Chapter 3

'Captain! Just the man I was looking for!' King Louis exclaimed as Treville marched into the throne room.

'Your majesty,' Treville bowed. Deep down he wanted to be somewhere else. He grew tired of long, pointless missions for missing socks and horses. He was a soldier. He wanted a real fight, a real challenge.

'Eh... Yes Treville. I want you to gather at least three of your best musketeers . I have a mission of high importance for you and your men,' Louis move closer to Treville, leaned in and whispered, ' You see, the laundry ladies have yet again lost my favourite pair of trousers.'

'Your majesty, I,' Treville's face revealed his annoyance and anguish at the thought as he took a step back from the king.

Louis, on the other hand, burst out in laughter, 'Oh my dear Treville, you really must stop taking life so seriously! Though I am grateful you found those missing socks of mine.'

'I em...,' Treville was confused.

'Hehe. I got you with that one didn't I?'

'Eh, yes your majesty, em.'

'But yes, let's be serious for awhile. I do need you and your men to find a man who cannot be found. From what I understand, he frequents the taverns of Paris. You must find this man and bring him here.'

'Okay. Do you have anymore information on the man, your majesty?'

'Of course! But where's the fun in That?' Louis winked. The throne room doors swung open. A dark figure passed through, cape flowing behind. 'Cardinal! How was your journey?' Louis asked optimistically.

'A bloody disaster. That imbecile! Beyond... arrrgh!' the Cardinal grumbled.

'Sorry to hear. What were you supposed to be doing anyway?'

' It was a personal matter, your majesty. I would not trouble you with the detail.'

'Oh come now, Cardinal, tell your king everything.'

' An enterprise of mine did not bare fruit. The harvest failed... But... I have a back up plan. All is not lost yet.'

'Eh? Very well...'

'YES... Yes... I must leave immediately, if my counsel is not required here, your majesty.'

'All is well here. Go where your please. But hurry back!'

( Rochefort's manor)

Catherine had run out of options. She made seven proposals. All of them rejected her. No, this time she would take matters into her own hands. Rochefort was perfect for her. He just had to see It! All she needed to do was get rid of the Marie creature and all would be well. In the dead of night she had snuck into his manor house. She hid in a large hallway cabinet and waited for hours. The only thing that could betray her now was her rumbling bowels.

Rochefort rose early. Marie was due to visit and so he needed to prepare. She arrived early afternoon. Rochefort waited patiently in the hall. Everything was perfect, though at one point he could have sworn he heard the cabinet groan, but that made no sense... Catherine peeped through a small decorative hole in the cabinet door. Marie walked gracefully into the house. Rochefort greeted her with a large kiss. 'UGHH!' the cabinet disapproved. Rochefort glanced over at it in confusion, ' I think there are loose hinges on that. It is quite old. My father claimed it was haunted! Ha.' Marie removed her coat. The servants took it from her. She quickly got to business, ' Come darling. We have much to discuss.' The pair moved to another room , out of Catherine's sight. 'BLAST IT!' She shouted a little too loud. The servants grew suspicious of the cabinet. One decided to get a priest to bless it just in case.

Catherine waited until she was certain the servants had moved off before getting out of the cabinet. She had no idea where the others had got to. She moved swiftly to the adjacent cloakroom and found Maria's coat. Out of curiosity, she searched it. Out of greed, she took everything out and stuffed them in her own overcoat . She found some letters. They were unopened. She assumed they were love letters and thought hard about destroying them. It was then that she noticed a royal seal on them. A Spanish seal. 'DEAR GOD! THAT WHORE IS A SPY!' Catherine gasped. A servant boy emerged in the door way. 'SHOE BOY! I have important business with the Comte!' She shouted.

'In the cloakroom?' the boy jeered.

'GET OUT! You little runt!'

'Haha.' The boy ran off. Catherine decided to search the house for Rochefort and his spy before it was too late, ' wait boy! Come back!'

Marie and Rochefort in the throws of a passionate argument. Marie was in tears.

'Why? YOU PROMISED!' Marie cried.

'I'm so sorry, my love. The cardinal is very clear on the matter,' Rochefort tried to comfort her.

'Why does he try to destroy our love? Do you not love me?'

'No, I mean, yes I love you, but for some reason the Cardinal is being unreasonable.'

'YOU PROMISED. YOU PROMISED I WOULD BE AT YOU SIDE IN THE PALACE!'

'I am truly sorry. It is not meant to be. We still have each other!'

'I refuse to live in this tiny country manner. I am worth more!'

'What are you saying? Marie! What are you saying?'

'I cannot marry a man who cannot keep such a simple promise...'

'But, I can't fix this. The cardinal will never allow a Spanish woman at court...'

' The queen is Spanish!'

'The royals are different. They are all cousins anyway...'

With that Catherine burst into the bedroom in a rage,' SHE IS A SPY. GET AWAY FROM HIM!'

'CATHERINE?! What are you doing here?' Rochefort asked in shock.

'She is a SPY! I swear I have proof! Look! Letters! Spanish seal!' Catherine screamed.

'Who is this creature?' Marie snarled and grabbed the letters from Catherine's hand.

'NO! Gives those back!'

'Butler!' Rochefort shouted, 'GET this crazy woman out of here!'

'I am not crazy! She is evil!'

'Catherine. I have told you I am not going to marry you. I have been patient with you. I've had enough of your stalking. GET OUT now!' Rochefort roared. The butler arrived and dragged Catherine out of the house.

Rochefort tried to apologies to Marie, but she was fed up of his constant screw ups. 'Get me a place in the palace as you promised or the wedding is off,' Marie growled and stormed out of the bedroom. Rochefort followed and begged her to stay. The servants brought her coat and she left without a word.

Catherine had fallen in a large shrub outside the main door. She sat there in tears. Her life was a mess. Her hair was messier. She stopped sobbing when she saw Marie storm out of the house and hop straight into her carriage. Marie was notably angry. She signalled to one of her servants. A well dressed man was already in the carriage. 'Juan,' Marie sighed, ' We have a serious problem. Rochefort has been banned from court. We need to find my cat. Tomorrow the Cardinal must die!' The carriage took off at great speed.