Thanks to all those reading and commenting.
As for today's chapter? Uh-oh!
CHAPTER 89
I
Athos, Aramis and Porthos entered through the back of the lodge just as the hunting party and the picnic guests arrived at the front. Richelieu was already at the entrance, waiting to greet the royal couple but Louis could be heard well before he was seen, extolling the enjoyment of the day, made even more memorable by his killing of a stag.
"Bet 'e 'ad a bit of 'elp," Porthos whispered as they stood to one side, bowing low as the monarch swept past.
"At least he didn't accidentally kill a couple of beaters in the process," Aramis quipped, straightening up as a number of other guests also passed them on the way to their rooms for more refreshments or a rest after the day's activities.
Athos rolled his eyes, "That was in poor taste, considering."
Aramis apologised, adding, "There's the Captain."
Tréville had barely stepped inside the lodge, d'Artagnan at his side, when the Cardinal beckoned to him. He tried to school his features, but the three friends saw the flicker of irritation.
Glancing to where the three friends stood, Richelieu called out to Athos, "You must join us and make your report!"
"You'd best go; you've been summoned," Porthos grinned and raised a hand in greeting to d'Artagnan who was wandering over to them.
"I'll find out where L'Hernault's room is but, in the meantime, you three see if you can find him without that information," Athos instructed.
"We can start by going out to the stables, ask the boy there to let us know straight away if L'Hernault goes for his horse. We don't want him to run," Aramis suggested.
"Good. It might be an idea to make sure Gaston is where we expect him to be too," Athos advised. Nodding to the three, he broke away and headed back towards the Cardinal's office.
"What's going on?" d'Artagnan asked, bemused.
Aramis was watching Athos disappear from view.
"It's all been 'appenin' 'ere," Porthos began. "We'll tell you as we go."
II
Tréville, his face incredulous at what he was hearing, accepted the goblet of wine Athos held out to him and took a mouthful, the action giving him time to form a response. Richelieu had instructed that the lieutenant pour one for each of them.
"So, to sum up what you have told me," the Captain said carefully, "Menier has been here, announced he will return with his petition early tomorrow morning and making a veiled threat in the meantime. There was a total disregard of orders so that a full-scale fight broke out between the two regiments, and the Captain of the Red Guard has been shot dead. You, Athos, believe the shot was meant for you and that it was L'Hernault because he came back here, had the opportunity to steal a weapon and hasn't been seen since. Have I omitted anything?"
"Why should you think you were this man's target, rather than Planque?" Richelieu demanded.
"He recognised me as a Musketeer at the meeting and presumes, correctly, that I was there to spy upon proceedings." How easily the lie came to Athos' lips now.
"And the men who attacked Athos were sent by L'Hernault," Tréville added.
"I heard them mention his name," Athos declared, hoping to stall any more questions that the Cardinal might have.
From the way he sat back in his chair and sipped at his wine, the First Minister seemed to be satisfied.
"You will initiate a discreet yet thorough search of the lodge for this man," the Cardinal ordered.
"It is already under way," Athos informed him. "Someone from the stables will inform us if he attempts to leave. I would like to add a few more Musketeers to the search though," and he looked to Tréville for approval.
The Cardinal saw the glance. "You have the authority to do whatever you deem necessary."
Tréville was puzzled and Richelieu took obvious delight in explaining what he had done.
"In your absence, I put your man here in charge of the investigation and I have to say that I did not anticipate such a speedy resolution." Richelieu was smug but if he expected to take the Captain by surprise with his announcement, he was sorely disappointed.
"I cannot think of anyone more suited to the task, even if he was the intended victim," Tréville stated calmly.
Athos, wanting to deflect any more embarrassing comments, pulled the sheets of paper from his pocket and changed the subject. He looked at the names and handed the relevant list to the two men.
"These are the names of those directly involved in the fight earlier this afternoon," and he went on to explain what Porthos had discovered about the origin of the disturbance.
Richelieu's face darkened, his cheeks twitching as it was now confirmed that his men were responsible in instigating the fracas. They had, at least, admitted raiding the Musketeer kitchen area and throwing the first punches.
"I presume Grenouille was behind all this," he ground out. "We knew before you left this office that he was making trouble, spurring on any disquiet amongst the men."
"But once he knew of his Captain's death, he was quick to help restore order." Athos was not sure why, but he felt it necessary to defend the man.
"No matter," Richelieu was dismissive. "His behaviour was unacceptable and not for the first time. I admit that I expected Planque would deal with him, but he was weak and never seemed capable of bringing the man to order. No, I will make an example of Grenoiuille; he must be punished and before the day is out."
Athos shifted uncomfortably. It was more than not wanting to hear anyone speak ill of the dead; if anything, he feared what form of castigation the Cardinal would choose.
"Send some Musketeers to place him under guard."
"And you think that's going to improve relations between the men?" Tréville demanded.
"I am demonstrating that I currently have little or no trust in some of the men who serve me. If they are unable to follow my orders, they have only themselves to blame."
The Captain immediately saw a number of problems. "And so you would have the Musketeers presented as the villains of the piece, doing the unsavoury work for you."
"I would not have put it quite like that and I do not really understand why you are being so unreasonable but, if it makes you feel better, I will not expect a Musketeer to deliver the actual punishment."
"Not expect …!" Tréville bristled, unable to finish his sentence.
"What sanction are you contemplating?" Athos asked.
Richelieu's reply was pragmatic. "He can receive ten lashes before the regiment this evening and lose his rank forthwith."
Athos' heart sank. Grenouille was in the wrong, there was no doubt about that, but the Cardinal was in danger of greatly antagonising his men when he needed them to comply. If they were so easily influenced by Grenouille, then he must hold some sway over them, and this should be exploited positively. How might the Red Guard react when they saw him being treated like this?
"There is no need to send men after him in the first instance. Let me go and speak with him, try to persuade him to come back with me," Athos offered, hoping that the strange rapport that had sprung up between them earlier in the afternoon might stand him in good stead.
Richelieu stared hard at him as if contemplating something. It discomfited Athos and he glanced at Tréville for help,e but the Captain merely shrugged.
The silence continued.
"Cardinal?" the Captain prompted.
Richelieu rose to his feet and rearranged his flowing robe around him; it looked for all the world as if he were preparing to make a profound announcement.
He was.
"I have watched you for some time now, Musketeer Athos."
Athos suddenly felt sick at the unexpected formality and the fact that he could not recall the Cardinal ever addressing him by name before.
"Your Captain repeatedly speaks highly of you and your skills, and I have seen evidence on more than one occasion that substantiates the claim of his faith in you. You are far from perfect – I have seen that too – and there are aspects of your attitude that I find …" he sought an appropriate word, "annoying. Today I find myself in an invidious position. The King's safety is important above all else, but I am here at Versailles without any leadership for my regiment with neither the time nor the willingness to consider the matter for any length of time.
"So, with your Captain's agreement, I will second you to the position of Captain of the Red Guard. Only temporary, you understand, whilst we are here in the field. It is with immediate effect."