A Powerful Little Love

Chapter 58

It seemed as if the world had frozen.  The musketeer's protests had died instantly, and no one spoke or moved as Amorette gazed at her father expectantly.  She willed her hands not to shake with anger as he continued to stare ahead blankly.  He did not utter a single word as the minutes passed and it was all the confirmation that Amorette needed.  She turned away from him and away from the rest of the room to walk towards the window.  She sucked in deep agonising breaths as she gazed out at the haphazard rooftops of the faubourg Saint-Germain and the grey incorrigible sky that threatened to soak them all through to the skin with a deluge of heavy rain before the day was over.

From her vantage point Amorette could not see the main thoroughfare of the Rue du Bac, only the surrounding building roofs.  She hoped though that not too much about the street had changed since she had entered the walls of the garrison that afternoon, otherwise the plan she was quickly concocting within her mind would not work at all.  When she finally found the courage to speak again she did so still facing the window.  Unable to find the power within her to turn and look upon her father as she addressed him, her anger at him and at herself manifested in a quiet, hollow but determined voice that seemed to be balancing upon a knife's edge. 

"Your silence is answer enough for me....Although I appreciate that you did not try to lie to me."

Amorette finally turned slowly back to the room, taking care to let her eyes fall anywhere but upon her father.  He did not speak at all, and no jibes or cruel humour passed his lips.  Amorette was glad of it, for now more than ever she wanted him gone before any more trouble was caused.  She ventured into the room, moving towards D'artagnan as Treville crossed behind her to stand in her spot by the window.

"What?" asked the young musketeer as Amorette reached him and held out her hand expectantly.

"Key please?"

"Not a chance in hell," replied D'artagnan with a swift shake of the head.

"Didn't you hear what we said Madame?" cried Porthos.  "We aren't doing this!"

"Key please?" Amorette asked more firmly this time.  Removing her father's shackles was only the beginning though and she knew it.  She would have to persuade them to stand aside as he walked free and that was no easy feat.

Athos stepped forward and Amorette wasn't sure if he was scowling at her or if it was in fact a concerned frown.  "Amorette what are you doing?"

Amorette tried to ignore the tired and pleading tone of his voice as she continued to stare at D'artagnan.  "Fine, if you won't give me the key then unlock the shackles yourself!"

"D'artagnan, do as she asks!" Treville barked suddenly. 

Amorette turned along with everyone else to stare at the musketeer captain who nodded to D'artagnan.  "It's an order to be followed."  How much did he know?  Had he realised what Amorette had planned within the last few moments inside her head?

Amorette watched as a war broke out across D'artagnan's face.  Tearing his gaze away from Treville he set his eyes upon Athos, hoping the older musketeer would provide him with some sort of answer.  Athos seemed at a loss too, and Eventually D'artagnan was left with no choice but to approach Lord Barclay stiffly, and fish in his own doublet pocket for the key.  The soft clicking sound that released her father's wrists seemed to resonate throughout the room ominously as Lord Barclay stood up and tried to catch Amorette's eye.  She took a direct step backwards as he walked across the room towards the doorway and Amorette wasn't surprised when Porthos moved to block it.

"Let him pass!" Treville cried sharply.

The room fell silent again as Lord Barclay halted just before Porthos, and the musketeer gazed at his three friends in turn before looking to his captain.  Amorette knew he was torn as to what to do next, and she hated the fact she had put them all in that position, but she had no other conceivable way before her that would allow her to manoeuvre things so well in the favour of herself and her friends.  For a few seconds, there was an expectant silence, where they all foresaw some kind of ruckus breaking out but eventually Porthos seemed to conclude to himself that he should follow his captain's orders and moved aside.