Chapter XXX
"Are you trying to kill us all, Aramis?"
"Never, your Majesty. He's not feeling well. I was trying to help."
"You should not be here. I thought you promised you would not come when you were not scheduled to."
"I thought you promised I would somewhat be on the schedule." The words were harsh, harsher than he would have liked. He was still angry with her. The Queen looked at him with such furious eyes that he regretted having spoken at once.
"You are talking to your Queen, Aramis. I could have you put in jail for such flagrant disrespect."
"I am but your humble servant, your Majesty. If it is your wish..."
"Nonsense," she cut him off, stepping closer to the man. Her son still had hiccups and Aramis' hand was on his back, tapping lightly. The Musketeer was looking straight at her, trying to decipher her emotions. "Although a few days in a dark cell may dampen your ardour and keep you in your proper place."
"I meant no harm, I can assure you. I'm only seeking a word with you in private. There are things I don't understand, your Majesty."
"Such as?"
"You did promise I would be assigned to his protection, but my name is not even on the schedule for this month. Have I done something wrong for you to punish me so?"
The Queen looked away. The last months had been quite difficult for her, ever since she had met with his wife for the second time. Every time she looked at the heir, how ever strongly she wanted to see some of her features in him, she could only see Aramis'. It frightened her so much. If Elise could see it, more people were bound to uncover the trickery and see that the prince looked nothing like his royal "father."
"I'm afraid," she finally confessed.
"Afraid of me, your Majesty?"
"No, Aramis. I'm afraid that someone will figure out our secret. Your wife has opened my eyes. She saw it in a second: that boy looks nothing like me." The Musketeer walked toward her, baby Louis' head on his chest, playing with the buttons of his jacket.
"Maman." The Queen touched his hair, soothing it back. Aramis asked her if she wanted to take him, but she was too shaken to trust herself. "Maman."
"Yes, my love. I love you so much." She kissed the top of his head, her body so close to Aramis she could feel his warmth. Taking a few steps back would have been safer. Instead, she stayed as close as she could to their son. "Someone will see. Someone will notice there is no trace of the King in him. I'll be dead, he'll be...I don't even want to think about what could happen. But you, I can protect you. I can keep you away from him and nobody will see who his true father is."
"Was her Majesty trying to protect me?" Aramis did not believe what he was hearing. How could he imagine that such a powerful woman would so worry about him? He knew she cared a little, but he was rather surprised.
"I was. I must not have done a very good job since you have managed to make your way here. Oh, Aramis. What is going to happen to us?" Her voice quivered and when he looked down at her, her anger had been replaced by sheer fright. Holding the baby with one arm, he led her to the bed, sitting down next to her.
"With all due respect, your Majesty, I'm going to talk to you like I talked to my wife." He waited a few seconds but when she did not protest, he continued. "Nobody will die. Not you, not him, not me. Do you hear me? No one. I promised before and I will promise again. You have nothing to fear. I will always protect you. This boy will grow up to be a handsome prince, everybody will love him and one day, he will make a very good King. That's not the trade I wish he had chosen, but there is nothing I can do about it. He will always be able to count on me, though. Always." The Queen was listening intently, nodding, her hand holding baby Louis' fingers.
"I'm with child," she whispered after a while. Somehow, he felt she should have sounded happier about the news, even if it was a surprise for him.
"Congratulations," he managed to say. "That is good news, isn't it? The King must be enthusiastic."
"He does not know yet. You're the first person I've told. What if they look nothing alike, Aramis? What if it is another boy and he looks like his father and people see that something is quite not right?"
"You are worrying too much. Besides, look at him. Take a good look at your son. He does look like you. He has your ears and when he's happy, he has your smile. Look at these cheekbones." He pinched the heir's right cheek, a gesture that was highly out of place. The Queen was too distressed to rebuke him. "Just like his mother's. If I can make a suggestion?"
"Please do."
"Let his hair grow long, then tie it back. It was passed down from his grandmother but hers was always long and luxuriant with magnificent curls. A true Spanish lady. Mine is simply too short to be successfully tamed. We will not look alike. Do not let him grow a beard either."
"What about a moustache?" He cocked his head to the side and it made her smile a little.
"Do not let him grow a beard or a moustache."
"Very well, Sir. Your orders will be followed. I apologise, Aramis." Could she keep on surprising him more this evening?
"'mis. 'mis," the child repeated.
"Your apologies are unnecessary. I should be the one thanking you for attempting to protect my life."
The Queen stood up, facing away from him. Her hand touched her face and he knew she was drying tears. She thought he had not noticed. Her back straightened, making her look taller. When she turned around, she looked like a monarch again.
"We should not talk while he is around. He is starting to repeat words. It could put us in perilous situations."
"Of course, your Majesty."
"I will ask Captain Tréville to put you back on the schedule since you are too stubborn to respect orders from your Queen."
"My apologies."
"You've been taking good care of him, Aramis." There was a strong chemistry between the father and the son, she could not deny it. The child certainly recognized the Musketeer, he was seeing him often. His face would soon be as familiar as the nurses'.
"'mis, 'mis, 'mis," baby Louis chanted and Aramis could not help laughing. The discussion he had dreaded had ended up taking a good turn. It was a relief to know that he had done nothing to earn the Queen's wrath.
"You are saying it wrong, your Highness. My name is Aramis. A-ra-mis."
"'mis!"
"It is growing late. Ring Marguerite for me." The Musketeer did as he was told, grateful to see that she may not be as angry as the governess as she seemed to be on her arrival.
"Will you be fine, your Majesty?" he inquired. Her hands were on her stomach. Although she was deeply relieved to be with child again if only to demonstrate to the King that they could have children, there was so much on her mind.
"I am the Queen. It does not matter if I am fine or not. The only thing that matters is that I perform my duty."
"It matters to me."
"You are very kind. Give him to me and resume your position." Aramis bowed, missing the warmth of his son's body in his arms. He was standing outside the door when Marguerite hurried back in the corridor, looking extremely anxious. He hoped she was going to be fine.
When they came back from their mission, Athos and Porthos brought back the snow as well. The ground was lightly powdered, just enough to crunch whenever the soldiers walked on it. It was very cold and it was not even December. Drinking was their favourite activity to stay warm.
"Here's another one," Aramis announced, sitting down and putting a brand new bottle in front of Athos. The other raised his head, looking at him from under the brim of his hat. They had gathered in a tavern, Porthos and d'Artagnan were robbing Red Guards of their money at a game of cards. "Cheers." Athos raised his glass silently, swallowing its content in one go. They had not talked since their last argument.
"I'm sorry. I'll always be a reckless fool when it comes to him, but things have settled down while you were away." The older raised a suspicious eyebrow. Aramis had been talking to the Queen again. He would never learn. Athos was tired of trying.
"Let's not talk about it anymore."
"One more thing though. The Queen will shortly announce her pregnancy and I swear, I swear, I had nothing to do with this one." Athos glared at him.
"Are you the Queen's confident now?"
"It came up." He shrugged. "Act surprised when the King will make the announcement." Athos rolled his eyes.
"Please, Aramis. Here, buy us a new bottle." He threw some more coins at his friend.
The King was in a joyous mood the day he told his Council and the ministers that his Queen was expecting again. His first-born was even in attendance with him. One year old was an age deemed decent for him to be brought forth more often, even if his endless and meaningless chatter led to him being withdrawn quite rapidly. There was a glow on the Queen's cheeks and this time around, Aramis was actually happy for her. This second baby was her security. Everything would be all right for her.
"Do you think we will have to watch this one as well?" Porthos wondered as they were leaving the Palace. The first snow had not lasted. It was turning into mud.
"I suppose."
"Captain Tréville?" Porthos exclaimed, half-running to catch up with their commanding officer walking in front of them. "Captain? I happily volunteer to keep watch on the Dauphin any time it is necessary, rain or sunshine. I'll even hold his hand if he wants to walk."
"We'll see," Tréville eventually replied. "It seemed to me that you were doing a rather good job standing in this corridor. And with so much training, it would be easy for you to continue your fine art."
d'Artagnan and Aramis laughed loudly at their friend being played by the Captain.