Author's Note: Ok... here is the next chapter... Ramon, Siroc..d'Artagnan and Jacqueline... reactions and all... ;) Next chapter... sometime next week maybe Mon. Is about Mazarin and Jacqueline... should be fun. ;) Thanks to my Betas... Heather has worked hard to send back all chapters so I could send the rest on to Nicole... thank her guys. Feedback as usual...or I may just be evil enough to quit here. wicked laugh Enjoy. Meg

Jacqueline had followed the doctor's orders to stay put almost the entire journey back. Only a day before had he declared the fever broken and allowed her to move around. D'Artagnan had stayed with her mostly, hovering around her, making her eat her food and drink water. She was glad they would be docking soon. She straighten her hair she had pulled back. She was wearing one of d'Artagnan's mother's dresses. It was a deep, dark red velvet color and was outlined in gold trim and had a gold cross pattern on the bodice.

"Jacqueline, sweetheart we are docking. Are you ready?" d'Artagnan asked her as he entered the room.

She took the last sip of her tea and grabbed the last sandwich and ate it. "You have the papers and treaty?" she asked and he held up the box in answer. He wore a vest of the same colors as the dress she wore, and his necktie was gold. Jacqueline reached over and straighten it, as he could never tie it straight himself. Jacqueline had a suspicion he did that on purpose knowing she would tie it for him. She gracefully grabbed his arm and they followed the servants, who were carrying their trunks.

Siroc and Ramon waited patiently at the dock. "There she…I mean they are." Ramon said as he turned to Siroc a bit shocked. They studied Jacqueline intently. She was very pretty dressed as a lady. Ramon shook himself and shouted to them, "D'Artagnan, Jacqueline over here!"

Jacqueline jumped slightly but she regained her composure and they made their way over. Siroc could tell she did not expect to see them and was nervous. Siroc looked around before speaking. "Mazarin discovered Jacqueline's true identity and with the king's permission has an escort here waiting," he explained.

Jacqueline's face paled slightly. D'Artagnan noticed the lull and cleared his throat. "Siroc, Ramon, this is Jacqueline Roget, soon to be my wife." Siroc and Ramon bowed to her.

Ramon smirked. "Well at least the letter we sent your padre will not be a lie."

D'Artagnan turned to Siroc, raising an eyebrow. "We told your father you are getting married and were returning with the girl so we could warn you without Mazarin suspecting." Siroc took a step back. He knew how d'Artagnan felt about his father.

One of the cardinal's guards approached them. "Viscompte d'Artagnan and his future wife are summoned immediately to his majesty King Louis. A carriage awaits you." He bowed mockingly.

Jacqueline turned to d'Artagnan confusion on her face. "Viscompte? Edmund what is going on?" Siroc and Ramon exchanged amused glances.

D'Artagnan looked a little sheepish. "The title is passed down from father to son. I guess I forgot to mention that." Jacqueline glared at him but said nothing.

"I guess we should all get in the carriage," Siroc suggested and he and Ramon climbed in, trying not to laugh.

Jacqueline looked suspiciously at Ramon and Siroc. "How long have you known about me?"

Siroc's eyes dropped and he shifted nervously. "A long time," he answered, looking at the floor of the carriage.

Ramon shrugged. "A month or so."

Jacqueline could tell Siroc was being quiet, but it was d'Artagnan who questioned him. "How did you find out?" d'Artagnan asked them pointedly.

Siroc's face flushed. "When she first arrived, Duval asked me to show 'Jacques' around and when I went to find him…" He trailed off then continued, "She was changing and had not locked her door." Siroc finished making it clear he had seen more of her that he felt comfortable with.

D'Artagnan turned to Jacqueline and scolded her. "And you told ME to be careful." Jacqueline's face now flushed.

Ramon laughed at them. "But mi amigo, I heard you talking to yourself about being in love with her and endangering her life. I put two and two together…"

Jacqueline playfully hit d'Artagnan on the arm. "What did I do?" he asked her as he gave her a smirk.

Siroc turned back to them as Ramon spoke, "So you trusted our d'Artagnan with a secret, no?"

Jacqueline laughed. "No, that would be Siroc's fault." Siroc looked startled.

"What she meant is that your flying contraption broke and she fell off and it took her shirt with it. It was not hard to figure out she was really a woman," d'Artagnan said as he threw Jacqueline another smirk. "Though, come to think of it, I think she wanted me to figure it out." He raised an eyebrow at her. Jacqueline gave him a hard stare before realizing he was only teasing her.

Ramon interrupted their exchange. "Some things will never change."

Siroc nodded at Ramon's words. "Yes, I would imagine not."

D'Artagnan leaned over and kissed her. The kiss lasted several seconds and was only broken by Ramon and Siroc clearing their throats. They were happy for their friends but that did not mean they wanted to see such displays. Jacqueline's face flushed and Ramon shook his head, "Mi amigos, you are going to make me sick."

D'Artagnan laughed at him. "You need a woman, Ramon." Ramon muttered under his breath about having one as the carriage came to a stop. D'Artagnan had given instructions to stop at his cottage so they could rest before seeing the king on the next day. They climbed out and headed inside. D'Artagnan let Jacqueline have the room she had previous slept in, and he showed Siroc and Ramon to the guestroom; he took his own room. He began to think of how to avoid the scene that Mazarin was obviously trying to accomplish.