Author's Note: Heather was yelling at me w/ this one. So ya'll thank her for putting up w/ it. I promise Jac/d'Art are in this story some...next chapter...and the chapters do get longer ask Heather lots of feedback guys... Meg
Eliza d'Artagnan sat on the edge of the grass. Her dress was sprawled out around her and the hood of her cloak up, hiding most of her face. She pushed her necklace back under her clothes to hide it, and took a moment to study the young man who had come to her rescue. He was tall, a whole head taller than her, she guessed. His skin was light for a Frenchman's and a bit dark for an Englishman. His eyes were an intense bluish-green that she had never seen before. His hair was between brown and black in color and was neither straight nor curly. It seemed to have a slight wave to it. He looked exactly like her ideal dream man who she and Margot used to talk about when they were younger. Eliza noted his musketeer uniform. He seemed even more handsome in it. Eliza sighed; he was obviously older than she was. Maybe he was even older than Gerard; she could not tell. The young man pulled out a bag and sat it down, turning toward her.
"Mademoiselle, are you hungry?" Eliza managed a smile.
"Yes, thank you, Monsieur?" Eliza prompted him for a name.
"Edmund Stratton at your service, milady." Edmund bowed to her in a formal greeting befitting her station. Eliza immediately panicked.
"I am but a maid. I am no lady." He raised his eyebrow at her as he looked over her clothing. Eliza felt color fill her face.
"I…I stole the clothes to escape the guards," she told him, thinking how ridiculous it sounded. Thankfully, he did not seem to question her further. She hated lying, but she did not know him and he was in enough trouble for helping her as it was. It was best for him to remain ignorant for now.
Edmund took the cheese and cut it with his knife into four pieces and wrapped two of them back up before handing her one of the two remaining. "Mademoiselle, I did not get your name."
Eliza nearly choked on the cheese. Name? Oh, I did not think of that, she thought furiously. "Eloise," she replied.
Edmund did not reply but handed her a piece of the bread. She nodded her thanks to him. Eliza frowned suddenly. Her brother did not tell her much of the musketeers, for all he talked of was his lady friends and what the baron was suspected of doing. Eliza suspected his constant talk of his supposed 'lady friends' was more of a ruse to get Margot jealous, which of course always worked. She tried to remember the last time she had been at the musketeer garrison. She saw few of the musketeers on her rare visits though, so not recognizing Edmund was no surprise. Eliza looked vowing to visit more often. Edmund broke into her thoughts causing her to blush again as she realized she was staring.
"Mademoiselle, where would you like me to take you?" he asked her. He either ignored her stare or did not notice. Eliza hoped it was the latter.
"Where are you heading?" she asked him. Edmund remained silent, trying to decide if he wanted to tell her.
"To Italy, to find some friends of my mother," he finally responded.
Eliza was overjoyed. That would be perfect. Her grandfather and his friends lived there and they would help her against the baron. "Please take me with you," she pleaded to him. Edmund looked at her with a shocked expression. Eliza guessed he was not expecting that. She braced herself for an argument. "The baron will have my home and the garrison watched. I can not go back there, and he is plotting against the king." She paused for breath. "Please Monsieur; I am the only hope for the king. I must get the information to those who can help."
Edmund stared at her for several long minutes before responding. "Alright, but you listen to my directions, understand?" Edmund looked at her sternly.
Eliza gave him her best innocent looking smile she could. "Of course, Monsieur."
Edmund looked at Eliza as she sat in front of him on his horse. She was quiet for the moment. For the third time since they had left Paris, he wondered if he had made the right decision in taking her with him. Her pleading eyes and her determined look told him she would find a way to Italy with or without his help. Edmund shuttered involuntarily at the 'other ways' she could find. No, he had done right. She was after all a lady of great nobility and Gerard's sister. 'I am no lady.' Edmund smiled as he remembered her words. Well, if she wanted to pretend, he would let her.
She shifted slightly causing him to bring his thoughts to the present. He looked down at her head and watched her black curls bounce as they rode. She was Gerard's sister and granddaughter of the 'Great d'Artagnan,' he reminded himself. It was now his responsibility to see she was safe and kept from harm. The first town they came to they would need to get her a simple dress and another horse. His would make do for the moment, but in order to lessen the trip time, another horse was vital. He would purchase more food as well. The towns would get farther apart in time, and they needed to be prepared. Eliza studied the passing scenery with great interest. Edmund felt uneasy. He would need to keep a close eye on her.