The next morning Aramis woke early before the Countess. For a Countess she was in the eyes of all that knew her. Whatever had passed between them that night was a story and the world she had created the truth. He knew he must rise soon to avoid the eyes of her maid, but just for one more moment he wanted to look upon his Jocelyn, the girl he knew. He kissed her bare shoulder as she slept on and watched as her back rose and fell as she breathed deeply. Her once kept hair was sprayed over the covers giving her a natural look that charmed him. Aramis traced the curve of her back with his hand and noticed a smile spread over her face, he matched her smile with one of his own then lying back with his hands behind his head, the Musketeer sighed heavily

"Why so serious?" Jocelyn purred.

The tired man looked at her surprised. He must have woken her when he stirred. Rolling over to see her more clearly, she did the same mimicking his movement so that they were facing one another, their bodies exposed though neither of them cared.

"I thought you were asleep?" He chastised her playfully.

"Would you prefer me to be?"

She looked at him seductively and Aramis laughed for the first time, in a long while. He pulled the temptress toward him so that she was almost on top of him, pushing her smooth breasts to his chest. As he drew her further towards him, he kissed her resolutely on the mouth. Jocelyn's chestnut hair fell about them like silky curtains, brushing against his skin, sending a wonderful sensation coursing through his very core. The lovers looked at one another for what felt like an age without speaking a word.

"You are leaving again." Jocelyn said eventually. There was no sadness in her voice or any other emotion, just the cold plain facts.

"You know I must." Aramis tried to appease.

"Yes." She said as she leant her chin on his chest.

Aramis rolled them both over to face his love, pinning her to the sheets with his whole weight. He pushed a lock of hair from her face. She was so beautiful to him, yet the now hardened soldier was grappling with the same conflicting emotions he had all those years ago. He questioned for a moment if he made the right decision in leaving her, but pushed the thought from his mind as he was brought back to reality. He simply asked,

"Do you intend to go through with your plan?"

Jocelyn looked at him with confusion,

"Why do you ask?"

"Evreux is an influential man Jocelyn. He is well protected. It would be folly to try and attempt anything."

"What do you care?" She said accusingly.

Aramis sighed, and rolled of her with discontent. He did not want this to turn into an argument so he began to dress, pulling on his trousers first to disguise the pleasure she had stirred with that first look.

"I cannot let you do that." He said firmly

"Why not, what is Evreux to you Aramis?" Jocelyn had sat bolt up and pulled the bed sheets around her. Aramis noticed she had returned to using his assumed name.

"I have been sworn to protect him."

"Protect him?" She scoffed.

The vengeful woman had never revealed her past to Aramis. He assumed when they first met that she was simply a girl his father had hired. She was youthful, strong and strong willed, the perfect girl to tend his house and keep him company in his aging years. He had thought it strange that she had sought tuition from his father but was not prudent enough to ask any questions. Jocelyn was all too eager to mask her past, she did not want to seem the victim in his eyes.

"Jocelyn he is the confident to the King for Christ sake!" He was in a temper now. She was still the same hot headed and stubborn girl from his past.

"And that makes him less of bastard in your eyes?"

"It makes him untouchable, even to you."

Aramis began to dress quickly. He found his shirt and jacket near the foot of the bed where they had left them the night previous and as he finished pulling the sleeves over his arm, Jocelyn stalked over to her dresser. The soldier watched with intrigue as she yanked the top left drawer open and pulled out his mother's brass token. She threw it at his chest with some force and he caught it in his hand as it fell. Aramis looked down at the portrait and said defeated,

"This was a gift."

"You told me to give it back to you the next time we met, and I have." The woman spat back.

"Fine."

The angered man picked up his boots and blade from the marble floor and walked toward the window whence he came the previous night. As he reached for the latch of the shutter he turned to face Jocelyn one last time,

"If I or any of my men think you pose a threat to the Count, we will not hold back."

"Nor will I!"

o0o

"Aramis where the devil have you been?"

Count Evreux shouted furiously and Aramis understood why. He had not been seen since the night previous and he had no explanation for his whereabouts since then. He dared not reveal the truth, for the sake of Jocelyn's reputation and his own.

"Forgive me your grace. I was following a lead regarding the intruder last night." He lied.

"Intruder, what intruder?"

"A masked man who attempted to gain access to your home via the courtyard. However, my men managed to scare him off."

"The courtyard you say? When? It wasn't when I was out there with The Countess of Dorziat was it?"

"No your grace. I do not think so."

The Count looked pleased with his answer then thoughtful,

"What did you make of her?"

"Make of her?"

"Speaking man to man Aramis, do you think her a willing prospect?"

Aramis thought long before he answered. Although he had warned Jocelyn to stay away and appeared strong in his decision, he could not bear to think what the Count would do with her if they met again, or what he may have tried to do the previous night. He also knew if Jocelyn saw her plan through the Count was in serious danger and therefore he did not want to encourage Evreux's affection. Being a good soldier he continued to lie,

"I could not possible say your grace. May I give you some advice Count Evreux?"

"Go on."

"I would take a little caution with any new acquaintances for the time being. We do not yet know the true identity of last night's intruder. Until we do it would not harm you to take some necessary precaution."

"Come now Aramis, she is a woman. The only thing I need worry about it whether she likes flowers or chocolates. Besides I have already extended the invitation for her to dine here tonight. I can't very well take it back now can I?"

With that the Count swept back up the stairs to his private rooms. Aramis watched him leave before exiting the same way he had come. The soldier was determined to fulfil his duties, it was his code, his honour and he would not forsake them for anyone. But that was precisely the problem, Aramis had trained his men using the same practice he had been taught and if it came to it, if his men caught Jocelyn, they would not hesitate to pursue her and kill her. He regretted goading her that morning, he knew better than anyone that once the gauntlet had been thrown down Jocelyn would rise to it, the only way she could.

The Musketeer travelled by horse back to Jocelyn's home. When he arrived on Rue De Clairaut, he dismounted his horse hastily and banged on the great oaken door. He waited patiently for a few moments but when he got no reply he wandered out into the street to gain a better view of her window. The shades were not drawn so he assumed that her lady in waiting was not up there. He hammered again on the frame and again in impatience. The wicket door opened inwards and a steward stood by it. Aramis did not wait to be invited in but pushed past the servant without a word.

"Jocelyn!" He shouted.

"Jocelyn."

"Forgive me sir but my lady is not at home." A polite and quiet voice explained. It was Amelie who had appeared from a servant's corridor.

"Where is she?"

"I am not in the habit of revealing the whereabouts of my lady to complete stranger's sir. If you would like to leave your name, I will tell her that you called."

Aramis looked from the girl to the top of the stairs. He knew she did not lie, but chose not to leave his name. He fled the house and remounted his horse and rode back to the Count's home as fast as his horse could carry him. When he arrived back at the Count's house the frantic man spotted Jocelyn's carriage driving back towards her home, but he was not sure if it was occupied. Tying off his horse the Musketeer took the steps to the door two at a time and burst through the front entrance and then into the parlour, panting as he stumbled across the scene before him.

On the couch in the candlelit room sat Jocelyn and Evreux. Her cheeks were flushed and the heave of her breast were rising and falling rapidly. Evreux was bent close to her, one had on her knee and the other placed carefully on the back of the seat, to offer him leverage and support. He was so close that what had transpired, or was about to occur between them before the hastened man had entered was all too apparent. The Count looked at his guard with venom in his eyes and rose from the couch in anger,

"Damn it man, this is too much! Were you not taught to knock before you enter? I shall have you horse whipped."

From behind him, Aramis could see Jocelyn smirk in mirth, not by the curve of her mouth but in the twinkle of her eye. She too rose from the couch then rest a hand gently on Evreux's shoulder to calm him,

"Don't be too harsh on him. I'm sure he has a reasonable explanation?"

She posed the question to Aramis as she lay her cheek on the nobleman's arm. The worried man had to admit, Jocelyn was skilled with the blade, but those talents were second to her acting abilities.

"Well do you?" He reiterated.

Aramis did not answer but looked from his employer to his lover.

"Look at him Count, you've reduced him to silence, by your tirade. Shame on you." Jocelyn teased spitefully.

Her words had the desired effect, Evreux softened both mentally and physically then smiled pitifully at her. He offered Jocelyn his arm and led her back to the couch,

"Very well, as you wish my dear."

It was at that moment Aramis' opinion of Jocelyn hardened.