A footstep and a soft knock alerted her to a presence at the door. She bade him enter, knowing it was a man. It was mostly men who came to her door. She wasn't expecting him though. Somehow the knock didn't correspond with her impression of this tall, well built dark man. Setting down her makeup box, Milady leaned against her dressing table nonchalantly.

'Rochefort. What can I do for you at this time of night?' They both knew this was a polite enquiry meaning 'what the hell do you want?' He bowed his head slightly, in slight deference to a lady. He wasn't entirely without manners.

'I just wanted to know the general picture about the preparations for tomorrow's ball. Is the Cardinal aware of Buckingham's personal guards?'

'Personal guards?'

'The musketeers. They are engaged unofficially to make sure he is unharmed.'

'Do you think they will get past me? I'll make sure to get what I need.' Her tone was disdainful, eyes cold.

'Just making sure you know what you are doing. If he is to come to any trouble...' His insinuation was clear enough, was she up to the task of seducing Buckingham and getting away with the diamonds under the keen noses of the musketeers?

'I am beyond discreet!' she snapped, anger getting the better of her. How dare he doubt her skills? The arrogant captain. She took a deep breath and resumed her tightly civil tone. 'As you've come to tell me nothing of use, I shall expect you want to go back to your own room and do whatever it is you occupy yourself with during the dark hours.' It was a clear dismissal that filled Rochefort with rage.

'You think you can treat people the way you do and expect any of them not to want to undermine you?' he hissed, his dark eye boring into her haughty face. She tilted her head slightly to the right and asked slyly about who would want to undermine her. Stepping closer, she lowered her voice and told him on no uncertain terms that anyone crossing her would suffer the consequences. He had no doubt that would be true, Milady was a fierce enemy. Her powers of persuasion were immense and she had conned men, wealthy and poor alike out of anything precious they owned. She turned away and rearranged items of her dressing table. She was finished with the conversation.

He frowned, a deep crease winging its way down to his nose, corresponding with the expression reflected in his eye. Only one eye remained but it was a fierce, hawk like eye, the other being hidden behind a patch of leather. A comic figure he may have cut but for his relentless sword stroke and commanding air.

'Can I assume everything will be going as planned?' he asked sarcastically, knowing that his presence was only annoying her further. He felt a spark of vindictive pleasure over it. He could never sort out his feelings for her but provoking a reaction kept him going until the next time.

'What is it now?' she asked him, observing him from the tiny mirror opposite her. 'Surely you've finished insulting me?' He turned to see his faint reflection, a dark smudge in her horizon. He walked forward until she was facing her reflection, back still turned, smirking slightly. He put a gloved hand lightly on her shoulder and mockingly asked her how much she charged per night. Informed that she was too expensive for his pocket. She shook off his hand and pointedly told him where the door was. His heart beat faster than he cared to admit. Did he dare voice his wish? For it was his wish, no doubt, no matter how much he despised her methods. He hesitated and threw caution to the winds.

He certainly wiped the smirk off her face this time.

'Kiss me.'