By Any Ofher Name

Chapter 5

Athos and Porthos returned to the Pink Room having completed their tour of the grounds, adding two more guards stationed outside a set of locked doors to their count. D'Artagnan would need to find a way to subdue the additional guards at the barracks should this mission come to violence in the end.

Athos reported their findimgs to Aramis and Christine as he explaimed the next steps of their plan. "You've been excellent so far Christine, but you are going to need to continue to tease Gardeau. We need him carless and distracted. And we aren't sure what other guests may be in attendance yet. Do whatever you think is necessary," said Athos. She frowned at this and worried her lip. Aramis squeezed her hand and gave her an assuring grin, which she returned hesitantly.

"All right," she said, "but other than serving myself to him on a silver platter, I'm not sure what else I can do to keep him engaged."

Aramis gave her a sly look. "Get him chasing you. Be disinterested. Laugh and flirt with every other man in the room. He is already salivating over you. In his mind he's the Alpha male. It will drive him mad to see your attention focused elsewhere."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "Won't that just anger him?"

Aramis chuckled. "Men are simple creatures of ego and easily manipulated. He'll want to prove his superiority to the others by winning your attention. And with the way you look tonight, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire household began fighting over you," he said, and she blushed deeply.

"Yes, well let's hope it doesn't come to that," said Athos wryly. "You do look quite beautiful," he added as an afterthought. She smirked at him, but said nothing. In truth she was breath taking. She wore a red satin gown that seemed to shimmer as she moved. Her pale skin seemed to glow in perfect compliment to the rich fabric. The dress was in fact on loan from the Queen – a gift from her brother, the King of Spain. She wore no jewellery, save for an elaborate ruby pin that helped to keep her luscious dark curls in place.

"I think ya look better in your regular clothes," said Porthos with a grin, which she returned broadly.

"Thank you Porthos, you are a true gentleman," she said taking his arm and guiding him towards where some wine and refreshments had been set out for them, her eyes flashing teasingly towards Aramis, who grinned back.

Athos took this opportunity to draw Aramis aside. "Will you be able to control yourself?" he asked seriously.

Aramis frowned in response and looked over to where Christine now sat. "I forgot myself for a moment. It will not happen again."

Athos nodded. "You know this is a farce, that the role she's playing is a combination of all that she hates about the court."

Aramis sighed. "I know. I do not recognize this woman as my Christine," he said as he ran his hand through his hair. "And at the same time though, I cannot forget that she is my wife. To watch another man fawn all over her and to see her encourage it? It's –"

"Distracting?" suggested Athos in echo of his earlier words.

Aramis smirked at the slight chastisement. "I will control myself," said Aramis with a challenging grin.

"You really are a simple creature," said Athos returning the smirk.

oOo

There was a slight knock at the door, which startled the occupants of the room. Aramis and Porthos' hands went to their pistols and Christine straightened herself where she perched by the window, the setting sun kissing her exposed lily shoulders. With a quick nod from Athos, she called out in a lilting voice, "Don't be silly, gentlemen! Athos darling, get the door!"

Athos opened the door and permitted the Lord of the manor to enter. Porthos and Aramis stayed tense.

"Oh! My Lord Gardeau! I wasn't expecting you so soon," she cried, well aware of the ridiculousness of the statement – several hours had passed in the time allotted for her to get ready. She rose from her seat and drawing her fingers lightly across her chest she gestured to her gown and said, "I'm not quite ready. I've haven't yet decided on what jewellery I should wear for your guests. I'd hate to arrive at dinner so underdressed," she said gesturing once more to her bare throat and chest.

A slow smile spread across Gardeau's face as he drank in her beauty, his eyes glowing with desire. Athos glanced quickly at Aramis, who swallowed but gave a firm nod back.

"Your Grace has left me speechless," murmured Gardeau.

"Oh dear," she teased, "Well then you may not be fun company this evening…and I feel so naked without a necklace on," she said, gesturing once more to her throat.

"Perhaps I can help remedy that," said Gardeau. "Though, to be fair, I must admit that I am utterly dazzled by you."

"That's the point," she purred, and the musketeers had to bite their cheeks to hide their smirks.

"Come," said Gardeau offering her his arm. "We can't have you unhappy at dinner…"

She offered him a dazzling smile as she took jis arm. His desire for her palpable.

Aramis ground his teeth as the Lord led Christine from the room. Athos followed with a warning glance at Aramis. Porthos followed, looking sympathetically at his brother who took a moment to gather himself before following the rest of the party out the door.

oOo

The party approached the locked double doors where two armed guards stood sentry.

"Only two guards?" asked Athos sceptically as Gardeau pulled a key from his breast pocket.

"Trust me, Monsieur Athos, my grounds are well protected. I have men guarding the perimeter and the halls constantly, as I'm sure you've noticed," he said in a challenging way. Clearly Gardeau was registering Athos as his competition. Athos decided to match his ante.

"Lord Athos," he dropped as he leant into the word and casually examined the nail beds of his right hand. Gardeau flushed, unsettled by the challenge. Christine beamed at Athos.

"Forgive me," said Gardeau as he gathered himself, "My mistake."

"It's a common one," said Christine airily, taking Athos' arm. "My dear Athos is the Comte de la Fere. It appears as though neither of you gentlemen get out in society enough," she teased.

Athos smirked coolly at Gardeau as the weight and mystery of his former title settled upon the Lord. Aramis and Porthos were shocked too, having never really understood the power of the position that Athos had relinquished. The de la Fere name had held enormous weight amongst the noble class.

"Shall we?" Athos asked in a diminutive way, gesturing towards the doors. Gardeau grimaced before turning to unlock the doors. Christine and Athos shared a subtle smirk before following the Lord Gardeau into the room.

Christine gasped as she entered and the opulence of the room hit her. Athos stiffened. Gardeau beamed.

"Choose anything you like," he said as he extricated her arm from Athos' and led her to a table where priceless jewels gleamed from dark velvet cushions. There were enough riches on the table to fund a war – or at least to start one!

Athos slowly circled in the opposite direction, making note of the table that was covered in ornately crafted weaponry. In contrast to the extravagance, some plain, dark wood crates were piled in a corner. He casually picked up a dagger whose pommel was decorated with a large dark green stone.

Christine paused by a large sapphire brooch. "I know this piece," she said. "This was worn by the Duchess of Seville."

"Yes," grinned Gardeau. "Her new husband is here in an attempt to win it back. She had fallen on hard times for a period. I was able to offer my assistance in exchange," he said smugly.

"So, you're a pawn-broker," Athos stated dismissively, casually tossing and catching the dagger in his hand. Christine giggled and Gardeau scowled.

"Come now Athos, he's a conservationist," she soothed, placing her hand delicately on Gardeau's arm. "It brings me comfort to know that there's a strong man I could turn to should I ever be in need…now that my husband is dead," she said, smiling demurely at him. Athos huffed audibly, and Christine moved away to examine a necklace. Gardeau grinned at Athos' displeasure and seeming jealousy.

"I deal in far more than jewels, my dear Comte," oozed Gardeau.

"Yes, I can see that; useless ornamental weaponry that will never see battle. The stone in this isn't even real," he said casting the dagger back onto the table.

"Athos!" said Christine scandalized, but Gardeau chuckled coldly.

"My Lord Athos is right your Grace. He has a fine eye," he said as he picked up the diamond necklace that she had been examining. It was a match to the description of one stolen from the Queen. "I deal in real weaponry as well," he said, gesturing to the large crates that stood in the corner. "I provided the ammunition at the last battle at Creon – to both sides, my dear Athos," he said coolly.

"Are you a traitor then?" Christine asked.

"I'm…a conservationist, as you put it. I conserve funds. And if the price is right I have no qualms parting with my wares or providing services. Petty arguments, land disputes - I have no interest in what the ammunition is used for once the transaction is complete," he said smugly as she forced out a giggle.

"The stones in the weapons are fake, put there for undiscerning wives searching for trinkets for bored husbands – women without your exceptional eye and beauty, your Grace. The ones in the jewellery, I can assure you, are all real," he said in a tone now dripping with honey. He fastened the diamond necklace around her neck.

"There," he said as she examined the necklace at her throat, "Perfection." The necklace dripped down her chest in an extravagant cascade of diamonds.

"Stunning," said the voice of a new man entering from behind Porthos and Aramis.

The man who entered was tall and dark haired. He was handsome and seemed to exude a threat of power and an air of ambivalence. There was an obvious shift in the room. The musketeers all tensed as he strode confidently towards Christine.

"Ah, yes," said Gardeau in a slightly annoyed tone, "Your Grace, my lord, let me introduce you to my brother, General Gardeau. Claude, this is the Duchess de Bari and the Comte de la Fere."

"Charmed," said the General kissing Christine's hand and staring deeply into her eyes. "Are you trying to show off for your new friends, Victor?"

Lord Gardeau frowned slightly. Clearly there was tension between the two.

Christine wasn't sure what the next play was so she stared back into the General's eyes coyly and hoped that Athos would take the lead.

"General," said Athos, breaking the man's gaze. "Your reputation precedes you…though I was unaware that you had a brother." Suddenly, the means of how these goods were procured was explained. In addition to theft and pawning, it seemed as though many of the goods must have been the plunder of war. That would explain the trade in arms, thought Athos.

The General grinned and nodded at Athos. "We're twins. As the younger, I chose a military life leaving my brother to rule as his lordship. I've always been too rough for polite society. Victor has always had the more delicate touch. I got all the looks from the bloodline," he said, winking at Christine.

"But none of the brains. I wasn't expecting you to be joining us tonight," said Lord Gardeau, clearly perturbed by being overpowered by his brother.

"I'm most glad I decided to attend," he responded looking at Christine once more; he still had not relinquished her hand. "Our guests are waiting, Victor," he said, further rankling his brother.

The tension and competition between the brothers was overwhelming. Clearly theirs was a toxic relationship. Christine decided to act. Turning from both men, she took Athos' arm. His cool confidence carried its own subtle power pulling the brothers' attention away from each other.

"Well now, boys," she said teasingly, "We shouldn't keep the others wanting."

Claude grinned at her and the new challenger, while Victor frowned. Claude bowed to her before leading them out of the room, his brother marching angrily behind him. It was clear that the Lord and General Gardeau had been in competition since birth, and Christine had the feeling that his lordship had not been the victor on most occasions. It was clear that he resented the presence of both his brother and Athos if it meant her focus was not solely on him, and, she suspected, it seemed as though it had been a long time since the Lord Gardeau had not gotten exactly what he wanted.

oOo