I didn't want to write everybody's testimonies word for word because I am trying to move this story along. I decided to take a more dastardly turn with Bonacieux than he was in the book.
"Please!" Constance drew back from Monsieur Bonacieux. "You must let me go! Unhand me! P-please..."
"You will do as I say," Monsieur Bonacieux hissed down in her face. "When we are wed, what is yours becomes mine. You will not shame me in front of my subjects."
"S-subjects?" Constance stammered. "You are not a king, or even a duke! What are you saying?"
"I'm the one talking here, you stupid woman." Bonacieux tightened his grip on her wrist.
"Let...go…" Constance kicked his ankle. He gasped then slapped her again. Constance whimpered, chewing her lip, trying not to shed tears. "Please, you're hurting me…" She mewed. Suddenly, the edge of a shiny blade glinted at Bonacieux's throat.
"Curses! Let her go, you fiend!" D'Artagnan demanded.
"D-D'Artagnan?" Constance squeaked.
"Mind your own business, boy! I am teaching my fiance a lesson!" Bonacieux spat.
"No! Violence is no way to treat a lady! How dare you!" D'Artagnan growled.
"Butt out."
"You've hurt her!" D'Artagnan hollered, seeing how the man still clenched her tiny wrist. "Let her go!"
"We are to be married, you imbecile!"
"Heaven forbid!"
"She is my betrothed. I can do to her whatever I please. She is my property. It is my God-given right!" Bonacieux glowered.
"D- you!" D'Artagnan seethed. "You wretched cur! I shall cut you down for this crime!" Bonacieux released Constance who stumbled back. Athos came to her side and gripped her elbow and steadied her.
"Are your hurt, my lady?" He asked with concern. Constance was too astonished to answer.
"Are you threatening me, boy?" Bonacieux narrowed his eyes down at the younger man.
"I am. Shall we get to it?" D'Artagnan challenged.
"D'Artagnan, no!" Constance pleaded with large, frightened eyes.
"You!" Bonacieux fumed. "You reckless little sh-. I'll have your hide for this! I'll have you know that I have cordial acquaintances with the police!"
"Oh?" D'Artagnan cocked his head. "How convenient. Why don't you summon them, eh? I am sure they will find this conduct of yours most interesting! Not to mention your suspicious activities outside of your business establishment."
"Coward." Bonacieux mumbled.
"So, what is it going to be, Monsieur?" D'Artagnan pricked the tip of his sword under Bonacieux's chin. "Shall we duel this out, or are you going to whistle for the officers to come to your aid?"
"It's none of your affair, boy."
"Contra mo fer are." Athos interrupted. "It is very much our affair. As musketeers of the crown, it is our duty to look into suspicious matters, especially when it involves one of the queen's personal confidants." He eyed Constance pensively.
"The queen?" Bonacieux paled. "You mean to say that my dearly beloved bride-to-be is a personal hand to the queen herself?" He asked almost innocently, appearing astounded. "What luck! Constance, my love, is this so?"
Constance glowered at him, standing next to Athos. She was shaking from the rough treatment Bonacieux had inflicted her with, yet she held her head high, straight and defiant. "Why are you doing this?" She asked curtly.
"Why, Constance, sweetling…"
"Officers! Officers!" D'Artagnan hollered. Six policemen from their posts on the corners rushed to the musketeer's cry. "Officers, arrest this spineless man at once! Take him to the Bastille."
"On what charges, Monsieur?" One of the officers asked, as three of them held back Bonacieux by the arms.
"Attacking an unarmed, defenseless woman, the queen's own handmaiden! And under the shadows of night, to cover up his dastardly crime!" D'Artagnan bristled.
"The queen's handmaiden?!" The officers gasped. "Is she hurt badly? Has she been to a physician?"
"She will, now." Athos nodded.
"Oh, sirs! Sirs!" Bonacieux cried out in fright. "I beg of you to listen to my entreaties! It is all a terrible misunderstanding!"
"Oui? Explain that to her majesty and why you attacked her handmaiden, why don't you." An officer snarled. They began to drag Bonacieux away.
"I am going to remember you, boy!" He spat in fear at D'Artagnan. "You will ruin me!"
"The pleasure's all mine." D'Artagnan bowed, and sheathed his sword and turned to Constance, his face softening with worry. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"I...what is this all about?" Constance replied. "I'm so relieved you arrived when you did! But, what is going on?"
"We will explain later." Athos interrupted. "As of now, let's get you to a doctor, Mademoiselle, and see to your injuries."
"No, no. It is not bad." Constance shook her head. "I must get back to the queen quickly!"
"Not alone, you're not!" D'Artagnan exclaimed.
Athos and D'Artagnan escorted Constance to the physician in the city. While the doctor examined Constance, Athos made an errand to Captain de Treville's. He returned at the doctor's office in a timely manner, and Constance was coming outside with D'Artagnan. "Are you alright, Mademoiselle?" Athos asked.
"Wi, sir." Constance nodded. "Only a few bruises, I assure you. Nothing serious."
"There shouldn't be a mark on you!" D'Artagnan growled. "I will not forgive Bonacieux for that!"
"Hush, lad. We'd best escort the girl back to her majesty. She should know what has happened." Athos stated.
Queen Anne had been awaiting Constance's return. She was surprised when Athos and D'Artagnan showed up with her. She was alarmed to learn of the situation, along with Athos and D'Artagnan's testimonies of Monsieur Bonacieux's plans for Constance and her wages.
Monsieur Bonacieux was brought before Queen Anne, guarded by six officers. Captain de Treville was sent for, plus the bank manager, and the proprietors of the shops Bonacieux had been setting up large accounts with. The four men from the tavern were brought in, who gave their testimonies, and Bonacieux's wealthiest customer-not out of concern for Constance, but hoping to get some kind of reward from the queen-.
Bonacieux denied everything, trembling with fright and fumbling over his words in his own defense, his stories not lining up. "You have no proof! It's a conspiracy, sirs! They've all conspired against me!" He blurted out after the seventh time that he'd told a different version of his plot.
"We most certainly do have proof." The bank manager argued, pointing to the documents they'd presented to Queen Anne.
"We have another witness, your majesty." The wealthy tenant said.
"Bring them inside." Queen Anne commanded. A stout man in a cloak was ushered inside, with Felice, Aramis, and Porthos behind him. The cloaked man removed his hood. D'Artagnan smiled in approval at his undercover manservant, Planchet who bowed respectfully before Queen Anne.
"Ahh, yes. The hearty eater." The wealthy man chuckled.
"You?!" Bonacieux choked. "My newest customer? What did this scurvy lad pay you to come and lie about me?"
"Nothing, Monsieur, I assure you." Planchet said stiffly.
"Your majesty," Bonacieux said boldly, trembling, "this D'Artagnan rascal fancies my beloved. That's right. He has bribed these respectable men to plot against me and poison her mind against me, her true love, because I am a respected business man. And now he brings in this lackey whom I have never seen before in my life! I would have his pockets searched, your majesty, and I guarantee you will find a hefty quantity of pistoles this charlatan fellow paid him to bear false witness of me! It is all a disgrace!"
"You are quite right, Monsieur," Queen Anne agreed. "It is a shameful disgrace. It is a disgrace that a respected business man such as yourself would stoop this low." Bonacieux gaped at the queen, paling. "Not a moment ago, you recognized this newest witness as soon as he removed the hood of his cloak. And now you claim that he is someone you have never seen, someone that Monsieur D'Artagnan only picked up out of the streets to make some easy money? You, sir, have denied all these charges of extorting your future wife's rightful fortune, despite the testimonies and presented documents of more than four witnesses! Additionally, you have denied laying harmful hands on my handmaiden, to which there were witnesses, and two of the king's own musketeers at that!
'Monsieur Bonacieux, all of these men's stories have concurred. While you, sir, have not been able to express your defense in a favorable way. Your facts have not come straight together. Every time another witness has been brought in, you have changed your story. Yet all these men have said the same thing and brought penned proof for my own eyes. Are you about to change your story again as we hear this man?'" Queen Anne asked dryly but calmly.
"N-no, your majesty. No." Bonacieux swallowed.
"Speak, Monsieur Planchet. Speak only truth, sir." Queen Anne said firmly.
"Yes, your majesty." Planchet bowed again. He shared exactly word for word everything he had revealed to D'Artagnan and the other musketeers.
"I did let that slip now, didn't I?" The wealthy man sighed. "Well, you pay good money for good housing, you will surely find good gossip."
"Thank you, monsieur." Queen Anne nodded to Planchet. Then she fixed her emotionless gaze onto Bonacieux. "Monsieur, have you anything to say to contradict this newest witness?"
Bonacieux began weeping.
"Nay, your majesty!" He cried. "Oh my g-! How could this have happened? Your handmaiden is to become my wife, my property! What is hers becomes mine, it is law, your majesty! You know this!"
"I do. While I do not deny that what is my lady's in waiting will be turned into your possession and protection once you were wed, that cannot be accomplished without the appropriate authorization from the authorities. But may I remind you that she is not your wife yet! You have behaved as if the money is already up for grabs. On top of that, you have attacked a defenseless woman in the public streets, and have abused her. I take no pity on such cowardly acts as that!"
"I...I was only...I wanted to teach her a lesson...she...she defied me...I was only...oh my g-!" Bonacieux stammered tremulously.
"Officers, escort this man to the Bastille at once. I revoke his claims of matrimony to this woman!" Queen Anne commanded. "I revoke his claim on any of her property, her wages, or anything pertaining to her connection to me! I revoke his settled accounts for the money that was not lawfully in his possession yet! I revoke his occupation as landlord! See to it at once!"
"Yes, your majesty!" The officers bowed and dragged a pale, wailing Bonacieux out the door. He fainted before they reached the end of the hall."
"Monsieur Athos, Monsieur D'Artagnan, Monsieur Planchet, I am grateful for you bringing this to my attention, and for rescuing my closest friend and confidant." Queen Anne smiled warmly. "The king will certainly hear of your gallant, uncanny act and reward you fully. You all are truly chivalrous and wise!"
"They certainly are!" King Louis praised as he bustled into the hall. They all bowed. "I was awakened by commotion, and heard every word!" He clapped his hands in delight. "Stupendous work, D'Artagnan! Well, all of you. You shall indeed be rewarded!"
"Thank you very much, sir! I mean, your majesty!" Planchet bowed excitedly.
"Indeed!" Lord Buckingham appeared behind the king. "Well done, lads. Perhaps I have underestimated the musketeers since our last meeting. An oversight on my part, my apologies." He said through a pasted smile.
"Consider the source." Porthos grunted. Felice cleared her throat in agreement.
"There is truly more to you than meets the eye." Buckingham spoke, cutting off the king. "I could use good men like you in England."
"Thank you for the compliment, my lord." D'Artagnan spoke up quickly before Athos could bite back, "Praise from you is indeed gratifying. But I doubt that a man with such wit and aura as yourself should find need for men such as us. You carry yourself most supremely."
Arrogantly was the word I was thinking of, Felice nearly rolled her eyes as she avoided looking into the duke's face.
"Pity." Buckingham grinned. "But I thank you for the words of worship. I shall remember you, lad. And your sweet, fiery sister as well." Buckingham flashed her a flirtatious smile. Felice cringed, her face reddening.
Just keep your distance, She wanted to say but remained silent. Aramis's gray eyes darkened as he glared at the duke, stewing.
No, you don't, he growled inside his mind.
"Yes, well. Ahem!" King Louis coughed loudly. "Thank you for your courage and magnificent acts of intelligence! Cardinal! Purses of gold for each of my musketeers! And a new suit of party clothes for them too! They have earned it. I will see you all tomorrow to receive your rewards! Off with you then! And remember, bright and early!" The party bowed and departed.
The king turned to his queen and breathed deeply. She bit her lip shyly and smiled giddily. He cautiously approached her, and began to reach out for her hand, but nervously drew back his. "Well, my dear," he began happily, "you, uh...you conducted yourself most admirably. You, handled yourself with grace and true nobility."
"Thank you, my lord." Queen Anne smiled brightly at him. "Hearing such words from you are a great relief to me."
"Yes." King Louis nodded. "I must say, I...I was impressed! And...and that is putting it mildly!"
"I, for one, concur." Buckingham interrupted smoothly.
"Buckingham? Not to appear rude, but would you kindly take your leave? I...I wish to have a moment with my wife...alone. If, if you do not mind?" King Louis gulped.
"As you wish." Buckingham bowed with a sour smile. "Pardon me." He sauntered out of the room and retreated to his quarters.
"Would, uh...would you care for a stroll w-with me? Out in the gardens, my dear?" King Louis asked, his heart pounding. "The moon is lovely tonight. I should like to admire it, with you."
"I would love to, my lord." Queen Anne beamed, rising from her seat. The king offered his arm, and when she slid hers into his, he felt lightheaded.
"Well, shall we?" He smiled.
"We shall." Queen Anne lightly kissed his cheek. Together, they waltzed out the great doors.
The Cardinal stood in the great hall, with his arms crossed, and stroking his mustache. "So, Bonacieux has been dismissed. The Gascon lad foiled an unseen plot. Hmm. This could prove useful, later on." He stated.