As always, loads of appreciation to my reviewers…

Angoliel… Yep, Athos is a little ticked off at our friend Aramis right now. Here is more as you requested m'lady!

Celery Bunch… Here's the next chapter!

Utsuri… What will Athos do? You'll just have to keep reading!

Evenstar Elanor… You wouldn't think about one of your father's friends like that? That's what you think. If your father brought home a friend who looked like David Wenham or Johnny Depp, I bet you'd change your tune.

Mercury Gray… Ouch is right. More ouch on the way between Athos and Natalie… read on.

Chapter 7: Her Father's Daughter

First thing in the morning, Natalie appeared in her father's study. Her eyes were still red from crying and dark circles shadowed her eyes. She walked in without knocking and Athos looked up quickly. She could tell by the set line of his jaw and the stiffness of his shoulder that he was still furious.

"Papa, last night is not what you think," she began.

"It is exactly what I think," he responded. "Aramis was taking advantage of you, and I know his history. You do not. He would have dishonored you." As he spoke he returned to his writing, unwilling to look at his daughter.

"He would not!"

"You are an innocent, Natalie, and I'll not have you subjected to his night-fevered desires. We will speak no more of this!"

Natalie set her jaw; she hated it when her father got stubborn. She watched him for a minute as he continued to write and her ire rose.

"My father the Musketeer," she said. "What happened to your motto? This doesn't sound like you're staying loyal to your companions."

"When a Musketeer loses his honor, he is nothing!" Athos looked up sharply.

"How do you know he has no honor?" answered Natalie just as sharply. "Summon him here and demand the truth. What are you afraid of?"

Athos stared his daughter in the eye. "I have sent Aramis away and he knows he is not welcome here any more, not after betraying my trust and dishonoring our friendship. You and I will go to Versailles where you will be presented at court, and I will find you a proper husband."

"But I love…"

"Enough!" Athos stood up and slapped his palms down on his desk. "Do not even think to say that! You will put all thoughts of that man from your head. Do you understand me, Natalie?

Natalie struggled not to cry, but it was a losing battle. Her anger finally got the better of her as tears started sliding down her cheeks. Her lip trembled, but her voice stayed steady. "Understand you? I understand that you have lied to me! You always said that the thing that made you happiest in life was making me happy. Why then, are you taking away the person who makes me the happiest, Papa?"

"You will not speak to me in that tone of voice, Natalie. When it comes to… love…" Athos sputtered, hating to even say the word in reference to his daughter and Aramis. "You have no idea what it means to be happy. Aramis would not bring you happiness; he would only break your heart."

"Aramis would break my heart? No, Papa, Aramis cannot break my heart for you have managed to do that all by yourself. I hope you are satisfied!" With a sob she turned and stormed towards the door, angry at her father, angry at herself, and aching from a bruised and badly-handled heart.

"Natalie, I'm doing this for your own good, because I love you."

She stopped and turned back, her eyes red with tears. "Well, I no longer love you!"

The words cut Athos to the bone. It was said in anger, the full blossom of his daughter's fury, and it was meant to cut him deeply. How many times as a youth had he flung hot words in anger, hoping to make someone else feel the pain that he felt? Was this how much he'd hurt them?

Natalie wept as she ran down the hall. She slammed into a maid as she came around the corner, knocking the clean sheets out of the young woman's arms. Normally very polite, Natalie didn't even apologize; she just continued on. Papa has sent him away? How can he do this to me? Oh, Aramis was right about how Papa would react! What if he never comes to his sense? What if Aramis never returns? I cannot bear the thought of never seeing him again. Her thoughts were wild, dramatic in the overzealous way of a young girl in love. Natalie ran into her room and stopped dead in her tracks. Her nurse, Benedetta was packing dresses into trunks.

"What are you doing with my dresses?"

"The Monsieur told me to pack them, Mademoiselle." She stood up and looked fondly at Natalie. Benedetta loved her as if she were her own daughter. "You have been crying, Natalie!"

"Papa has sent Aramis away, Benedetta!" sobbed Natalie as she threw herself into her nurse's arms for solace. In her misery, she didn't notice the old woman stiffen in discomfort.

"Aramis?"

"He was going to ask Papa's permission to court me, to marry me! Papa saw us and misunderstood. Now he has sent Aramis away. Benedetta, I love him. I love him so much and Papa will not listen to reason!"

The nurse hugged Natalie as she cried. She was torn by her guilt. Athos would have never suspected anything if she had not told him of Natalie's sojourn into the garden. Could Aramis have been a true suitor? Could I have made a mistake? I should tell her… But even as the thought came to her, Benedetta knew she would not tell Natalie that it was she who had brought suspicions to Athos' ears. Benedetta loved Natalie so much; the thought of the girl's anger directed at her was too overwhelming for the old woman. Unless Athos told Natalie, Benedetta would take that secret to her grave.

"There, there," soothed the Nurse, trying hard to conceal her guilt. "This is but a passing infatuation, Natalie. Your heart is not as wounded as you think. And besides, in four days, you leave for a new life at Versailles…"

"Four days?" exclaimed Natalie. Papa is wasting no time…

The trip to Versailles was excruciating. Natalie barely spoke to her father, confirming for him that despite the fact that she had inherited her mother's beauty and charm, she had also inherited his temper and ability to hold a grudge. She was truly her father's daughter fully in that measure. The tension between them was so icy for a time, Athos chose to ride his horse rather than suffer the glacial silence within the coach.

When they were a few hours away from the gates of Versailles, Athos returned to the coach. Natalie had now traveled for several days without really speaking to anyone and despite her anger, she was lonely, and she was a little frightened by the sudden changes in her fortune. Athos sat on the cushions opposite his daughter and waited. For a short time, she looked out the window, ignoring him. Finally, her eyes slid over to her father.

"Natalie," he said, keeping his tone even and reasonable. "I know you're angry with me and you think that I'm being cruel, but I do have your best interest at heart."

She said nothing.

"But even if you choose to not speak to me, I must remind you that in a few hours you will be presented at the court… to King Louis himself. I trust you will comport yourself properly?"

"Of course," she said quietly. "The King deserves my utmost respect."

And obviously I do not. Athos never believed that his heart could break so many times and into so many pieces.

Well, getting this posted mid-week is as much a surprise for me as it probably is to you! Please read/review… and for those of you waiting to meet Luc, I promise he'll show up soon.

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.