A Powerful Little Love

Chapter 19

It was only as Amorette's wrist gave a twinge of pain that she realised that she still held the sketch of the Tarot card in her hands.  Pulling the sleeve of her dress back a little she saw bright red marks encircling her wrists again.  The sound of Aramis' voice from over her shoulder had her almost jumping out of her skin.

"Has that happened before?" he asked as he leaned over the back of the couch.

Amorette couldn't drag the sleeve back over her wrist quickly enough.  "No."  She held out the sketch, knowing that he had more than likely returned to fetch it.  "Forget something?"  Instead of taking the sketch from her, Aramis lightly gripped Amorette's hand and she was forced to abide as he pushed the cuff of her sleeve back a little.  "It's nothing!"  Amorette snatched her hand back. "I accused Buckingham of something that he didn't do Aramis!  He's been a good friend to me and I repaid him like that.  He didn't deserve that."

Aramis sighed heavily and moved around the couch so that he was able to sit on the arm rest beside her.  "You said yourself Mademoiselle you've seen him play tricks like this before so surely he must understand your suspicions.  Granted, he has every right to be unhappy about them, but it should never give him reason to lay hands on you.  Has it happened before?"

Amorette shook her head gently but Aramis didn't seem convinced by her answer.  Yet again she used the persuasive trick she had seen work countless times.  She grabbed the sleeve of Aramis' doublet and looked up at him through her thick eyelashes.  "I've never seen Buckingham like that.  That is; I've seen him angry at others but he's never behaved like that towards me.  I meant what I said though.  Despite what you musketeers think of the Duke of Buckingham he has earned more than such foul treatment from me.  I owe him a lot."  Amorette held out the rolled up sketch to Aramis.  "I trust you came back for this."

Yet again Aramis grabbed her hand, but this time he simply held it tightly.  "I want you to promise me that if this happens again you will come to me with it."

Amorette could tell from Aramis' serious expression that he wouldn't permit her to argue.  Instead she would have to settle for a condition of her own.  "I will if you don't tell Athos!"

Aramis chuckled as he shook his head.  Amorette knew that he would agree with her, and he did. 

When Aramis re-joined his friends they were halfway to the Marais.  There was a strange energy as the four musketeers left the streets of Les Halles behind and entered the more respectable area of the city.  Almost at once they realised they were being followed and as they moved further towards Buckingham's lodgings the number of followers increased until Buckingham himself met them in the street.  Buckingham's men fanned out around them, each one with their hand upon the hilt of their rapiers and swords.  Somewhere in Athos' mind he vaguely thought that the sight was in essence very English.  He felt Porthos stiffen beside him as his friend readied for the potential fight.  For several minutes there was silence as each man weighed up an opponent.  Out of the corner of his eye Athos thought he saw one of Buckingham's men wink at Porthos.  Athos grabbed at the leather of Porthos' doublet as he jumped forwards towards the man.

"Now now gentlemen"m," simpered Buckingham,m.  "Let's save the brawl for another day.  I have the feeling that this encounter is for a reason.  I trust you are here on behalf of our mutual friend?"  When Athos nodded Buckingham gestured for them to follow him and moved off in the direction of his lodgings.

The musketeers were all surprised with how quickly Buckingham was able to dispose of his men.  With just a simple jerk of the head they left the five men alone in Buckingham's study.  "Messieurs I expect you are here to ask me if I have anything to do with these Tarot card sketches?"  Buckingham lounged on a chaise Longue whilst the musketeers stood.  Although they had been offered seats none of them had felt comfortable enough to sit.