"Estelle, Estelle" I slowly opened my eyes a rough looking Aramis was looking at me
"Sorry I must have fallen asleep" I sat up and realized I was lay on his bed
"I woke just before dawn and put you here" He offered me a weak smile "Thank you"
"What for?" I asked scrubbing my hands over my face
"For being the messenger, for being the sister that I never had" He sat next to me on the bed and braced his elbows on his knees "I do not know what the Garrison would be without you and Constance" he turned his head and looked at me
"Can you carry on with the plan?" I asked as the door knocked and Aramis got up to answer it
"I will be alright; I have all of you to lean on" He nodded and opened the door to D'artagnan.
"Good morning" I got up and smiled
"Good Morning D'artagnan, excuse me I have to get a change of clothes from Athos's room. I take it we are going to the Palace" I asked walking to the door
"We are Treville has already left with Porthos" D'artagnan nodded
"Where was Porthos last night?" I suddenly realized that Porthos hadn't been there
"He was keeping his eye on Milady after she left Athos" I tipped my head
"She was with him last night?" D'artagnan and Aramis looked at each other
"Well not in the biblical sense" Aramis smiled his usual smile "She went and found him after he and I fought and he knocked you down" I put my hands on my hips.
"What else don't I know?" I frowned
"Go change and we will fill you in on it all as we ride to the Palace" D'artagnan said squeezing my hand
"Fine" I walked the few steps away to Athos's rooms and I opened the door,
I sat on the bed and touched the pillow where Athos's head usually lay. I got an ache in my chest I was missing him like I never thought it was possible. I changed into a clean dress and pulled on my other boots and tidied my hair. I fastened my cloak around me and took one last look at the room before closing the door and walking down the steps to the courtyard where Aramis and D'artagnan were waiting already on horseback.
"Where is my horse?" I frowned
"You're riding with me" Aramis smiled offering me his hand and one of the grooms helped me up in front of him "I like keeping you close" he said kissing me. It took me a minute to realize he was making a show for the Garrison most were looking at him with disproval.
"Let's go" D'artagnan said kicking his horse on. Aramis did the same and we left the garrison
"I was not expecting that kiss" I said as we rode through the streets
"I know and we need to just make a show of it" He looked down at me
"So are you going to tell me what else happened?" I asked as D'artagnan dropped back to ride next to us
"She has told him that he needs to see the Cardinal today" Aramis sighed
"About joining the Red Guard" D'artagnan said looking at me
"Oh well isn't that just fun" I shook my head
"If it happens then it shows that the plan we have is working and maybe he can find out more"
"Or he is in danger because that bitch and the Cardinal aren't convinced"
"You can't think like that, we have to believe that they do believe everything we've put into place" Aramis said firmly "we have to carry on with the pretense"
"I know... as long as it keeps your mind off the Queen for a while" I said making him nodded
We rode into the courtyard of the Palace as Porthos came down the steps and out. He rested his hand on his sword hilt.
"Porthos" Armis smiled at him "It is good to see you"
"Don't speak to me after what you've done to Athos" he looked at me "what both of you have done to him"
"You don't understand Porthos" I said as D'artagnan lifted me down from in front of Aramis "We didn't do it to hurt him" I put my hands flat on his chest. "Athos told me he was in love with someone else"
"Don't touch me" he stepped back and glared at me "Treville wants us with him" Porthos turned on his heel and walked away.
"I'll go after him" D'artagnan said stepping back from us "don't be long" Athos nodded and turned me to face him
"Okay Porthos is scary" I said quietly
"Good job you know him" Aramis held my face in his hands "Milady is watching from a window" he murmured moving his mouth next to my ear
"Just kiss me and leave to go to The Captain and the others, but no tongue" I said holding his arms
"Of course not" he pulled me to him and kissed me "Now go to Constance and the Queen and tell her" he hesitated "Tell her..."
"I'll tell her you understand what you must do but you will always love her" I touched the side of his face as pain etched in his eyes. He held my hands and kissed them
"Athos is a lucky man, and I am lucky to have you as a friend" he smiled "Now go" I nodded and turned away from him and made my way into the Palace.
I got to the top of the stairs and stalled as Milady was standing there a bruise along the side of the jaw that made me smile.
"Milady" my heart went into my throat at the sound of Athos's voice. He walked over to her and looked at me. He was dressed in the uniform of the Cardinals Red Guard.
"Athos" My voice sounded strained as she rested her hand on his arm "You're a Red Guard"
"Milady, the King is missing you" he said turning away from me
"Of course" She literally purred and pulled him to her and kissed him, I felt like I had ben punched in the gut seeing them together. I shook my head and turned and headed for the Queens apartments.
"I think we shocked your former lover" Milady smiled as she pulled back from the kiss
"She has her musketeer" he said turning his back "I feel nothing for her"
YOU ARE READING
Lost in the pages
RomanceHave you ever got so lost in a book it's as if you were actually there. Estelle Bennett was left a little Old bookstore that used to belong to her grandmother, it was a place that Estelle had loved since being a child and her Grandmother had always...
