Here is new chapter. It's maybe little bit boring, but I had to write it.
Thank you TheseWordsAreUnspoken, dg101 and MusketeerAdventure for reviews. Honestly thank you.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Musketeers (Surprise!)
"And now, do you want to help me?" she asked him, nervously waited for the answer.
Athos looked at her and wondering what she experienced during those five years. She was different. He did not noticed it before, but now saw that there is hiding something else behind the joyous surface. She has seen the real face of the world. Cruel and ruthless part. Athos nodded.
"Good," seemed to be delighted to hear this answer "and do you think others would be willing to help?"
"Aramis? You? Definitely. Porthos cannot miss any of the fun and d'Drtagnan?" he looked over at the young man sitting at the table, "He would lung perhaps into everything."
"Well." she smiled "The captain should know it too."
XXX
They stood in Trevill's office. So far, no one knew what it exactly is and they kept waiting until Grace begin to talk. Looked at Gracelyn with an inquiring look.
"Well, I'm glad that you are willing to hear me." she said after a moment of silence. "Captain, I'm afraid you're a bit at a disadvantage in terms of information."
"What are you talking about?" Treville was totally confused. While the others had already more or less know that this is the information she found in England.
"I..." she hesitated when was asked to the same question as yesterday evening. "I was a spy, working for the king." she answered finally, and waited for his response.
The captain was just staring, thinking, if she is kidding him. But from the serious expression on her face, he concluded she does not.
"It explains your sudden departure to England." was the only answer he was able to say. Grace with a sigh of relief exhaled. He did not seem upset. Surprised, yes. Incredulous, maybe. But angry, no.
"Okay." Grace nodded and started to speak "I didn't want anyone of you in this matter , but because you know it about me and I am sure that in the end you would have it as the king's musketeers as well learned, it will be better to tell you earlier." she looked gradually at each of them and continued.
"When I came to England, I definitely didn't expected some conspiracy, actually I think, that neither the king or the cardinal. But as the daughter of an English nobleman, who just died and had no other offspring, I could not have a better position. Moved into the mansion, invited a few of the surrounding lords and their wives, all went well. Gradually, I learned about more and more people, but although looked for some appearing informations about France, or His majesty, nothing were coming."
"That's all?" Porthos interrupted her "I thought, that the spies are searching in drawers, hiding in cabinets to hear something." The others smiled over his description, but, in principle, agreed.
"It can happen, but man just will not go into someone's room and scan his things. Must have a reason. I did not have." take a deep breath and continued in her speech "until met him. Lord Addington. Important member of the Court, personally familiar with the English king. Very rich. He was charming. Initially. I noted that he talked about France quite..." she scowled "unflattering. It would not be so interesting, French are not popular in England. But how he was looking when he heard just the mention of France. With hate. It seemed remarkable to me, so I decided to find out something more about him."
"Oh, we are getting to the plot." Aramis joked. Athos lunged at him a deadly look.
"I'm silent." he added hastily.
"As I have said," Gracelyn was staring at Aramis "I have decided to find out more. What I found made me quite intrigued and explained his feelings for France. When Addington was young, old Lord, his father, went to Paris. In the evening went to the inn, a brawl started and he ended up dead on the ground in a pool of blood. It was a mistake of the young boy who drank more than should. Unfortunately, this was son of Comte. The case got up to Henry IV. Witnesses claimed that the Englishman began to quarrel , but to be honest it was quite clear that father better paid them than saw his son in the prison. The king decided. Dead man was accused from brawl and death was declared as an accident."
"And where did you find all this?" d'Artagnan wondered.
"People remember." she replied "Especially the suffering of the other. It was enough to ask a few people close to Lord and they were happy to report it. When I got into his house as a guest of the banquet, I spoke with him and agreed with him him how France is terrible, and how I am glad that can finally live in England. When I got rid of him I looked around and yes, back then, there was the scanning of the drawers." she looked up with a smile at Porthos.
"I already wanted to give up, when was caught by his servant. It turned out that he is not as faithful as should be. He showed me secret documents and contracts. Lord has done a great work, to set his own revenge to the French king."
"And what does he plan? To throw something into the air?" Aramis was curious "Many others have tried it."
"It is much more original. He wants to kidnap the king, bring him to England." she paused and added "And then kill him."
"Other have tried it." Aramis repeated "No success."
"You have to understand something." Gracelyn said seriously "He is crazy. The desire for revenge clouded his mind."
"What does it mean?" Athos spoke after a long time.
"He has planned it for years, every detail, every possible problem. Has people on each part of the plan. Mostly mercenaries."
"So why are we just chatting here?" Porthos cried out "Shouldn't we do something?"
"Addington cannot do anything, because I stole all the plans and the contract. With them one can easily accuse him and he does not want that. Made sure there is no clues, which could reveal him. Unfortunately, all what I stole is in England, hidden away in a safe place, but in England."
"Excellent job with the theft!" Aramis applauded "But why did not take those contracts to Paris?"
"I had too much to do with survival." Gracelyn replied bitingly.
"What do you mean?" Athos straightened up sharply.
"Caught me, but I managed to hide it before. Although then I ran away it was not possible to go back for them. The servant, who told me about all, knows where the contracts are and will be coming with them, when it will be safe, but it can be weeks."
"Do you believe him?" Athos doubted if it's a good idea to trust Lord's servant with something like this.
"Absolutely." Grace said firmly. Athos had the feeling that there is something more, but let it be.
"Why didn't you go straight to the king?" Treville did not understand "You told me you need to speak with the cardinal. Why not with the king? He would definitely listened to you."
"No, he wouldn't. I did not become spy just for nothing. He wanted to get rid of me."
"Why?" Athos was confused
"I've told you that I have never been nothing more than the king's friend, but..." Grace blushed.
"But?" Aramis asked quickly.
"At one dinner, which the queen did not paticipate, his majesty drank too much wine. I hope you can imagine what I'm trying to suggest." she looked at the floor.
"Yeah, we can." Porthos chuckled.
"I very quickly refused his, uh, offer and he took it personally." she sighed "Next day he decided that France needs necessarily a spy in England. Cardinal supported of course, I've never pleased him."
"So, what do you actually want us to do?" The captain asked.
"I will try to convince the cardinal, but without evidence, I don't have much of a chance to allegations a member of the English nobility." Grace announced, "But Lord is surely aware that I am in Paris. Come look for me, to get those papers. And when he will get here I need you to help me find him first."
"Are you in danger?" Athos feared, lost her once already and didn't want this experience again.
"Probably." she admitted "But I have you, don't I?" smiled at him.
Musketeers thought about what had just heard. That could be a big problem, but Grace was right, without evidence, they can't do anything.
XXX
It was getting dark, when they learned of Cardinal's return. Gracelyn went to visit him. Athos and Arais koined to her. But everything went exactly as they expected.
"You have to believe me!" Grace screamed, did not care that is standing before the king's first minister.
"I have to? And for what reason Lady?" Cardinal used the salutation which he knew she hates. "For a full five years no significant reports and now this crazy story. Even if it is true, which I really doubt, you yourself said that the evidences are in England."
"The evidence will arrive here." Gracelyn said and with cool words continued, "in terms of what reports I have filed, or rather have not filed, the decision was on me. And I decided that the information, which will not help France you do not need to know, regardless of your private needs to your scheming!"
Athos and Aramis looked at each other with smile. Although they themselves already got cardinal on his knees, it was nice to see him as somewhat of a writhing from the view of a resentful woman.
"Never mind." She turned on her heel and briskly left.
"From him was nothing else to expect." Aramis commented when they came out on the dark street.
"I know." she sighed, "you know, ten years ago he wasn't like that."
"Cheating, deadly and deceitful?" Athos pointed out.
"Yes," she laughed.
"And what was he like?"
"Well, cheating and slightly deceitful." Grace replied still smiling.
Suddenly a little boy came to them.
"Monsieur Athos?"
"Yes."
"You have to immediately come to Captain Treville with monsieur Aramis" lad said very quickly.
Athos frowned, it was not often that Captain was calling them like this.
He looked at Aramis and said, "Stay with Grace, I'll handle this." After the news of today's date, he didn't want to let her alone.
"I'm not a child Athos." Gracelyn reminded him, "If Treville wants you to come, you should go, both of you."
"It's okay." Aramis said "Athos can arrange it himself. I'll stay."
Athos nodded, turned towards the garrison and left to the night.
XXX
"You needed to speak with me sir?" Athos walked into the Trevill's office.
"Excuse me?" the captain asked, puzzled.
"But the boy..." Athos' pupils spread with implementation. "It's a trap."
XXX
They walked next to each other and the moon shone on their way. Aramis looked at Grace before opening his mouth to speak, but before he could say a single word, Gracelyn was ahead of him.
"I've ruined everything, huh?" she looked at him sadly "I mean with Athos, being a spy and all that."
"What? No!" Aramis screeched to a halt and caught her by the hand, "the King decided that you will go to England, not you and you are the best spy I know."
"I guess you don't know too many of them." she smiled.
Looking into the green eyes Aramis stepped closer and bent to kiss her.
"Wait." she put two fingers on his lips
"Could you love someone, who lived in a lie for five years?"
But Aramis had not opportunity to answer. From the darkness of the night three men came up. Aramis shot one and for another pulled out a sword. In the heat of battle, felt how Grace pulled out the knife from his belt.
It is not easy to fight with a knife against the sword. He holds back, he wants to get me alive. Gracelyn was thinking, when was trying to fight with a far greater men. She had an advantage, because she was faster. Twice at the last moment to evade the blade, when she managed to cut him in the back of the hand in which he carried a sword. It fell with clash on the ground, Grace quickly picked sword up, and stabbed him to his bulky chest. She turned towards Aramis.
He still was fighting with a man who was obviously an experienced swordsman. In that moment, fourth man popped up out of nowhere with a musket directed to Aramis' back. Gracelyn froze. Before the eyes of her saw dream which had last night. Only this time it was not Athos, who was lying dead in moonlight, but Aramis. So Gracelyn did the only option she had to stop events which are not happen yet. She jumped before Aramis. Then there was just silence and darkness.
I know. Cliffhanger. :) Sorry.