Hi readers, I've got a new chapter for you. :D
Thank you, MusketeerAdventure, TheseWordAreUnspoken and dg101.
You are the best reviewers in the world. XD
Disclaimer: Yeah, still own nothing.
"No!"
"Grace, be reasonable!"
"I am not going anywhere!"
It's been ten days since Gracelyn was shot. Injury was healing well. That was proved by the fact how Grace was shouting at her cousin.
"Who do you think will win?" Aramis whispered to Porthos. Both watched the argument with interest.
"Hard to say. I think that Athos has something up his sleeve." The two fell silent and again turned to relatives.
"In Paris it is harder to protect you!" Athos tried to show a logic of his decision.
"I have to be here when Henry arrives with the evidence!" Grace tried to resist.
"Henry?"
"Addington's servant." she said in explanation, "I didn't mention?"
"No. It is only a day away, if he arrive..."
"When!" Grace correct him angrily.
Athos nodded with the knowledge that, otherwise, this discussion is going nowhere. "When he arrives, Captain will send a message, and we can be back quickly."
"Still, no!"
"Well, but in this case, you won't move from this room until his arrival and there will be someone to keep an eye on you all the time." Athos waited for an answer and knew, she will not accept that.
"But..." Grace pouted lips and scowled. "This is extortion."
"No." Athos made face. "Only a very refined technique of persuasion."
"Sorry for interruption your discussion." Aramis spoke up. "But where are we going?"
The two looked at him, but before Aramis could get one answer at least, d'Artagnan walked into the room.
"Horses are ready." he announced and confusedly looked around to all those present, who just staring at him.
"You told him we are going to leave Paris before I agreed?!" Grace screamed at Athose again "And what if I said no?"
"But you did.." Athos said calmly, but in the eyes of him played flames of amusement. "And not once."
"Men!" Grace snarled, rolled her eyes and left.
"It went well." Porthos could not resist ironic smile.
"I think too." Athos agreed, but there was not even a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
"And regarding your question," he turned to Aramis "we are going to Haley's residence."
XXX
They were already a couple of hours on the way. None of them spoke, Porthos tried to start a conversation, but Athos was taciturn, d'Artagnan did not know what to say and Grace had grim mood. Porthos desperately turned to Aramis, but he just shrugged and he recalled the events which happened ten days ago.
FLASHBACK
"I'm sure I can." Aramis smiled.
Grace just blinked in surprise. She liked him. In fact, she noticed him just a few days ago when she arrived to the garrison. He was kind. And also very handsome. But then Gracelyn had other plans so she banished similar thoughts of the head. This thoughts returned when she did not find cardinal and went with all the musketeers to the inn. Then found that he is even funny, but still thought she is clamped to the false hopes.
"Can you repeat that?" Gracelyn, although not shy, but due to injury was not sure if she heard right.
"I can." Aramis slowly bent down and casually kissed her. He did not forget that the woman before him was shot yesterday. In that moment, Athos came with the soup. Aramis took step back, hoping Athos did not notice anything. Grace was still his cousin and Aramis didn't want to end up at the infirmary together with her. Gracelyn smiled at Aramis' quick movement and a little scared expression, which appeared on his face, when he looked at Athos. But Athos did not see anything.
END OF FLASHBACK
Ever since Aramis had no opportunity to be with Grace alone. He did not forget what he saw, when was treating her. He had planned to ask her about scars, when he will have the chance. Aramis knew he should tell it Athos, but wanted to hear what is Gracelyn's respond first. Again looked at her. It seemed to him that she is somewhat pale.
"Are you okay, Grace?" he asked with concern. The others turned to her.
"Fine." She replied, but the voice of her was shaking.
"We stop." Athos said. "You have to rest."
"No, I'm fine." Gracelyn repeated stubbornly, but all of a sudden swayed and if there was not a rapid intervention from Athos, she would fell from the horse. D'Artagnan immediately rushed to help, and together got her carefully down. When they came down out of the way, found themselves in a meadow.
"Have a drink." Aramis handed Grace the bottle.
"Thank you."
"I said that we can stop at any time, if you need to." Athos frowned. "But you have to tell us. You were shot, this is not a light injury."
Grace nodded, but did not say a word.
"We stop here for a while." Athos turned and went to the horses to give them water.
"So then." Porthos tried to lighten the mood, "Who is hungry?"
"I'm guessing that mainly he." D'artagnan said Gracelyn quietly. She giggled. It seemed amazing to her how they teases each other.
"You said something, whelp?" Porthos turned at him with threatening voice. D'artagnan just gave him a bright smile and tried to look innocent.
"Nothing at all."
"Good."
All together ate a piece of bread and cheese and set off on the journey again.
XXX
The rest of the trip was much more enjoyable. The black mood passed and they all began to chat, even Athos.
"How have you become a musketeer?" Grace suddenly asked d'Artagnan. She had noticed previously how Porthos called him, moreover, was very young. She concluded that he is the new in the regiment.
"Actually," d'Artagnan was very much looking forward to her reaction. "I came to kill Athose."
Although the answer surprised Grace, she decided that wearing nothing know and enjoys a little bit of fun.
"Really?" she said and turned to Athos "Once again, some angry boyfriend of a woman whom you met?" she gave a special emphasis on the last word. All were silent surprise and Aramis would have sworn that Athos flushed.
"I was sixteen and you know perfectly well that I did not know she has a boyfriend!" Athos tried to defend himself. "And not at all trying to kill me, we solved it like gentlemen."
"Tell this to the servant who sewed up your pants, after it was gentlemanly cut." Grace began to laugh and it didn't take long before all others joined. Even Athos had light smile on the face when moved his hat deeper into the forehead, happy that once again found her little, annoying smiling Gracelyn.
XXX
Gracelyn's good mood waned more and more, the closer they approached to the goal of their journey. In the evening, they arrived finally.
"Welcome to Haley." She said without any enthusiasm and spurred horse toward the mews. The others follow, stabled horses, gave them hay and water and headed to the house. As they entered Grace showed them where which room is located.
"Towards the left is the living room, right is the dining room, then the kitchen, I'm afraid there you will not find anything other than wine, tomorrow we have to the village for some food." She said formally.
"On the first floor are many rooms, choose what you want, I will be in the one at the end of the corridor." Grace stopped talking, and went up the stairs.
Three men inquiringly turned to Athos, who looked at the staircase where Grace has disappeared a moment ago.
"We should go to sleep," Athos began, and turned to them. "it was a long way."
They nodded and followed Athos up. Grace was nowhere to be seen, so everyone picked a room and went to bed.
XXX
Aramis couldn't sleep. Still thinking about how Grace acted when they came. He remembered how it was, when they came to the Athos' house in La Fere. Then they left and if d'Artagnan did not return, Athos would burned there. Even now, he ran the willies at the idea.
Suddenly he heard the creaking of the wood, as if someone walked around on this old floor. Could be wrong, but decided that he'd better check it.
Didn't see anybody in the hallway, so he went away to the stairs. On them sat a figure shrouded in darkness.
"Aramis?" Gracelyn turned at him in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't want you to wake up." she said, and rested head on the railing, long hair flowed over her back.
"It's okay." Aramis had assured her "I wasn't sleeping."
"Hmm." Grace mumbled. Aramis came closer and sat down next to her. He remembered that he wanted to ask about the scars, but it was clear to him that now is not a good opportunity. A moment they sat in silence then Gracelyn spoke.
"I'm sorry for how I had behaved." she had quiet, but hard voice. "I just simply didn't think that after all I will come back. I know here is safer, but still."
"You don't have to apologize." He smiled at her and joked."I too behave sullenly, sometimes."
"You?" she smiled at him back "I do not believe."
"Of course I do. All the time." They both quietly laughed; did not want to wake up other. They stared at each other a minute than Grace got up.
"We should go to sleep." She said. "God knows what is waiting for us tomorrow."
They came to Aramis' door and stopped.
"Thank you for being my company." Grace spoke first.
"You're welcome." Aramis watched her intently. She was so beautiful. The hell she is Athos' cousin, he thought; caught her by the hand and drew her to a kiss. Gracelyn first stiffen, but after a while she yielded to his soft lips.
With one hand she rents him by the hair, the other gave him to his back and drew him closer. This one feeling Grace missed the most in the undercover. The feeling that somebody wants her the way she is. After a moment, they dragged, both gasped for breath. Then Aramis realized that they are still in the hallway and opened the door to his room.
"Come." He whispered and they both disappeared behind closed doors.
Tell me what you think, please. And have a nice day! :)