She had heard through the grape vine that the musketeers had made an arrest in the threat against her. In part she was pleased but she knew from the faces of the men the matter was not done, the musketeer regiment had turned the young woman over to the Cardinal but they did not believe she was the first person to be involved; she hadn't been employed in the palace long enough.
Her husband however was pleased, he was perhaps the only one in the room not looking at the larger picture. Anne waited in the corridor for the musketeers to leave. "Captain Treville."
"Yes Majesty." The man stopped, a nod of his head had the others continuing to trail after the King.
"I believe you promised me the company of your wife. I would like her to join us today." She hoped the new marriage was going well, but she wanted to get to know the man's wife.
"I am sure Maggie will be honored." Treville dipped his head before continuing. There were very few people around her who were genuine, she was willing to push to make friends with people who were.
Anne watched the musketeer go before turning away and giving instructions for tea to be arranged for three. Her ladies may not be pleased but she had no interest in games or snide gossip today, they would not be invited. She picked a pretty sun room to sit and visit with Constance until Maggie Treville arrived.
The Captain's wife looked around nervously as she was announced. Anne smiled as she dismissed the guard, Constance greeted Maggie with a hug but seemed nervous around her. Nervous, but no longer the shaking leaf of a thing Treville had brought home from that court.
As they visited Anne worked to draw her out, the young woman was shy but kind. Anne suspected she was well on her way to falling in love with her new husband, and it was no wonder that he was fond of her. Maggie had brought a small pack of sweet buns, Constance had evidently had her baking before but it could rival some of the palace's cooking; and she had done it with much more limited ingredients.
"These are really good." She commented, seeing the young woman flush a little at the compliment.
"I learned the recipe from my family's cook, I spent a lot of time with her as a kid." Maggie explained, sipping her tea.
They chatted, it was relaxing and Anne felt herself easing into the conversation without games or agendas. These two were content to visit, and for once she didn't feel like people wanted something from her.
She wasn't paying attention as both women rose, Maggie turned away from them and suddenly Constance was in front of her. Peering around Constance, Anne gasped a red guard had pulled a gun, Maggie was pushing his arm up. Shocked she watched as the musketeer's wife struggled with the man, a blade sliding from her skirts.
She jumped as the pistol fired, Constance was yelling and suddenly the man collapsed on top of Maggie. The door flung open and the musketeers rushed in. Treville was in front of her in a moment and Athos nearly collided with him.
The two men stood hip to hip, swords in one hand and pistols in the other, peering around them she saw Porthos go to the man. Just as quickly the collapsed man went flying back and Treville took a faltering step back as the musketeer helped Maggie to her feet.
"I, I didn't mean…" The young woman was in tears and Anne had to swipe her own away as she watched the woman look around almost lost.
Slowly she rose, trying not to shake, but she didn't push Constance's hands away as the woman steadied her. Anne watched Maggie launch herself into her husband's arms, the man wrapped an arm around her even as he held his sword in the other.
"Please I didn't mean to hurt him." The woman curled into her husband's chest. "I didn't kill him did I?"
"What is she babbling?" The men seemed to relax as weapons were put away, the Cardinal followed the King into the room, and Anne sighed at her husband's comment.
"Sire I believe she is in shock." The Cardinal spoke and the King nodded; as if just beginning to understand what every other person in the room had realized.
"He's not dead." Porthos spoke, but she saw the look he exchanged with the musketeers; a more accurate statement might be he wasn't dead yet. "He's a red guard."
"No, he's not part of our unit." One of the guards knelt over him.
"Take a head count, find out if anyone is missing." The Cardinal paused and than added another order. "And question him."
Knowing the Cardinal that man wouldn't live long whether he answered questions or not. It took a few moments for the musketeers to handle the situation, Treville kept his wife tucked against his side; Anne didn't get a chance to speak to her again.
…
A fight had never made his heart jump the way it did when he realized it was Maggie pinned beneath that man. His first instinct was to go to her, but his duty was to defend the Queen; it was Porthos who picked up his wife.
She had fit herself against his chest and stayed there until he lifted her up and set her on the horse in front him. Treville left his horse to the stable boy and carried Maggie up the stairs with him.
"You gave me a start." Gently he set her on her feet and wrapped his arms around her; pressing his face to her cheek. "I love you Mags."
"I love you too." She whispered, looking at him with wide eyes.
He kissed her gently before stepping back. "Let's get you cleaned up."
Unless she had any tricks the skirts were going to be stained, and this was her first chance to wear it, he locked the door and carefully removed the dress. Maggie shifted uncomfortably as he removed her shift, he paused as he noticed the empty sheath strapped to her thigh.
Bruises already bloomed along her right side, the man had been considerably larger than her. Blood had soaked into her clothes and stained her skin, he rubbed the discoloration away and held out the clean shift. Maggie pulled it over her head and curled right back against him. "Please hold me for a minute."
"Of course." There was little more he wanted right now. With Maggie pressed against him Treville relaxed, running his hands up and down her back. "You did well Mags."
"He was pointing a pistol at her." Maggie murmured, he felt her fingers splay across his chest.
"I know, we heard the shot." And had come running. "Maggie never hesitate, if someone is going after the Queen, killing a soldier's wife won't phase them."
"Okay." She whispered. "At least he wasn't a soldier."
"Don't count on that Mags." Treville warned. "The Cardinal, and most men will lie with every other breath to advance their own agenda."
He didn't believe the man for one moment, whether or not the assassin had been a red guard or not Treville didn't believe he had been acting on the Cardinal's orders; the reaction had been real. The move had been impulsive and reckless, whether or not the Cardinal was involved he couldn't be sure. But that move hadn't been sanctioned by the upper level of any member in a group patient enough for an operation working inside the palace for years.