Chapter 25

Thanks for reading this story. Thanks to NicoleR85 for her review. Thanks to all the followers and the one who favourited this story. Hope you'll like this new chapter.

New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.


Athos helped me in my chair and sat next to me. D'Artagnan sat on my other side and across Athos. Aramis was next to D'Artagnan and across Porthos. The latter sat across Aramis and on the other side of Lady Catherine. She was sat across me at the head of the table and so you can guess I was sat at the end of the same table. I was determined to not pay attention to any comment Catherine could made on my father or my mother. Grimmaud put the first plate in front of us. There were lots of knives and forks on the table. My mother, even if we were poor, explained to me that you always start by the clutters that were the farther from your plates to the ones that were at the closest of your plates. I wasn't worrying about this. So, when I started to eat I saw that Lady Catherine's eyebrows raised up in surprised.

"I am so glad to see you here, in Bordeaux." She said happily and I smiled.

"I'm glad to be here." I replied.

"You don't have to lie. I can see that you are uncomfortable; nervous even." She chuckled. "But I hope and I wish that you'll consider yourself at home soon enough. After all, all of this is yours." She spread her arms and gestured to the furniture around her.

"It is my desire too." I simply nodded.

"Now, tell me, what did you do to get the King's musketeers to travel with you?" She asked sipping her wine.

"I stole Athos, here." I answered shortly.

"And if I remember correctly, you failed." Athos added.

"What an absurd idea? Why would you steal him?" She questioned shocked by our smiling face.

"For need of money or for the thrill." I replied thoughtlessly. "Or both. Needless to say, I no longer steal. The Captain often requires my service as an informant."

"Need of money? There's surely honest work for a young lady like you. Maybe as a seamstress." She reasoned.

"Oh, I don't doubt it but…" I took a deep breath. "I'm not as gifted as Aramis with a needle and I found this boring. No, being a thief was a promising life, full of adventures." Catherine has a tight smile.

"Marriage, then?" She continued her questioning.

"Nellie married? That wouldn't end well for her husband." D'Artagnan said and the rest of the musketeers laughed with him. I kicked him under the table and D'Artagnan stopped. I glared at the others and they stopped as well.

"What D'Artagnan meant was I'm not thrilled by the idea of marriage." I clarified. "For now anyway, maybe when the right person will come, I'll consider the idea."

"And now as an informant…" She tested the word. "what do you do?"

"Well, Emma, here, is no longer an informant, Madame." Aramis took a dramatic pause. "She is the first female musketeer." She gaped at him and turned her widened eyes on me.

"You are one of the King's musketeers, now." She scoffed. "I found the idea utterly ridiculous. For a woman could not possibly fight as a man, less be a warrior or swordswoman."

"Well, I'm happy the King thinks otherwise for he considered me as the female musketeer even before granted me a place in the musketeers rank." I spat my blood boiling now.

"Is that so? Well, I suppose you must be a skilful swordswoman, then." She said unpleased by the news, it seemed. "Grimmaud, proceed to the next meal." Grimmaud and the servants took our plates away and bring the main course. "You would be pleased to know that in two days; there will be a banquet in your honour."

"I beg you pardon; a banquet. Why?" I exclaimed.

"Of course, I'm announcing to my friends that my granddaughter has returned." She smiled proudly. "You will have clothes made specially for the occasion." She explained while I exchanged a horrified look with my friends. Them; on the other hand seemed to be pleased with the idea. "You'll need an escort. I'm sure one of them will be happy to oblige."

These two days were probably the longest days I've ever experienced in my life. A seamstress came to take my measurements to make my dress. I chose the colours, a deep blue with silver embroidery that I wanted on the corset. And silver lining that will be on the bottom of the skirt and at the cuffs of the long sleeves. Then came the dance classes. Most of the time my four friends made fun of me; I'd rather have a sparring session than a dance session. Anyway, between the class dance and Catherine teaching me what or what not to do, the two days went by; rather slowly might I add. The big night has arrived and Eleanor, the maid servant that was assigned to me, was helping getting ready. She helped me to dress. She laced up the jacket in my back. She helped me with my hair. She pinned some of my hair on top of my head and let the rest fell down on my back, reaching the small of my back. Grimmaud entered my room when I was ready and said that the guest has already arrived. I dismissed him and assured him that I will arrive shortly. Once again I let my uniform in my rooms and safely tucked in my drawers. I took a deep breath and descended the stairs. The four men at the bottom of the stairs stopped their chattering and stared at me with stunned looks. When I reached the last step, Athos offered me his hand that I gladly took.

"It will be our pleasure, dear Lady Emmanuelle, to accompany you to this banquet." Aramis said bowing his head.

"All four of you to be my escorts. Why, I feel honoured my dear musketeers." I replied curtsying. "It will be my pleasure to have such company." Athos offered me his arm. I put my hand in the crook of his arm. Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan followed us into the banquet room. We entered the ball room as Grimmaud announced our arrival.

"Lady Emmanuelle de Sauvignon, granddaughter of the Baroness Catherine and the King's musketeers; Messieurs Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan." All the guest stopped talking and turned to the doors. The women curtsied and the men bowed as we stepped inside and joined Catherine in the room. Catherine took my hands tightly in hers. She turned to the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if we are all here tonight, it's for her. The rumour has it that my daughter Madeline fled Bordeaux and married a former slave. The rumours are true. They fled to Paris where this beautiful grown woman was born. I am the proudest woman and grandmother tonight. My family is reunited tonight and I invited you my friends to celebrate with me. So please welcome my dear granddaughter, Lady Emmanuelle, future Baroness of this estate." The guest all clapped. I curtsied to them. "I won't hold you any longer and I'll let you celebrate. Carry on, please." She raised her glass and they all followed her example. Grimmaud brought us our glasses and we toasted.

As the night goes by, the musketeers have made small talk to the guest. They danced and drank wine. Catherine kept me for herself and introduced me to possible suitors but let be honest, I was bored out of my mind. All I wanted to do was to go and talk with my friends. One of this suitors came by and invited me for a dance I agreed, happy to do something else than talk.

"So, tell me Mademoiselle, are you enjoying your time, here in Bordeaux?" The young Duke de Maintenon asked me.

"I didn't really have time or the pleasure to visit the town. But if you really want an answer, I'm enjoying my time very much." I replied.

"You're a beautiful young woman even in spite of your unfortunate origins."

"And what would that be?" I asked coldly.

"Well, I meant no offense but your father was a slave, that's very unfortunate. You are lucky that your grandfather made the only heiress of this mansion."

"For my father, you're right it was unfortunate and even cruel that he was treated as an animal all his life, even lower than an animal. But he was the bravest and the wisest man I've ever known." I answered vehemently. "As to this mansion, I don't understand, you mean that my grandmother didn't inherit this mansion."

"Nothing, the Baroness is no longer a Baroness. You are the Baroness of this estate already. My father's lawer took care of all the modalities." He assured me

"Interesting." I mumbled as I curtsy to the Duke at the end of the dance. I looked for Grimmaud in the room. I found him near the musketeers serving them drinks. "Grimmaud, I have some questions for you."

"I will be glad to answer them, Mademoiselle." Grimmaud smiled gently to me.

"Not here. Somewhere else. Where we'll be away from the privy eyes and ears." I whispered to him.

"The kitchen." Grimmaud replied.

"Lead the way." I said to him.

"Nellie, what's wrong?" D'Artagnan asked.

"In the kitchen, you'll know." I followed Grimmaud to the kitchen with the musketeers following us. We entered the kitchen full of maids and servants. They were busy with plates and glasses.

"Don't worry, mademoiselle, you can talk here." Grimmaud assured me leading me to a corner of the kitchen. "What do you need to know?"

"The Duke informed me that the real heiress of this mansion, the real Baroness was not Catherine but me. Is it true?" I questioned him.

"It is true. Your grandfather, Lord Thomas loved his daughter more than anything in the world. The day Lady Catherine chased your mother and your father away from this house, Lord Thomas was devastated." He explained. "He never wanted this. He respected Marcos. And even if he was against his union with Lady Madeline, he accepted it for your mother's happiness."

"Why didn't he just stop her from doing so?" Porthos asked.

"He would have if he was here in Bordeaux. Lord Thomas was away for business. Lady Catherine took advantage of it and decided to chase her own daughter away." Grimmaud continued. "Originally, she only wanted to chase your father but your mother was already with child. She was already expecting you…" He trailed off.

"She chased the three of you from her house." Aramis finished for Grimmaud.

"So, she didn't come to Paris to know me, and give me what belongs to my mother." I concluded.

"I'm afraid not, Mademoiselle." Grimmaud retorted. "Do not trust her, Lady Emmanuelle. She might be sincere at times but she's not to be trusted."