A Powerful Little Love

Chapter 14

The Pelletier brothers denied all knowledge of Aramis' lady friend Iseult.  Amorette knew they were either telling the truth, or they were very good liars.  That was the thing about young bachelors like the Pelletier's though, they were all good liars.  Both young men were still unmarried and prowling Paris for rich pickings.  Amorette was safe due to her close friendship with the boys but not many other women were.  Claude had caught the attention of both brothers but what was more shocking was that Claude encouraged the outrageous flirting.  As soon as Amorette caught sight of Claude draping herself around the neck of one brother she pulled her swiftly away, grumbling reminder's about Claude's husband. 

Claude had been drunk and Amorette understood that it may have been harmless flirting, but it was dangerous for a married woman to play such games.  Claude said that her husband wouldn't mind but Amorette was more concerned about what the rest of the court would think and say.  She had begun to realise just how dire the situation was between Claude and her husband.  They had both clearly fallen out of love with each other a long time ago and were now barely on speaking terms.  In the beginning Amorette thought that perhaps they had always only had a friendship and had never actually deeply loved each other but talking to Claude had left her in no doubt that they had once loved each other very much.  That was the worst thing about it, Amorette thought.  To once have loved someone so much, and to have them love you back but only for a little while.  It was the children who she really felt for though.  They were constantly stuck in between the arguments and Amorette knew only too well how that felt.

It grew harder and harder for Amorette to feel sorry for Claude when she threw herself at every available man though.  It happened even when she was without the influence of wine or brandy so frequently that Amorette and Constance had taken to following Claude everywhere she went if they felt she was so inclined to flirt that day.  Claude didn't seem to mind.  In fact Amorette was sure she found it very funny indeed.  Amorette was so wrapped up in trying to convince Claude to stay faithful to her husband that for a few days it slipped her mind that she had promised Aramis that she would ask about Iseult.  Her only reminder came with the Pelletier's early departure from Paris.  She didn't have a chance to ask them again as she waved them off and a rather forlorn mood enveloped her.  She still had her cousin's reply to wait for, but she supposed that it would have meant more to Aramis to have heard the news from someone who was real and present.

Amorette hadn't had the chance to speak to Aramis and she supposed it could well be after her cousin's reply had arrived that they did meet, but it didn't ease her mood any.  She had promised Aramis she would find Iseult for him because she understood what he was going through.  Franc was the first to sense her mood.  "So are we going to discuss what's got you so melancholy these last few weeks?" Franc questioned one day as they crossed the Pont Neuf together.  "Years ago I'd have said that Athos had something to do with it but I thought you'd given all that up!"

"It's not Athos," she said with a shake of the head.  "I shouldn't talk about it in great detail but a friend asked something of me and so far I've failed rather miserably.  In truth, I was to speak to a friend and discover some information for them but they denied all knowledge of it and I've now no opportunity to ask again.  My cousin may also be able to help though; I'm just waiting for a reply from him."

"By that do you mean the Pelletier's?  I did spend some time with them over the last few months.  Perhaps I could help?"

Amorette told Franc about her quest to find out just what fate had befallen Iseult at a friend's request but kept Aramis' identity hidden.  Franc listened with polite indifference while Amorette spoke of how she suspected that the Pelletier's knew more than they had admitted.  Unknowingly they had walked in the direction of the Jardin De Luxembourg and found themselves completely alone when they passed through the gates and walked in no particular direction.  Franc had been oddly silent up until then and Amorette thought it was very strange, but when they had ventured a good distance into the gardens he suddenly turned sharply to face her.