Many thanks to…
Evenstar Elanor… Glad you liked the tavern. I had a good time with Porthos even tho he's just a supporting character.
Angoliel… (Felf tears herself away from Aramis and the chocolates long enough to realize she hasn't posted in a few days)… Your question made me think, so I did a little research online. From what I can tell, the Catholic Church has no prohibition against priests drinking alcohol (let alone ex-priests), although there is an expectation of responsibility. So Aramis is free to drown his sorrows in some good wine if that's the way he wants to go… but he'll pay the price in a hangover if he overindulges.
Mercury Gray… So glad I'm amusing you. I hadn't planned on the King getting to involved but I'm sure he can cause a wave or two. You'll have to wait and see.
Utsuri… D'Artagnan is vehement. He lives for France, and considering what they went through prior to this story starting to switch the King and his brother, D'Artagnan's not about to let a quarrel over Natalie interfere with the governance of the nation.
Chapter 12: Luc de Avignon
Luc de Avignon swaggered through the Musketeer barracks. The youngest son of a minor lord, his only real option in life was the military and he'd been steadfast in his determination to attain an appointment in the Musketeers. With any luck, he figured he would spend some time at Versailles and that was the center of the social universe. And it was replete with lovely young women, and not too few willing widows. And while these lovely ladies were pleasant to play with, Luc had a longer term plan. Two days ago, the opportunity that he was waiting for appeared in a blue silk gown: Natalie, daughter of Athos, Musketeer and confidante of the King.
"You look like you're in a good mood," said his friend Roussel le Pomeroy.
"So he does," added Armande D'Avenelle.
"I noticed a young lady at court today," said Luc.
Armande snorted loudly and ignored the cold stare from Luc. "Luc, my friend, there is not a young lady you have not noticed. You try them on like coats and are done with them just as quickly."
"Maybe I have just not found the right lady," Luc fired back. Armande and Roussel looked at each other with eyebrows raised.
"You know all of the ladies at court," said Roussel quickly. "Is there someone new? And you have not shared your secret with us?"
"There is a new lady at court," said Jacques as he came into the room. "Athos presented his daughter – Natalie – to the King when he returned to court today."
"And your eye has fallen on this Natalie?" asked Armande. "You play a dangerous game if you dally with Athos' daughter. He won't take it lightly, nor will the Captain, if you wrong her." They all knew how close Athos was to their Captain, D'Artagnan.
"I would do nothing to wrong the reputation of such a lady," a mocking undercurrent to Luc's voice told his friends that he wasn't completely serious.
"Be cautious my friend," said Jacques. "I also saw the King watching the Mademoiselle."
"The King?" Luc frowned. "Perhaps he is interested, but he would be marrying below his station. The King must marry a princess, probably a foreign princess. He will have to marry for France, not for love. But I need to think about some things. I'm going riding. I'll be back for supper… none of us have duties assigned tomorrow, do we?" The three other men shook their heads.
"Excellent," said Luc. "After supper, I think we are due for an appointment at Madame Blanchfleur's. We have yet to introduce Jacques to the ladies." Jacques turned scarlet as the others laughed. Madame Blanchfleur's was an upscale, well-known – and well-respected – brothel in Paris. The three could hear Luc's laughter as it disappeared down the hall.
Out at the stable, Luc saddled a chestnut gelding with a wide blaze of white on his face. He was an amiable horse, steady and reliable, exactly what Luc wanted. He wanted a ride where he could think, not one that was challenging. As he rode towards the gate, two of the courtier's wives giggled and waved at him. He offered them a gallant bow from atop his horse and continued on.
Luc was tall and slender. He had a square face and a cleft chin. All in all, his face was rather plain, but when he smiled, his one dimple gave him a roguish look that many of the ladies found quite endearing. He kept his light brown hair longer, as was the fashion for men and he kept his moustache very neatly trimmed. His eyes were bright and blue, but they were small and set rather close together.
He was the youngest of Duc de Avignon's six sons and while his father had a title, he had little else to go with it. Years of gambling and sport had chiseled away at the family's fortune and reputation. Luc knew his older brother, Christien, was hoping that there was a shred of fortune left once their father died so he could at least try to rebuild the family fortune. If anyone could, it would be Christien. Since there was barely enough inheritance for the eldest son, there was certainly nothing for the youngest. It had been this promise of a destitute future that had driven a bitter Luc into the military with the goal of becoming a Musketeer.
"At least as a Musketeer, I have a future," grumbled Luc. "At least I am seen by the most noble in all of France, and I see the rewards that can come of this. Look at who advises the King. Four Musketeers. Four Musketeers who are growing old, and who will someday need to be replaced." He rode on a little longer, following his thoughts down random and brambled paths. It lingered for a few moments on old memories of his family's casual dismissal, their belief that he'd never be more than an ordinary soldier. They may have lost their fortune but the de Avignon family had not lost its sense of status or entitlement.
He pulled the horse to a halt. "That's it," he said. "It's the only way. How can I not be brought into Athos' confidence if I am his son-in-law?" He frowned slightly, the thought of marriage was not terribly appealing, but any self-respecting man at court would have a wife… a wife to bear sons and heirs.
"Ah," he muttered as he kicked the horse forward. "What is a wife but a choice mare or cow? And at least Athos' daughter is young; she could have been an old maid, past whatever slim bloom of youthful beauty that may have been upon her."
Taking Natalie to the marriage bed would not be so difficult a task. He turned the horse back towards Versailles and kicked the gelding roughly into a canter. The horse pinned its ears in protest of the rough leg but Luc didn't notice.
When I return, it will be time for me to court a wife it seems. I will call on Mademoiselle Natalie. Her father is one of the King's most trusted confidantes, and Natalie is Athos' only living child. Someday, she will inherit all of his wealth, including his country estate. That much wealth, and the prestige that can come from such a close association with the King, will mean that my own family will practically have to bow to ME.
For the rest of the ride, Luc thought of ways to charm Natalie and make her fall in love with him.
Okay, those of you who have been waiting for Luc… what do you think? I know there's been a lot of speculation about him – more, actually, than I expected. So, now you've gotten a glimpse of what he's all about. Please read/review!
Disclaimer: Natalie and Luc are my creations... everything else is borrowed with much respect and admiration from Dumas and the creators of the movie.