Past the Point of Rescue
Chapter Three
Waking in a strange bed was not a novel experience for Aramis. However, having his brow wiped with a cool cloth by a beautiful stranger while a drum banged with unnecessary enthusiasm in his head was certainly unusual. From his position, lying on his side, he had an unencumbered view of the young woman who was tending to him.
Light brown hair was elegantly styled with wispy curls framing her face. Her unfathomable grey eyes were fixed upon him with unsettling intensity and her perfectly formed mouth was upturned in a smile. She was modestly clad in emerald green satin and lace although he had the impression that she was not as conformist as she appeared.
He was lying on a soft feather mattress and covered in red silk sheets which told him more about his hostess. Curtains drawn across a large window muted the daylight for which he was thankful. Water from the cloth ran down his face and soaked into the pillow.
He had no memory of the events leading up to this moment. His last recollection was of following the two men he had suspected of spying on him. "Where am I?" he asked hoarsely.
Her expression turned mischievous. "In my bed. I would offer to join you but I doubt if you feel well enough. How is your head?"
His eyes widened at her boldness and he felt the first stirrings of desire. Those feelings were quickly dampened by his unremitting headache. He raised his hand and found a bandage tied around his head. "What happened?"
She held a glass of water to his mouth so that he could drink. "You were attacked. Fortunately I was passing in my coach and my driver saw you. I couldn't leave you there to be robbed or murdered so I brought you here."
Aramis doubted the truth of that story. No well-born woman would have reason to be passing through that area of Paris. "May I ask the name of my saviour?" he asked.
"Vivian."
He noted her failure to provide a title or surname. "I am Aramis and I'm deeply in your debt."
"I am sure we will find a way for you to repay that debt once you recover from your injury. I have some social calls to make so will leave you to sleep."
"You're very kind. Could I ask for one more favour?"
"Of course."
"I would like to send word to my friends at the Musketeer's garrison. Perhaps a message could be given to Athos telling him where I am." In addition to the mystery of her name it hadn't escaped his notice that she hadn't volunteered his location.
"I will see to it."
"You are gracious and beautiful, Mademoiselle Vivian."
A strange look crossed her face. "It is Madame although you don't need to worry about my husband. He is away."
"All the better." Aramis yawned. The pain was making him feel very tired and he was having increasing trouble focussing. "Forgive me. I will be better company when next you see me." He was only vaguely aware of her leaving the room as he spiralled down into a deep sleep.
TMTMTM
After three gruelling days of standing on guard duty Athos, Porthos and d'Artagnan finally arrived back at the garrison.
"We'll have something to eat and then find Aramis," Athos said. The relationship between him and his companions was no more cordial than it had been immediately after Aramis had been convicted. Despite that they still deferred to him as their leader.
Treville came out of his office and caught sight of them in the yard. "I need to see you three."
"What now?" d'Artagnan asked rhetorically. "He'd better not have another job for us to do."
They climbed the stairs and entered Treville's office. He looked perturbed as he walked over to stand behind his desk.
"Have you heard from Aramis?" he asked abruptly.
"No," Athos said frowning at the tone. "We've been on duty at the Palace. There hasn't been time to seek him out. Is there a problem, Captain?"
"There might be."
"Would you like to explain it to us?" Athos asked. The uneasy feeling that had lingered for days was starting to gain strength.
Treville chewed his bottom lip before replying. "He's disappeared."
"How do you know that?" Porthos asked. "He isn't a Musketeer. Why would you be worried about where he is?"
"Because there's something he hasn't told us," d'Artagnan said.
"Is d'Artagnan right?" Athos asked. "Why don't you tell us what's going on."
"I had two men watching him. He must have spotted them because he gave them the slip and now they can't find him."
"I'm afraid I'm confused," Athos said. "Why would you have men watching Aramis? You made it quite clear that he was no longer our concern."
"What kind of trouble is he in?" Porthos asked.
"He could be in peril of his life." Treville sat heavily. "Three weeks ago we received word from one of our spies in England that there was a plot to assassinate the Queen. There is a Protestant faction in that country that wants to destabilise France and killing her before she can deliver an heir is a good way to throw the country into turmoil."
"They'd kill a pregnant woman?" d'Artagnan asked horrified.
"Who else knows about this?" Athos asked.
"Only the King and Queen…and Aramis."
The muscles in Athos' stomach clenched unpleasantly and his temper began to rise. "It was all a lie. Aramis didn't desert his post. You used us to make it convincing," he accused.
Treville raised his head and fixed his steady gaze on Athos. "Yes. We have taken precautions to safeguard the Queen but we need to identify the people who pose a threat to her. A disgraced Musketeer with no cause to love the Royal family and an intimate knowledge of the Palace and the Queen's schedule was felt to be the perfect bait."
"Why Aramis?" Porthos asked. "And, why keep it from us?"
"It had to look convincing."
"You didn't answer the question. Why choose Aramis?" Athos was almost certain he knew the reason. Anne would only trust the father of her child to keep them safe.
"The Queen suggested it. She has a high regard for him and his abilities."
"Leaving aside how we feel about being kept in the dark how could you be so careless as to lose him?" Athos had very little tolerance for incompetence particularly when it left one of his brothers-in-arms in danger.
"Watch your tone, Athos. The plan was to keep him under surveillance at all times. He didn't know who would be watching him and must have decided that the men I'd sent were some kind of threat."
"Or perhaps it wasn't them he was trying to evade. Give us leave to look for him," Athos said. "We're known to be his friends so it shouldn't alarm anyone."
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Porthos asked bitterly. "If he's gone missing it's likely he's in the hands of the English. I doubt if they're asking him politely to betray his Queen."
"Aramis is resourceful. I'm sure he's capable of spinning a convincing tale."
"And, if they torture him?" d'Artagnan asked. "How long before he gives them what they want."
"He'd die first," Athos said with the confidence that came from knowing the truth of Anne and Aramis' relationship.
"Find him," Treville ordered. "But, keep your distance unless his life is threatened. The Queen is the only person who matters. I won't see her and her unborn child slaughtered by a group of fanatics."
"You can trust us," Athos said. Despite worrying about his friend he felt a certain relief at knowing he hadn't ended Aramis' career. "We won't rest until he's found."
Tbc
