Mademoiselle D'Artagnan of the Musketeers

The party was being held at the villa an hour out from Paris, it was built by the King's father as a sort of vacation home for the royal family. The three arrived before the target; who would be arriving fashionably late according to Alban's informer, but late enough that the serving wine would have started to take a bit of effect on both the host and guests.

As customary, the three go and introduce themselves to the King and Queen, asGarsie-Sanche le Tors , his sister Charlotte and their cousin Alban, after bowing; D'Artagnan resist the urge to check to see if his mask is properly in place under the curious looks of Treville and the Cardinal, who were as usual; stationed next to the royals.

"I'm glad that you and your family were able to attend my party" the King said after introductions, "I do hope you enjoy yourselves"

D'Artagnan gives a small smile at the flirtatious grin the King gave him, the three bow once more before going to go mingle with the other guests; Treville's gaze following him as he merged with the crowd.

It didn't take long for it to become known that Charlotte was the unwedded sister of the equally unweddedGarsie-Sanche le Tors, Alban watched with no small amount amusement as they're surrounded by men and women of nobility, the man watched as the two hold a kind of court of their own for a few moments before slipping away. He grabbed a goblet of wine and settled himself in a spot that will allow him to see their target enter.

~.~

"Someone is certainly popular" Aramis comment, watching the two people who had been surrounded.

"Not sure if that's a good thing" said Porthos, watching as the Cardinal slipped into the crowd, close enough to hear the conversation but far enough not seem as though he was eavesdropping.

Athos eyed the serving wine with longing.

"She looks familiar though" Aramis then said with a tilted head, eyes trailing down the lithe figure dressed in red, eyes lingering for a moment at the woman's bosom then back at the face.

"How can you tell with the mask?" Porthos asked.

"Her smile" Aramis answered, "you're on duty Athos" he then said not looking away from the woman.

Athos, who had been inching closer to the wine, gives a quick groan and moved back to stand next to Porthos (he wasn't going to drink any, just smell it). To take his mind off his denied wine, Athos turned his attention to the woman that had gained Aramis's attention. She was speaking with a noble woman, court gossips no doubt, she was also smiling; and the Musketeer is surprised at how familiar it was to him.

"Huh" Porthos said when a familiar feeling comes over him as he stared at the young woman's smile, "it is familiar"

"Perhaps she had attended another of the King's parties" Athos suggested.

"Maybe" Aramis said, gaze thoughtful.

The Garsie-Sanche le Tors catches them watching his sister, to their surprise he doesn't glare or come over to demand they avert their gaze; instead he pulled his sister closer and whispered in her ear. His sister blinked at him before looking in their direction. Aramis gives a flirty grin, Porthos smiled, and Athos gives a small polite bow of the head. The sister's cheeks flush and quickly turned away, the brother chuckled before turning his attention to a noble man.

"That was interesting" Athos said before giving Aramis a look.

"What?"

Athos raised a brow.

"I didn't sleep with her" Aramis whispered.

Athos's brow goes higher.

"….Okay, it's possible, but the mask makes it hard to tell"

Porthos snorted.

~.~

Alban slipped into the crowd that were surrounding his friends

"Excuse me" Alban smiled, "but if you don't mind, I would like to dance with my cousin, Charlotte"

D'Artagnan took Alban's held out hand and is lead out to the dance floor, he gives the older man a warning look when a hand was placed on his waist and he was pulled nearly inappropriately close, Alban merely gives cheeky grin back as he leads the other in the dance.

"It's seems that you have many admirers, and not just of the nobility kind either" Alban whispered to him.

D'Artagnan said nothing, ever since Blaise had pointed out that his friends were watching him, D'Artagnan had made it a point not to look at them, for fear that they may somehow recognize him, it was bad enough that Captain Treville kept looking at him.

"Our target has arrived, over my right shoulder with the blue mask, and matching colored clothing"

D'Artagnan looked, he spots said target, the disguised young man memorized the man's clothing, mask and other details before looking back at Alban. He doesn't ask the man if he was sure, just nodded. Their dance end, Alban bowed before leading them over to their target; each grabbing wine along the way. They easily slip into the conversation, their target; a Duke. Is easily charmed by the soft spoken Charlotte, and it isn't long before the man is asking for a dance.

"That is a lovely mask you are wearing Mademoiselle Charlotte" the Duke commented as they glided across the floor.

"Thank you, yours look quite handsome, is the face behind it equally so?"

"Well aren't you a forward one" the Duke chuckled, "I don't think your brother will approve"

"He will only disapprove if you tell him"

The Duke laughed.

Meanwhile, Porthos joined Aramis and Athos after doing his portal, his eyes land on Garsie-Sanche le Tors's sister, Charlotte Aramis found out; who was dancing with the Duke.

"Do you know her?"

All three look at their Captain.

"Garsie-Sanche le Tors's sister, Charlotte, do you know her?" Treville asked.

"As much as anyone" Athos answered.

"Something wrong?" asked Porthos

Treville doesn't answer as he watched Charlotte dance with the Duke, ever since she had been introduced, the Captain found his eyes drawn to the young woman; something the King had caught him in and teased him about. True, Charlotte had a pleasing figure and alluring eyes, and a sweet smile that was so familiar that it probed all of his instincts and kept drawing his eyes back to the woman.

"Keep an eye on her" Treville finally said before returning to his position by the King and Queen.

~.~

After leaving D'Artagnan to work his charm, Alban moved over to Basile who was subtly fighting off the advances of a noble woman. After rescuing his friend, the two move to a spot that allowed them to watch D'Artagnan and the Duke…along with a few others.

"I do believe our little Charlotte has charmed more than the Duke" Alban noted, eyes on the three Musketeers station as guards, he had seen them stare at D'Artagnan at one moment or another; at one point he had seen them talking to Captain Treville, who had also been watching D'Artagnan.

"Should we be worried?" Basile asked.

"Not sure, oh that was fast"

Both men watched as the Duke slipped out the room with D'Artagnan, a hand placed possessively on the small of the younger's back. The two wait a few moments before Alban followed, Basile finished his wine before doing the same.

With D'Artagnan's soft giggles echoing down the empty halls, it's easy enough to follow the two, hidden in the shadows Alban and Basile watch as the two slip into a room, the door closing shut with a soft thud. The two moved to the closed door, listening to the muffled sounds behind the door, the two men took out their concealed muskets. A sudden surprise yelp, made them freeze for a moment before, with a nod to each other; they kick open the door.

"Bonjour!" Alban said cheerfully, musket trained on the Duke.

"Right on time, that's a first" D'Artagnan commented, in his hand is a dagger that is pressed at the Duke's crotch, voice still soft and feminine.

"Don't say that darling, especially in front of our guest" Alban pouted, behind him Basile close the doors, "he'll think bad of us"

"Charlotte, please relieve the Duke of his effects" Basile then said.

The Duke suddenly backhanded D'Artagnan, knocking the surprised young man to the ground, Alban fired, shooting the man in the leg. The man gives out a cry of pain and fell to the ground clenching his injured leg, Basile then grabbed the man by the collar, punched him before dragging him to a chair and pushing him into it.

"I advise you not to do that again" said Basile, tone soft, eyes cold, musket pressed against the man's head, "do we have an understanding?"

After a moment's pause, the Duke nodded.

"Alright?" asked Alban helping D'Artagnan up, eyes blazing with rage at the sight of the bleeding lip, and slowly bruising jaw.

"Fine" D'Artagnan said.

"Wha—she's a man!?" exclaimed the Duke

Alban blinked and took another look at his friend, the mask and wig had fallen off, he also realized that D'Artagnan had answered in his normal voice.

"Oh" Alban said, looking at the shocked Duke then back at the wide-eyed younger.

Suddenly the door flew open, and Athos, Porthos, and Aramis came bursting in, swords and muskets drawn.

"Well this looks—D'Artagnan?"

"Um, surprise?"