Constant Companion (A 2011 The Three Musketeers Fanfiction)

Chapter Five

 I took great care in how I dressed the next morning. I wanted elegant, but not too ostentatious. I shook my head as I checked my appearance in the mirror. I really shouldn't have been trying to lie to myself any more. The Gascon was on my mind and I wanted to look my best for when we would surely meet again.

The wait was nearly agonizing. Anne had all of her ladies in waiting gathered together. “How much longer are we going to wait?” Benita asked impatiently. “Surely they've arrived by now.”

Anne responded, but I wasn't listening anymore. My attention had gone to Milady de Winter crossing the hallway. Why wasn't she in the hall where everyone else was? Deciding that the best way of finding out was to ask, I left the queen's side and went towards her.

“Milady!” I called out. “Pardon me, Milady. Might I have a word?”

She turned. “Why, Mademoiselle Constance,” she said, smiling. “Did you require something?”

“Aren't you going the wrong way to the hall?” I asked, gesturing back the way I'd come. “Everyone wants to see these four valiant men who defeated so many of the cardinal's guards. Surely, you've heard of the incident?”

“I'm afraid I have better things to do with my time,” Milady answered. “There is much to do before the duke arrives tomorrow.”

“What is there that you have to do? Any one of the servants will handle it.”

Again, she smiled. “I'm afraid you wouldn't understand,” she said. “Hurry along. I believe your queen is ready for her grand entrance.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Dolores, who'd been sent ahead to check what was happening, had returned and was talking to the queen. When I turned back, Milady had walked on. Huffing in annoyance, I hurried to take my place in the pack. One way or another, I would find out what Milady de Winter was up to.

“All right,” Anne said softly. The chattering ladies fell silent. “Come along.”

With Anne leading us, we walked into the hallway. The majordomo straightened up as he saw Anne. “And you shall have to be reprimanded, of course, most harshly, I'm afraid. You do understand that, don't you?” the king was saying. Even from this distance, I could here the regret and reluctance in his tone.

“We do, Your Majesty,” came the response of one of the musketeers.

The majordomo, getting a nod from Anne, stamped his rod. “Her Majesty, the queen!” he called out.

We walked down the stairs. I immediately saw D'Artagnan kneeling with the three former musketeers, still wearing the same clothes I'd seen him in the first time we'd met. I tried to keep my eyes on the ground, but I could still see the Gascon looking at me, a slight smile on his face. Why did he have to look so...pleased to see me? Its not like we knew each other!

Cardinal Richelieu and King Louis stood opposite of them and they both turned towards us. “Why, Anne!” the king stammered as Anne drew closer and curtsied respectfully. “What-what a pleasant surprise!”

Any fool could see that the king was in love with Anne...well, anyone save for Anne herself. “My ladies and I wanted to see the valiant musketeers who stood against the cardinal's guards,” Anne said, looking over at the kneeling men. “Four against forty? Or was it four hundred?”

The queen turned her head towards me as she spoke this last, smiling. The other ladies barely stifled their giggles at the teasing. Embarrassed, I dared to raise my eyes. The stupid boy was still staring at me! I felt like dying of embarrassment when I saw Anne's smile widen. “Just forty, Your Majesty,” one of the musketeers, Athos, responded as he looked up quickly. “It was an off day.”