Bit early with this chapter so I hope no-one misses it! Heading north in a couple of hours for the weekend writing conference so there will be no ch 70 until Monday or Tuesday. Hope I've not let any errors slip through with this chapter. Thanks for reading and leaving comments.
Made an error which I have just changed. Many thanks, Beeblegirl, for being eagle-eyed. Much appreciated; head's been in the clouds all day!
CHAPTER 69
I
"I am sure there is something I could do at Versailles, listen at keyholes, keep someone occupied for you …" Milady de Winter offered, sounding almost bored. After all, she did not want Richelieu to know just how keen she was to be at the hunting lodge or why.
She was standing at the window looking out at the impressive column of riders, carts and carriages as they waited for the King to appear from his apartments so that the journey could at last begin. He, the Queen and the Cardinal were the only ones left to join the party. She could see the Captain of the Musketeers pacing impatiently at the foot of the steps leading up to the entrance and slapping the leather gloves against his thigh as he repeatedly looked towards the door; it was already more than thirty minutes after the time he had set to leave.
Some of the horses were becoming restless and their riders either struggled to keep them in line or slipped from the saddles to hold the skittish animals' heads to quieten them.
"I have no doubt that I could find you something to do but where would I hide you? It is only a lodge after all and I fear the walls will be bulging with guests and servants as it is," Richelieu said from behind her, pushing the last of some papers into a leather satchel and picking it up.
"I could stay in a village nearby. What about Viroflay? You could send word to me there if anything arises," and she turned to face him, her expression coquettish.
Richelieu's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Why are you so eager to be at Versailles?" He had no way of knowing a similar question had been put to the Musketeer Athos every day since he had regained his senses.
She gave an unconvincing shrug. "No reason. I just thought that I could make myself useful. I lack incentive; there has been little to do since I returned from Troyes apart from following some courtiers for you. That was very unexciting. You might at least have let me kill one of them," she teased, her lips pouting.
Richelieu huffed in exasperation. "I have nothing at the moment. Look upon the next few days as your opportunity to have some time for yourself. Now I must go and chivvy along His Majesty, otherwise I shall have to put up with Tréville complaining. Await my return," and with that, he was gone, the door slamming shut behind him.
She turned to the window again, her green eyes finding Athos immediately once she had noticed him on the supply wagon. She had been surprised to see him the first time for she had never expected him to be there, thinking that he had not yet recovered sufficiently from his injuries. If he was in the cart, riding must still present a problem. It was wrong to underestimate Athos and a surge of bitter anger consumed her. How had he managed to survive? If reports were to be believed, he was near death when found.
The palm of her hand slapped against the window and then her fingers arched, claw-like, her nails scraping against the glass as if she would symbolically grab and crush him in her grasp.
If Richelieu had no need of her, then she could do as she pleased, and it pleased her to go to Viroflay. From there, it was little more than a league to the hunting lodge.
II
Richelieu followed Their Majesties down the steps and watched as Tréville greeted them, a Musketeer holding open the carriage door and handing the Queen up into its interior.
Louis greeted the Captain and turned to include the Cardinal as he said, unnecessarily loudly, "Beautiful weather for a hunting party, isn't it, gentlemen. I am so looking forward to this trip." He wore a fixed, wide grin as his voice dropped and his eyes hardened. "I am relying on the two of you to ensure that I return to the Louvre in the best of health, otherwise it will not go well for you, either of you." He gave a cheery wave to servants who had gathered to watch proceedings and then disappeared within the carriage.
"If he is not in the best of health, it will not be for the want of effort from us and he will most probably be far beyond worryingly," Richelieu muttered ominously to Tréville before walking on to the next carriage, which was his.
Pausing before he clambered inside, he beckoned to a member of the Red Guard who was not in the escort.
"You know what to do?" the Cardinal asked.
The man nodded without uttering a word.
"Then do it," Richelieu ordered, and the man immediately slipped away.
Out of habit, he glanced up to the windows of the room he had just vacated and saw Milady still there, only partially concealed by the heavy drape and her hand against the glass. Angry that she was visible, he then realised that she was not looking at him but was staring at something – or someone – further down the line. Stepping to one side and craning his neck, he could see quite a way down the column and tried to identify what had distracted her.
There he was, the Musketeer Athos, obviously very much alive and accompanying the party to Versailles after all. No wonder she had wanted to be there too. He slapped the side of the coach in frustration at his error of judgement. He should have found some definite task to take her away from Paris in the opposite direction. By releasing her to 'amuse herself', he knew her well enough to suspect that she would follow the royal party and with all that could possibly unravel at Versailles, he did not need her arriving to add another complication to proceedings by exacting some revenge upon her estranged husband.
III
Gilles de Mayenne groaned at the hammering inside his head. He and Francois Allaire had held a private and premature celebration in his rooms the previous evening and he had partaken of far too much wine. Now Allaire would be on his way to Versailles as one of the privileged hunting party and there he would see things come to fruition. Gaston had hinted that both of them would be well-rewarded for their loyalty and de Mayenne dreamed of social elevation and financial remuneration.
The hammering persisted and he eventually realised that it was to the main door of his rooms. Someone was impatient.
Moaning, he sat up, the room spinning and nausea rolling in his belly.
"I'm coming," he shouted grumpily and winced at the sound he was making. He reached for his robe and then noticed that he was still full clothed. "It was a very good night," he reminded himself with a lop-sided grin as he waddled unsteadily to the outer door and the hammering continued.
"What's so urgent that a man can't sleep?" he demanded, throwing open the door to discover a solid wall of Red Guard, six or eight at a rough count.
"Gilles de Mayenne?" the Guard immediately in front of him demanded.
"Yes," de Mayenne blustered.
"I have orders from His Eminence, Cardinal Richelieu, to place you under arrest." The soldier's face and tone were devoid of expression.
"Arrest?" de Mayenne's voice had risen an octave. "What for?"
"You are charged with treason," the soldier announced as he stood aside, allowing two other guards to step forward and seize the man by the arms.
He was still feebly protesting as they dragged him from his doorway and down the corridor.