Quick upload as we pack and prepare to leave San Diego for Laughlin so I'm not sure when I'll be back. Asap I hope. What a week it has been but I do confess to being very tired!
In the meantime, things continue to gather pace!
CHAPTER 29
It was a very late night for both the Cardinal and Tréville.
First, they had to maintain the pretence of normality by returning to the banquet and reassuring the royal couple that all was well, for even Louis had recognised their lengthy absence from the table. Tréville excused himself by saying that he had checked on his men and, whilst in the process of doing that, a missive had arrived from the garrison that required his attention and an answer.
Richelieu supplied an equally plausible explanation which evidently satisfied the King for he quickly resumed his conversation with his brother. The Queen, however, was not so easily convinced and when she spoke quietly to the Cardinal, Tréville had to strain to hear the man's whispered response that all was under control.
If only it were!
Tréville, as a man of action, preferred having all things in hand, to know what was happening and what he needed to do to maintain his prime objective - that of maintaining the King's safety. Louis expected it of him and so did his men so that they could fulfil their part. All this uncertainty was leaving him with a perpetual headache.
With the conclusion of the banquet signalled by the royal couple retiring for the night, Tréville signalled for Porthos and Aramis to come to him and issued them with new orders.
"Aramis, you will follow Gaston. Conceal yourself and make sure that he has no visitors. Porthos, you will follow His Majesty and keep watch."
The soldiers exchanged curious glances.
"Do I have to conceal myself too?" Porthos asked.
Tréville thought for a moment. "Under normal circumstances, I would say not, you are a Musketeer and Musketeers guard the King."
"But?" Aramis could hear the reticence in his voice.
Tréville dropped his voice even lower so that the two men took a half step closer to hear his answer. "These are not normal circumstances. I know Musketeers are guarding the King's quarters but I need you there for a while longer, Porthos, as an extra pair of eyes. Keep your distance, do not let your colleagues know that you are there. I require you to watch for a 'watcher', anyone who might be interested in how we are guarding His Majesty."
"You think someone might be plannin' on an attack here?" Porthos asked.
Tréville chewed on his bottom lip as he considered his reply. "No, it will be at Versailles. I will tell you more when we get back to the garrison. I just want to know that all eventualities are covered and that no-one is watching to assess our patterns of guarding the royal couple. I have to get back to the Cardinal but will come and find you both when my work here is done. We will go back all together."
"And d'Artagnan?" Aramis asked.
Tréville was already walking away. "Porthos, find him quickly and tell him to stay in the main reception areas and keep an eye on any courtiers who might still be about. I think that most would have retired but you can never be sure."
Once back with Richelieu, they poured over the map that had been delivered to Gaston and revised their plans for security at Versailles in the event of their being unable to deter the King from his trip. They discussed every name on the list of suspects, what they knew of an individual's estate and the possible strength of force they might supply should the occasion arise.
Few would be able to provide a substantial number of armed men but what they could muster made for grim reading as Tréville added to and altered their notes.
A new list named those whom the two men believed could be counted upon once they knew from Athos who had attended the meeting. It meant that there would be little time to send desperate notes for assistance should the need arise. Richelieu said he would write several letters making that request and hold them in readiness, adding the names when he knew for certain who could be trusted.
"If only your agent could have identified the two men who visited Gaston," Tréville said ruefully as the two men sipped at a rich, dark wine. The Cardinal certainly had expensive tastes.
Richelieu sat thoughtfully, turning the goblet in his hands. "Apparently one man said he had caused a distraction for the other to slip away. They thought your men were watching the courtiers a little too closely."
The moment of tentative camaraderie was over and Tréville bristled at the implied criticism that the Inseparables had been less than subtle.
Surprisingly, Richelieu saw the reaction to the unintentional slight. He was not about to apologise but he did try to redeem himself.
"Oh, they didn't know specifically who was the object of the scrutiny but were sharp enough to realise that there had been a definite change in your guard routine."
"That's worrying," Tréville admitted, thinking of where those three Musketeers were at that moment and his instructions to them. "I don't want anything predictable in our routine at present so that the conspirators can get past us but nor did I want to alert them."
"From here on, we must be prepared for the fact that they are as aware of us as we are of them."
Tréville groaned. "Another complication."
The Cardinal allowed himself a wry smile. "But we will rise to the challenge and outmanoeuvre them. After all, they do not know what or how much we know."
"Which is very little at present," the Captain added.
They sat in a strangely companionable silence, two men with a grudging respect for each other despite their dislike.
"What was that distraction?" Tréville asked.
"Something about a chair and loads of food," Richelieu said dismissively, not really comprehending the importance of what he had just said.
Tréville froze.
"I think I may have some names for you," he said, his heart pounding at the prospect of a possible breakthrough.