Sign of the Cross
By JeanTre16
Chapter 4
A Musketeer's Life
Chapter Description: Jacqueline finds herself in a unique position.
Jacqueline practically upset the carriage when she plowed into d'Artagnan after he told her the good news about her family farm. She hugged him fiercely. Then with her arms still draped over his shoulders a look of inspiration came over her face. "Let's not go back to the farm just yet." The excited woman spoke as though the news had just given her an electric charge.
"For being so excited about owning your family's property, you sure have a funny way of showing it," d'Artagnan said, looking confused. "Are you sure you don't want to head back there and celebrate by spending the night on your own soil?"
"Don't get me wrong, I am excited." Jacqueline sought for the words. "It's just that I thought we'd share the good news with Captain Duval, Siroc and Ramon. There's no rush to get back to the farm. It's not going anywhere. And now that I'm feeling better, I'd really like to spend some time in Paris." She pieced her request together with convincing persuasion. "Besides, the captain has been letting you off easy. You're going to have to go back to patrolling sooner or later. I'm really doing fine and you can't expect me to be your excuse for much longer."
D'Artagnan gave Jacqueline a long hard look. She did look in much higher spirits than just that morning and he had no intention of compromising her improvement. "All right, Paris it is!" He rapped on the coach's ceiling and called out, "Coachman, take us to the Musketeer garrison."
A muffled, "Yes, Sir," was heard and a sudden change in direction of the carriage was felt.
Jacqueline reflected. "Even though I'm grateful and happy for owning the farm and it does bring as good a closure as can be expected to my family's senseless ending, I'm still not ready to settle there." In momentary silence, all that could be heard was the sound of the jostling carriage as she studied her husband's face. Disconnectedly, she voiced her searching thoughts. "Is it wrong of me not to want to farm the land, but still want to hold the property?"
"No." D'Artagnan gave her a forthright reply. In truth, he had not actually connected owning the farm with the thought of farming it. "There's nothing wrong with knowing the outcome of the property your parents and brother are laid to rest on."
Jacqueline sighed. "Knowing the property is in our control does give me some condolence. But owning it is not enough for me to want to return to live there. I guess that's what I feel bad about."
"Jacqueline, with all due respect to the dead, you've got your own life to live. I know they wouldn't expect you to stay there to watch over their graves."
In a moment of realization Jacqueline confessed, "D'Artagnan, I know you're right. But, it's not only knowing that I don't want to live on the farm now, it's the dream that's pulled my heart toward Paris since I was a child that I can't ignore. I can't explain it, but I still want the Musketeer life. I can't go back to the farm right now. I need the energy of Parisian life until I figure this out."
"Until we figure this out," d'Artagnan corrected. "We're in this together, remember, we're married now." Then in his wry way he added, "Well, Paris certainly is the place to find trouble." The rogue had to admit to himself, Jacqueline sure had a knack for attracting mishaps. And he confessed that he would have it no other way. It brought adventure to his life that made his father's tales sound lackluster.
With the weight of this realization off Jacqueline's shoulders, her look lightened. Mischievously she looked at her noble Musketeer husband and teased, "I also cannot see you a farmer."
D'Artagnan gave her a look of bewilderment. "I don't know. How hard can it be to grow cabbages?" he asked. Obviously the career option had never crossed his mind.
Jacqueline laughed heartily at the entertaining thought of seeing her husband a cabbage farmer. "You don't want to know," was all she offered. From her heartfelt laugh, the returning woman looked hungrily out the carriage window at the approaching garrison.
"What is it, Jacqueline?" d'Artagnan asked.
"Oh, it's nothing." The reminiscing female soldier shook the longing off. "I just really miss being a Musketeer. I know I'll never be Jacques Leponte again. I never really intended being him in the first place. It was all a cover to hide from Mazarin. But now that it's behind me, I really do miss everything about it." Jacqueline smiled at her husband.
"I know you do. To tell the truth, I wish we could still be there together too." With a look of sincerity, he took her hand and squeezed it. Just then, the carriage jolted lightly to a stop.
Having reached their destination, Jacqueline looked lovingly into his warm brown eyes and stated, more than asked, "D'Artagnan, have I told you how much you've blessed me lately?"
ooooo
Ramon and Siroc happened to be standing in the courtyard when the palace carriage pulled up. Unsure of whom or what its arrival brought, they both stood attentively. Seeing d'Artagnan step from within to extend his hand for his beaming companion to emerge, brought them both to the carriage in an instant.
A warm reunion commenced before Jacqueline could ask, "Is Captain Duval here?"
"I believe he's in his office," Siroc revealed. "Let's give him a fright at seeing the four of us back together. He deserves it. Things have been a little too quiet and orderly around here."
"Right," d'Artagnan acknowledged with a smirk. He liked Siroc's way of thinking.
"Come on—" Jacqueline redirected the group, glowing "—we have some good news we'd like to share with all of you."
"Senorita!" Ramon exclaimed. "Are you expecting?" The shock Ramon wore could not be contained as he sought for a clue from either d'Artagnan or Jacqueline.
"That's not the news," d'Artagnan chided and slapped Ramon on the arm. "But when it is, we promise you two will be the first to know."
"Stop stalling," Siroc verbally poked. "Are we going to stand here all day and guess, or are we going to wake the captain up from his paperwork so we can all know what it is?"
Siroc's encouragement was enough to move the small company to approach Duval's office door. D'Artagnan knocked loudly and voiced, "Captain?"
"D'Artagnan! Is that you?" rumbled an irritated voice from behind the closed door.
"Yes, Sir," the hesitant soldier replied and waited. The captain's cranky voice made his reconsider the timing of their visit. He exchanged concerned looks with the others and whispered, "Maybe we should come back later?"
"Well, blast, d'Artagnan! Are you coming in or not?" the agitated voice prodded, expectantly.
Unsure of the reasoning behind the captain's sour disposition, d'Artagnan and his company mustered themselves before opening the door. When Captain Duval saw that there were four of them, he commented, "I should have known you came as a package deal. Well, come on." Duval gestured for the group to enter. Still in a cross mood, he ordered, "Jacqueline, you take a seat. The rest of you can stand." Once they were all in and the door was closed, the older man proceeded, "What graces me with all four of you at the same time?"
"D'Artagnan and Jacqueline have some news for us," Ramon offered.
"Are you expecting?" queried an astounded Duval, the tension leaving his face momentarily as he lit up.
"No!" all four responded in unison to the captain's shock.
Duval resumed his frown. "Then what is it?" he demanded.
The couple spent the next hour relaying all that had transpired at the palace beginning with the farm title. When they had finished, Duval paced the floor uncomfortably. "I'm thrilled about your farm, Jacqueline, but I share d'Artagnan's concern for your safety. Cardinal Mazarin is licking his wounds right now regarding your acquittal. The man has an aggravated dislike of you and you'll need to be careful."
After addressing Jacqueline, he addressed them all, "As for Mazarin's niece, Marie, I was aware of her presence at the palace, and have been in foul-minded deliberation all morning as to what to do about it. Blast Mazarin! Does he never quit with his schemes?" Duval steamed. "If he were to grip the king in a relationship with his niece, he could usurp power over the throne for generations to come. And there would be nothing we could do to stop it." He slammed his fist down on the desk emphatically.
Then as abruptly as he released his frustration, he broke off his train of thought. "Ramon, Siroc, if I might have a word alone with Jacqueline and d'Artagnan?" He gestured for the Spaniard and inventor to leave his office.
"What is it?" d'Artagnan asked, as his two comrades left. "We keep no secrets from Ramon and Siroc."
"That may be the case," spoke Duval. "But what I am about to proposition you with must first solely depend on the two of you and your decision alone. You may choose to fill Ramon and Siroc in later if you like, but it is to go no further than that. The fewer who know, the better. Understood?" His squinted gaze relayed the seriousness of what he was about to say.
Both d'Artagnan and Jacqueline consented with nodded heads to whatever it was the captain was inferring to.
Relaxing his demeanor, he began. "I've been mulling over the concept for some time now. But, in the light of recent developments at the palace it seems, whether prudent or not, I am forced to consider this course of action." As the captain paced the floor behind his desk, d'Artagnan and Jacqueline waited patiently for him to reveal some clue as to what he spoke about. "Now, I don't expect an immediate answer. I expect the two of you to talk it over first."
"Captain!" d'Artagnan interrupted, "Would you mind just telling us what it is that we don't have to give you and answer to, so we don't have to give you an answer?"
Captain Duval waved a pointed finger at d'Artagnan, and admonished, "Now don't start with me young man. I'm getting around to my point." The captain walked to the window with the young couple's eyes following him. "I am asking if Jacqueline would be interested in a new…well, it wouldn't actually be something new, since she's already been…" Duval was clearly at a loss of where to begin, and Jacqueline and d'Artagnan were not any closer to understanding what it was he was trying to say.
Obviously the senior officer was uncomfortable about whatever it was. D'Artagnan knew all matters involving women made the man turn to mush, so he offered his help. "What would you like to ask Jacqueline to do?" he bluntly asked.
Captain Duval gave him a look of amazement, and conceded, "All right, so you know what I'm after." Duval stumbled with the words, "Would Jacqueline be interested, then, in a Musketeer position…of sorts?"
The young couple was clearly taken by surprise at the captain's proposition. They shared a searching look with each other. But before they could comment, Duval quickly set the parameters. "Now mind you, this would be an unofficial position, off the records. I am not at liberty to jeopardize the Musketeer's credibility with Cardinal Mazarin circling for any reason to accuse us with before the king. This would have to be done discreetly."
Jacqueline looked at d'Artagnan and back at Captain Duval. "Yes," she said confidently.
Duval frowned, and forewarned, "Now Jacqueline, I told you not to give me an immediate answer. This is a very serious consideration. It is dangerous. You and your husband will need to talk it over. You would need to make yourself available to obtain information from delicate places—specifically in finding out what this Marie has been put up to. Mazarin is not fond of you and he won't appreciate you being around. I know you are familiar with the royal family and have been received warmly by them. You know the palace layout and that would also work to your advantage. But I also know you are aware of Musketeer regulations and I would expect you to adhere to them."
"I realize that, Captain..." Jacqueline tried to interject.
But the captain continued with his considerations in asking for the young lady's help. "I really don't know what to call this position. This is not a job anyone could walk in off the street and apply for. It's tailored specifically with you in mind. You'd be writing the book. By graces, Jacqueline, you've just become too invaluable not to have on the team."
"Captain!" The frustrated woman finally raised her voice.
Duval stopped his ranting and took notice of the firm faced young woman standing before him.
"Captain, in truth, d'Artagnan and I have already discussed it," she relayed with conviction.
Duval gave them both an incredulous look. "When? Did I miss something?"
D'Artagnan had been content to remain quietly smiling in the back of the room till just then. Apparently he had been enjoying the captain's awkward display of groveling for his wife's help. "Captain, Captain," he finally interrupted in his smooth manner. "You should know Jacqueline and me better than that by now. When my charming wife says we've talked, we've talked. But just to put your mind at ease, we had this conversation in the carriage on the way over here. We all know Jacqueline's cut out to be a Musketeer. You don't really need my approval, but if you must have it in the old fashioned way, you have it. I approve."
"Young people these days," Duval fussed. "And you let me rant on and on when you already knew your answer." He shook his head. The captain's countenance deepened. To keep them in line and squelch his softness toward his new female recruit, he boomed, "Private, you already know the rules around here."
"Yes, Sir!" Jacqueline replied, sharply.
"Then you know there won't be any special treatment," Duval spoke in a toughened voice.
"I won't expect any, sir," replied the female soldier. "May I go now, Captain?" She leaned forward with a smile and raised her eyebrow in question.
Her look reflected so much of her husband's nature that Duval found it almost frightening. "Why do I feel I've just opened a caldron of asps?" the captain said with a troubled look. With an air of having remembered something, he stalled their exit to add, "By the way, before you go, there is one more thing. You'll have to find accommodations in Paris." Then looking suspiciously at the couple he accused, "But I suppose you've already discussed that."
"Well, we have," d'Artagnan answered, smirking.
"Dismissed!" Duval roared. "The both of you!"
As the happy couple headed for the door, Captain Duval scoffed, "Two d'Artagnans! What have I done?"