She left him alone on the landing and he hung onto the banister desolately. He felt the fleeting hope drain from him as he contemplated the rest of his life without her. For he knew this was the way it would be. If she had said she would give up this occupation to be his wife again, he would take it. But she had already confessed that she could never be what he thought she was, or what he wanted. She was a lot more complex than that. And he could never understand that. It was far easier to think of women as one way or another, not as creatures with hidden depths. He couldn't handle it. Better to steer clear of any woman. A part of him still couldn't let her go but it was impossible to think that anything could make it return as before. She had to live her life and he had to get on with his. Neither deserved to be anything, but alone. He hardened his heart and turned back to the garret, thinking of the next move.

'We go to London' he announced to the other musketeers. They nodded and prepared to leave.

'Rochefort was telling us about the usual places we might be able to find Buckingham' said Aramis.

'We'll get hold of him one way or another' added Porthos.

'Then we are much obliged to both of you' Athos nodded to Rochefort and Milady, giving no hint of recognition of what had gone on before.

'Hope you find the little rat. I'm sure he borrowed a pair of boots from me he never meant to give back' replied Rochefort laconically.

'Make sure he doesn't trip you up round corners' added Milady softly. Athos nodded to show that he understood and called his comrades to attention.

'Goodbye.'

'Pleasure to have met you' added Porthos ironically.

They left quietly, Athos bringing up the rear. His eye caught Milady's and she hastened to the door, not wishing for another altercation. He signalled for the others to continue down the stairs. He wanted to see her one time and know one last thing before she shut the door on him forever.

'Tell me honestly. Did you say that about the ring because he meant more to you than me?' He couldn't help asking. She stopped closing the door and looked at him, one eye visible beyond the gap.

'I noticed you weren't quite as you were when you mentioned it' he said quietly. He couldn't fathom the look on her face.

'You think I'm sad because of him? How you can think that I would be less so over you.' She shook her head slightly.

'You seemed sad' said he. She looked at the offending article.

'I am sad that you weren't the one to give me this instead' she said. 'It's beautiful but I would have traded it to be with you having been given the chance. If you could have accepted me as I am. But that wasn't to be. Too much has happened and you wouldn't have me anyway.' A sad smile tugged the corners of her mouth.

He wished he could have been the one to have given her the ring. But he had to forget about her now. 'I hope you'll keep safe' she said. Leaving him with that, she shut the door quietly. The key turned in the lock.

He knew by that she meant that she hoped that their paths wouldn't cross again for she was on the other side and meeting again would mean one of them having to finish the other off. And that was something both of them wanted to avoid.

'So...what next?'

Athos drew her from his thoughts and glanced down at the musketeers. They were peering up the stairs, looking slightly concerned.

'Now we figure out the next move. To London.' They clattered down the steps and into the sunlight.

Milady gazed out of the window to watch them. Rochefort looked over her shoulder. 'A waste of a good man. Richelieu could have used him.'

'Would you want Richelieu to ruin a good man?'

Rochefort reflected on this. 'I suppose not.' They both knew which one was striving for the good of the common man. They just didn't have much of a choice being on the other side.