Lost in the pages

Keeping busy

"Estelle" I looked around at Captain Treville "let us get out of the chill" He gestured up the stairs. The warmth was a welcome change as he closed the door of his room behind us, I walked over to the fire and warmed my hands. "May I take your cloak"

"Of course" I unclipped it and he took it from my shoulders

"I do not mean to pry but, You and Athos?" he sat down and gestured to the seat across from his

"We are... well I suppose that we are together" I chewed my lip "You know that he is the Count de la Fere?" Treville nodded

"I do know that; but no one else does, well until he trusted you" he smiled at me "Athos is a very hard man and that is something that makes him a wonderful Musketeer"

"Are you worried that if he falls in love with me it will come at the detriment of his duties?" I frowned

"No, because you seem to be a strong woman, but if you had seen the anger in him when you left the last time; you would maybe understand my nervousness and reservation" He got up and poured two cups of brandy and handed one to me

"I can promise you I'm not about to leave. If I didn't leave after the things Athos told me then it's going to take a lot to make me go anywhere" I nursed my cup

"I am glad to hear it. Now I am to go to the palace to await news from the Convent" he got to his feet

"Do you think they will be alright?" I asked

"I have all the faith in the world in them" He smiled "I will have one of the stable boys to draw you water for a bath" he got up "I will send for you when I hear anything"

"Thank you" I nodded and followed him out and watched as he walked down the stairs.

 I turned and let myself into Athos's rooms. There was a trunk on the small table with a note attached I walked over to it and smiled as I took the paper and read it

Estelle,

I hope that Athos is being a gentleman and he has not just kidnapped you.

The Queen has given me these dresses to give to you and she was sad to hear that you would not be accompanying us to the Convent of The Holy Mother.

Constance

I touched the top dress that was deep red silk and smiled the door knocked and I opened it to two stable boys both with two large buckets of streaming water the tipped it in to the tub that was by the fire and smiled and closed the door after them, I stripped out of my clothes and sank into the hot water and sighed as the ache from riding was soaked from my muscles.

I watched the flames lick the logs in the fireplace, this was going to be my life now and I could happily say I was more than happy with it. I got out of the water and dried off and pulled on one of the dresses thankful that for once the corset fastened in the front. 

I looked out of the window; the weak winter sun had set and night had drawn in. A rider sharply pulled his horse to a stop in the courtyard and he dismounted quickly and took the stairs two at a time and knocked on the door. I took a deep breath and opened it

"Captain Treville sent me to fetch you" he said a little breathlessly

"Are they back?" I asked 

"They are on the way; They sent word with a farm hand from close to the convent" I picked up my cloak and put it on and slipped my hands into the fur lined gloves that had also been in the trunk with the dresses from the Queen.

I followed him out of the room and down to where there was two waiting horses. One of the stable boys helped me up onto my horse and I held on as we literally galloped through the streets of Paris toward the palace. There was a musketeer waiting at the foot of the steps that lead up into the bright glow of the palace. He put his hands up and lifted me down

"Captain Treville asked me to fetch you to the Long gallery" I nodded and followed him up the stairs, a maid came forward and took my cloak and gloves from me

"Where is Captain Treville?" I asked

"He is with the King who is..." He took a deep breath "well he is going through a range of emotions as he worries about the queen"

"Understandable" I nodded. There was what seemed like most of the French court walking up and down in the Long gallery, there was a nervous chatter filling the air.

I scanned the room quickly and shuddered when I saw two of the Red guards that had attacked me a few nights earlier. I walked over to one of the three fire places in the Gallery and warmed my hands. I could feel eyes on me and then felt someone squeeze one of my butt cheeks making me jump and spin around. It was one of the Red Guards

"You're all alone again" he grinned "Maybe we should finish what you were asking for" he said leaning in to me

"If I was you I would move your hand" I raised my head a little and looked him in the eye

"Whores don't get to say what I can and can't do" he scowled at me

"Le Clerc" we both looked around and my blood went cold as the Cardinal walked toward us "Leave the Lady alone we are hear to wait for the arrival of the Queen" he took a step back and sneered at me once more before he walked away

"You need to keep your dogs to heel" I snapped

"Oh I will, but I will require something in return" he tipped his head and looked at me "I have been asking about you and no one seems to know anything about you"

"So... I am not from here and I don't think that you know everyone in the known world" I moved to walk passed him and he caught my arm making me catch my breath and sending the color draining from my face.

"I will find out about you but you will come to my palace and..." there was a commotion from the stairs as the Queen walked in purposefully followed my Aramis, D'artaganan, Porthos and Athos.

I pulled my arm free of the Cardinal and lifted my skirts and hurried toward the doorway that they had gone through.