A Father's Love
Chapter Ten
Aramis was barely back inside the chateau before he encountered Porthos. He would have preferred to delay the confrontation, not feeling strong enough to weather the inevitable scolding. However, there was no way to avoid it.
"You assured me your injuries weren't serious," Porthos said, his arms crossed and his stance belligerent.
"We have all experienced worse."
"That's not the point."
"Would you have preferred it if I left Athos to bleed out? The situation was dire and my injuries could wait."
"At least tell me you've been tended to." Porthos' tone had softened.
"Constance looked after me most admirably."
"Then what are you doin' wanderin' about? You should be restin'"
"I need to brew some tea. Can you direct me to the kitchen?"
"I'll take you." Porthos took hold of Aramis' arm and led him down the main hallway. "When you're better we're goin' to have a talk about takin' care of yourself."
"I have no doubt we will."
After turning down several side corridors, they finally reached the kitchen.
"There's a bucket of fresh water over there." Porthos pointed to a spot near the back door.
Aramis filled a large kettle and put it on the stove to heat. Then he rummaged around in a cupboard until he found two pewter mugs. Deciding to start with the feverfew he measured out the appropriate amount and deposited it in each cup. Once the kettle was steaming Porthos lifted it off the stove and poured the water.
"It needs to steep for a while," Aramis said, sitting wearily on a wooden stool.
"There'll be bedrooms ready soon. Can Athos be moved?"
"With care. How are our prisoners?"
"Sullen and uncooperative. We still don't know if there are any more out there so d'Artagnan and I'll mount a guard."
"Where is d'Artagnan?"
"On his way to the town. We could use more manpower just in case. We need provisions too. Can't have the Queen starvin', can we?"
"I'm sure she will do whatever was needful. Unlike the King."
"I can just imagine what his reaction is goin' to be when he hears about this."
"It doesn't bear thinking about." Aramis got up with an effort. "We should get the tea to Athos before he falls asleep again."
TMTMTM
Two days passed in relative peace. Porthos, assisted by men from the town, retrieved the two coaches. The baggage was untouched although the paintwork on the coach that had overturned was a bit battered. They carried the murdered coachman's body to the town for burial and the Queen insisted upon attending the service. The coachman with the broken arm, having delivered his message, was now in the care of the mayor's wife. The townsfolk couldn't do enough to make up for their horrendous ordeal.
Aramis saw nothing of the Queen or the Dauphin. He had developed a slight fever despite his precautions and was confined to bed. Athos fared worse, although that information was withheld from Aramis. Constance and Marguerite spent the entire time looking after the two invalids.
On the third day Aramis' fever finally broke and he lay in bed drenched in sweat. For once he was alone as Marguerite had gone to the kitchen to fetch him some broth. It had been a trial having her constant presence. She irritated him and made him feel guilty. After all, he had used her to get close to the Dauphin. She was a good woman, although annoyingly clingy, and didn't deserve his churlish behavior. He knew she would attribute it to his injuries, a concession he didn't deserve. He resolved to break things off with her once they returned to Paris.
When the door opened he assumed it was Marguerite but then he heard the happy gurgling of a baby. The Queen stood just inside the doorway, the Dauphin cradled in her arms.
"We have been worried about you," she said.
Aramis, conscious of his disheveled state, thought about getting out of bed and then concluded that he would probably fall ignominiously on his face. "Your Majesty is too kind."
She came closer but stopped a respectable distance away from the bed. "Marguerite tells me your fever has broken. Are your wounds healing?"
"I am recovering well. Do you know how Athos fares? No-one will tell me anything."
She looked away and then resolutely met his concerned gaze. "He too is battling a fever but, I am told, it is more virulent than yours."
His stomach lurched and he pushed the bedclothes aside. "How long?"
"What are you doing?" she asked, alarmed.
"I'm going to check on Athos."
"You are very weak. There is nothing you can do that isn't already being done. The physician from the town has been seeing to his care. He is in good hands."
"I would see for myself." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat hunched forward as his head began to spin.
"Please, Aramis."
She sounded so distressed that he looked at her in concern. "I don't mean to upset you." His gaze lingered on her face until she blushed and looked away.
"As your Queen I am ordering you to rest. I will send Porthos to fetch you later and you can go and see Athos for a short while. Believe me, please. He is being well cared for."
His obedience was ingrained. It would never occur to him to refuse a direct order from her. "I would help him if I could."
"I know." She glided over to the side of the bed and held the Dauphin so that Aramis could see him. "My son is quite recovered from his ordeal."
How he yearned to hold the boy but they couldn't risk it. Marguerite would be back soon and it was always perfectly possible that Porthos or d'Artagnan would barge into the room. "He is strong."
She lowered her lashes. "Like his father."
"Thank you for bringing him. I feel more at ease knowing you are both well." He lay back against the pillows. "Have you decided what you will do? You can't stay here."
"We should return to Paris," she said without enthusiasm. "I had so looked forward to spending a few weeks in the country. For all our sakes."
"The King should be informed about what happened."
"We have already sent a messenger. I expect Louis will order our return. He is very protective of the Dauphin. He was reluctant to let us leave Court with an escort of four Musketeers. Now that there are only two he is likely to revoke his permission."
"It would be understandable."
She sighed. "We should go. It wouldn't be good if Marguerite were to start to suspect something."
Mindful of Athos' warnings he hardened his heart against what he needed to say. "There can be nothing more between us. You must treat me no differently from any soldier of the guard. It's the only way to keep you both safe."
"I know. It's just so difficult."
"We must think of the child." He reached out and took her hand. "I love you, Anne, but it can never be more than a dream."
She clung to him desperately. "I never knew what love was. Louis and I were barely more than friends. How can I turn my back on it now?"
"You must be strong. If the King were to find out…"
"He would execute you and banish me and my son. It would tear the country apart."
"Then you have your answer." He released her, his strength waning. "We will always have the memory of that one night to sustain us."
Her smile was heartbreakingly glorious. "Yes, that and the Dauphin."
The baby was sleeping peacefully now, clasped in his mother's arms.
Aramis reached up and stroked his cheek, marveling at how perfect he was. Then, he drew back. "Please leave. Marguerite could return at any moment."
She bent down and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead before turning and walking quickly to the door.
Tbc