Chapter 24

The letter lay on the desk with the seals broken. It was written in a delicate and remarkably pretty script, the letters adorned with many superfluous curlicues and sweeping curves. The content, too, was circumlocutory, with filler words and flattery, which were not necessary. A letter from a woman's hand, sentimental and demanding in tone at the same time. It was meant to be understood between the lines and Richelieu indeed found no weakness in the feminine formulations, but strength of will and assertiveness.

His grandniece knew very well who she was and what she wanted from him. Secretly, this filled him with pride and almost paternal affection for Odette de la Nièvre, who had obviously grown into a self-confident young woman of twenty years old. To a strong-willed person who did not want to be forced into a marriage that her father tried to arrange for her. Her upbringing ostensibly forbade rebellion, but her sense had made her direct a request for help to her uncle. So young and already so scheming. She had learned from the best.

Richelieu leaned back in his chair and pressed his fingertips together. His hands were snow-white and trembling barely noticeably. He was still haunted by the weakness of a persistent illness and all the remedies of the apothecaries and doctors did not really work. Despite all the good advice, he refused to be confined to bed, he unyieldingly defied the symptoms until the disease would give in to his will and disappear.

The letter was an interesting change from the usual daily chores. He already had a vague plan in mind on how to proceed. But before he could take a closer look at his idea and think of a reply to Odette, a servant opened the door to the study after a polite knock and a deep bow.

Richelieu put the letter aside to take two other, long prepared documents instead, which were only waiting for his signature and seal. Only then did he turn his attention to Rochefort and d'Artagnan, who entered together and waited after a respectful salute.

Richelieu eyed them both appraisingly. Here, too, his attention was on what was written between the lines. Ostensibly, his stable master and a guardsman were present. In fact, a friend was backing up a friend in the face of an overdue and far-reaching judgement. There was no command for peace between the parties needed, they had found each other again by themselves.

With a gesture towards Rochefort, the cardinal told him to wait outside the door. This was a parley d'Artagnan had to face alone, without anyone whispering in her ear. She did so without being impressed or even intimidated by the fact that she had been deprived of her support. Undaunted as she has always been.

According to Jussac's report, she had become a useful and capable soldier for the Red Guard. Not for Richelieu, he could clearly read that from her neutral mien, which was without any kind thought for him. But neither did she stand against him with all her might any longer, but asked obediently, »You sent for me, Monseigneur?«

»And you promptly answered my summons. Thus you have come to terms with the situation?«

»This uniform is hardly different from the one I wore before. If I serve you, I serve France and the Crown. I have always been aware of that.«

»A wise answer. You have passed your probation, I am satisfied. Your status shall change as of today.« Richelieu raised a hand and stopped d'Artagnan from thanking him prematurely. He had other things in mind than unconditionally returning the commission to her. »I offer you a choice, and you are going to think well before you make a decision.«

D'Artagnan watched with a wary, suspicious eye as Richelieu reached for the first document and summarised its contents for her. »I discharge you honourably from service and with a generous life annuity. You will assume your true name and henceforth be free to follow your heart's desire.«

Frozen silence was the response to this offer. Not hot-headed protest, as might have been expected. Richelieu did not let on his mild astonishment at this and took up the second document. »Or I will give you back the commission among with the promised promotion after the change of regiments. You will be first lieutenant of my palace guard, henceforth bound in allegiance to me.«

»I... see.« D'Artagnan lapsed into deliberate reflection, just as the cardinal demanded of her. She was presented with a tempting offer that she has truly not expected; to be liberated from all the social constraints from which she had once escaped. A life annuity was not a dowry, but meant her own secure income. She would no longer be accountable to anyone and be entirely her own master. Even in her disguise, d'Artagnan had only exchanged the guardianship of a father for the command of a captain over herself. Now she had the choice to enjoy a freedom that hardly any woman had ever known and for which she had always longed.

However, if she stayed here and took the commission, nothing would change. Her life would always be stricken by danger and her safety would depend on well-meaning friends. She would have to remain on guard lest she lose all freedom forever. Every battlefield, every attack in the streets of Paris would always hold death in store. Only comradeship could keep her sane in the face of these prospects, but even that was an adventure with an uncertain outcome.

Considering both, the choice was not difficult. She did not have to think too hard and concluded her deliberations with a bow to the cardinal. »I choose the honourable discharge from the service and the life annuity.«

Richelieu's face showed significant astonishment. He was a man who always seemed to have the upper hand and who could direct everything according to his will, every political skirmish at royal court and every tactical manoeuvre at battlefield. This time he had wrongly predicted the outcome, even if he had brought the two options into play himself. D'Artagnan's choice was not to his disadvantage, and yet he hesitated to seal everything with a final stroke of the quill. »You surprise me.«

»Did I not make the decision in Your Eminence's interests?«

Richelieu raised his eyebrows at such open insolence against him. D'Artagnan not only withstood his glare, she returned it challengingly. Perhaps, this was her last revolt, her last rebellion against him and he said, »You have choosen in your interests.«

»I did, and if that means I am now indeed free to follow my heart's desire,« d'Artagnan stood at attention, »then I will swear allegiance to you. By my true name, which I have only shortened and never discarded. If you allow it and it pleases you, I will remain Lieutenant d'Artagnan. Always bound by my oath of allegiance, free in my decision.«

»A foolhardy demand. You think I would keep you in my service after such audacity?«

»I think I have proved my worth, as Monseigneur demanded of me at our last parley. I was told I was important to this Guard. Here is my new place and my new duty.«

Richelieu folded his hands and scrutinised d'Artagnan. She was serious with every word, her whole posture showed determination. What an unruly mind, which could not be captured, could not be tamed, and yet was entirely loyal!

A thin smile, equally amused and annoyed, played around the corners of his mouth. »To choose both, to dare a ruse against me... I have not considered it. Well, then, add a pay raise to the promotion, until in distant years the annuity shall take its place.«

D'Artagnan heard the verdict and a considerable tension fell from her. She had dared much, it could have cost her everything. It was downright fortunate that Richelieu acknowledged her enough, or was merely amused enough, to gain his goodwill.

Touché for her this time; she had not allowed herself to be bent. Her choice would always have been the Red Guard, she had realised it in her conversation with Rochefort at the latest. The life annuity might have seemed tempting at first, but in the end it would have subjected her to new constraints. She would have been banished to her homeland and soon engaged to some provincial nobleman. What a boring life that would have been! Then rather all the danger, all the adventure - and the comradeship.

»Eminence are very generous. May I speak frankly?«

»Granted.«

»The promotion to first lieutenant also makes me Jussac's superior, he is under my command.«

»You have misgivings?«

»No, Monseigneur! The lieutenant and I have come to terms.« That was not what d'Artagnan was getting at. She wanted to know if Captain Luchaire was really to apply for his discharge soon, and what that might mean for the Guard. »Rochefort mentioned that Lieutenant Jussac would be designated the new captain.«

»I am considering this, indeed. You will continue to be subordinate to the senior officer, whatever the rank order is at present.«

»Understood!«

»Good.« With that, Richelieu took up the quill, inserted the additions just negotiated in both documents, signed and sealed them. But he did not hand them over immediately, but spoke frankly and without regard for sensitivities, »One last condition or you will make use of the life annuity sooner than you hope for. You are to tell Jussac your true name, in full and unshortened!«

»Monseigneur, I-!«

»I grant you a short period. Even before a new captain is designated, Lieutenant Jussac will be aware of your identity. I shall not tolerate any disputes between officers arising out of secrets.«

»Yes, Sir.« D'Artagnan acquiesced in the order. The message was clear. If any dispute arose from the fact that Jussac could not accept a woman under his command, the life annuity would come into play again. Things were far from being over and well. She stood jolted awake as Richelieu handed over the documents. They meant everything and nothing; it now depended entirely on Jussac.

»Send Rochefort in to see me. Well? Dismissed!«

D'Artagnan pulled herself together, bowed her head gruffly in salutation and turned on the heel.

The draught coming from the door, which his newest officer threw into the lock behind her a little more firmly than necessary, brushed the cardinal. As a captain, Jussac would not longer be able to act enraged, but a suitable replacement was already in place.

Richelieu coughed suppressedly and his gaze wandered over the letter from his grandniece to the detailed map of France hanging on the opposite wall. Three weeks, he estimated, for all the preparations.

The Prime Minister wrote a letter in reply, as Rochefort entered, who was wondering what had been discussed that had angered d'Artagnan so much, despite the expected good outcome. The stable master did not receive an explanation, instead he was handed the letter to Odette de la Nièvre with instructions for 'Monsieur'. The agent was to saddle the best horse and set off immediately, the letter and further orders in his pocket.

Three weeks to get there and back again. 'Monsieur' would know what to do.