The Loss

Chapter 11

"Christine! Christine!" cried Aramis as he hurled himself through the blue front door.

In the courtyard, Bella was neighing wildly as a desperate Victor tried to calm her.

"Christine!" Aramis shouted as he ran up the stairs.

She met him on the landing, her pale skin glistening against her dark green dress in the afternoon sunlight. A frightened Marie trailed behind her.

"Aramis! What's wrong?" Christine said as he sheltered her against him and pulled her back towards the library, a breathless Porthos and Marie following.

"Close the window," Aramis called to Porthos. "Get behind here," he said as he led Christine and Marie to a couch that sat in front of a wall.

"Aramis, what's going on? Please tell me," Christine begged.

They all grew quiet at the sound of the door banging open in the foyer below. Christine crouched behind the couch, pulling Marie protectively with her; Aramis and Porthos drew their pistols. He glanced at her and she nodded to him, affirming her trust in him as she held her frightened maid against her. Frantic boot steps could be heard on the stairs.

A slight pause…and then…

"Aramis?" came Athos' voice from the other side of the door.

Aramis let out a deep breath and lowered his pistols.

"In here," called Porthos moving to open the doors.

"Christine – is she –" Athos said, his normally calm voice laced with panic.

"She's fine," said Porthos, stepping back so he could see for himself.

Christine stood and led a shaking Marie to a seat on the couch. D'Artagnan took a pitcher and a glass from a table nearby and poured the young woman some water as he took the seat next to her in order to comfort her.

Aramis grasped Christine and pulled her to him, his hands cradling her face as he pressed his forehead to hers. "You're all right," he whispered, his breathing heavy with relief.

"Aramis, love, I'm fine…" she said confusedly taking his wrists in her hands. He kissed her suddenly and she was startled by the urgency in the embrace.

"Aramis, mi Tesoro, tell me what happened," she begged as she pulled him towards the couch.

Aramis sat next to her and took her hands in his and brought it to his lips.

She glanced at Athos and was surprised to see the relief palpably written on his face as well.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on? What's happened?"

"You were threatened," said Athos bluntly.

She paled slightly but recovered quickly. "How?" she asked, forcing the tremble from her voice.

"We've been watched," said Aramis, his eyes refusing to leave her face. "Yesterday, on our walk from the palace…and then again, this morning. Tell me, what did you do once I had left you?"

Christine frowned at the cryptic question. "Marie and I went to the market...we had to pick up a ribbon for my gown for the King's celebration…we weren't there long."

"Did anyone bother you? Did you notice anything suspicious?" Athos asked.

"No, of course not…"

"Well that's not entirely true, my lady," said Marie quietly, startling the Comtesse. Athos' eyes narrowed at her, but with a slight smile and an encouraging squeeze from D'Artagnan, she continued. "There was a beggar on the street outside the dressmaker's. He complimented your gown when you placed a few coins in his cup…he said you looked beautiful in green…"

"You're right," said Christine slowly, her troubled expression growing as she brought her hand to her lips. Aramis' brown eyes widened immediately. "He kissed my hand and called me Hermosa…" she gasped suddenly. "I'm sorry! I didn't think anything of it! He seemed harmless – just a man down on his luck…"

"Do either of you remember anything else?" Porthos asked, his head turning between the two women. Christine looked at Marie and shook her head. Marie worried her lip as she glanced towards the calm and kind but still intimidating gaze of Athos.

"What is it?" Athos asked.

"Well it may be nothing, but his clothes…" Marie said slowly. Christine gave her maidservant a confused look.

"What of them? His cloak was old and tattered."

"Yes mistress, but as he bent to kiss your hand, his sleeve was exposed. I know you have little patience for these things, but his coat he wore beneath the tattered cloak was exceptionally made and the shirt cuff was silk…it looked odd…"

The room fell silent at these words.

"Thank you Marie. You've been very helpful," said Athos softly. "D'Artagnan, please escort Marie to her chamber so she can rest."

"I'll fetch you some wine," she said rising. Athos bowed his head to her as the Gascon led her from the room. She paused at the door and offered Aramis and Christine a small smile, which they both returned.

"Christine-"

"Athos, I'm so sorry. I didn't think anything of it. He seemed so desperate," she said miserably as her eyes attempted to burn holes in the floor.

"This is not your fault Christine," said Aramis, pulling her hand to his lips once more. She looked into his eyes and was comforted. "We should have been more careful. I did not think he would dare come outright and approach you." The muketeers exchanged a pointed look, recognizing the threat for what it was.

"I still should have been more aware of my surroundings," said Christine, her face reddening slightly apologetically.

"You couldn't have known it was him," said Porthos. "He's a trained assassin. It's his job to hide in plain sight."

Athos nodded as D'Artagnan re-entered carrying a decanter of wine and some glasses. "Christine, knowing what you know now, are you sure there isn't anything you can remember about the man from the street," he asked.

Christine took the cup of wine D'Artagnan poured her and took a sip.

"He looked pale and drawn…ashen almost…that's why I didn't feel threatened by him where he leaned against the store wall…and he winced as he thanked me! He was trying to hide it, but it seemed as though he were suffering from a pain in his side," she said eagerly.

"That would be from where I shot him. Of course only you would notice the pain of a man before the clothes he was wearing," said Aramis, smiling at the woman he loved with pride.

She smiled back at him and blushed. "That doesn't bring us any closer to finding him though…"

"No, but it tells us he may be weakened –" said D'Artagnan enthusiastically.

"Or desperate," Porthos countered.

"How's Marie?" Christine asked.

"She should be fine," said D'Artagnan. "She gave orders to prepare dinner before she retired to her chamber. She's worried, but she's strong," he said with a grin.

"No one leaves this house tonight," said Aramis gravely. "We'll set the watch. There will be Musketeers with you at all times. I don't want you leaving this place until the celebration tomorrow evening."

"Aramis-" she began, but Athos cut her off.

"He's right," he said.

"If he threatens one of us," said Porthos.

"He threatens all of us," replied D'Artagnan.

"And I will go through the gates of hell before I let him near you again," said Aramis fiercely, his dark eyes burning like coals of anger.

She squeezed his hands and he exhaled slowly as she nodded her compliance.

oOo