want to go into court today, and I want you to help me"
"Athos isn't going to like this, in fact none of the Musketeers are going to like this" she held out her hands
"I have to do this to show that they haven't destroyed me or the rest of us" I fought back the tears "Please Constance"
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The Musketeers were stood to the side as the King held court with the Queen by his side and the Cardinal at his right hand. The King was beaming from ear to ear and was holding the Queens hand. He was so happy to know that she was pregnant. Envoys from Denmark and the Netherlands were vying for the Kings attention.
I held on to Constance's arm as we slowly walking into the room skirting the edge of it. the Queen looked up and saw us and smiled. I nodded at her she glanced to the Cardinal who was looking directly at me.
I lifted my chin and stared back at him without flinching even though my back was screaming at me. Constance had dressed my wounds and padded them so the dress wouldn't rub them too much. Athos moved through the crowd of people and came over to me.
"What are you doing here? "he took my hands "You are not fit for this"
"I told her but she wanted to make a point to the Cardinal" Constance huffed
"Constance is right Estelle" Athos sighed
"I just wanted him to know, I'm a lot tougher than I look" I felt tears sting my eyes and I blinked them back
"And we all know you are" Athos gave me a weak smile "Please allow Constance to take you back to your room, I shall be along shortly"
"Fine" I nodded
"Oh no" Constance groaned "My husband is here" we all looked toward the door as Charles walked in
"Did you know he was coming?" I asked
"No, I haven't been near him for the last three weeks" he walked toward us
"Constance you have not been answering my messages" Charles huffed at her
"Monsieur, you do not do this here" Athos said putting his hand in the center of Charles's chest and putting himself between him and Constance
"I am talking to my wife" Charles said looking at Athos
"Just leave her" I said getting a little nervous for Constance
"I see you are still here" he looked me up and down "Your reputation is spreading in Paris for you easiness with the Garrison"
"I said not here" Athos grabbed Charles's arm and pulled him away and literally marched him from the room
"Go after them" I said looking at Constance
"I'm not leaving you" she frowned at me
"I'll be fine go" I assured her she nodded and gathered her skirts and hurried out D'artagnan was across the room and moved to go after them Aramis shook his head and Porthos followed them instead.
YOU ARE READING
Lost in the pages
RomantizmHave 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...
