Greetings, all.
I am enjoying these daily updates. I just need to write a bit faster! Have started Friday's chapter but have more than that planned. Somehow, other things keep getting in the way ie adventures! I do start my journey home three weeks today though. I cannot believe where the time has gone when I look back at all that I have done, the places I have been and the people I have met.
Thank you to yesterday's readers and reviewers. I do love to hear your thoughts.
So, what is Gaston up to? The plot thickens...
CHAPTER 25
Louis led the small group through to the adjoining library. A magnificent, long room, it was lined from floor to ceiling with leather-bound books, an upper level accessible by a corner staircase. Sunlight streamed through the windows.
Tréville always loved this room. Not an avid reader himself – apart from occasional volumes on military strategy, historic campaigns and the lives of great leaders – he could still appreciate the sight and value of the book-lined shelves, their diversity of colour and size, the smell of the leather, and wonder at the knowledge and stories contained therein.
He had sometimes caught Athos' attention wandering to gaze at those same shelves and saw the expression on his face, a wistfulness, a longing perhaps, and he knew his lieutenant would have easily been lost within the pages of a volume of poetry or other literature as well as history, if he had been given the opportunity.
The Captain glanced at the King and wondered if he ever bothered to look at any of those precious books and decided that it was highly unlikely. So much pleasure sitting there unused within this room, not that it would ever be given the chance to gather dust for the servants would see to that.
"So what is of the utmost importance and secrecy that you have to speak to me apart from my courtiers?" Louis demanded, rounding on Gaston, his arms folded across his body in a gesture of ... what? Defiance or self-protection? Treville could not decide.
"I have learned of a group of nobles who are meeting south of here near Troyes tomorrow and I believe that their intention is to act against Your Majesty's person." Gaston remained devoid of facial expression as he delivered his news.
Louis' eyes narrowed with suspicion. "And how have you come by this information?"
"If you must know, they approached me to join them."
Treville and Richelieu shared concerned glances at such an admission. What game was Gaston playing?
"They were, of course, aware of our ..." He hesitated. "Our past differences and presumed erroneously that I would be interested in forming an alliance with them."
Treville inhaled a deep breath, holding it as he awaited the King's reaction to this unexpectedly brutal honesty.
"And their presumption is erroneous how?" Louis demanded.
Gaston sighed. "You have every reason to doubt me, brother, after what happened in the past, but I come here in good faith to offer an olive branch, if you will. I do not want an argument and hatred to exist between us. We are family. I thought that if I came here with news of a plot against you, you would see it as a sign of my reformed character and my desire for us to be reconciled."
Oh, but he was good, convincing, and Treville did not believe a word, nor did the Cardinal if his expression was any indication.
One question remained though. Did Louis believe him? There was a distinct wavering in his manner; Treville recognised the signs.
"What do you know of this plot then?" Louis was determined to hear more before he decided anything.
"It has been instigated by Guillaume Menier, a vicomte from an estate to the south-west of Troyes. He came to see me in person and was very circumspect about who else was involved. However, he was very blunt about what he wanted; he was looking for financial support or men."
"Did he give any reason for this proposed insurrection?" Richelieu demanded.
Gaston was dismissive. "The usual. Crippling taxes ..." He broke off when he saw Louis' mounting fury and hastened to reassure him. "Oh, his words, not mine. Then he started on about not being able to expand his estate because of crown lands being so extensive in the area. He had some other grumbles too but they seemed trivial to me."
"Important enough for him to consider acting against the King " Tréville pointed out. "And other like-minded men apparently. What is immaterial to some can be a massive obstacle to others resulting in unrest."
Gaston dipped his head. "Naturally I accept your logic, Captain. However, it was insufficient cause for me to accept – even if I had wanted to."
There was enough of a pause before his correction for Tréville to raise an eyebrow and the Cardinal seemed to have noticed it too!
Gaston visibly brightened. "But then that gave me a wonderful idea. I would pretendto go along with what he wanted, make some vague reassurance, find out what he and his colleagues are up to and then reveal everything to you."
Louis looked towards Richelieu for guidance, as did Tréville. Were they going to admit their foreknowledge of the conspiracy?
"But if you are here and the meeting is somewhere else tomorrow, then what can you hope to learn to our benefit?" Richelieu said slowly.
Gaston looked positively smug. "I offered some financial aid and told Menier that I would come to Paris ostensibly to make restoration with my brother – but I mean it for real," he added hastily, speaking directly to Louis. "Menier thinks that I am here gathering information that I can feed back to him."
"What sort of information would that be?" Richelieu asked casually.
Gaston shrugged, "Anything, I suppose. Security within the palace. Forthcoming plans of Your Majesty – I know you usually head to Versailles this month. There would be useful details there. The Cardinal and the Captain could deliberately make up information for me to pass on, they would be so much better at it than I. It would lead Menier astray. What fun that would be!"
From their expressions at the comment, Richelieu and Treville would find it anything but fun.
Thinking about it, Treville nodded to the Cardinal. There was a possibility in that idea; they could feed Gaston erroneous information but they would have to conceal the true details. The Duc was a little too well-informed about Louis' annual visit to the hunting lodge at Versailles. Granted he went at other times too but they tended to vary, dependent upon the King's whim, but this visit was a specific event on the royal calendar.
"You still have not explained why you are not at such an important meeting in Troyes," Richelieu pushed. "Surely details from that would be of significant importance in the protection of His Majesty and identifying those involved."
"Simple," Gaston said, his tone implying that the Cardinal had asked a ridiculous question. "I cannot be in two places at the same time and it was important to make peace with Louis."
The King noticeably bristled. He was not yet ready to forgive Gaston enough to be back on first name terms.
"So," Gaston continued, "I have sent a representative to the meeting. He has my authority to make certain concessions – well, to declare them at least. I have no intention of seeing them through but I have to look as though I am genuine. I gave him a letter of introduction and explained why I am not there in person."
"Who is your insider?" Richelieu wanted to know.
Gaston gave a humourless smile. "Come now, Cardinal. I would not expect you to divulge the identity of your agents and spies – I expect you have many."
"What I mean is will he be accepted by the nobles, even with your letter of introduction?" Richelieu clarified, his annoyance at the Duc increasing with each passing minute.
"Rest assured. He, too, is a noble from an old family in the Rouen area. That is as much as I am prepared to tell you; that and the fact that I trust him completely."
"Rouen? A northern estate then?" Richelieu was careful about what he said next. "With the meeting near Troyes, I would have thought that those involved would have heralded from the south of Paris. Would they accept a disgruntled northerner into their midst?"
"Oh don't worry, Cardinal. I received the impression that the nobles were from areas other than the south."
Treville frowned and chewed on his bottom lip. That was the worst news possible, as far as he was concerned. Whilst Athos could not have known every noble family in the north of France, someone from the north west might well have been familiar with the de la Fère family. The chances of Athos being recognised had just increased, however slightly.