According to her rank, Lady Ninon was incarcerated at the monastery of the Holy Cross, escorted by none other than Treville's four most trusted soldiers. My brother, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan. He asked that I went with them, to serve as a companion and maid for the comtesse, which I readily accepted. I suspected the captain did this intentionally to allow me time to be with my friend. For that, I was grateful. We rode as a company, she and I riding our own mounts until we had arrived in the monastery's courtyard.
With a landscape of rolling forest and a peerless lake cast out like a silken sheet, I did not wonder that this place was viewed as a place of tranquillity and reflection. It was a shame that our visit was not a holy one, for it soured the pleasantness of the surroundings. My mare scraped her hoof upon the ground as I bid her stand so that I might dismount as Lady Ninon also arrived with her two escorts from the cardinal's own personal guard. Removing my feet from the stirrups, I made to lean forwards as a monk held my mare for me, however my brother appeared at my side to help me down.
Another time, I would have accepted his assistance. For now, however, I was still mightily displeased with him. Looking down with a perturbed expression, I leaned forwards over the horse's neck and promptly swung my leg over onto the opposite side to drop to the ground neatly, away from Athos. Ordinarily one should never dismount a horse to the right, but I was angry enough at my brother to do so incorrectly rather than allow him to be of any assistance. I pointedly did not speak to him, but rather went directly to Lady Ninon as the guards anchored themselves close to her side. Neither offered her the same courtesy as Athos had me.
Despite my misgivings, at least my brother remained courteous towards me even during my coldness towards him. Lady Ninon received no such respect, and it irked me all the more. "Stand back if you gentlemen will not make yourselves useful," barking at them sharply, their surprise at my tone had them veering away as I came to Lady Ninon and held her waist to assist her down, throwing them another filthy glare. "If the two of you can even be called gentlemen."
"Be at ease, Madeleine. Such simply minded beings cannot be expected to show courtesy where it is due," on that note, we could both agree. As the horses were led away I dusted down Lady Ninon's skirts before the guards forced her forwards, one taking her by the arm in order to pull her where he willed, which I thought was quite unnecessary. I followed, intending to speak my mind and have the guard release Lady Ninon but Aramis stopped him with a hand, pushing the guard lightly away as he addressed Lady Ninon directly.
"For what it's worth, madame, this trial is a mockery of religion. The God I believe in stands for love, not cruelty." I could have kissed Aramis for his sweetness, though I contented myself with a secret smile.
"You are a contradiction, Monsieur Aramis." Speaking softly, Lady Ninon masterfully masked her emotions with a smooth and unblemished tone as she gazed upon Aramis with gratitude. "A solider who preaches love, and a famous libertine who cherishes women." I could not have said it better myself, and Aramis appeared amused to be so accurately described. He removed his hat, answering the comtesse with honesty.
"We all search for truth in different ways." It was then Aramis surprised me. I watched as he drew the precious pendant he forever wore around his neck, the gift from Queen Anne, and displayed it to Lady Ninon whilst speaking. "If you have faith in your heart," removing the cord from around his neck, Aramis offered it to Lady Ninon without reservation. "Take this. Please, take it." He leaned towards the comtesse. "My God will not abandon you." Sensing the relief in Lady Ninon as such a simple gesture brought her comfort, she had not the opportunity to respond to Aramis before she was ushered forwards, a nun joining us to oversee Lady Ninon's imprisonment.
As I passed, my hand smoothly reached across and squeezed Aramis's hands without breaking pace, slowing only for a brief moment as to not fall out of step. I wanted to thank him as I could, and knowing that there were many eyes watching us, I did not wish to appear overly invested. My involvement in this charade was not widely known. As far as the officials, monks and nuns knew, I was only a servant brought to accompany Lady Ninon. Still, I was grateful to Aramis and as I continued past him without stopping, his fingers also brushed through mine.
Lady Ninon was placed in a dreary room with only a small window, most likely to prevent any attempts of escaping through it. There was a single bed with an uncomfortable looking mattress stuffed with straw and rough, think blankets which were to be her only source of warmth at night. My nose wrinkled in distaste. The room was stripped down only to the bare essentials. The bed, a chamber pot, and of course a bible. "I shall seek better accommodation for you, my lady. Even if you are to stand trial this is an insult."
"It will do for now. I expect this fanfare shall not last long," the weak indifference Lady Ninon gave revealed her innermost thoughts. She believed this situation to be a hopeless one. Slowly, she sank down upon the straw-stuffed mattress. "I am glad that you are at least here with me."
"I would not be anywhere else," I joined her, sitting down so that I might offer her comfort and reassurance. "This will be over soon. You have done nothing wrong, Lady Ninon. It is all but a misunderstanding,"
"A convenient one, is it not?" To this I could argue. Lady Ninon had not the energy for talking, so instead we sat in silence, remaining in company for solace and tranquillity of mind. We had arrived early, now we had to wait for other court officials to arrive before the trial could begin. With the hours in between, we wiled away our time daydreaming whilst two nuns stood guard outside. I had brought a few supplies with me, so I set my things out upon the bed and had Lady Ninon turn her back so that I could comb and rearrange her hair.
"If you are to stand trial, then you shall go whilst looking like the angel you are. Perhaps the officiators will be enamoured by your beauty and declare you innocent without all this nonsense." A soft chuckle answered.
"If only if it were so easy." If only indeed. In any case I carefully brushed through the naturally golden curls of Lady Ninon's hair, brushing it loose down her back before rearranging it into the neat updo which was her preference. "Tell me of Aramis. Is he a man like he seems, or is it all rely a manipulative ploy as is often the case of men?"
"Aramis is exactly as you saw him, my lady. A libertine, by some accounts, but he is sincere in his affections and he is earnest in his pursuits. In my years of knowing him, he has had many lovers, but has never once left behind a broken heart. He is too gentle for that," I could recall some of the names and faces of Aramis's lovers from the past five years. Each tryst had ended amiably, and none had ever come searching for him at the barracks in a rage as other jilted lovers had.
"Everything I detest in a man, and yet I cannot bring myself to dislike him." Now it was my turn to chuckle.
"Yes, Aramis has that effect." As I should well know. Even now when I thought of Aramis a warmth would rise through me and I would feel the inclination to giggle. My giddiness pertaining to Aramis had weakened a great deal of late, but it was still nostalgic to recall my blushes and stolen glances whenever I had the fortune of witnessing him in the training grounds, especially when shirtless.
"And your brother?" The comb stilled in Lady Ninon's hair at the mention of Athos, all warmth suddenly kindling into a spark of irritation and ire. "I see the prodigal brother has finally fallen from his high pedestal in your eyes."
"Not entirely…I am simply angry with him at present. He should have done more to protect you from those guards, from this entire situation. I did not expect him to so readily turn his back." Resuming my combing, I curled my tongue to keep it from saying anything further, lest I speak something that I would later regret.
"Men are fickle creatures."
"They are pigs." After a pause, Lady Ninon laughed a little more brightly. We spoke no more on the subject of my brother, instead focusing on the battle which lay before Lady Ninon. There was little else I could do for her but be her friend and moral support, but I knew she had the strength to carry herself to the end. She did not fear the judgement of men, and so when the time came that she was summoned to her trial, she did so with her head held high. I was beside her every step of the way from that dreadful little room to the chamber where the trial was to be held.
Lady Ninon was made to kneel before the high table of five men, one of whom was the cardinal himself. I wished to stay by her side, but the nuns blocked my path and silently directly me to join the other onlookers. Turned aside, I saw Athos and the others standing upon the opposite side of the hall. My brother caught my gaze. I heard his sigh, his shoulders lowering sightly before he tilted his head to gesture that I come stand with him. Out of pure obstinacy, I anchored myself to the corner in front of the crowd and refused to look at him again. The trial had now begun.
Leading the affair was the cardinal, whom I viewed with disdain and distrust. From my recollection, it was he who had denounced my brother as a murderer and a thief in front of the king and queen and sentenced him to death, despite his innocence. Despite my evidence to the contrary. My spirits wilted as I watched with concern as Lady Ninon was to be judged by such a man who did not seem to possess one wit of reason. "Comtesse Ninon de Larroque," his voice spread throughout the hall for all to hear. "Confess your offence now, and spare your victims the ordeal of giving testimony." Despite the gravity of the situation and the glaring eyes of men who viewed her with equal contempt, Lady Ninon maintained her proud poise.
"I cannot confess to imaginary crimes." Unperturbed, the cardinal began his questioning, but from the very beginning even I was perplexed with his questions.
"Do you deny you believe in Satan's magic?" Where in God's name had that come from? What had Satan have to do with any of this? This trial was to address the alleged kidnapping, but now the cardinal was raising a completely unrelated aspect to this trial. "Now, I advise you to consider your answer seriously." Clearly as unimpressed as I felt, Lady Ninon simply answered that she advised the cardinal to also refrain from asking ridiculous questions. The cardinal's face twitched in anger. "Fleur Baudin!" Immediately I looked for Fleur's familiar face and found her hiding in a window's alcove with a man whom I could only presume to be her father. "Come forward." Poor Fleur, she looked so frightened, as if all she desired was to take flight and flee.
Slowly she approached the juror's table, trembling with wide eyes as her light, snatched breaths found their way through the silence. When she halted, her head naturally turned towards Lady Ninon who smiled encouragingly, offering her reassurance that everything was alright as the cardinal resumed his questioning. "All will be well if you tell the truth, child. What happened to you at the Comtesse's salon?" As white as a sheet, Fleur managed to find the courage to ask for a glass of water to moisten her throat, which I imagined must have felt as dry as sand in that moment.
Rather obligingly, the cardinal invited Fleur forwards and poured her a drink into his own cup, allowing her to drink from it so that she might feel more at ease. Then he prompted her to answer his question. Again Fleur glanced behind her, as fretful as a doe, but she spoke lucidly despite her anxiousness. "The…comtesse taught us things." Eagerly leaning forwards, the cardinal's eyes gleamed with delight as he snatched at this small morsel of information and sought to uncover more.
"What things? Many of our young women are educated. It isn't something to be ashamed of." To this Fleur shook her head, thinking that perhaps the cardinal did not understand. I feared the cardinal understood too much.
"Not just embroidery and sewing," she explained, sounding a little calmer as she grew accustomed to speaking in front of such an imposing authority and in a chamber full of so many people. "Natural philosophy, the movement of the cosmos, the secrets of our bodies." This, perhaps, was an example too far.
"Your bodies?" The light in the cardinal's eyes gleamed. "So, she took you and locked you in a secret room…and showed you intimate things?" Blanching against such a horrid and unjust suggestion my face crumbled into one of disgust as Lady Ninon also voiced her affront, declaring that the cardinal was twisting every word Fleur spoke. "Be quiet, or you will be gagged."
"I was gagged the day I was born a woman!" Silently, I saluted Lady Ninon for her bravery. It was a meaningless victory, however, as the cardinal seemed adamant to paint Lady Ninon as a vile, lecherous woman with ungodly desires.
"Cheap sentiments of the decadent romance novels your acolytes waste their time in reading!" Returning to Fleur, the cardinal's voice softened as he crooned to her, appearing as if he was comforting a distraught child who had admitted their terrors to him. "There's no need to be ashamed, child. This woman has used you for her foul appetites. You cannot be blamed." Perhaps Fleur did not fully understand just how grave the situation had become, or how her innocent truths had been twisted to implicate the comtesse as a criminal, but Fleur understood enough that the cardinal was insulting Lady Ninon and purposefully electing not to listen to her.
"You're making her work sound corrupt," she realised before all fear seemed to vanish from her, replaced with a bright anger and desperation which rose in the volume of her voice. "You will suffer for this! You're the one who'll be judged!" Unwilling to listen any further to Fleur's petulance, the cardinal ordered her away. He took a sip of water, then brushed the damp away with his hand.
"Step forward, the servant girl by the name of Madeleine Athos." At first I did not react to the sound of my name, for I was awash with disbelief. The cardinal was calling me to speak? Surely not. "Girl, you are summoned to bear testimony to the court." Cold eyes were staring directly upon me, so I could not reason that the cardinal was referring to someone else. A monk stepped towards me and gestured that I should move. I did so hesitantly, frowning as I glanced to Athos instinctively. He looked as astonished as I felt, and perhaps a little concerned. "You are the servant girl Madeleine, who has been frequenting the comtesse's salon of late, are you not?" Upon being brought before the jurors, they all surveyed me studiously.
"I am," there was no reason to deny it, though I puzzled at how the cardinal could have possibly known that I, an obscure person of no relevance by all means, had been going to Lady Ninon's parlour.
"Speak the truth, child. When you visited the comtesse's salon, what did you witness? Did she also teach you the secrets of the body?" My mouth curled downwards in distaste.
"There was no need for me to frequent Lady Ninon's residence for an education. I am already literate and have received instruction in numerous subjects." The cardinal's expression clouded ever so slightly, attempting to think of a way to manipulate my words.
"You mean to say that, since you required no education, the comtesse invited you to return upon numerous occasions for other reasons?" Perhaps the cardinal did not fully understand who I was. When he looked upon me, I could see that he thought I was merely a lowly servant girl who knew her letters, but was otherwise a simpleminded woman. Perhaps, this was even what he hoped for. What he did not expect to discover was that my mind was alert and my wits were sharp. I smiled pleasantly.
"Why of course. I was honoured to receive invitations to call upon Lady Ninon at her residence."
"And why would a lady of such distinction desire the company of a servant girl?" Seizing the opportunity, the cardinal lunged to capture the fragment of information that he might be able to twist into a vile degradation against my friend. I would not have it.
"Part of my work involves embroidery, your eminence," I spoke politely and eloquently, allowing my voice to carry as I remained as calm as possible as to not permit my temper to overcome me. "Lady Ninon admires my work and has been kind enough to become a patron of mine." Spreading a hand, I gestured towards my friend, Ninon, whom I found to be smirking victoriously at the cardinal. "She carries a handkerchief bearing my work. Allow me to show you." Never before had I been so grateful that the governess who had taught me needlepoint had been so insistent upon precision, technique and practice.
The fineness of my work spoke for itself as Ninon promptly produced the handkerchief from within her sleeve and allowed me to take it from her. We shared a silent look, which I hoped conveyed my promise to do my absolute best to overturn the public opinion of her transgressions. I brought the handkerchief to the juror's table and set it in front of the cardinal himself where the threads proudly displayed an elaborate wren amidst clusters of flowers, each one as vibrant and lifelike as I could possibly make them. Even the cardinal did not refute my skill. "Impressive."
"Thank you," before he could take the handkerchief and discard it, I took it back and returned it to Ninon.
"But it seems strange to me that the comtesse would call for you so often. My sources tell me that you would enter her residence upon numerous occasions, they made no mention of threads and fabrics." The cardinal eyed me severely. "I suspect that you are not being entirely honest, child."
"You have yet to ask another question, your eminence." My tart reply released a chuckle amongst the onlookers, much to the cardinal's chagrin.
"Then answer me this, and tell me true, girl!" Sharply cutting through the laughter, the cardinal rounded upon me. "Are you or are you not in a scandalous romantic relationship with the Comtesse de Larroque?!" Gaping at the cardinal, I heard several gasps sound from behind me. The stupor rippled throughout my entire body, shocking me to the core, until…I burst into fits of laughter. The cardinal looked as if he was about to explode with rage. I laughed at the ridiculousness of his accusation, and even Ninon chuckled as others nervously joined us, uncertain whether or not it is appropriate. "Do not make a mockery of this court, answer the question!"
"Oh! Gladly, your eminence, gladly!" I used my sleeve to wipe the tears from my eyes. "As beautiful and lovely as Lady Ninon is, I must sadly disappoint your expectations. My eyes favour the attraction of the male sex, therefore any romantic notions between myself and any woman is completely impossible!" I continued to chuckle and giggle, crossing my arms over my stomach to keep from doubling over.
"Impudent girl," the cardinal hissed. I took this as a compliment. "If that is the case, then for what reason could you possibly have to spend hours upon hours at a time conversing in secret with the comtesse?" As his brow furrowed it deepened the lines of his face, aging him several years in an instance. "Perhaps you share this woman's fascination with the art of devilry? Perhaps you spoke of magic and witchcraft…"
"We spoke of languages, your eminence." I corrected him firmly. "Languages, history, music and art, the present tastes in fashion, in jewellery and perfumes…we spoke of gardens and great houses, of flowers and fountains, our favourite seasons and a great many other womanly things." To this, the cardinal had no rebuttal. "I see it as no crime to discuss mundane things with someone whom I am honoured to call a friend." Once more the cardinal straightened. He seemed to sit back and forth upon every other word I spoke, it was quite dizzying.
"What would a servant know of such things? A friendship between two women of such opposing rank and birth cannot be seen as natural." My stomach clenched with a flare of annoyance. This was growing tiresome.
"Non sum servus. Ego sum filia quondam Comtesse de la Fère." Speaking Latin so that a sparse few would understand me, I revealed that I was not just a mere servant girl, but I was in fact the daughter of the late Comtesse de la Fère. In her surprise, Ninon gasped softly as she recognised the name and even the cardinal was left speechless as I met his gaze unwaveringly. "Does this qualify me to be known as a friend to the comtesse?"
"You…you are…" having been overturned by my unexpected rank of nobility, the cardinal swiftly saw that he was fighting a losing battle. "Very well. You may return, I have no further questions for you since you are being difficult." Ah, a clever way to dismiss me, to make it seem as if I were at fault for not providing incriminating evidence. Obliging the cardinal I turned to go, the same monk from before making to guide me away but I looked to Ninon before I went. She glowed warmly as she looked at me, relieved and grateful for my part. I winked to her.
The monk brought me back towards the onlookers but before he could have me join them, Athos stepped in our way and took hold of me instead. He glared at the monk, silently ordering him to release me before I was firmly pulled aside. "You were reckless, Madeleine," he whispered to me as the court readied itself for its next witness.
"The court will hear the testimony of Madame de la Chapelle." I ignored the cardinal's voice, focusing on Athos as he maintained a commanding grip of my arm to keep me from escaping him.
"I spoke nothing but the truth!" We argued in hushed whispers as Madame de la Chapelle, Ninon's personal chambermaid, walked past us with a fan covering her face. I did not pay her any heed as I was too focused upon Athos, noticing her only when she had passed and recognised the thick black curls of her hair as the same I had briefly seen before. I returned to glaring at Athos. "You know as well as I that this is a ruse to defame Lady Ninon's character! They are trying to brand her a witch!"
"And I will not have you branded as one alongside her. I cannot protect you from the powers over ours heads!" Opening my mouth I began to argue, but I paused when a new voice began to speak, one which seemed to forcibly place airs of timidity and meekness.
"Ninon did to me…what I saw her do to other women." The single statement silenced any conflict I held against my brother. Something felt familiar about that voice. A cold chill rising from the depths of my core as the woman I had heard of but never met continued to give her testimony. "She gave me wine, and a bitter potion of some kind. I felt…unsteady, as though in a reverie. I awoke in her private chamber. My clothes had been removed. I remember spells and ritual incantations. I felt a deep and terrible shame." Beside me, Athos too had frozen. His grip upon my arm became like iron, bruising and painful, but I took no heed of it. That voice. I knew that voice.
"Why are you saying these things?" From where we stood we could not see Ninon or the chambermaid. Together Athos and I began to move forwards, pulled by invisible strings towards the enigmatic lady who bore false witness against Lady Ninon. I knew them to be falsehoods, but when we had passed through enough of the onlookers to be able to see her face, a tumultuous storm of emotions rammed themselves against my chest and took the air from my lungs as Athos burst into a horrifying scream.
"THIS WOMAN IS A LIAR!" The bellow tore through the air and echoed upon every stone, feeding upon Athos's rage as I released a strangled cry of grief, horror and absolute loathing. "She is not even who she claims to be! She is a convicted criminal and deceiver!" Springing forwards, Athos became a wild beast in his determination to seize hold of the woman who stood before us, alive when she should have been dead. Anne. Athos's wife. The woman who murdered my dear brother Thomas.
"Witch!" Shrieking with every fibre of my body vibrating with rage, I launched myself after Athos and pointed at Anne who masqueraded as Madame de la Chapelle. "She is a witch! A liar! Devil spawn! MURDERER! You killed my brother! You slaughtered him you vile, vicious vixen!" Most of my words were tangled together in the haste of my wrath, an inferno of fire clashing against the storming tides of a storming ocean within. Somehow I managed to fight my way through the men who had rushed to stop my brother.
Without hesitation I sprang towards Anne who looked at me with a brief flash of alarm as she stood there, pretending to cower in fear. My hands were outstretched, reaching to claw at her face and gouge out her eyes before someone snatched me around the waist and lifted me cleanly off the ground. I hissed and scratched, fighting with every ounce of strength I possessed whilst screaming profanities at Anne, who hid her mouth behind her fan, but I saw that cruel smile. I'll kill her! She feigned confusion and distress. "Why does these people accuse me? Are they friends of Ninon's?" Amidst the screaming and fighting, the cardinal ordered for us both to be restrained.
"She is not to be trusted!" Athos tried to make them understand, but Treville and Aramis both held him back as I too howled like a wild beast, lashing with my feet to try and reach Anne as I was pulled back by my captor.
"Unhand me! I will not rest until I see justice be served, she is a murderer! An agent of Satan! MAY GOD'S WRATH DESCEND UPON YOU, DEGENERATE WHORE!" The man holding me had the misfortune of receiving my elbow to his face, his heavy grunt sounding in my ear but I was blind to recognise who it was, entirely focused upon Anne as the cardinal dismissed her.
"The court has heard enough from this witness. You are excused." I watched helplessly as she walked away. Free. The man restraining me managed to drag me back to the others, where Treville and Aramis still kept Athos under close guard. In a burst of strength I writhed free of my human prison and fell against Athos with a strangled sob as my rage gave way to grieve, thinking only of Thomas and his handsome smile which I would never see again. Athos held me close to him, muffling the sounds of my tortured sobs with his own body as his hand pulled through my hair.
"Who was that?" With a flash of shame, I realised that the one I had hurt by fighting them off so violently had been Porthos. I flinched into another heaving sob. I felt Athos shake his head, refusing to answer as he continued to hush and comfort me. Upon my shoulder I felt another hand. The captain's.
"Silence! If the child cannot be quietened, she will be removed from here immediately!" Dragging a deep breath into my lungs, I forcibly choked down every foul putridness which had crept into my mouth, choking it back so that I could regain my composure. My body was trembling. Shaking with a violent rage and sorrow. Athos peppered my face with his brotherly kisses, brushing away my tears as I fell silent as I was bidden, as I did not want to be forced to part from my brother now. All resentment towards him was forgotten. Once more, I was reminded that we were all each other had for a terrible reason. We could not afford to lose time being angry with one another. "Comtesse de Larroque," the cardinal resumed with the trial's proceedings, seemingly having made his final judgement. "It has been proven in the sight of God that you are a practicing witch who has consorted with the Devil. The court finds you guilty on all counts." Another wail of despair rose up within me.
This one I managed to quieten, turning my face into Athos's neck as he continued to envelop me with his embrace. "But…this is madness. I am not a witch," Ninon whispered in utter astonishment at the findings, which had been forcibly shaped to confer upon her the guilt of a criminal. "They do not exist!"
"More blasphemy, stop her mouth!" Another of the jurors gave order for Ninon to be silenced, but the cardinal belayed the instruction with a raise of his hand.
"Wait." He looked down upon Ninon unfeelingly, offering no remorse or regret for her sentence. Merely cold, empty antipathy. "At a time to be determined, you will be taken to a place of execution, and your body will be burned to ashes." Immediately my mind began to strategize. I would not allow Ninon to be killed, not when she was clearly innocent. I would spirit her away before they could carry out her sentence, take her somewhere hidden in the countryside before finding a way to leave Paris.
She was a clever woman and knowledgeable of the world. I had no doubt that she would make a life for herself with her wits, and perhaps…perhaps I could go with her. I could not very well abandon her to face the world alone. She was my dear friend, and together we would be able to take care of one another. My brother would understand. He would do the same were our positions reversed, thought to leave him…I was caught between the struggle. Thankfully, however, my salvation came.
Queen Anne herself arrived at the most pivotal moment to deliver her instructions from the king, announcing that the king desired that Ninon would not be executed if she did not offer a full and uncoerced confession admitted herself to be a witch. Never had I loved the queen so dearly as I did in that moment. Now, the tables had turned. With no room for manoeuvre, the cardinal could only watch as the queen helped Ninon rise to her feet, where she brushed herself off and immediately lifted her chin. "I have never consorted with the Devil until this moment." The heaviness of her tone sent a chill down my spine. "I am looking at him."
"Condemned from her own mouth!" Shouting gleefully, the cardinal pointed accusingly at Ninon with a victorious smirk. "Such language amounts to a con…amounts to a…" a gargling sound began to float throughout the chamber, rousing me from my reverie to look once more to where the cardinal stood. Suddenly he was grasping at his neck, clutching it tightly as his widened with such alarm that I it almost seemed as if they were devoid of all colour. He was choking. Together Aramis and Porthos rushed to aid the cardinal who collapsed, gasping for air.
I acted impulsively, fisting my hands in my skirts to allow me to run across the room and join Aramis as he attempted to ascertain what was causing the cardinal to choke seemingly upon nothing. Perhaps a tooth? Could one have fallen free and become partially swallowed? It could even have been a bone from a meal which had lodged itself in his throat and remained unnoticed until it had suddenly shifted. My hand clamped down upon Aramis's shoulder and he drew back upon seeing me.
Immediately I clasped the cardinal's face in my hands to tilt his head, his wide eyes staring at me as I began to feel at his throat for a protrusion or lump. I found nothing. "Carry him! Hurry!" If there was no obstruction, then there could only be one other source to cause such a reaction. Poison.