Considering all that Constance had done for me during my illness, it was only right that I thanked her in some way. Whilst I was made to recover, all I could do was sew and embroider to pass the time, since I was determined to still be useful. I mended and altered clothing and embroidered numerous handkerchiefs with various designs, as well as accessorising a new hat for Constance with embroidered flowers, silk ribbon and a plume of feathers. It was a modern looking item of the latest fashion which I had made myself, and I was pleased to see her expression brighten when she received it.
My skill with the needle would never go to waste, there was always a shirt in need of repair, and I was even quite adept at mending shoes, so often a pair of boots would be placed into my care for mending. D'Artagnan was particularly terrible for needing his shirts mended. I am quite confident that soon there would not be a single old thread in any of his shirts at all. Still, it felt good to be useful, and I was more than happy to while away my hours sewing and embroidering. My handkerchiefs went to every musketeer in the regiment, a particularly special one being gifted to Captain Treville who promised to use it well.
A gentleman should always carry a handkerchief, in my opinion, so I viewed it as a gift that would be useful and not wasted. Eventually I had run out of things to embroider, having gone through the entire barracks to find every scrap of cloth, cushion, blanket and sheet available to toil away and amuse myself. Now I was out of threads, and no longer had reason to keep myself abed. I think Athos would have preferred me to simply stay idle and live happily each day, but with rent to pay and an empty pantry, there was no choice for me to remain lazy.
I returned to work with increased vigour, taking anything available just to add coin to my pocket. It appeared the fabric trade was improving and Bonacieux was practically foaming at the mouth to seize his opportunity to make a good profit. He hired my services and soon, all my afternoons and nights not working in the tavern were spent embroidering elaborate patterns onto his plain cloths. I even had the opportunity to work with a fine gold thread, which I marvelled over as I stitched into a deep crimson fabric. Bonacieux was determined that his name would become synonymous with the great merchants of Rome, Venice, Spain and the east.
Perhaps his dreams were a little ambitious, but I could hardly fault the man for having a dream. All of us must have something to accompany us in the lonely nights. In any case, I was soon back to my full strength and heartily ventured into working hard, as it was all I could do to occupy my time. I heard that the palace was a hive of nervousness as the Duke of Savoy was to come and sign a treaty with his brother in law, King Louis. There had always been tension between France and the province of Savoy as it lay directly abreast the border of Spain, and I could tell even the men were anxious to see their duties done and the duke retuning home.
I sensed it well, but of everyone, I sensed it most of all in Aramis. His mood was darker of late and more pensive. Often I caught him staring into the distance with a grim expression, fingering a gold pendant I had recently noticed around his neck. A petite cross with an embedded jewel. It seemed an odd adornment for a man, but something about it made my stomach turn uncomfortably. My instincts warned me that it was nothing good, so I refrained from asking about it for the longest time.
Whenever Aramis delved into such a state, I always did my best to try and draw him out of it. There was little I could do other than to try and guess his needs, but often all I could offer was a touch to his shoulder and a reassurance that everything would be over soon. I did not know the cause of his distress and I did not dare ask since it was none of my business, but even the captain seemed to be ill at ease these days. He often brooded in his office just as Aramis did, and I could not help but wonder if these strange behaviours were connected. Practically everyday now leading up to the duke's arrival, I would knock upon the captain's office door to bring him supper, only to find him deep in thought.
At times like this, I found myself to be utterly useless. "Sir?" Having pushed open the door a little to find that the captain had not heard me knocking, I knocked a little louder. "Captain?" This time I called a little louder and succeeded in diverting Treville's attention. Gesturing for me to enter, he straightened himself up and began to shuffle his papers out of the way as I brought him his food as well as a fresh bread roll I had baked myself.
"Ah, you are an angel, Madeleine. One of yours? Excellent," my bread was always a favourite amongst the men. It was a vast improvement to what it used to be, when it would be either solid as a rock or burnt to cinders. Thankfully as the phrase goes, practice makes perfect.
"Captain…is there something the matter?" I questioned, however my inquiry seemed to perplex him as he looked at me in surprise.
"No my dear, nothing is the matter at all. I was just lost in thought, that's all." I suspected that this was not the entire truth, but I knew better than to push. The captain was not someone you could pester into giving up his secrets, and I knew my place was not to be overly inquisitive. Treville had many responsibilities on his mind, and this impending visit from Savoy had everyone in knots. It was understandable if the captain was more stressed than usual.
"If there is anything I can do for you, captain, then do not hesitate to ask," I found myself saying and I even touched my hand to his desk, an extension of concern without overstepping my bounds. "If I can help, then I will do so gladly." For a moment, Treville hesitated, seemingly considering sharing his burdens just to alleviate a little of their weight. However he eventually hardened his resolve and instead, took up my hand to squeeze it firmly and place a kiss to my palm in silent gratification for my comforting.
"You are a good girl, Madeleine. I am lucky to have you here." Please with this praise, I smiled at the captain as he released my hand. I wished him a good meal before leaving, closing the door behind me so that I might ponder to myself what could be going on. Looking down over the balcony, my sight landed upon a potential source of information. Porthos. He was likely to know the root of the tension around here and his lips were looser than my brother's, therefore I would have a better chance of success there than with Athos.
As always it was a simple matter to find him, all I needed to do was follow the sound of his carrying voice. It brought me directly to where he stood within the barracks and fortunately, none of the others were in his company. He was speaking with other Musketeers, but when I politely cleared my throat, I watched him turn his head towards me. An oafish grin blossomed upon recognising me, and he swiftly concluded his discussion with the others to come to me. "Madeleine, how you doing, darlin'?" Unable to help myself around Porthos, I returned his expression and felt a comfortableness settle over me in his presence.
"I am well," I assured him but his hand rose to my brow all the same. It was a shared gesture amongst my brother and the others to feel my temperature of late. The fever I had taken must have truly frightened them, because they still fretted for my health even today. "I am well, Porthos," amused, I gently pulled his hand down from my head to take a firm grip upon it. "I wanted to ask you something, because I know I can trust you to answer me honestly."
"What is it, love? Is there something wrong?" Fretting still, I hastily assured the soft bear of a man that I was completely fine and that there was nothing to be concerned about, I only wanted some answers. "Then ask away, darlin'. What is it?"
"The atmosphere of late, I have noticed that it is rather…sombre." Immediately Porthos' naturally joyous exuberance flattened, exhaling deeply as he glanced around.
"So you've noticed it too," if nothing else, I was glad that I was not imagining things.
"Captain Treville assured me that there was nothing amiss, but I know the captain," lowering my voice to a whisper, Porthos lowered himself down so that he could hear me efficiently as I dropped his hand. "There is something that unsettles him, and I have noticed that Aramis is also particularly affected. So tell me, Porthos," I begged, "what is happening?"
"You're sharp, Madeleine. Can never hide nothing from you," I resisted from correcting Porthos' grammar because now was not the time, and also, I knew it would hurt his feelings to do so. When we had first met, I was forever correcting his words, grammar, annunciations, manners, criticising him in every way possible out of prejudiced spite. Before I might have consoled myself that it was for his own benefit, being a man of mixed origin. Now I knew better, and hated myself for the past.
"Will you tell me, Porthos? Athos will say nothing about it." Exhaling deeply, Porthos looked at me for several moments before finally caving to my will with a subtle groan.
"Alright, but you heard nothing about it from me," warning me sternly, I nodded my head to quickly assure him of my silence, even biting down on my lips to further prove my intention. He chuckled. "Well, there's nothing much to it really if I'm honest. The captain and some of the lads are angsty because of this royal dignitary coming to visit the king. Duke of Savoy. Savoy…brings back bad memories for Aramis." Never having heard of such an occurrence, I stepped closer with intrigue.
"The name Savoy is familiar to me, as its location. It borders against Spain and is an ideal barrier against any Spanish attack which may be launched against France. Also, I know that the duke is married to His Majesty's sister, the former princess." These were just political notions, facts which were well known to all, but I had never heard of anything sinister which may have even involved Aramis.
"Aye, that about sums it up, but about five years ago, Aramis and a troop of Musketeers went to Savoy on a training mission." For a heartbeat, I held my breath as Porthos looked down upon my solemnly. "Something went wrong, a Spanish attack or something, but after the smoke cleared, Aramis was the only one left standing." Together our gazes turned to where Aramis sat drinking alone. From here I could see his dark, brooding expression, the faraway look in his eyes and the glint of gold from the pendent he rubbed between his fingers.
"I did not know," was all I could offer. What words of comfort could someone give to a person who had endured such horrific hardship? I despised how weak they were, but I could think of nothing better.
"He does not speak of it much, even I don't know the details. Usually he'll only talk about it if we've been drinking, but that is a dark place to send him with too much wine in his blood." I could well imagine. Without even realising I had placed my hand upon Porthos' arm for balance, breathing steadily as I attempted to imagine what Aramis might be feeling. "Easy there, love. Don't worry. He'll be alright again soon enough." Feeling my hand upon his and my weight dipping against him, Porthos naturally strengthened his arm so that I had something solid to depend upon. How I loved that about him.
"I hope that you are right," worrying for Aramis, I wondered how I might be able to brighten his spirits, but my eye could not restrain itself from looking to the pendant he bore. My instincts told me that it was a woman's gift. I could not imagining Aramis wearing something so dainty and feminine by his own taste. "And…the pendent?" I almost did not ask, knowing that this would only open another avenue for Porthos to tease me, to which I was not disappointed. He laughed brashly.
"Wondered how long it would take you to ask!" Smirking devilishly, Porthos ruffled my hair playfully which irked me deeply, so I hissed at him, bearing my teeth like a wildcat. "That, darlin', is a keepsake from Her Majesty the Queen herself, after our boy so valiantly protected her from the ruffians at the Chatelet." Reflecting upon what I had been later told, I recalled that the queen would indeed have made her visit and was taken hostage not long before I noticed the pendent. So it was a reward from a queen to her protector. Still, it settled upon me uneasily.
"Queen Anne is a beautiful woman," I noted lightly, attempting to level my voice as to not betray my unhappy feelings. "I pray an incorrect sentiment was not conveyed." At this Porthos frowned, perhaps not entirely understanding my meaning. This time, I did not deign to explain to him. It was a dangerous thing to show favour to a man when you were a queen. Perhaps a single token might be overlooked, but anything further, or heaven forbid, anything deeper…I feared for more than just Aramis's safety.