I only own Amorette.
The knock at the door surprised Amorette. She looked out of the windows into the deep darkness and knew that it was relatively late. She had tried to send Tilda home hours ago to pack some of her own things for their journey to Provins but the maid had refused the extra time and had helped Amorette arrange her own packing instead. They had spent another hour after that talking by the light of the fire in the parlour about the house in Provins. Tilda was remarkably interested in Amorette's mother's old home and listened to the stories Amorette told with avid interest. The knock came as Amorette was slipping into bed and Tilda was making her way to the door to head home for the evening.
Amorette sat up in bed and waited as she heard Tilda open the door and the beginnings of a whispered conversation. A few seconds later Tilda's face peered around the bedroom door. She smiled a little guiltily at Amorette. The smile almost told Amorette the answer to her question before she had even asked it. "Who is it?"
"It's a musketeer Madam, says he needs to speak with you tonight."
Amorette groaned. "Which musketeer?"
Tilda couldn't help the smirk that appeared on her face then. In the short span of time that she had spent working for Amorette, the observant maid seemed to know her employer better than Amorette did herself. "Athos."
Despite her inner turmoil Amorette considered letting him in. Wouldn't it be better to have the conversation with him now rather than have him pouncing on her the moment she left her rooms the next day. Tilda stood waiting in the doorway expectantly for an answer. Amorette groaned again and said, "Oh very well, let him in then. But I'm not getting out of bed to receive him."
Tilda scampered away from the doorway and Amorette heard the tell-tale whispers as she let him into the parlour. Amorette pulled the thick counterpane of the bed up to her chest partly to preserve her modesty, and also because for some strange reason she still felt a chill despite the large fire burning in the grate. When Tilda showed Athos in, Amorette was pleasantly surprised to see that he didn't glare at her harshly or remain nonplussed with a cold expression. Instead he was remarkably well mannered.
"Tilda you can head off home now, make sure Léo walks you to your door," Amorette said. If keeping her maid on after her marriage had seemed pointless to Amorette, it had been nothing to how she had felt regarding Fabien's valet. There was little enough work for Tilda, but Amorette had nothing in the way of work to offer Léo apart from walking Tilda home at night. He obligingly took care of Amorette's horse from time to time and Tilda could always find him there in the stables with the horses. Amorette had no doubts that a diligent and bright young man like him would be snapped up in no time by some newcomer to Paris looking for a valet. In fact, she suspected Léo had refused any job offers because he was trying to pluck up the courage to pay particular attentions to Tilda. He had been offered one or two positions, and Amorette knew this because she herself had written the boy a letter of recommendation.
Her maid was standing in the doorway observing their late night caller avidly. She slid a sly grin to Amorette before saying, "Are you sure Madam? I don't mind staying."
"No, go home. I have kept you far too long this evening as it is!" Amorette waited until Tilda's footsteps retreated into the parlour and out into the corridor before she spoke again. "I can't possibly imagine what this late night call is for Athos."
She watched the pleasant smile drop as Athos took a few steps closer to her. "Your conversation with Treville earlier, what was it about?"
Amorette let a chuckle escape her lips. "I was able to help Treville and the King by providing some information, but beyond that Athos, I don't really know if I can say any more. You know yourself that I am not one to break someone's confidence in me. I'm sure Treville will tell you himself though if you ask."
"It seemed quite a serious conversation Madam," mused Athos. "Indeed when Treville returned to the garrison afterwards he was out of sorts, some might have even said angry."
Amorette sighed heavily. "Look Athos it's not that I deliberately want to keep something from you, but I'm not sure who I'm permitted to speak with it about. Treville trusts you and your friends above all else in this world so ask him." For a few seconds they looked into each other's eyes, and Amorette felt her composure shatter slightly under his intense gaze. "Be at the garrison tomorrow shortly before mid-day. I'm to meet Treville there. If he hasn't told you by then, I'll tell you myself."
That at least seemed to appease the musketeer as Amorette watched him sigh in defeat. "I suppose I shall have to wait until tomorrow then. You know surely that I'm not attempting to pry."
"Aren't you?" she asked wryly with an eyebrow raised. She had to hold back a laugh as she saw Athos' face blanch a little.
"First and foremost Madam, we are old friends. Something about the atmosphere of that room led me to believe you felt uncomfortable there. I'm simply enquiring because I have a care for you." It was a few seconds after Amorette had spoken that Athos realised she was only teasing him.
"Don't lie," she chuckled. "A part of you is bursting to know because you were sent out of the room."
Athos smiled good naturedly. "So was the English ambassador."
Amorette's smile fell slightly. "I think that is a matter for another day." She sank back into the pillows behind her slightly as they both felt the end of the conversation.
"Tomorrow then," he stated with a nod.
Amorette nodded too, but he made no move to leave. For a moment Athos continued to gaze at her in a way that sent a shiver down the back of her neck. To fill the void, she glanced towards the chair before the fire, where another thick counterpane was draped. "Would you mind," she asked as she gestured towards it with her hand. "It's rather chilly in here."
"Cold?" he asked as he lifted the counterpane and moved towards her. "It's the height of summer." He observed her closely then as instead of handing it to her, he held the counterpane as if he meant to drape it around her shoulders. Amorette sat forward slightly and felt a strange jolt in her stomach as Athos' fingers gently brushed her neck as the counterpane was set onto her shoulders. Instinctively Amorette's hand rose to wrap it tightly around her at the same time as Athos lowered his hand slightly. For just a split second their fingers brushed against each other before Athos moved away. It seemed to Amorette as if in the time it took her to gasp inwardly at the unexpected contact Athos had made it all the way across the room and was biding her good night.
Despite knowing she needed to rise at an early hour, sleep evaded Amorette for quite some time. It was not just Athos' odd behaviour that had her tossing and turning all night, but every aspect of the day that had just passed. She was certain that acquiring information on property sales in England from Jerome Weston would be perfectly straightforward; she just hoped he didn't ask too many questions. It was what the King had asked of her that made Amorette's head spin slightly. Amorette was walking a very dangerous path when it came to involving herself with these English gentlemen who thought they could somehow win back half of France. Granted, there would be those there who were friendly to Buckingham and who would accept her presence without question but there could also be friends of her father's there. Those men would take whatever she said with a pinch of salt, and would more than likely demand that she remove herself from the group.
When daylight first reared its head Amorette was already searching out Jerome Weston. She knew it was more than likely that he was in meetings so she dawdled outside his offices for over an hour. Men came and went but there was no sign of the English ambassador. When He did eventually emerge Amorette had seated herself on a bench a little way down the hallway. Carrying heavy account books and documents; Jerome Weston looked as if he was setting off for another set of meetings elsewhere.
When he saw Amorette though, he halted in his steps. "Cometess, one would not expect to find you on this side of the Palace. Where you waiting to see me in particular?"
Amorette supposed that Treville and the King would have had her play the situation rather casually, but Amorette didn't have time for that. She also knew that Weston wouldn't buy it. He knew her, and he knew of her turbulent relationship with her father so he would never really buy the fact that Amorette wanted to purchase land or property in England. "I did monsieur l'ambassadeur, but I didn't want to interrupt your meetings. I'm sure they were all far more important than anything I'd have to say." Amorette wrung her hands together in a show of nerves.
"Well you do seem worried about something," mused Weston. "Come into my office and speak with me in private Madam, I was on my way to deliver some documents to a friend but I'm very early."
Amorette let the ambassador lead her into his small office that was overflowing with legislation books and documents. She had always known that he was a well learned man but something about the chaos of the room in which he worked from led Amorette to believe even more so that he was a very knowledgeable and cunning man. He clearly liked to ensure that he knew just what he was talking about. Amorette took the offered seat on one side of the desk whilst Weston sat opposite her. He cleared some room on the worn desk that sat between them and leaned towards her with his elbows on the surface. "Now Madam, what is this about?"
Amorette took a deep breath and began to speak, hoping that Weston would by her tale. "I wondered Monsieur if you would have a current list of properties for sale in England; properties within the right expense bracket of course?"
Weston's curious glance was not unexpected. "Properties Madam? Surely between you and your father you own enough in England. I did not think purchasing property there would have been something you'd be at all interested in."
Amorette gave a small smile. "You're right Monsieur. I have no intention of purchasing land or property there. I have no want of being in such close proximity to my father in any way. Actually, the house that I own there; I was thinking of selling. I simply wanted to grasp an inkling of how much money I could expect to garner for the sale." Amorette hesitated, wondering if she should lay it on a bit thicker. "There is also the matter of my father's properties that he plans to sell or trade." This was no lie. Amorette had heard from Buckingham that her father was planning to sell two homes that he currently owned, but Amorette had no care for them at all. "I believe one of those houses was also in my mother's name in most of the documentation. I just wondered what he may expect to sell such a house for. You see, I'm not entirely sure whether I'd be entitled to any of that money, considering it was also in my mother's name. In truth I am hopeless with all of these legality matters but I am at a loss. I want to ensure when I do sell or lease my own house there, that I will not be tricked by some one or other of my father's friends."
Amorette fluttered her eyelashes just the way she had seen her sister do many times, adding just a hint of despair to her expression. Weston was peering at her over his now steepled hands shrewdly. "Madam, I'm not sure I can give you the answer to the latter query. In terms of the legality I would not be able to give you an accurate reply without knowing all of the particulars. But I do understand why you question the matter." Weston sat back in his chair then, an expression of warmth gracing his features. It was something that Amorette had seen many times and felt comfortable with, but today there was something entirely new there and Amorette couldn't put her finger on just what it was. "In truth Madam I have long sympathised with your plight. We have discussed your father on many occasions together and I know that your childhood was made a painful one by him. Whilst I know him mostly by reputation only, I do not really think he would have the power to usurp your money in such a way but I do see where your concern comes from. I have always admired your attitude and resilience, and you may need those attributes if your father is about his tricks again. You are indeed a credit to your mother, but staying silent and letting your father take what he wishes from you is not the right thing to do. If he does attempt to take the money from the house sale, the correct authorities in England will be on hand to help you. I myself can express your fears to the correct people if you wish it." He turned in his chair then to thumb through some documents on a shelf behind him for a few seconds as he continued to speak. "You have the uncommonly good qualities that I strive to see in my own daughters Madam. I believe that they would have benefited from an influence such as yours. The friends they keep, whilst sweet and innocent are meek and mild mannered. They have no inclination of strength or self-preservation. Since their mother's death, I believe everything that you yourself embody is what I have singularly looked for in a potential second wife."
Amorette felt her stomach churn. This conversation had taken a stranger route than she had intended. She watched as Weston found the document that he had been looking for and decided to try and curb his conversation. "Monsieur I haven't met your daughters, but I do believe with your fine upbringing they shall be a credit to you. I'm sure they are bright and clever young things who are perfectly influenced by each other. As you will be aware, I'm quite the supporter of a woman deciding upon her own attributes and influences. You must not try to stamp out completely the things which make your daughters so unique. On the subject of my own plight, I may appear to want to overlook my father's behaviour in some respects but I can assure you I do not intend to let him have a penny of my mother's money."
"Spoken like a woman with experience, and I know you've given quite a lot of your fortune up to charitable enterprises Madam. That's another thing I admire about you, even if I don't quite understand it," commented Weston dryly with a small smile towards Amorette. "It's not something I believe I would let any wife or daughter of mine do. Now, this property list is a few months old, but I can add to it now for you." Weston dipped his quill in ink and then at the bottom he added the details of a new property from a letter on his desk. "As I said, I cannot instruct you on the legality of the matter without all of the correct information, but if you can come by said information, I'll certainly look into it for you. In the meantime, here's a book that might help you along a little. Oh and Madam, I'd appreciate it if that list didn't find its way into anyone else's hands. The last house has only just been put on the market and there are some issues regarding potential buyers. I believe it is a private sale that's taking place. I've been instructed not to speak of it myself, but as its you…" Weston winked as he handed Amorette the property list along with a small volume of English law.
Having received what she had come for, Amorette couldn't wait to leave his office. She stood up and Weston moved to the door to show her out. "Thank you for this help Monsieur, it's greatly appreciated. You've been a good friend to me," she lied.
Weston opened the door and leaned against it, forcing Amorette to take a slight step backwards so that he wasn't leaning over her. "I can see you're worried about this Madam. I know you may be hesitant to trust me in case your father discovers you have been looking into these matters and I understand that completely. But I want you to know you can come to me if you so wish it. We have been excellent friends indeed…"
Weston stopped for a beat and Amorette turned and walked hurriedly away, clutching the book and the list to her chest. She knew he had been about to say something about them becoming more than friends and she didn't think that her stomach contents would have remained settled if she had heard such a thing. How on earth had she missed that! Clearly Jerome Weston had been thinking a great deal upon the matter to give his opinion so decidedly. Amorette wasn't sure if she felt nauseous or her imagination was mimicking the sensation, but she wasn't putting herself in the situation where Weston could declare such things to her again. He was old enough to be her father after all!
Back in her own rooms Amorette threw the book down on the table, determined not to look at the volume at all for fear Weston would have written some sickly love note to her within it. Perusing the list, Amorette didn't see any property of a particular note until the one Weston had added himself. Sure enough, Denton Hall which belonged to Sir John Fairfax was up for sale or lease. Fairfax had only one home in England and with French family not far from Paris, Amorette thought it was extremely likely that he intended to cross the channel. None of the other six houses on the list that met the criteria would have been a prospect for Fairfax as they were too far away from his current property. She didn't know why the King and Treville were looking into Fairfax, but she knew that Weston had stayed there a few times and was a friend to Fairfax. That had been why he had known to add it to the list, Amorette suddenly realised. She was willing to bet the letter he had taken the information from was written by Fairfax himself. Amorette grimaced when she realised she might have had the chance to swipe the letter.
Shaking off the thought she readied herself to leave. Treville had the list, and evidence that Sir John Fairfax was on the move and that would have to be enough. She certainly wasn't planning on asking Jerome Weston for any more help. Pinning her hat onto her head she left her rooms and made for the stables where she was to meet Tilda, the law volume left behind on the table in her rooms. Together they rode out into the streets and took a detour across the river to the garrison. When Amorette climbed the steps to the captain's office and entered, she was not surprised to find Athos waiting there with Treville.
Taking off her hat she took the chair offered to her for the second time that day, but this time it was in decidedly more comfortable company even with Athos present. A look towards him told Amorette that Treville had at least told Athos about his planned investigation of Weston. Amorette presented Treville with the list. "Fairfax is selling Denton Hall, and I cannot see any of the other properties on that list being to his liking. I don't think he will simply purchase another English house, unless of course he is building his own. I told Weston I wanted to observe property prices should I want to sell my own. He bought it completely."
Treville nodded. "Still, it does not give us definite proof that Fairfax is coming to France."
Amorette was sure they wouldn't tell her, but she still dared to ask, "Why Fairfax? I've never considered him of any importance myself."
"The King's agents in England have been watching him for quite some time. His French family are elderly and have a vast fortune. The agents believe he means his French family to come to some harm. In return he will inherit their fortune and property," said Athos. Amorette risked a sideways glance at Treville, who was deliberately not looking at her. "The King hold's Fairfax's French relatives in high esteem as they were close confidants of his father's. He wishes to ensure their safety." Athos moved across the room and took the chair adjacent to Amorette. "The captain thinks that Weston may have been feeding Fairfax information. If he is doing so, he is guilty of treason. It is treason because Fairfax is potentially mustering an army to kill the King. Every Frenchman with a slight grievance against the house of Bourbon will rally behind any catholic man with a large enough fortune to see out the winter months on a campaign to raise an army."
"There was a letter on Weston's desk," added Amorette. "It's where he took the details about Denton Hall from. I only thought afterwards that it might have been from Fairfax. I probably could have swiped it if I'm honest. Sorry."
"No matter," Athos commented gruffly. "We shall simply investigate this ourselves. This list is nowhere near proof enough. You should not have been sent in the first place."
Amorette caught Treville's eye then. He was warning her not to begin an argument, but Amorette couldn't help herself. Shooting up out of her chair she stuffed her hat back into her head and turned to Athos with a disdainful look on her face. "I'm sorry that my best efforts weren't up to your standards Athos but clearly I didn't know the whole story. Captain Treville agreed yesterday that I should take that list and he would make use of it. He asked nothing else of me and explained practically nothing to me! Do you know what would happen if Weston found out I'd handed that list over to you? Do you know what I risk by aligning myself against the English?"
Athos stood up to match her, a bored expression all that he outwardly presented. "Amorette you are French, nothing serious can come from your actions in giving this list to us. Besides, it's only a property list. What harm can come from you accidentally dropping it? Granted they could burn down your house in England but I know you have no care for it whatsoever."
"I don't know how well Weston and my father really know each other but I'm willing to bet Weston would go straight to my father if he finds out he's being investigated. England may not be able to touch me by my father needs no incentive to come down on me like a ton of bricks! I don't need another reason to be at odds with him!" Amorette felt anger surging through her and turned away from him, intent on tearing from the room. He hadn't been there in the room with Weston that morning. He didn't know how uncomfortable that atmosphere had been. Amorette didn't really know if Weston was capable of doing her any serious harm if he found out that the list had been passed into Treville's hands but she had many English friends. If word got around that she had taken that list for any reason other than what she had stated, they could all turn against her. There was also the fact that her father would accuse her of tarnishing their family' reputation if he found out about it. Amorette didn't fear her father disowning her; actually she would have considered it the best decision her father had ever made. He had almost strangled her last time she had been alone in his presence, and his anger was something that Amorette was well accustomed to.
Athos made a grab for her arm before she could go much further than a few steps. Turning her to face him again he said, "I'm sorry Madam. I didn't think of the connection. But surely it is only a list of properties? It cannot be that important?"
Amorette tried not to snap at Athos again, and resisted the urge to wrench her arm from his grip. Instead she gently shook it off on the premise of fixing the position of her hat. "I think it is important. Weston said that Denton Hall is being privately sold, and that it's only just been decided to sell it. Why that's important I don't know. He said that list is not current, that's why he added Denton Hall at the bottom, but I rather think it's an official list. Denton Hall hasn't been declared to the authorities if you ask me. If you want, I can try and get that letter, but he might bury it with all of the other books and letters he has. There's quite a lot of it in that office."
Treville stood up too, and Amorette realised that she had forgotten he was in the room. "That might be something to think on Madam, but let's see where this list gets us for now. You're leaving today are you not Cometess?" Amorette nodded. "Let's discuss it when you return again."
Treville nodded once to her and left the room, lifting his hat as he did so. Amorette and Athos were alone now and the air changed slightly. "I'm sorry for reacting so rashly Athos," Amorette sighed. "I'm a little stressed and tired, that's all."
Athos nodded, moving closer to her again. "You're still cold?" he asked curiously as he pointed towards Amorette's thick cloak.
"It's a travelling cloak Athos," she muttered. Amorette was well aware he might be about to comment on her wellbeing and say that she wasn't looking after herself, but she had heard enough of that from Claude and Constance.
To her surprise though, he dropped he subject entirely. "You're leaving for Provins today, when will you be returning?"
"I don't know Athos." Amorette moved towards the door again. "That depends on how quickly this peephole matter is resolved."
Athos smirked. "Porthos is taking care of those proceedings himself. I'll see to it he investigates your rooms first and then the holes can be covered. We can send word when it's done for you."
Amorette shook her head in mock annoyance. "I don't want special treatment you know! I'm actually looking forward to a few days in the country."
"When are you leaving?" Athos asked as they moved out onto the balcony.
Amorette nodded towards the stairs and gestured to Tilda, who still sat atop her horse in the yard, "I'm leaving now. Any later and we'd be riding into the night." At the bottom of the stairs Amorette turned to her old friend again. "I'll get that letter from Weston when I come back. It shouldn't be too difficult. He leant me a book, so I'll return it and find some excuse to look for the letter."
Athos nodded. "I don't agree with your involvement in all of this but I'm not in any place to exert authority over you, as I think you've told me on numerous occasions. Just be careful." Amorette tipped her hat to him and turned towards her horse. An idea flitted through her mind just as she reached out to take hold of the bridle. It seemed Athos had the same thought. "here," came his voice from behind her. Turning her around he lifted her into the saddle again. "And be careful on the roads. Don't stop along the way otherwise you won't reach Provins before dark."
Amorette chuckled. "I know that Athos, I'll be perfectly fine." To emphasise her certainty, she lifted her cloak slightly so that he would see the brace of pistols around her waist. Athos flashed her something of a smirk which was an unusual expression to cross his face and handed her the reigns. He didn't let go immediately though. His fingers lingered against hers for just a few seconds longer than they should have and then they were gone. That's twice in the space of twelve hours, is he deliberately doing that?
Tiny baby steps taken in this chapter to them finally getting together, but there's no Athos next chapter unfortunately. Amorette will be slightly tied up with trying to stop the English plot!