Hi. Today's chapter is more focused on Queen Anne. It wasn't supposed to be but I found myself writing it anyway. :)

Hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think. :)

Chapter 5

At first light Renard headed to the stables, saddled a new horse and mounted heading towards Paris. He was hoping that his initial instincts would be correct and that the Comte de Rochefort would be willing to help him. He had left without seeing the duke that morning as he didn't want to incur the man's wrath again. He shuddered as he thought about the consequences should he not attain Rochefort's help.

As first a princess and then a queen, Anne had always lived a privileged life but she had always been sheltered from the outside world and what life was like for the common person. However, that had changed when Constance had become one of her ladies after D'Artagnan's recommendation.

It happened because one day Anne had rather let slip the fact that she often felt alone even when being surrounded by people. She couldn't trust her ladies and had said as much. She had been out in the garden, which was really her sanctuary, and had noticed a familiar face guarding her but with his normally ever present companions nowhere to be seen.

'D'Artagnan,' she called to him. 'Will you join me, please?' she asked indicating the walkway that led further into the gardens. At the time she was heavily pregnant and could only walk at a slow pace and this had somewhat annoyed most of her ladies.

D'Artagnan approached and bowed, 'Your Majesty.'

'Where are your friends?' she enquired.

'They are on a mission to sort out some skirmishes in the villages not far from here.'

'If you don't mind me asking, why aren't you with them? I rarely see the four of you apart.'

'I injured my left arm a few days ago. It's not serious but Aramis wouldn't let me ride for too long with it not fully healed. I argued and lost,' he said with a reminiscent smile. 'I should know by now that arguing with Aramis over injuries is always a lost cause and when Athos and Porthos pitch in on his side I was always going to remain at the garrison. Treville thought I was well enough for guard duty though.' He looked at the queen and was glad to her smiling too.

They walked silently through the gardens for a while before Anne commented, 'I do so love the gardens. So full of life everywhere you look and generally rather quiet and peaceful.'

'Indeed. The flowers are beautiful, though I'm afraid couldn't identify any them myself,' said D'Artagnan with a warm smile. Anne highly doubted that but returned his smile anyway.

'May I enquire why your ladies are not with you?'

'My pace is rather slow at the moment, I'm afraid, and it has rather irritated them. Besides none of them truly enjoy the gardens as I do and I'm used to being alone.' D'Artagnan wasn't sure what he should say so he opted to remain silent as he walked just behind her and to the right.

'My ladies don't like me,' Anne continued. D'Artagnan tried to keep his face neutral but had obviously failed to conceal his surprise at her statement, 'Don't worry. Everyone knows. Most of them are there because it elevates their status and allows them to find a better marriage. Those that are married are there to spy on me,' she said with bitterness in her voice. D'Artagnan was surprised to hear her speak like this, but was also moved by the thought that she trusted him enough to voice an opinion that she had long held close to her heart.

A thought occurred to D'Artagnan, 'May I make a suggestion Your Majesty?'

Anne turned to face him, 'Of course.'

'I know of a woman who I think would make a perfect lady for you.'

'Go on.'

'She is the wife of a tailor and I believe she would hold no animosity towards you and would have no cause to spy on you. She is loyal and caring and a very honest woman.' Anne could hear the adulation in his voice and wondered if they had had a secret romance. She could tell that he truly believed what he was telling her and the opinions of the musketeers that had saved her life were now some of the most valuable to her.

'She sounds like a fine woman. What is her name?'

'Madame Bonacieux. Constance Bonacieux.'

'I shall certainly consider your suggestion D'Artagnan. After all, if she comes recommended by a musketeer I believe that she is truly as you describe,' Anne smiled.

They had finished their walk circling the gardens and D'Artagnan fell back into line as the king approached wondering where she had been.

Anne was woken from her reverie as Constance appeared and sat next to her on the edge of the fountain.

'You asked for me Your Majesty.'

'Constance, we are friends are we not?'

'Yes Your Majesty, why would you think otherwise?'

'I know that you know about Milady de Winter and that you haven't told me the truth. It's obvious by the way you look at her. You look at her with more hatred and anger than I do,' said Anne she took Constance's hands in hers. 'Please tell me what you know.'

Constance stared down at their entwined hands as she dared not look at the queen, 'Well, we decided not to say anything as we have no evidence to use against her.'

'We? You mean the musketeers as well?' Anne's voice wasn't accusing, merely curious. At that moment Louis and Milady appeared in the grounds. Both were giggling animatedly and Milady was wrapped around Louis' arm. Anne felt her anger rise at this blatant show but kept her face neutral in a mask that she perfected over time.

She turned back to Constance who was now facing her and she spoke quietly, 'Your Majesty must understand that we wouldn't keep this from you unless we thought it was best. We cannot prove any of what I'm going to tell you, but it is the truth.'

Anne considered for a moment and then she spoke, 'Please Constance tell me. I know that without proof I cannot go to Louis, but I would rather know what I'm up against.'

Constance sighed, 'Milady used to work for Cardinal Richelieu.'

'So she was the woman that did his bidding.' Anne's face turned to disbelief. 'Why did no-one mention this to me? Treville only told me that the woman was apprehended and obviously not very well.'

'We can't prove that she had any involvement since the cardinal's death. She would deny everything.'

'And I would sound like a jealous wife,' Anne said in resigned voice.

'We do not believe that she is a threat to you or the king. She has what she wants,' Constance assured her friend.

'I believe you may be right.' Anne's eyes darted back to Louis and his mistress. 'But that doesn't explain your deep hatred of her.' Anne squeezed Constance's hand reassuringly.

'It was part of their plan to make Richelieu confess. They were to use Milady to get to him. She had realised that she needed some kind of insurance in case her plans didn't work out. I was her insurance.' Constance's voice was starting to break as she remembered her time as a hostage and Anne moved closer to her in reassurance.

'Her plan was to kill the musketeers and use me as bait. She knew of D'Artagnan's feelings for me and mine for him. She had just the four of them come to the Rue St. Jacques where a friend of hers held a pistol to my head.'

'Oh Constance. That's terrible!' exclaimed Anne. However Constance was now smiling which confused Anne greatly.

'Musketeers don't die easily,' Constance smiled. 'Four men against twenty in the ambush that Milady had created. The four won easily and I got away only to be caught by Milady herself. She held a pistol to me but to be honest I was no longer afraid. I knew the musketeers would get to me. That D'Artagnan would get to me. She was caught but Athos let her go.'

'Why would Athos let her go!?'

'They have a history,' Constance said simply. 'She was supposed to stay away from Paris but when the king and D'Artagnan were saved by her, she found a way back to Paris.'

'Thank you for telling me the truth. I will watch her closely but so far she has shown no interest in my son. That is all that matters.' Anne looked around but Louis and Milady were gone.

Rochefort watched as Louis and Milady giggled like children in full view of everyone, including Queen Anne. He could not forgive the king for setting aside his wife for a common whore and parading her as though she were a lady. His eyes moved to Anne where she was sat on the edge of the fountain. She was talking with Madame Bonacieux and their body language suggested that the topic was something important. Again she had gone to the common woman with a problem and not to him. He sighed and started to make his way back to his office.

As the door to his office came into view he noticed the door was open just a fraction. He was sure that he had shut it when he left and entered the room cautiously. He looked around the room and saw no-one there and decided that he mustn't have shut it after all. As he sat down behind his desk he heard a voice speak.

'The Comte de Rochefort, I presume?'

A/N. I hadn't really planned on touching on D'Artagnan's recommendation of Constance to Queen Anne, but once I'd started I didn't want to leave it. I hope you enjoyed my explanation. :)