Thank you so much for your 'warm welcome back' on this one. (The next La Rougeole will be up later in the week.) The plotting continues … with Milady in the midst! Apologies if any errors have crept through!

CHAPTER 26

I

"How nice of you to put in an appearance at long last," Richelieu said sarcastically.

After his and Tréville's audience with the King had been concluded, he returned to his office and had just seated himself at his great desk when the concealed doorway opened to reveal Milady de Winter.

"You have been the topic of a most interesting conversation with Captain Tréville and His Majesty, by the way."

Milady had not been expecting any warm greeting from her employer, so she was not disappointed. Instead, she pursed her lips and furrowed her brow.

"Why would you be talking about me?" She attempted to sound indifferent.

"Loret has given Tréville the description of a woman who is young, dark-haired and beautiful."

She smiled. "I did not think that he was fully attentive when I was giving him his instructions!" The smile faded. "That description could apply to thousands of women."

"Which is what we said but I would not put it past the Musketeer Captain to know more and to be withholding something," Richelieu snapped at her.

She was immediately defensive, her green eyes flashing aggressively. "He knows nothing about me: my name, where I live, that I am employed by you. There is nothing to link Loret to me or me to you, I swear it."

"Tréville says that Loret was unaware that he was seeking a Treaty when he caught up with the Musketeers," Richelieu's eyes narrowed.

"That is because I never mentioned the word 'treaty'. All I told him was to search the Musketeers for any paperwork they were carrying and to bring it to me at a pre-ordained meeting place. The man is not stupid though. He knew any document was of some significance when he learned what I was prepared to pay him …"

"What I was paying him," the Cardinal interrupted.

"What I was prepared to pay him on your behalf," Milady amended.

"But Tréville has also tied you in with the murder of the novice."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"It appears that there were several witnesses to the young man being in the company of a woman answering your description in or near Notre Dame and within an hour of his death," Richelieu continue, almost gloating at the knowledge that she was not so infallible in her work. "He also suspects that you had a hand in the deaths of the palace servant when you took the Captain's letter and a man who had been spotted watching the comings and goings at the garrison."

He raised an eyebrow in surprise as she uttered a curse.

"One of your minions, I presume?" he asked casually.

"And not a very good one, it seems," she acknowledged. "I obviously made the right decision in permanently dispensing with his services." Her eyes fixed upon Richelieu's face. "He cannot be linked with me either."

The Cardinal contemplated her response. "So what have you been doing since last we met? You have ignored my summons and I do not like being kept waiting." His voice dropped and his expression was hard. His words conveyed a warning: he was a powerful and dangerous man and she would do well to heed that or she might outlive her usefulness to him, just as she had disposed of those no longer of use to her.

"I knew Loret was being kept at the garrison and he is the one remaining person who can identify me, so I was endeavouring to find a way to eliminate him."

"And it is for that very reason that Tréville continues to hold him there in what passes for protective custody," Richelieu informed her.

"I have watched day and night, establishing their routines, deliveries of supplies, the change-over of duty guards …" Her voice trailed off.

"Well I hope they have not noticed you in the same way that your person was seen," Richelieu commented.

She rewarded him with a withering look. "I took a room opposite the main entrance. Correction, I had a young serving girl procure the room on my behalf and prepare it for me with food and such like for I did not know how long I would have to remain there. I entered and left under cover of darkness and was heavily cloaked." She cast him a sidelong glance. "It is another reason why I did not respond to your summons; I was not in my normal residence to receive it."

Milady was not about to admit that a very trustworthy boy servant had brought the Cardinal's messages to her – all of them – and had chosen to ignore them.

Richelieu harrumphed, as if in disbelief. "And what of the serving girl? Is she still breathing or is she another poor soul who has met with an unfortunate end?"

Milady graced him with a patient smile. "I do not always dispose of those who do something for me. She is in my employment and I trust her as far as I trust anyone."

"Which isn't very far at all," Richelieu countered.

Milady refused to be drawn. "She is of use to me and I pay her very well for her silence."

"So what of the garrison?" the Cardinal demanded, bringing her back to more pressing matters.

"Guards on the entrance gate have been increased and more Musketeers are on duty around the perimeter so there is no back way of gaining access to the grounds. Since Tréville returned with the injured men, the daylight hours have been filled with soldiers training to the rear of the main buildings and in the central yard in front of the stables. The holding cells where Loret and the other survivors of the group are housed are in the corner of the yard and guards are very much in evidence for each cell, both during the day and at night. Tréville is leaving nothing to chance."

Richelieu was listening very attentively.

"There is no possibility of reaching the kitchens to use any poison on the food, not that it would be possible to determine that which was designated for the prisoners. Somehow, I think the King would be very upset if he lost most of his regiment after one meal!"

"It would certainly lead to a more intense investigation, I agree." Richelieu tapped his fingers on the table-top and gave a sly smile, "Although I cannot deny that the idea of decimating the King's troop in one fell swoop has its appeal."

"The same difficulty applies to the food suppliers. I know who they are and when they make their deliveries. They might offer an opportunity to gain access to the garrison, but it does not help matters when within; too many Musketeers."

Unperturbed, Richelieu leaned his elbows on his desktop and steepled his fingers. "So Loret would need to leave the garrison for you to kill him. I presume, of course, that you wish to undertake this yourself rather than rely upon yet another person?"

She nodded, her eyes alight with interest. "He is moving to the Châtelet?"

Richelieu shook his head and saw her immediate disappointment. "Tréville refuses to permit that but I have arranged a compromise, albeit a very reluctant one on the Captain's part. Loret will be brought here to the palace for me to interrogate him but Tréville insists that he is to be returned to the garrison at the end of the day so, unfortunately, my methods will not be as effective as they usually are."

"That is indeed unfortunate," Milady agreed. "He could have succumbed to his interrogation. That would solve the problem."

"But it is of no consequence," Richelieu added briskly, "as I have no intention of interrogating him at all." His eyes fixed upon Milady. "I have no desire for him to arrive at the palace and it would save me both time and effort if I did not have to question the man, for I suspect that Tréville would demand to be in attendance. You claim that there is no way he can name you or make a link with me, but I cannot run that risk. He is not to arrive at the Louvre."

Milady moistened her lips at the prospect. "So he needs to die on the way."

"Absolutely."

"I will need to know all the details: day, time, route. I will need to have the opportunity to reconnoitre the route and possibly make particular arrangements. It is not something to be accomplished in a hurry. I must be in a position to make good my escape."

"That goes without saying," Richelieu admitted. "When the task is done, it would be appropriate for you to leave Paris for a while. Tréville will leave no stone unturned in his hunt for you, should you escape his Musketeers."

Milady was about to object, but Richelieu silenced her with a look. "Do not worry. I will have no problem finding a need for your services elsewhere, but I will bring you back to the city as soon as it is expedient. I doubt that there will be any rush in my seeing Loret. Tréville is stalling but will have to comply at some point; His Majesty insists upon it. He is eager to report some progress to his Spanish brother-in-law."

"As soon as I know the route, I will decide upon where and how," Milady declared. "But aren't you concerned that Tréville will suspect that the details of such a move will have come from you?"

"He can do nothing more than suspect. Where would be his proof? It is a risk that I am prepared to take given the circumstances. Besides, Tréville knows that the garrison was being watched for at least two days by a man – your man. He is oblivious to the fact that you have been watching the garrison yourself. He will not move Loret without a guard and if there is a time lapse between deciding upon the plan and putting it into action, who's to say that one of his Musketeers does not talk for a price. To hear him speak, you would think that they were all saints! Besides, how can he tell that the garrison is not being watched by someone else, someone who follows the route and makes an opportunist assault upon Loret?"

Milady eyed her employer with renewed respect. "You have thought this through."

He spread wide his hands. "I admit to having had some appropriate ideas in a very short space of time; given longer, I could identify and eradicate the weaknesses."

He stood up, an indication that their business was concluded.

"Now you must go. Tréville has left the Louvre but you still need to exercise caution. Do not come here again. I will send to you when more details are decided."

Dismissed, she moved to the secret door and paused. "Have you heard anything about the wounded Musketeers Loret was pursuing?"

Richelieu looked at her sharply. "And why should you be interested in them?"

She shrugged. "I am not," she said, perhaps a little too defensively. "I was just wondering how close Loret was to achieving anything that had been set him."

Richelieu gave a strange knowing smile that did not reach his eyes. "Loret failed completely. The three Musketeers are all recovering and likely to be back on duty before much longer."

Was it relief or disappointment in her eyes?

"Never mind, my dear. Perhaps they will be part of the group escorting Loret and you might have the chance to finish what he started, although I cannot understand why you should be so concerned with three of Tréville's men."

II

The hours turned into days and became a waiting game.

The trail had gone cold in the search for the mystery woman and there was no new intelligence from any quarter as to the assassination of the Spanish Ambassador, something that greatly distressed the King. The only comfort was that the Treaty was safe and awaiting the arrival of someone from Spain to witness Louis' signature and there did not appear to be any other threat to the Franco-Spanish peace.

Tréville's men continued to recover and it soon proved impossible to confine them to the infirmary. Porthos was the first to return to his own room and then light duties, closely followed by Aramis, who abandoned the sling as soon as possible. At that point, Athos fast became a difficult patient, eager to escape the garrison's simple medical facility. It was, as usual, a reliable indicator that he, too, was on the mend, but Tréville knew that the young man craved diversion and stimulation, without which he would be testing his sword skills before he was ready to be back on active duty.

On the morning that Athos was 'released' from his captivity in the infirmary, Tréville ensured that he had taken up a casual stance on his balcony overlooking the yard so that he could view the group's progress. The trio were chatting animatedly, with their words punctuated by laughter and their relief palpable at being together again. Ensconced in neighbouring beds as they recuperated had only counted so far but this signalled a turning point, a returning to full health and therefore a return to normality. With Aramis and Porthos protectively flanking their brother, they moved to their customary table at the foot of the stairs to break their fast and Athos sat, turning his face appreciatively to the fresh air and sun which, at that hour, was already warm.

Tréville heard Serge bring them food and watered ale and declare his relief at seeing the last of the three up and about properly. Deciding that he could do with something to eat himself and not wanting to shout down to them from his position, Tréville moved quickly and easily down the stairs, greeting the three men as he descended.

All made to stand in deference to his rank but he waved a hand, indicating that he wanted them to maintain their seats.

"I am just off to see Serge about some food," he explained by way of making conversation.

"Why don't you join us, Captain?" Aramis offered, nodding towards the space beside Athos.

Tréville shook his head. "Thank you for the invitation but I have to mix business with pleasure and discuss supplies with Serge; it is very mundane. Besides, no doubt you all have things to talk about before you take up your duties."

He took a couple of paces away from them and paused, turning back as if something had slipped his mind.

"Oh, Athos, when the others leave you, I would appreciate your company in the office. There are certain things to do with the next stage of this Treaty business that I would discuss with you. I would value your input. That is, if you feel well enough to do that?"

As he anticipated, a definite gleam of enthusiasm lit up Athos' eyes and there was a distinct twitch of pleasure to the corners of the younger man's mouth.

"I am fine, Captain. I would be happy to join you," Athos answered.

"Good! Good!" Tréville replied as if Athos were doing him a favour. "Take your time with your food, as I will with mine. You will see when I am on my way back to the office."

No-one else at the table caught the conspiratorial nod of the head that passed between the Captain and Aramis. Athos, much to everyone's relief, would be kept occupied and, consequently, out of trouble.