Author's Note: Sorry this one took soo long. My beta so informed me that I did do this well and made me re-vap it a bit. Anyways... Here it is... after toggling it back and forth a bit it's done. I tried to incorpate stuff from 'Secrets' as much as possible in this story. Reviews as usual. Meg
D'Artagnan and Jacqueline were eating breakfast. He looked up at his wife. Worry combined with love filled him. She was taking this hard. Eliza had been gone for only a couple days now.
"You always were a good cook," he stated. Jacqueline gave him a slight glare. Since that night all those years ago, he loved to use that statement as a kind of private joke between them. It drove her slightly crazy, but she loved it and so insisted cooking sometimes despite the fact, they had a cook.
"Still looking for a fight, are you?" she asked, her tone different than it had been the previous night. It was more teasing.
D'Artagnan merely shrugged at her. "Why would I? You can still beat me with a sword." They exchanged knowing smiles.
Gerard hurriedly ran into the cottage waving two letters. "It is from Edmund, my friend." He stopped as he caught his breath from running.
Jacqueline looked up startled. "Go on," she said softly.
Gerard cleared his throat. "Edmund writes that Eliza is well. She overheard a plot of the baron's to assassinate the king, and they are hunting her." D'Artagnan exchanged a glance with Jacqueline. They had long suspected the baron of being a traitor. "He says Eliza is determined to go to Italy, and he felt it best to accompany her and see she got there safely." Gerard laughed slightly. "He also says she is proving difficult to protect as she will not listen to him. He assures us that she will be looked after and treated well." Gerard stopped there, refusing to add Edmund's commentary on Eliza's stubbornness and headstrong ways. He got the feeling the two of them would be either good friends or bitter enemies by the time this was over. He opened the second letter and frowned as he read it.
"Whose it from?" Jacqueline asked worriedly.
Gerard looked up gravely. "The baron. He requests our presence and Captain Duval's this afternoon."
Jacqueline grabbed d'Artagnan's hand. "We will not tell him anything," d'Artagnan assured his wife. "We will speak with Duval first to see what he knows." Gerard nodded at his father.
Jacqueline, d'Artagnan and Gerard stood in the captain's office at the musketeer garrison as Duval spoke his concerns.
"The baron wants to arrest Eliza; I am sure of it," Duval told them. He kept his expression emotionless, not wanting to show them how upset he really was. After all, Eliza was his goddaughter.
"How does the baron expect to explain that to the king, and to us?" Gerard asked confused.
"Private Stratton was seen with her. The baron will no doubt claim he kidnapped her and use that as an excuse to detain them both. He will say he needs be sure she is alright and that he needs a statement from her," Duval explained as he paced the room a bit, showing his agitation.
D'Artagnan patted his wife on her arm. We will not allow him to do that." D'Artagnan looked at the aged musketeer who was shaking his head in agreement.
"We must not let the baron suspect we know anything. We must pretend to be surprised and worried about this." The captain glanced at Jacqueline.
"I can do that," she replied. Duval's eyes fell on d'Artagnan and Gerard who both gave their agreement.
"Alright, time to see the baron." Duval stated gravely.
The baron studied the d'Artagnan family and Captain Duval as they entered the private room he had the guard show them to. His expression was grave, and he tried not to sneer at them. They were all musketeer pests. He paced the room with his hands folded behind his back, letting the tension grow for a few moments before he addressed them. "Viscomptess, Viscompte, it is my unbearable duty to inform you that your daughter has been kidnapped by a renegade musketeer, said to be very dangerous." He watched Jacqueline as her face went white and she gasped, putting her hand to her mouth. D'Artagnan and Gerard both looked upset and angry as their faces turned red and Gerard balled his fist. The baron turned to the musketeer captain who merely looked shocked.
"A musketeer? Are you sure, Baron?" Duval asked.
The baron put on his sad expression. "I am sorry to say, I am." He looked back to Jacqueline and spoke in a soothing tone. "Milady, do not worry. The musketeer will be caught and hung for this outrageous crime." He noticed Duval tense up and he turned to him, savoring his next words. "We can not allow these renegade musketeers to prey on ladies of such esteem. What will they think they can get away with next?" He threw his arms up questionably in the air before continuing. "Do you not agree, Captain?"
Duval glared at him. "Of course not, Baron," he replied through clenched teeth.
"I will keep you informed." He bowed and then waved for the guard to escort them out.
"Are the men in position?" A voice came from the shadows nearly causing the baron to jump.
"Your grace, should the king discover you here…"
Mazarin was fully visible now as he cut him off. "The king does not concern me. The brat they call a lady and the pest of a musketeer do!" Mazarin snapped at him. The baron sighed.
"The men are stationed just before the border to Italy. They were given orders to detain and bring back the girl and the musketeer. Or just the girl if the musketeer resists." Mazarin seemed to smile at that, an evil smile that sent shivers through the baron.
"Good, it would be useful to have them both alive, but…" Mazarin left the thought open. The baron shook his head before speaking.
"Are you sure they are heading for Italy? I do not like wasting men on phantom chases." Mazarin stepped closer his expression less than pleased at the baron's statement and the room suddenly grew colder.
"She will go to her grandfathers, and their friends. We cannot afford more musketeer scum interfering. Even old musketeers." Mazarin turned back to the shadows. "I will be meditating should you need me." The baron watched him disappear and sank into his chair with a relieved sigh. Mazarin was ruthless and it took all his energy to pacify him. He pitied the poor fools that dared to cross him.