A knock on the door caused both Felice and Kitty to jump. Kitty was beginning to hyperventilate, clutching Felice's arms. "In here!" Felice pulled her to her feet and ushered her into the small antechamber adjoining Felice's room. "Stay in here until I say!" Felice told her. She backed against the wall, not daring to answer.
"My lady?" One of the guards called. "My lady! His Lord Buckingham requests your company in the sitting room."
I-I can't! Felice panicked. He wants to get me alone! And then he'll…
"My lady?"
"T-t-tell his lordship that I...I am quite indisposed!" Felice blurted out. "P-please!"
"As you wish, Miss." The guard answered. Felice waited until she could hear his footsteps departing down the hall. She was not sure if it was safe for Kitty to come out or not. Buckingham surely would be appalled at her rejecting his call. She waited anxiously.
"Well? Where is the French maiden?" Buckingham asked his guard when he returned.
"Begging your pardon, my lord, but the French girl claimed she was indisposed, and therefore not at liberty to obey your summons." He answered.
"Indeed." Buckingham frowned. "Go back. Tell her I order her to come."
"Yes, my lord." The guard replied nervously, and bowed, shuffling out the door again.
"Might as well have her dragged here. That's the only way you'll get what you want." Milady taunted.
"Do you think I was too rash, in my endeavors?" Buckingham inquired, rather dejectedly.
"Not at all." Milady swayed over to him, caressing his hair. "She's blossomed into a young woman, she just doesn't know it yet. At heart, she's still just a girl. My lord's advances were entirely new, and perhaps just a bit too hasty."
"Well…" Buckingham sighed.
"You fancy her, don't you?"
"Oh, naturally. But she isn't nearly as much fun as you." Buckingham puckered.
"Oh, please. You flatter me, my lord. But if you intend to enjoy your token of truce, she will have to be, shall we say, educated in the ways of the world? Say, another woman's touch might soften the blow of the terrifying unknown?"
"You are a vixen, aren't you?" Buckingham purred.
The guard knocked on Felice's door again. "My lady, I'm afraid you have no choice. My lord orders you to meet him." He explained.
"And if...if I don't?" Felice gritted, reaching out for any straw of defiance or leverage she could get her hands on.
"He could order you to be dragged into his presence. For your own sake, Miss, I would not wait around for that unpleasant scene." The guard urged.
"Oh, g-. What do I do?" Felice shuddered. "What would Charles do? What would Charles do-" she asked herself, her breathing rapid. Charles, what would you do? You're the one who always has at least a solution to climb your way out of a situation! What should I do?
"My lady, I urge you to make it easier on yourself." The guard interrupted her anxious thoughts.
"Easier?" Felice guffawed.
"Miss? Beg your pardon?"
Come on, Felice! Think! Felice scolded herself. She didn't want to be brought to Buckingham, especially alone! She had no reason to trust him. What if he tried to force himself on her again? What if this time he ordered his guards to hold her down so she couldn't fend him off? And besides, he was quite chummy with Milady de Winter. Ugh. The two of them...wait! Milady, Felice thought, feeling slightly less manic. I don't want to give him any impression that I want his attentions! But...perhaps I can expose what Milady has done, and he will banish her for theft, and maybe I can implore him to give Kitty to me as my own handmaid! But...I can't prove that the countess stole that necklace. Maybe I can at least inform him of what she did to Kitty, and I can still have her as my own servant. At least that way she'll be safe. But he will he even listen to me? All he wants is to...But I can't let Milady hand Kitty over to Rochefort!
"Please give me a moment." Felice told the guard. She poked her head into the antechamber.
"Psst! Kitty. I'll be back...I hope! Stay in here until I open the door again. Understand?"
"Y-yes, Miss." Kitty nodded meekly. Felice tried to compose herself and reluctantly followed the guard.
"My lord, Mademoiselle Felice D'Artagnan." The guard led Felice inside. She kept her eyes straight ahead, avoiding Buckingham's gaze. He wasn't alone. That should have been a relief, but her face grew hot knowing that Milady was nearby.
"Ahh, here she is." Buckingham smiled. "I knew she'd come around. Come in, my dear. Do sit down."
"I'd rather not, if it's all the same to you, my lord." Felice replied, gnawing on her tongue to keep her voice from quivering.
"Aww, now. Don't be that way, darling." Buckingham said. "I wish that you should be at ease." Felice bristled.
"If you would like for that wish to be granted, then I shall gladly return to my room." She said, brusquely turning on her heel.
"No, no, no." Buckingham stood up quickly. "Stay. I command you to."
Felice cringed. "As you wish." She replied lowly. But I can't sit down! I must be able to move around freely in order to escape.
"Sit, my sweet." Buckingham purred. Felice nearly lost her composure, but then she glanced at Milady and she felt angry again.
"Your heard the duke, my lady. He offered for you to sit." She said curtly.
"Clever, aren't you?" Milady mused with a sly narrowing of her catlike eyes.
"No, no, love. I meant you." Buckingham laughed. "That's what I love about my country women. They're the most fun when it comes to playing hard to get."
"I am playing no game, sir. I assure you." Felice growled, trying not to tremble.
"Come, come now." Buckingham waved her off. "Relax, my dear." He came closer to her, and she stepped back until she was against the wall.
"Really, Felice. I'd expect you to display better manners to your host, considering you are in the king's own service. I am surprised you lack such diplomacy." Milady sighed.
Felice glared at her. Says the one who strikes a helpless child. I'm really beginning to become irked by that frilly vixen. Milady approached her and brushed her hair back from her face.
"So on fire." She chuckled. "You're a wild little thing. But you require some taming, if you wish to be a true musketeer."
"According to my superior officers, I am doing just fine, thank you." Felice snapped. Buckingham slowly took her hand and began leading her to the chair. Felice tried to pull back. "P-please...I didn't come here to...I wished to...let me go, please!"
"Sit, love." Buckingham said, pressing on her shoulders, making her sit.
Kitty, Kitty...I have to tell him what happened to Kitty. I…
"I admit, my previous behavior was rather hasty." Buckingham cocked his head. "But you must understand, my sweet, this is your home now. And I want you to be happy here, with me."
"Why don't you just have your 'friendly' little rendezvous with the countess?" Felice quipped sharply. "She seems to fancy you. And I have no doubt she's far more 'familiar' with the ways of the world than I am. I'm imploring you, my good sir, let me go!"
Buckingham chuckled merrily. "So, you've seen right through our little plot, have you? I like you, Mademoiselle. You and your spitfire determination. Things surely won't be dreary with you around."
"Listen! P-please." Felice exclaimed. "I-I'm not sure what kind of game you two prissies are playing, but I did not sign up for it! Send me home. You have no use for me."
"Don't sell yourself short, child." Milady said sweetly.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Felice glared at the harlot. She couldn't erase from her mind Kitty's tear-stained face, her bruised and bleeding lip, and her scared eyes. How this woman could serenely act as if she hadn't just abused the little girl, with the voice of an angel and appearance of a queen was unsettling!
"You must adapt, Felice. You've been too sheltered for so long. Open up your mind to what the world has to offer." Milady rubbed Felice's shoulder, making the girl stiffen in disgust. "Remember, I have friends in high places who can dispose of you if you displease the duke." Milady whispered into her ear. "Namely...Monsieur Rochefort."
Felice's breath became ragged. "Like...like you were going to do with Kitty?" She hissed back under her breath. Milady pinched Felice's shoulder, making her wince.
"Stubborn Gascon." Milady shrugged, walking away.
"Don't be so uptight, lass." Buckingham leaned forward, firmly gripping Felice's hand down in her lap to keep her in place. She grew very pale.
"M-my lord…" She stammered. He ran his fingers through her hair and was beginning to nuzzle her neck. Felice's head was swimming. "Please…" She whispered.
"Why do you tremble so, my little garden blossom? I am not going to hurt you." Buckingham insisted.
"Please, my lord! I...I am not ready for such...such…"
"Aww. Permit me." Buckingham cupped her chin between his fingers and locked her lips with his. Felice felt light-headed and struggled against him. He kissed harder. She grasped his face with her hand and shoved him away hard, pushing him by the chest. "Tell me, do I really rouse you so?" Buckingham asked gleefully.
Felice shrieked and scrambled up from the chair. "Let me out! I have to get out of here!" She cried, running for the door, and fled passed the guards. She nearly reached the corridor to her bed chamber when she was suddenly grabbed by the arm and whisked into a dark corner against the wall. "Release me!" She frantically kicked out her foot...until she felt cold metal pressed up against her throat. She gazed up to see gleaming feline eyes boring into her own.
"Trying to ruin me, aren't you?" Milady snarled.
"Don't know what you're-" Felice began but she gasped when the knife pricked closer. She could feel it beginning to ever so slightly cut her skin.
"Don't." Milady glowered, her countenance like a deadly lioness. "I'm not going to let a little country fieldmouse like you get in my way."
"You h-had no r-right to strike K-Kitty. She's only a little g-g-girl!" Felice said quickly.
"A stupid child. Who could've destroyed everything I've worked so hard for. She's merely an inconvenience. But you…" Milady leaned in until she was nose to nose with Felice, "you, on the other hand, are becoming a problem." She whispered menacingly.
"W-w-what do you want from me?" Felice asked shakily.
"Stay out of my way, and I'll make things easier for you. Continue to cross me, and well...I don't it should take much imagination how your fortune will turn out once I hand you over to Rochefort." Milady said casually, never easing her grip on the knife. Felice squeezed her eyes shut. "I'll let you off this time. Wouldn't want to damage the duke's favorite toy. But listen closely, you meddling adolescent. Next time, I will not be this kind. You do understand, don't you?"
"I do. I do!" Felice answered pleadingly.
"Good." Milady grinned and roughly released her. She flounced her fancy velvet dress and sashayed away.
Felice ran to her room, slammed the door behind her, bolted it, and shoved the vanity chair underneath it. She leaned against the wall, heart beating at a manic pace. How could this be happening? What did these people want with her? Well, she knew what Buckingham wanted, but Milady? It didn't make sense!
One thing was clear: she couldn't spend another night in this prison!
She threw open the antechamber door. "Kitty! Are you still in here?" She called.
"Yes, Miss! I'm here!" Kitty answered, standing up.
"We have to get out of here! Now!" Felice warned her. "We're escaping from this horrid place."
"Miss, your throat-" Kitty pointed out. Felice's hand instantly went to her neck, where she felt a small cut that was bleeding.
"Don't worry about it." Felice said indignantly. She was clawing at the bed sheets like a mad woman.
"What are we going to do, Miss?" Kitty asked.
"Come here, Kitty. I need your help!"
Buckingham is so stupidly caught up in being a ladies' man, he doesn't realize the noose that Milady keeps measuring around his neck! She's very calculated. You'll have to keep reading to find out why she really brought Felice to Buckingham.
Where are the musketeers? They're on their way!