Musketeer's Daughter:Unanswered Riddle

Chapter 26: Musketeer

Before she knew it, Andrién vanished within her next breath. "Philippe?" She turned to him, all amiability gone from his bearing. The basket and blanket still out.

"Let us go now."

"What about our picnic?" She gazed longingly at the sweetmeats, pastries, cider, ham. Her mouth watered.

"Come." He wrapped his arm about her shoulders and moved her from her place. "We will find food elsewhere."

It was as if he transformed into another person altogether. Gone was his twinkling eye flirtation, eager to please and grovel for her smile. Rather, his cool aloofness and business-like actions scared and confused.

"This way." He redirected her from heading back from where they came. They walked a complete different direction.

"Where are you taking me?"

"No talking."

"What?" Indignation raced up her back and she glared at him, digging her heels into the earth. "No one speaks down to me, monsieur."

He stopped so abruptly she flew forward, but his capable hands restrained an accident. "Look over your right shoulder. In the distance, do you see the gentlemen strolling against the crowd this way?"

She narrowed her eyes, was about to raise her hand to ward off the eastern sun, but he clamped his fingers about her wrist.

"There, in the west, same. Do you see?"

"Of course I do." She wiggled free, but he was stronger. The King must have told the Queen-Mother, hence, she was about to have Ysabeau arrested. Her heart plummeted. At last, he released her, yet kept close proximity. "What does this mean?"

"It means we need to get you out of those clothes and head southeast of here."

"South—are you implying, monsieur, that you are escorting me back home? What of Andrién, Marie? Should we not go back for them?"

"Hush now." He wrenched her from her feet, and she relented. Fear weighed her legs and she clung to him. "Here is a good place." A grove of thick trees encircled about, housing a pool of black shadows. "Remove your clothes."

"What?" She scoffed. "How will stripping help me escape other than for your pleasure?"

But his face did not melt into grins. "I will explain, ma chérie, but it is the utmost greatness that you do as I say without delay." He touched his forehead to hers, his fingers soft at her jawline. "Please."

Obtus. Heat slapped her face into shame and she berated herself for not acting fast. And here she longed to be part of the King's service. "Oui, I apologize."

"No need. All will reveal itself in time." Sunlight lanced through the greenest part of his eyes, casting a glow behind them. His lips parted, and a soft tickle brushed her cheek as a breeze lifted his dark lock. "S'il vous plait."

Time had stopped for this moment, and she felt at one with him. She nodded. He then placed Andrién's satchel in her hands and he closed his over hers. "Everything you need is in here. Make sure you bring the satchel with you, never mind your femme things."

Again, she nodded, a sudden drought in her mouth slid down her throat and her breath stuck. Why was the Queen-Mother after her? Why would she need to send men to retrieve Ysabeau? Her hands, cold and clamped and slick, failed after the third try at her pieces.

"Philippe," she begged, tears damming her breath. "Please help."

Without a word, he slipped into the closed space and expertly removed her clothing. Faster than Marie. How she pined for her long hair to conceal her derrière as well as bosom for such a timely moment. No doubt she would grow it back and never, ever sever it again! She dared not ask where he acquired such adept skill.

"Go on."

She turned to gaze at him, expecting to see passion burning deep in his bearing, but he had turned his back and waited. Ysabeau opened the satchel and gasped. Andrién would allow her? With warmth in her heart and mist in her gaze, she slid into the breeches and every piece she had stowed with her as le petit enfant. Once she slid the last boot to her foot and flung the cassock over her shoulders, she stepped out with a smile.

"Ready."

Philippe turned, looked at her, then looked at her again. His eyes dipped up and down her and came that wide grin. "Perhaps we should continue that duel you challenged me to?"

"Not here. I do not fancy the ladies ogling nor pinching me."

He motioned his head for her to exit and they walked side by side as true musketeers. "Is that all they did? You are one lucky homme."

"I rather enjoy being one, ladies have too much upon their shoulders." Ysabeau walked with a sprightly lilt. "What now?"

"To the horses."

They strolled through the courtyard in silence, fear clamping her muscles as the Queen-Mother's men passed them without glancing their way.

"They look so severe. What have I done that is so wrong?"

"It is not what you have done, petit amour, but what the King has done."

"That was no fault of my own—he was the one who broke entry into Andrién's apartments."

"Now is not the time for such discussions."

Ysabeau resisted looking back. She was glad to don the trappings of a proud musketeer, sword and all.