Shout outs…
Mercury Gray… Now you can find out what Athos does. Read on, my friend! With those kinds of grades, I think you've earned a little reward. Good for you! Hope to hear from you soon.
Angoliel… What, me leave a chapter with a hook to get you to the next one? Never… okay, sometimes, maybe just a little. LOL. Good point on "crush" – thanks for pointing that out. Probably "infatuation" would have been a more culturally and historically appropriate choice.
Sweet A.K… "Uh-oh, somebody's in trouble." That's an understatement. Read on to find out what happens. I loved Jeremy as Aramis… He was definitely my first choice as the Aramis for my story.
Utsuri… Luc will show up soon another chapter or so after this one.
Chapter 6: A Musketeer's Shame
The knot in Aramis' stomach grew tighter as the sun went down. He had tried to be light and merry during dinner, but on two separate occasions he had seen Athos watching his daughter with a curious expression. He debated for long hours after dinner on what to do. His prayers had availed him little peace, and to keep himself apart from everyone, he took several books from Athos' library and retreated to his room. No matter what he tried to distract himself with, his thoughts strayed back to the garden last night. Each time they did, he repeated to himself all the reasons why he shouldn't meet Natalie tonight.
But even as he debated, he knew in his heart that he would go to the garden. Logic would not – could not – avail itself against the pull of his heart. He would meet Natalie and if he still felt so strongly drawn, he would speak to Athos in the morning. What was the worst Athos could do? Tell him he was a foolish old man?
Well after the household retired to sleep and the last of the servants' footsteps faded away, Aramis got up from his bed. He pulled on his boots and walked into the night, taking a moment to pause and let his eyes adjust to the night. The bright moon made seeing easy and his boots made a soft crunch on the fine pebbles of the pathway. True to her word, Natalie sat on the small wood bench, her hands folded in her lap while she waited.
"Natalie…"
She jumped up from the bench when she heard his voice. "Aramis! I was starting to worry that you weren't coming." Her voice held a tiny tremble but she took a deep breath and it disappeared.
"Please, sit," he said as he came over to the bench. Aramis sat down next to her and studied Natalie. She dropped her eyes under his gaze. Aramis slowly reached out and put his fingers beneath her chin, gently tilting Natalie's face up until her eyes met his again. Her blue eyes were framed by dark lashes.
"Are you certain this is what you want, Natalie? There are many younger and wealthier men who wouldn't hesitate to court you…"
She stood up and walked a few steps away, looking up at the moon. "But I know you, Aramis. I don't know them."
A pang of guilt lanced him. You may not know me as well as you think… "You did not know me as a young man," he said.
"I've heard some of the stories."
"You've what?" He got up from the bench and walked over to her.
"Some nights, after Papa sent me off to bed, and I knew Benedetta had fallen asleep, I would creep back down the stairs and listen to you, Papa, D'Artagnan and Uncle Porthos tell stories about the adventures you all had when you were younger."
Darkness covered the embarrassed flush that flooded Aramis' cheeks as he looked at the ground. He did not ask what stories she'd heard; he didn't really want to know. Instead, she turned and stepped close to him. She tilted her head up and the moonlight slid along her throat and shoulders, illuminating the ivory skin. The desire to kiss her, to pull her into his arms and press her body close to his, flooded through Aramis.
"Natalie, do not tempt me so. I cannot take liberties without us being properly married, and at least not without your father's consent. And I still tell you that he will not be pleased with this."
"Of course he will consent. Papa has always said he wants me to be happy."
"Then I will speak to him on the 'morrow."
Aramis took her hand and kissed her fingers and then pressed his lips to her palm. He turned his head, allowing his lips to brush hers again, but tonight he let them linger and she responded. Cupping her face in his hands, Aramis kissed her more deeply, feeling her yield beneath his lips even as her hands tightened on his arms.
The would-be lovers were so intent on their kiss that they heard nothing around them. At the head of the path, Athos stopped in his tracks and his mouth slowly sagged. There in the clearing was Aramis, kissing his daughter – his virgin daughter! – the way he would kiss a lover. He restrained himself for a moment, praying that Aramis would break the kiss and express remorse, tell Natalie that he'd made a terrible mistake. He did not. Instead, Athos watched as Aramis slid his arms around Natalie and pulled her close to him, kissing her deeply again. Natalie tilted her head back, offering her neck to Aramis and his lips lingered just below the smooth line of Natalie's jaw. That was more than enough for Athos.
"Take your hands from my daughter, you rogue bastard!" shouted Athos. Aramis spun, horrified to have been discovered in such a damning position. Natalie gasped in surprise as Athos rushed over and shoved Aramis roughly away from her. Athos put his hand to his waist and if he'd been wearing his sword, he would have drawn it.
"You thankless wretch…" thundered Athos.
"Papa, don't be angry with Aramis…"
He looked back over his shoulder as he snapped sharply at his daughter, "Go back to your room, Natalie."
"Papa…"
"Now!"
Natalie flinched. Her father rarely raised his voice towards her. Athos' face was livid as he pointed towards the house again. Tears flooded Natalie's eyes but she knew she didn't have a choice. She looked at Aramis briefly and then fled back towards the house.
"Athos, I…"
"Not another word out of you!" shouted Athos. "How could you? Aramis, you're my friend. I've trusted you with my life. I've welcomed you into my home when you were lost and troubled. And now I find you in the dark of night, in my garden, with your hands on my daughter's person?"
"It isn't how it appears…"
"Is it not? You forget that I know your history! How many bedrooms were you chased out of by cuckolded husbands when we were younger? You were as bad – no, worse! – than Porthos! And if I hadn't come looking for Natalie tonight? You would have seduced her right here in the garden without a second thought," Athos accused. "And you would have ridden back to Versailles without another thought."
Aramis opened his mouth to speak, wanting more than anything to make Athos see that Natalie was no passing tumble, wanting to make him believe that he had fallen in love with Natalie.
"You've known Natalie since she was a child…" Athos paused as a horrifying thought came to him. "Did you lust after her then? Before she blossomed into a woman?"
Aramis was repulsed. "No! Never! Athos, I swear before God Almighty that I never, never looked at Natalie like that… Never…"
In his heart, although he wouldn't admit it at that moment, Athos knew Aramis was telling the truth on that account. But the last thing he wanted to hear was Aramis voice protesting his innocence for whatever reasons he had.
"Enough. I want you gone before dawn breaks. Leave and never come back here. I don't ever want to see you again, and I do not want you to see my daughter. You've dishonored yourself, now go and suffer in your shame. If you come back, I will kill you myself."
"Forgive me, my old friend…"
"I am your friend no longer. Ask God to forgive you for I will not! Now go."
Definitely trouble in paradise, wouldn't you say? As always, please keep the feedback coming. I enjoy hearing from everyone! I'll do my best to get another chapter up this week, but it is going to be unmitigated insanity at work this week, so I'll have to play it by ear… but rest assured, there's more to come!
Disclaimer: As always, only Natalie and Luc (who you have not met yet) are my creations. Everything else is borrowed for inspiration with much gratitude and respect.