Author's Note: ok, this is my longest chapter. I wanted to show family interaction and all. This is a 'light' chapter compared to the few previous ones. Next one, is the last chapter, and is going to be a complete surprise I think. I will put a 'short' note on the beginning, but my note will mostly be at the bottom, cuz I want the chapter to be read before my note. ;) Thanks to my beta Heather who worked tirelessly on this story. BTW, this one I think was my favorite chapter. Oh yes, this takes place about two days later. Meg

Jacqueline watched as her daughter barely touched her meal. She knew Eliza was just mourning the loss of her grandfather and now she needed her friend.

"Margot is coming over soon," Jacqueline, told her. Eliza only shrugged.

"Really?" Gerard asked, forgetting his food for the moment.

Eliza rolled her eyes at her brother. Gerard had liked his sister's friend for years now. Eliza pushed her plate back and stood letting out a dramatic sigh. "If you will excuse me." She did not wait for an answer but headed outside to the stable and saddled her horse, Sally. Sally was a dark brown mare with a big white spot on her head, which made her look funny, but the youngest d'Artagnan loved her anyway. She led the horse out to the clearing and leapt on mindlessly, putting one leg over as Edmund had taught her. She let her mind wonder and replay the images and painful memories.

D'Artagnan exchanged a look with Jacqueline as he turned to his son. "Son, go keep an eye out for Margot." Gerard did not have to be told twice. He, like Eliza, bounded off. Once alone, he turned to his wife. "Well?"

Jacqueline avoided his eyes briefly as she let out a sigh of mourning and heartache for her daughter. "She is in love, which is obvious."

D'Artagnan turned pale and a look of angry mixed with confusion and dread showed on his face. "Perhaps I should speak to this young man, see what his intentions are." And perhaps straighten him out if they should be dishonorable…

Jacqueline shook her head sadly. "Let it be for now."

He did not look convinced but dropped the matter as Gerard and Margot came in to greet them.

"Viscompte, Viscomptess, I trust you are both well?" Margot asked politely.

D'Artagnan inclined his head briefly before retiring to his study area and Jacqueline got up and embraced her. "We are doing our best, Margot." She paused looking concern as she pulled back. "It is Eliza who is taking all this so hard."

Margot understood. "I will see Eliza now."

Gerard broke in. "She went riding. I will take you out there."

Jacqueline watched them leave together. As if Margot has not been here enough to know, she thought to herself shaking her head.

"Here, let me saddle the horse for you," Gerard said as he did it without waiting for her protest. Margot kept her smile hidden.

"Thank you, Gerard," she replied as he held her hand to see her seated properly and pointed into Eliza's direction.

"She went towards the stream," he said as Margot pulled the horse around and kicked it into a steady walk.

"Hello? Viscompte? Viscomptess?" Edmund looked around the open door.

D'Artagnan stepped out of his study. "Marquee, what brings you here?"

Edmund was tempted to salute the man. "I came to see Eliza."

D'Artagnan cleared his throat. "Son, what are your intentions towards my daughter?"

Edmund felt his heart start to pound and felt sure the older man could hear it. "I would never harm her. I care about her."

D'Artagnan seemed to consider this for a minute before extending his hand. "Come, son, my wife will show you where she is." The Viscompte knew his wife would want a chance to speak with him.

Jacqueline, who had been listening to the conversation from the kitchen, came forward at her husband's invitation. "Edmund, it is good to see you." She took his offered arm as her husband disappeared back into his study."Eliza went out riding, but I will show you where she went. It is her favorite spot to go to when she wants to think…" Jacqueline continued to talk to him on the way to the stables.

It did not take Margot long to find Eliza. She had stopped a few feet from the stream and was staring off into the horizon. "Eliza, my dear, what a terrible ordeal you have endured," Margot said as she approached her.

Eliza jumped from her horse and ran to meet Margot halfway. "Margot! How I missed you!" she said as they embraced.

Margot noted her friend looked sad. "Tell me what happened."

Eliza merely sighed. "I overheard a plot against the king and nearly got arrested when a musketeer arrived to help. We took off for Italy to seek grandfather's help…" She stopped and Margot put a hand on her shoulder.

"Go on, dear."

"I got arrested and the musketeer rode on to find grandfather. They rescued me and me came here and stopped the baron and Mazarin only for grandfather to…die." Eliza could barely say it. Her tone was bitter and harsh.

"Who was this musketeer?" Margot already knew some of the story from Gerard but wanted to hear it from Eliza.

"Someone named Edmund Stratton."

Margot raised an eyebrow at Eliza's indifferent tone. She knew her friend too well. "Handsome? Mysterious?"

Eliza sighed and turned away. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Sounds like your dream man," Margot teased.

Eliza's face turned red. "He is only a friend."

Margot again raised her eyebrow. "A friend? Come on, Eliza! I know you better than that. You love him, admit it." Eliza started to speak when they heard the sound of someone clearing their throat, which caused them both to turn startled.

"Eliza, may I speak to you." He looked over at Margot. "Alone," he added.

Margot started to walk away. "I must be going anyway. I promised Gerard I would practice with him." She gave Eliza a knowing look before leaping onto the horse and riding back towards the estate.

Edmund climbed off his horse and stood in front of her.

"Edmund, I did not expect to see you so soon," she said before he could speak. She was trying to will her embarrassment away.

Edmund shook his head. "Nothing could keep me from you for long."

Eliza's face felt hot again and she turned away so he would not see it. "Oh?" she managed to get out.

He pulled her around so make eye contact and took her hand making her heart flutter uncontrollably. "Eliza, you are irritating at times and you do not always listen and can be too independent..." He stopped to catch his breath and will himself to go on as she gave him a confused look. "And I find I need your company in my life and I have come to care for you."

Eliza waited to find her voice still confused, wondering if she heard him correctly. "You are just like Gerard." She rolled her eyes and turned away to hide her disappointment.

"No!" He swung her around again. "I do not care for you as a brother would, but as a man does, dearest Eliza!" He lowered his voice as he said it.

Eliza tried to hold back the tears of joy in her eyes but did not succeed. He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped them for her. "Oh, Edmund!" She threw her arms around him. He leaned down and their lips met in the kiss that had been stolen from them days before. The moment was short and sweet but only that, a moment.

"The executions are to be held the same day as the funeral…" Edmund told her sadly, hoping she would be all right.

She gave him the same determined look as the day he met her. "I will see them dead."

Edmund sighed, expecting this.

"No, Eliza you…"

She held up her finger to his lips silencing him. "I must do this. Do you understand?"

He did though he wished she did not insist. "Alright, but I will be there beside you, to help you though it."

She took his hand and walked him over to the stream. "This is my favorite spot. I must show you before dinner. Oh! Mother is the best cook," she said excitedly, telling him about her home and family.