Chap 15 a letter from paris
In LeHavre
Jasper was watching the great beauty gliding beside him with such grace. He noticed she touched her side from time to time. He knew she must have been injured sometime recently by the way she touched it. She didn't seem to want anyone to know about it. He figured he would just watch her and if she got sick then he would try and talk her into seeing a doctor. But she had so many fears at this time he did not want to worry her further.
As they neared the inn he saw his son standing outside of the inn holding a letter.
"Father this just came for you it's from Paris." "My lady may I escort you inside?" and gave the young woman a very deep bow as he handed his father the letter.
Jasper released her hand to allow his son to escort her inside and nodded to the young woman.
As soon as they were inside he tore the seal from the letter to read it. He collapsed upon the steps when he read the news Duval.
He was shocked it was them she was trying to protect. She was a musketeer he knew no matter what a musketeer helps each other.
He had to figure out how to keep her there until Duval got there. His son had told him about her plan to go to the America's. Ships were leaving in the morning he had to stop her but how. He had to use caution if she suspected anything she might run.
He could smell the delicious aroma from the food inside. Maybe Celestiel would have an idea.
He soon found his loving wife in the kitchen finishing up the meal. He walked up to her and placed his arms lovingly around his wife.
"Celestiel a letter came today it was from Duval"
She kissed her husband gently on the cheek. "How is everything in Paris?"
He handed her the letter. "You better read it for yourself'
She grasped the letter and seemed to absorb the words that were written on the paper then her face turned pure white. "You mean she is the trying to protect them."
He nodded and laughed "God does work in mysterious ways. So how are we going to keep her here?"
She gave out a big sigh, "I can only think of one way"
He looked at her with a puzzled look on his face "I could not think of any ideas."
"I don't like the thought of doing this but it is the only way."
She reached up into the cupboard and got out a tin of medicine powder and a goblet for wine.
"Duval will owe us a big favor for this," she said as she put a little powder into the goblet and put in the wine making sure to dissolve all the powder.
Jasper shook his head "I wish there was something else we could do to keep her here."
Celestiel went to pour out the goblet and her husband reached out for it. "No, it is the only way! I will give it to her!"
He grasped it so not to spill a single drop. Celestiel looked her husband in the eyes. "I hope she forgives us!" then she let out a deep sigh.
He looked lovingly at his wife. "I am sure she will once she is reunited with her love."
Celestiel smiled "This is like a real love story."
Her husband nodded "shall we go and allow her to sleep until her love awakens her."
Celestiel shook her head and headed into the dining room with a tray full of fresh baked pastries.
Jasper handed the goblet to the young woman and she gratefully accepted it. They all sat and all gave blessings for the food. Soon they began to devour the food upon the table.
The young woman started to get very drowsy. She shook her head trying to stay awake but her eyes got heavier by the moment. "Excuse me I am getting very tired perhaps I should go lay down."
Curtis gave his parents a glare and helped the young woman to her feet and guided her to her room.
Once inside her room she laid on the bed and fell fast asleep. Dreaming of the man who seemed to consume her every thought.
As soon as the young woman was in her room Curtis confronted his parents. "How could you do that to her?"
His father handed him the letter and Curtis got a look of shock upon his face.
"So this is who she is trying to protect. She is a very brave woman that is for sure. The man who loves her is coming isn't he!"
Jasper put his hand upon his son's shoulder. "You have fallen for her haven't you son.
Curtis shook his head that he had indeed fallen for her. His father could see the devastation in his eyes. Curtis knew she would leave soon but he did not realize it would be like this, and so sudden. "Yes, but Her heart belongs to another man!"
His father gazed into his son's eyes. "Someday you will find the perfect woman for you. You deserve someone who loves you as much as you love her."
Curtis sat there and thought about his own true love and smiled to himself. Maybe she will be a laundress he had always thought very highly of women in that type of work.
The sky was beginning to darken and the stars were just starting to glisten in the night sky.
In the garrison stables
The horses had been saddled for almost an hour D'artagnan Jr. had wanted to leave the moment the sun started to lower in the sky.
He did not want to be away from the woman who had completely captured his heart a moment longer. He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her he was never going to let her go again.
The other men tried to calm him by joking with him that he would not be let her out of his sight even for a moment.
His father took him aside to talk to him. "Son treasure your love with this woman and never allow it to suffer by taking it for granted or someday you may not have the love when you return to it."
D'artagnan looked at his father with tear spilling out from his eyes and no further words were spoken and none were need to express the understanding between the two men.
All the men mounted there horsed in silence and seemed to fly out of the stables in a great speed.
Duval touched the pocket that was caring the parchment the Young King had given him for Jacqueline.