Constance and Bonacieux turned around as the doors behind them opened. The Queen, her ladies-in-waiting and Ellie walked in.
"Constance, I'm so glad you're here," Anne said with a soft smile as the woman curtsied. "D'Artagnan and Elizabeth speak of you in glowing terms." Constance looked over at Ellie who smiled softly back.
"How very kind of him. Might the King be joining us soon or…" Bonacieux trailed off.
"It was I who sent for you," Anne explained. Ellie hid a smirk at Bonacieux's shocked face. "I am looking for a reputable young woman to act as my personal confidante and messenger. Madame Bonacieux comes highly recommended."
"By the Musketeer D'Artagnan and the young lady Elizabeth?" Bonacieux said tensely.
"Indeed," Anne confirmed. "He said she was a woman of great sense and discretion. Elizabeth also said that Constance has always been there for her whenever she's needed her.
"I have done my best to instil in her the virtues of duty…"
"her position will mean her living near me, in the palace." Anne cut him off. "I assume you have no objection?" She asked.
"Whatever Your Majesty requires." Bonacieux forced out.
Anne smiled at him as she walked over to Constance. "My ladies-in-waiting are all excellent women, but they have no love for a Spanish queen. They gossip like fishwives. I need a person I can trust always at my side."
"What about Ellie?" Constance asked quietly, worried that she was taking her job away.
"I'm not here all the time, I'm often on missions and I'm not always here." Ellie smiled and reached her hand out, taking Constance's in hers. "And besides, this means we'll see more of each other." Ellie chuckled quietly.
"You do want to come?" Anne asked.
"Very much. Thank you." Constance replied, nodding her head and smiling. "Your Majesty." She added as she curtsied.
"I will see to the arrangements." Anne smiled, nodding at both of them.
Ellie walked next to Constance as they walked away from the palace. Bonacieux was obviously angry at what had just happened but didn't want to say anything within the palace walls. Constance looked over at Ellie who smiled and nodded, confirming Constance's thoughts.
They slowed down as the Musketeers walked down the stairs and towards them. Athos immediately took over, steering Bonacieux away from Constance and D'Artagnan and down the stairs.
"Monsieur Bonacieux, how are things in the drapery business?" He asked.
"Should I be buying wool or silk this season?" Porthos asked, putting an arm around the man's shoulders as they descended the stairs.
"It's so unseasonably cold," Aramis added
"Wool is always the most versatile of cloths." Bonacieux replied as they turned the corner. Porthos looked back over his shoulder and winked at D'Artagnan.
"Oh, really, is it? That's good to know." Porthos said. Ellie looked up at D'Artagnan and Constance and smiled.
"I'll leave you two to it." She spoke, smiling. Constance grabbed Ellie's wrist, turning the girl around.
"Thank you, Ellie. For everything." Ellie nodded, lifting her skirt and following after the others.
"You should not have hit me." Don Fernando spat as he took off his hat and walked towards Rochefort. "I was humiliated in front of the king."
"It was better to surprise you." Rochefort replied, "after all, we're supposed to hate your country."
"We?" Don Fernando asked. Rochefort smirked as he nodded his head.
"He has agreed to join us in our mission. He will provide us intel right from the heart of Paris. And if his plan works, we will have a direct line to the Queen."
"Your release from prison was not my idea." Don Fernando told him. "You were the Cardinal's, man. I see no reason to trust a French turncoat." He snarled.
"In return for my life, I swore an oath of loyalty to Spain. As did he. Trust us or don't. It's of no importance. Now, do you want to hear what I have to say, or not?" Rochefort asked, exasperation obvious in his voice.
"Very well. Did they take the bait?" Don Fernando questioned as he begun pacing.
"The King was delighted by my plan. He would do anything to secure De Foix's release. Rescue him and I arrive back in Paris a hero, perfectly positioned to replace the Cardinal in the King's affections. And he's in a position to win the affections of his lady." Rochefort summed up.
"And how exactly do you propose to accomplish this plan?" Don Fernando asked as he started up his pacing again.
"We return to the prison with a small party of Musketeers. Governor Alvarez will, of course, have been told to expect us. The Musketeers die heroically but De Foix and I are allowed to escape. There can be no mistakes. I want Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan and Aramis dead." Rochefort spat.
"Why them?" Don Fernando asked, raising his head to meet Rochefort's eyes.
"Their loyalty to the King is legendary. Killing them will leave him alone and unprotected." Rochefort explained.
Don Fernando smirked. "I will do as you ask. But there is one detail you have missed."
"And what is that?" Rochefort grounded out, his teeth clenched.
"The young lady who he wishes to win over," Rochefort looked at him blankly, "Miss Elizabeth Rose Beckett always accompanies them. If you kill her, you kill any chance of succeeding in this plan."
"I will ensure that there is no collateral," Rochefort assured.
"Then, for your sake, I hope this works."
Rochefort threw the piece of chalk down onto the table where he'd drawn a plan of the prison. "The King's approved my rescue plan. You will all work under my command."
"This is a Musketeer mission. Athos will take charge." Treville countered.
"The King gave me his authority," Rochefort replied, his stare blank.
"The day my men take orders from the Cardinal's stooge is the day I resign my commission." Treville shot back, leaning against the table.
"For the sake of France," Rochefort began, not breaking the stare he had with Treville, "we must find a way to work together." He continued staring at Treville a while longer. "I accept your terms." He pulled a piece of parchment towards him. "The last person the Spanish will expect to see is their old prisoner, Rochefort. Naturally, they'll be grateful to the bandits who bring him in." Aramis looked over at D'Artagnan as Rochefort continued with his plan. D'Artagnan returned the stare, equally annoyed. "You will be the bandits, of course."
"What about me?" Ellie asked. She'd stayed quiet for the majority of the time, content to lean against the wooden post with her feet crossed.
"You won't be coming," Rochefort replied. All of them shifted, and just as Treville opened his mouth to speak, Ellie held up her hand to stop him.
"If I don't go, your accomplice won't go." All eyes turned to face Liam who was standing next to Rochefort. His eyes looked down to the ground, avoiding their stares. "Told you," Ellie replied with a smirk.
"Well, then you can be – "
"Don't even think about making me a prostitute." Rochefort slowly let out a deep sigh.
"You can be a slave," Rochefort said. His eyes narrowed in anger as he spoke. Ellie smiled, nodding her head in thanks.
"If we're caught out of uniform, we'll be treated as spies. The means instant execution." Porthos pointed out.
"Well, if that prospect scares you…" Rochefort trailed off, turning his head to face Porthos.
Porthos stood up, "say again?" He questioned.
"Porthos," Treville spoke quietly, looking at the man. Porthos relaxed and Athos spoke up.
"So, once we've got De Foix, how do we escape?" Athos asked as Treville turned around and walked away from the talk.
"We take Governor Alvarez hostage," Rochefort replied. "He is an important man, they won't want to risk his life."
"Anything else we should know?" Athos questioned staring at Rochefort.
"Our primary goal is to rescue. But if that is impossible, we must silence De Foix in some other way." Rochefort said lowly.
"You mean kill him?" Aramis asked turning to look at Rochefort.
"General De Foix is a loyal servant of France. He's also my friend." Treville turned around and told him.
"He knows too much." Rochefort countered, turning to face the captain. The King has made his wishes clear. Duty must come first." He took a step closer to Treville. "I'm sure even a Musketeer can understand that concept." Rochefort turned around and walked off.