By Any Other Name

Chapter 9

He met his brother on the front lawns and his mood soured immediately.

"That was quick brother," the General said mockingly. "Was the Duchess disappointed in you? Wouldn't be the first time, I've gathered."

The Lord glowered at his remarks and replied coolly, "Tell me brother, were you able to keep up with her conversation, or did you ask her to speak slowly using only four-letter words?"

Now it was the General's turn to blush. Instantly he drew a blade and held it to his brother's throat. "Careful Victor," he hissed, "Do you really want to be challenging me? That didn't go well for you last time, did it? With that blonde marquis' daughter - What was her name?" he goaded, tightening his grip on his brother who strained to pull away from the blade.

"Michelle," Victor hissed, a look of rage and embarrassment on his face as his brother released him and he dropped to the ground.

"That woman isn't who you think she is," he said nastily as he left his brother in the dirt. "She will use you, and make a fool of you. Just like Michelle did."

oOo

The morning passed quickly and before long there was a sharp rap on the door.

Victor Gardeau had returned. He seemed edgy. His eyes brightened as they looked upon her, once more dressed formally. He coveted every inch of her, triggering all kinds of alarms in the back of Christine's mind. She swallowed this sensation and smiled at him.

Keep him off balance, keep him distracted, she reminded herself.

She had been alone with Aramis, the others having gone to scout out the likely places where guards might be posted and where there might be impediments to their escape should one be necessary.

"Is it time for our walk already, my lord?" she asked, stoking his ego by putting emphasis on those last two words. His pride swelled as she rose to greet him. Aramis also stood. Gardeau threw him a withering glare.

"I had hoped that we might enjoy our company alone," he said tersely. Aramis frowned. She cast a subtle glance towards her husband. She had to keep Gardeau bewildered. If she refused him now it could ruin everything.

She smiled warmly at Gardeau and with a fleeting glimpse at Aramis once more she said, "Of course my lord, whatever you desire."

She could feel Aramis tense behind her.

"Your Grace –" he began but Gardeau interrupted.

"As I promised earlier, you can be assured you will be safe in my arms," he oozed taking her elbow. There was something predatory in the action – the first true indicator that the Lord and the General were actually twins.

"Christine –" said Aramis reaching for her arm. Something wasn't right about this situation. The Lord was wound too tightly; the arrival of his brother had changed something in the man. He was more aggressive and more possessive of Christine than before. Aramis didn't trust it.

The Lord stiffened as Aramis used her first name and made contact with her other elbow. They stood for a moment trapped in a tableau – Christine, literally caught between the two men, gazing down at her elbow where Aramis protectively held her, staring at her face, wariness and concern clear in his expression, and the Lord, eyes narrowed and glaring at Aramis and where he dare lay a hand upon his newest prize.

"I am quite fine to walk with the Lord unaccompanied," she said lightly pulling her arm from his grip. She patted the left side of her skirt as though to smooth a wrinkle, but Aramis took that gesture as an indicator that Christine had her dagger hidden within its folds. "I'm honoured that you'd entertain me this way Victor. It is my mission to keep you distracted until the sale tonight," she said and turned to gaze determinedly into her husband's eyes, her words a reminder.

"I will be safe for an hour or so. And we shall not go far," she added. Aramis frowned as she turned away from him and taking the Lord's elbow they exited the room.

oOo

Christine walked with Lord Gardeau across the flowering gardens.

He was tense, so Christine kept up a stream of chatter which he participated in, but there was an edge to him that wasn't present the night before. They returned to the house and entered a large hallway lined with portraits.

It was hot. He poured them a glass of wine from a carafe on a table at the mouth of the hall and loosed his cravat slightly.

"What's that?" Christine asked as she eyed the thin red line across his throat.

"Nothing," he said, "My valet was careless," and he refastened his cravat.

Christine moved away from him and began to examine some of the portraits that lined the wall.

"What a proud and noble bearing your ancestors had," she cooed. "It's apparent you come from a good line," she said and he smiled a little at her comment.

"My family has always glorified in our success. Commerce, business and acquisition are what mattered. With money, you can always pay to have your problems solved. Anything can be bought. Honour, loyalty, bravery…love."

Christine frowned. "Some would argue that those are actually the qualities that can't be purchased."

"And what would you say?" he asked, challenging her.

Christine blushed and quickly tried to separate her thoughts from those of the Duchess. She smiled at him and turned away as she continued her progress.

"As the Duchess de Bari, I can say I've never been in a position to need to buy a man's loyalty or love," she said.

"No perhaps not, but I wonder at what price do you set your love? What is the cost for your affection?"

She raised her chin, her eyes flashing at him. "My affection or a place in my bed?" she asked coldly. "I am shocked at you. That is the language I'd expect from your brother, not from a gentleman! I should like to return to my room."

"Forgive me," he said, slightly mollified. "I was distracted by something my brother had said." His eyes flickered to a portrait of a blonde woman hanging in an ornate frame.

Christine followed his gaze. "Who is she?" she asked.

"That was my Michelle," he said, his voice dropping to frozen temperatures. "She married my brother. She died in his bed."

oOo

Aramis was pacing in the Pink Room when Athos returned to it.

Before he could even speak, Athos murmured, "We're doing this tonight. The general's arrival changes everything. There are too many variables and I don't want Christine in any more danger."

Aramis maintained his composure and fought the urge to embrace Athos at these words. Instead he said, "Hopefully D'Artagnan's found a way to keep those other guards at bay."

"And a way out of here…"

Aramis smirked. "Strategic training for the boy was your domain. Mine was more affairs of the heart."

Athos rolled his eyes. "Heart we know he has. Let's hope he proves he has brains as well. Where is Christine?" he asked noticing her absence and his brother's agitation.

"Alone with Victor Gardeau," he said darkly. "She refused to let me accompany them. He insisted…"

Athos nodded and catching Aramis' eye he said, "She will be fine. Have faith in her."

"Faith in her I have," Aramis said, running his hands once more through his hair, "but one can have faith and fear at the same time. If he so much as touches her…"

"She will be fine," Athos insisted, his cool eyes not allowing his own fear to show through to his brother. With a sigh, Aramis nodded and resumed his pacing.

oOo

Christine returned to her room, the cryptic and strange behaviour of Victor Gardeau filling her head.

She shut the door behind her and turned to face the intense gazes of Athos and Aramis.

"Christine –"

"You should not have gone off with him on your own –"

"Are you alright?" Aramis asked taking her face into his hands and gazing deeply into her eyes.

She lifted her chin and kissed him softly. "I love you," she whispered and she saw him relax slightly. She took his hand and led him towards the bench. "I'm fine," she said, "but confused. Gardeau was on edge throughout our entire walk."

"Did he hurt you?" asked Aramis tensing again. She shook her head and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"No, nothing like that. I believe that he had some sort of altercation, most likely with his brother. He was cut," she said, gesturing to her neck. "It looked like by a blade – though he said it was only his valet's carelessness."

Aramis and Athos shared a look and likely a thousand words in the flicker of their eyes.

"There's something else…there was a woman, Michelle. She's the General's dead wife. I think that Victor loved her. There's anger there…and betrayal. I worry about the Lord Gardeau. He seems…unhinged…"

"More of a reason for you to have not gone off alone with him," said Aramis quietly.

She squeezed his hand again and stared apologetically at him. "I'm sorry, but if I had refused…"

"If something had happened, there would have been nothing that I could have done…"

She kissed him again and with another squeeze she hoped her eyes showed the depth of her regret for having worried him.

There was a knock and the door opened suddenly as the bearded valet from their arrival entered the room. He gasped as he took in the scene of Aramis and Christine holding each other in their caring embrace. He made to call out, but a flash of metal silenced him as Athos' dagger found itself in his throat. The diamond necklace spilled from his hands as he fell.

Christine ran to shut the door as Aramis and Athos moved to the body.

"We need to hide the body," said Athos as Aramis pulled the sheets from the bed.

"This complicates things," he muttered as he and Athos rolled the valet in the duvet and hid the body behind the long drapes.

"Looks like Gardeau has sent you a gift," said Athos, handing her the necklace.

"Yes," she frowned, "but which one?"

oOo