8. Ghosts
Duval joined the group forming in Siroc's laboratory. The two d'Artagnans, Jacques, Siroc, and Ramon were exchanging pleasantries when he entered. "D'Artagnan, sir, what a pleasure to see you again so soon!" He shook the older man's hand with vigor.
"Same to you, Duval. I see you're keeping things running smoothly around here," d'Artagnan the elder praised.
"Everything is as well as can be expected. You are in Paris for pleasure, I hope?" Duval shifted his weight back off his bad leg.
The legend shook his head, "I'm afraid not. I am on a mission for an old friend. I have arranged for Baron du Valon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds and the Comte de la Fère to join me here, if you have no objections, of course."
Duval's eyes almost burst from his head. "Athos and Porthos are as welcome here as you are, sir."
Ramon, Siroc, and Jacqueline exchanged amazed looks. The most famous Musketeers of all time would be reuniting soon in the garrison they called home. The younger d'Artagnan just looked mildly curious, having grown up with the presence of these legends.
His father laughed heartily. "Please, Duval, that was a long time ago. Hardly anyone calls them that anymore."
The Captain looked around and lowered his voice, "So are the rumors true then—Ar… er…the Bishop de Vannes has returned."
"I have not seen him myself, mind you," said d'Artagnan, "but I have received a letter that he has come back to fix some of his old mistakes. I trust your discretion in this matter…"
"Yes, of course," Duval assured him. "Well, I've got to get back to work. You know your way around, so I'll leave you now." Duval excused himself to his office.
The elder d'Artagnan was quick to leave as well. He turned to the four young Musketeers. "I know I can trust you to keep the news of this meeting on low profile. It is strictly personal."
"Of course, sir. We've got your back," Jacqueline jumped in with an overly eager, too deep voice. The younger d'Artagnan nodded to his father and the man withdrew.
"'We've got your back?'" Ramon repeated, his face stretching with a toothy grin.
"It was the first thing that came to my mind, okay? I didn't hear you saying anything," Jacqueline defended herself. She looked over at Siroc; he was gazing off into space, face as pale as snow. "You all right, Siroc? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I think I just did…" was all he could say. His friends exchanged looks of concern.
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That afternoon Ramon and Jacqueline were riding along the dirt trails of the forest on patrol. It was different to ride with her Spanish friend; he joked without patronizing her, and he didn't flirt, so she could let her guard down more than when she was with d'Artagnan. At this moment, Jacqueline was laughing uncontrollably at Ramon's newest rhapsody.
The laughter subsided to a companionable silence interrupted only by the regular hoof beats clopping below them. "Your sister, the one you said wore my cross, tell me about her," Jacqueline asked softly after a few moments.
Ramon gave her a long hard look and swallowed before answering. "She was the great beauty of Spain. She had enough charm to turn even a priest—that was her downfall." He looked straight ahead, jaw clenched.
"A priest?" Jacqueline prodded with puzzled tone, hoping to learn something deep about this affable man she had befriended.
"I was only seven years old, but Arcelia was seventeen. At the dances and fiestas, she was the center of attention. One day a French priest came to our village; he was to become a Jesuit and eventually the abbé d'Herblay. He grew close to our family, the richest in the area, by bringing his French wine and witty conversation into our home."
Ramon turned his eyes back on Jacqueline. "We trusted him while all the while he was seducing my sister. By the time we found out that she was pregnant, he had left town. The coward ran from his sins!" Ramon spat on the ground. "My father was furious and sent her away to a convent."
Jacqueline sucked her breath in. "What happened to her then?"
"My father is not a forgiving man; he cut her out of the family and forbade us to speak of her. She became a nun, and we never saw the child. I tried to get him to let her come home, but he disowned me, too. That's how I came to live in France and be a Musketeer."
"I never realized…" Jacqueline did not know what to say. Ramon was an even greater man in her eyes, defending his sister against his father's wrath. "You're an honorable man, Ramon." She reached out to touch his arm for a moment.
"Thank you, Jacques," his tone reminded her of where they were, on the main road headed back into Paris. She dropped her hand, flashing him a smile of thanks before squeezing her mare into a trot.
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D'Artagnan sulked in Siroc's lab as the inventor bent over some new contraption on his worktable. He paced the room restlessly, feeling trapped by his Captain's orders. "You just don't know what it's like to be locked in with no chance for escape; it's maddening!" He threw up his hands in disgust.
"Yes I do, d'Artagnan," Siroc replied softly, glancing up at his irritable friend through the magnifying goggles he was wearing, one of his better inventions. "More than you know…" he mumbled.
In his current state, d'Artagnan ignored the comment and continued complaining. "I can't even go on patrol to watch Jacqueline's back. What if she got herself into trouble? What could I do trapped in here like I am?"
Siroc sighed and straightened. "She has proven that she can take care of herself on numerous occasions. Besides, Ramon's with her. Now could you stop whining like a child and start being serious? What are your intentions with our friend Jacqueline?"
"With Jacqueline?" d'Artagnan repeated. He could not figure how Siroc could know about his particular relationship with her.
"It seems to me that the only one she needs protection from is you. Don't try any of your tricks that could compromise her," Siroc warned. "I consider her my sister, and I think you need to make your intentions clear."
"I would never do anything to hurt Jacqueline," d'Artagnan replied hotly, "and I have nothing but the best of intentions regarding her happiness."
"Then why don't you tell her that yourself?" Siroc said sagely before turning his attention back to his project.
