Chapter 26
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The day after the banquet, I've decided to put on my musketeer's uniform. I asked my friends to just ignore this information as I would do. I've decided to ignore this information for the only reason that, even if I appreciate to have the money I've lacked in the past, I don't want this money. I'm happy with the life I have. Well, nothing has prepared me for what I found out this morning. My dear grandmother has found me a suitor for me. A suitor that was the dear Duke de Maintenon. I am to marry him. Not if I can help it. First of all he laughed at my clothes and Catherine seemed to be ashamed by my clothes. So ashamed that she glared at me.
"Emma, may you explain to me why you are dressed like this?" She asked her chin up.
"Well, I'm going into town with my friends." I answered to her. Then I turned to the Duke. "I'm sorry my dear Lord but I won't marry you."
"Nellie, are you ready?" D'Artagnan asked coming into view.
"Yeah, I'm coming. Duke, it was pleasure to see you again. My Lady, I shall see you at dinner." I bid my goodbyes to them and followed D'Artagnan out.
I might have lied. I didn't ignore this information. I went into town to meet with the lawyer of my grandfather. I wanted to know what was exactly in this will that my grandfather left behind him. I went alone to the lawyer's office while my three friends went to a nearby tavern. They insisted to come with me but I refused as I think I had to do this on my own. I knocked on his door, he let me in. He sized me up with his eyes and I did the same with him. He was a small man with grey hair. He was sitting behind his desk and invited to sit down. His name Monsieur Chateau.
"How may I help you miss…?" He asked trailing off as I didn't give him my name.
"De Sauvignon. Emmanuelle De Sauvignon." I replied.
"Thomas' granddaughter, I see." He nodded. "How can I help?"
"I wanted to know if you could tell me what was in my grandfather's will. Grimmaud his valet told me that he gave me everything. I just wanted to make sure that he was speaking the truth." I explained.
"Well, Grimmaud told you the truth. You inherited everything, from his title as the Baron to his estates." He confirmed getting up and going to his chestdrawer. He grabbed some papers and went back at his desk. "Everything is written here. So your grandmother found you."
"Yes, in Paris; less than three months ago." I replied. "So, everything is already under my name or do I need to sign any paper?"
"Oh, no everything is under your name. Your mother signed it ten years ago. Didn't she tell you?" He asked.
"Well, she died soon after. She's never mentioned this will or coming in Bordeaux. And my father never did either." I answered.
"Oh, no she never came in Bordeaux. Your Grandfather went to Paris. I was with him." He told me. "Your father was out that day and you were playing outside, according to what your mother told us. I remember she was quite unwell that day. She signed those papers and made us promised that you will never lack of anything."
"And what happened to that promise? Because clearly you didn't hold your promise." I countered through clenched teeth. "My father died two years ago and I had to fetch for myself."
"Your grandmother happened. She never recognised you as her granddaughter." The lawyer explained gently. He laid a hand on mine. "For her you're still a bastard. But your grandfather was my friend and in honour of our friendship; I'll help you." He smirked with mischief.
"What about Lady Catherine? She's not going to love that." I replied with the same smirk.
"She is the least of my problem." He shrugged, he gave me a quill. "As you are now an adult, I need you to sign this. This way she won't be able to contest it."
"Do you mind if I read it first? It's not that I don't trust you. I just want to be sure." I told him.
"I was about to suggest you the exact same thing. Take all the times you need." He said getting up from his desk. There was something wrong about that. I'm not referring to the will but to the lawyer. He seemed to be nice and he was. But a few minutes ago he said that I didn't need to sign it and now I have to sign it. I'm just confused. I'm more confused now that I'm reading it. The papers he gave me confirmed what he told me, I was indeed the only heiress of my grandfather; only if I agreed. If not, all my properties will go to my grandmother. So, to conclude she has no intention to steal my money from me. She really wanted to know me. Why did Grimmaud told me she can't be trusted? Is there someone else behind all this? Something wasn't right. I was about to get up from my chair when I felt something cold against my neck.
"That valet is talking way too much." A man said. He wasn't the lawyer. "Get up and don't try anything funny, musketeer." He snarled. I raised my hands and got up from the chair.
"I'm not here alone." I warned him.
"If you're referring to your fellow musketeers; they have been taken care of. Don't worry about them." He replied. The lawyer came to me and grabbed my sword and pistol.
"I thought you were my grandfather's friend?" I questioned him.
"This old man was fool to think that anyone would ever accept to have a slave's child as a Baroness." He spat in my face. My jaws tightened in anger and I glared at him. I caught a glimpse of my fellow musketeers in their backs. They raised their swords to my assailants.
"It's a crime to attack the King's musketeers." Athos told them in a cold voice.
"What took you so long, gentlemen?" I asked lowering my hands. I grabbed my weapons from the lawyer.
"Oh, you know wine and a bit of fight." Porthos shrugged.
"The usual. Now, tell me, who told you I was here?" I asked Mr. Chateau.
"Who do you think?" The other man replied. The only other person who knew I was coming was Grimmaud.
"We have to go back." I said with urgency in my voice. "Grimmaud need to be taken care of."
"There's no need for this Lady Emma. I'm already there." Grimmaud entered the room with his pistol raised. "And you won't be an obstacle anymore." He fired his pistol. I barely had the time to move and I barely heard my friends yelled my name.
I felt nothing at first. Then a burning sensation spread through my stomach. I immediately pressed my hand against my wound. The three men fled the room chased by the musketeers, as I was caught my strong arms who stopped me from falling on the ground. It was Aramis. He immediately inspected my injury. He lifted my shirt, took a cloth from his pocket and pressed it against my flesh. The burning sensation spread through my stomach again.
"We lost them." I heard someone said as I drifted through unconsciousness.
"We have to go back." I said with a weak voice. "We have to…"
"Shhh…Emma, we will. Now, stay with me." Aramis cut me off with a soft voice.
"Is it bad?" I heard Porthos asked.
"I was able to stop the blood but I need to take the bullet out." Aramis answered him. "We have to take her back to the mansion." I felt someone lifted me up. My eyes were open but I couldn't see or focus on anything. I whimpered as the pain exploded in my gut.
"She can't ride, Athos." Aramis told him.
"I'll go and find a cart." D'Artagnan said. I don't remember anything after that as I fell into darkness.
