"No, no your are Monsieur D'Artagnan!? Your party stopped here on the way back to Paris. A Monsieur Aramis paid for your room before they left. And then a lovely young lady asked that a meal be ready for you both and a hot bath be prepared for Madame D'Artagnan."

Constance whispered that both the meal and the bath sounded heavenly. Her limbs were aching from the horse ride and from the exertions of the day. Never had she felt the way she did now, even after the sword training and pistol shooting practice, her limbs felt heavy. D'Artagnan knew that she must be feeling wretched. And the idea of a meal, neither of them had eaten in hours and they were both starving.

"Thank you!" D'Artagnan said to the innkeeper "That all sounds wonderful. If you would just show us the way to our room?"

"Yes...yes of course. This way." The innkeeper led D'Artagnan and Constance up the stairs to the best room in the house. The fire was blazing, sending light and heat into the room. The empty tin bath had already been placed in front of the fire. As a couple of the serving girls bustled into the room carrying buckets of hot water the innkeeper bid them to call the girls when Madame D'Artagnan was finished with her bath. He asked if they wanted their meal in the dining room downstairs or brought to their room. Looking at Constance, D'Artagnan asked that their meal be brought to their room. The innkeeper nodded his agreement "Very good. Madame," he looked to Constance and then "Monsieur."

"I wish to check on my horse and gather my saddlebags." D'Artagnan said to the innkeeper as he walked him to the door. So both the innkeeper and D'Artaganan took their leave as Constance prepared for her bath.

D'Artagnan went to the stables to check on his horse, wanting to make sure that the animal had been rubbed down, fed and watered. Finding that the horse was well looked after and slipping an apple to his trusty mount, he grabbed his saddle bag which held a few necessary items which both he and Constance would need. Luckily he always carried a few spare items with him.

He made his way back to the warm comfort of the taproom where he stayed for a drink or two before heading back upstairs, thinking that Constance would be finished with her bath. He barged through the door to discover Constance was still laying in the fragrant water.

"Sorry!" he said quickly turning his back. "I thought you would be finished by now." Constance giggled at him, looking over her shoulder. "Why have you got your back turned D'Artagnan?"

D'Artagnan shrugged and smiled "Well I thought...I mean... you see.."

Constance laughed at him "D'Artagnan, the innkeeper thinks we are married. There is no one here to tell him any different. In fact Aramis seemed to give the distinct impression to everyone here that not only were we married but only recently."

"How do you know what Aramis said?"

"The serving girls that brought the water, all wished us well on our marriage. I had to try and not look completely confused when they were saying it." Constance continued "You don't need to worry about my reputation but it doesn't matter any more remember. I want to be with you."

D'Artagnan relaxed, he had thought that perhaps with some time and perspective Constance might have changed her mind, again. "Well at least you don't need to worry about being back at the palace tonight. The Queen obviously planned that you would be here...with me." He looked at her with a cheeky little grin.

Constance smiled and held out a hand to him "D'Artagnan, come and join me, the water is still warm." She stirred lazy little circles in the water. And that was an invitation that D'Artagnan had no intention of refusing. He quickly shed his jacket, vest and shirt. All the while Constance watched him shedding his clothes and she hoped some of the memories of the day, revealing his muscular torso and chest. God how she loved looking at that man. His body still unmarked by his occupation, was well formed and definitely beautiful to Constance.

He crossed the room, taking off his muskets, sword and dagger and placing them on the table within easy reach. Constance had never really noticed before the armaments she was too distracted by his eyes, his jawline, his hair. But now, after today, she noticed them, she saw them as extension of him, her love, her guardian angel, of his chosen career.

He stood still and started to undo his well worn leather pants. Seconds later he had removed his pants and was sliding into the warm water. He was surprised at how warm the water had remained. It must have been blistering when the bath was first drawn. D'Artagnan slid his legs around Constance and sat behind her so she could lean back against him.

Her hair was piled up on top of her head but a few ringlets had escaped and drifted around her face. Her face was flushed with a tinge of pink from the warmth of the water. She laid back against his chest and gave a contented sigh. D'Artagnan's hands made their way to her shoulders. His fingers dug into the creamy flesh of her shoulders and Constance groaned in pleasure.

"You need to relax Constance." D'Artagnan murmured in her ear. "Let me help you." Constance nodded her head and closed her eyes. His fingers worked their way along her shoulders and down her arms to hold her hands. He raised one of her hands to his lips, the water dripping from her finger tips. "Constance, I don't know if I've said it to you today. If I haven't, I want you to hear it today and every day from now on, I love you."