Shout outs…

Angoliel… You think this is a beautiful love story? Wheeeeee! doing very excited dance

Sweet A.K… You'llhave to keep reading to learn more about Luc. He'll show up soon, I promise!

Mercury Gray… what a wonderful piece of poetry! The man was a master, wasn't he?

Utsuri… As I said to Sweet A.K, you'll have to keep reading to meet Luc, but he's not far away. Really, he isn't.

Evenstar Elanor… You're a tough one on this story, my friend, but that's okay. Not every piece of writing is perfect and you certainly give me some good stuff to think about.

Chapter 9: An Apology

Natalie nervously looked at herself in the mirror. She had arrived at Versailles only to learn that the King would be holding court two hours later. Those two hours passed in frenzy as Athos released Natalie into the tender mercies of Christine, his late son's fiancée, and a bevy of maids. They had scrubbed, ironed, primped and pampered Natalie until her head was spinning from the activity.

She turned in the mirror a few times. Her hair had been swept up into delicate ivory combs and she wore her finest gown. It was a medium azure with white and silver trim. The square neck was low, as was the fashion, and a choker of pearls encircled her throat. Matching earrings dropped from her ears. Sadly, she raised her hand and looked at the fleur-de-lis ring. Natalie gave it a gentle kiss but quickly dropped her hand as Christine hurried back into the room.

"You look lovely," said Christine.

"Thank you," said Natalie appreciatively. "I am very nervous."

"Don't be, the King is quite kind." Christine was one of the only other people aside from the four Musketeers who knew of the switch between Philippe and the real Louis. She had been so distressed after learning that the real Louis had deliberately ordered Raoul to the front lines of battle, knowing he would die, that she had caused a scene at court. The new Louis, wishing to make amends for his brother's sins, had installed Christine as a lady of the court who would attend to his own Queen someday. He had also confided his secret to her and sworn her to silence.

"I'm glad of that. I feel like a simple country girl compared to some of the ladies I have seen here," sighed Natalie.

"You and I will stick together," said Christine.

Natalie stifled another sigh, looked at the floor and toyed with the handkerchief she held.

"But something else is bothering you?"

"Yes, Papa says he is going to find me a husband, but there is someone I already wish for…"

"Does your father know?"

"Yes," said Natalie, "and he has forbidden the match."

"I'm sorry," said Christine, "but Athos is a wise man; if he has disapproved, I'm certain the man wasn't suitable for you."

Not suitable? If one of the bravest Musketeers alive is not suitable, then who is? But Natalie kept her thoughts to herself. "I do not agree and I have told him so," she said softly.

"I can't imagine he liked that."

"We have hardly spoken since then." Natalie briefly recounted how her father discovered her – without naming who her supposed lover was – and her arguments with her father, hoping to find an ally in Christine. She was sorely disappointed.

"You should be ashamed," Christine said. "Speaking to your father in such a fashion. Raoul was right, you have been spoiled."

"Raoul told you I was spoiled?" Natalie was shocked.

"Yes," said Christine. "Do not fear, he always said you were kind and sweet, not the kind of petite tyrant you think of when you hear a daughter is spoiled. But Raoul said that your father didn't deny you much and did not punish you too harshly when you disobeyed him. Do you know what would have happened to me if my Papa had found me kissing a man to whom I was not betrothed?"

Natalie shook her head. In the country, there had been great distances between the manors. She never was able to visit often with other ladies her own age.

"For starters, I would have been beaten." Christine's voice was matter of fact. The rules in her family had been very clear. She had disobeyed her father once when she was little and had received a spanking the likes of which she could never have imagined. She did not disobey him again. Natalie was shocked. The thought of her father striking her had never, ever entered her mind.

"And then I would have been taken away immediately and put in a convent where I would have grown old amongst the sisters with only the birds and God to know the secrets of my heart." Christine paused before she continued. "So you see, Natalie, you are very lucky. I think your father has been very generous and very kind to you, and you seem to have repaid him with spite, willfulness, and bitterness. All his life he has loved you and tried to what is best for you."

"I had not thought… I…" Natalie looked at the floor, distressed. She was still angry with her father, but after listening to Christine, she started to realize how wretched she had been these past weeks. Guilt welled up inside her.

"Christine," she said after a few moments of thoughtful silence, "what would your father have done to your would-be lover?"

"He would have killed him, Natalie."

Natalie started to cry and Christine instantly gave her a silk handkerchief to dab her eyes.

"Oh, Natalie. I doubt that Athos would do that; I think he would be content to simply put the fear of God into your young suitor and leave it at that. Your Papa loves you so much. He and Raoul talked about you all the time. You were always his butterfly, and some of the only times I have seen your father smile are when he speaks of you." Christine set to fluffing the trim on Natalie's sleeves and adjusting the fall of her skirt.

Natalie looked in the mirror and almost didn't recognize herself. She swallowed hard, still feeling the bitter combination of anger, guilt, regret and sorrow in her throat. It was a vile concoction that she would be happy to never sample again.

"Are you ready, Natalie?" asked Athos from the doorway.

Both women turned and Natalie couldn't help but smile. Her father was wearing his full dress Musketeer uniform: the blue tabard with silver trim and the silver cross emblazoned across the chest. His swept-hilt rapier hung at his side. His hat had white and blue feathers and his tall boots were polished to a bright sheen. He looked handsome and noble, and as he looked at Natalie all she could see was adoration in his eyes. Her heart was still broken, and she was still angry, but she knew that she still loved her father.

"You look beautiful, Natalie," he said. "I do love you, butterfly."

"Thank you… and you look very handsome. Papa, I'm… I love you, too… I'm sorry that I said I didn't before we left." He smiled at her, appreciating the apology.

"Shall we?" Athos offered his arm and escorted his daughter down the hall to meet the King.

Please read/review. I've got several chapters in pretty good shape, and I know where I want to go, but I'm stalling a little in the middle. I'd be curious to hear what you think… as readers, where would you like to see this go? What do you want to know more about (besides learning more about Luc!)? I can't guarantee I'll expand on any of your suggestions, but I sure am curious to see what ideas y'all have!

Disclaimer: Only Natalie is my creations. Everything else is borrowed for inspiration with much gratitude and respect.