Upon my advice, Porthos went to see his father and receive his answers. He asked Aramis to accompany him. I would have gone too, but my presence was needed at the palace. Both for Anne, who was steadily losing her connection to King Louis as he continually locked himself within his room…and Constance. Bonacieux had been laid to rest, but there was no peace to be found within her. He had been killed at the most inopportune time, when her guilt was at its peak, and I worried that she might never recover from it. After all, Constance was every bit as honourable as a musketeer.
I stayed by her side, speaking little on the matter for I knew she did not want to discuss it, but I was ready to talk whenever she was, and at the very least I could remain by her side, even wearing darker colours to honour her period of mourning. It was not for Bonacieux, but for Constance. I could maintain silence regarding my views of that man, if only for Constance's sake, as low as they had been. I was not sorry he was dead. Constance would deny it, but he was at heart a cruel man. He never showed her love nor kindness. If he had done so, then perhaps Constance might have loved him in return.
He was dead, however, so I resolved to put all thoughts of him out of my head and focused upon attending the queen, standing behind her as she awaited news from Rochefort regarding the king. Every day she had gone to his apartments only to be turned away, and I could see it beginning to drain upon her spirit to be so constantly rejected. Today, as with every day, Rochefort emerged from the king's rooms, having conducted his own business as First Minister of France, to deliver his news to Anne. "The king prefers to be alone. Perhaps your majesty might try again this evening?" He suggested and I believed I detected a hint of condescension in his tone. Disappointed, Anne started to leave. "My condolences, madame, on your husband's untimely death." Rather unexpectedly, Rochefort addressed Constance, drawing our attention back to him as my expression flickered with a frown. "You should take some time to grieve."
"I have offered, but Constance will not leave my side." Anne explained with an affectionate smile to Constance, but this only propelled Rochefort forwards.
"Oh, then we must insist." He low, sinister voice he possessed did not set my mind at ease, nor did it convince me that he was thinking of Constance's best interests. "I can find other servants for the queen."
"Her majesty is not lacking for attendants, sir," I reminded him plainly, looking with a cool steadiness as his icy stare shifted to me. "If Constance desires a reprieve then I am more than capable of serving the queen. Alone, if need be."
"Your dedication is…admirable." For a moment, it seemed as if Rochefort had thought of a different word to end his deliberation, one that would not have been a compliment. Raising my chin, I elected not to engage and simply curtseyed in acknowledgement of his station before following Anne away. She halted once we were out of the room, however, taking Constance by the hand to speak softly to her.
"Rochefort is right. D'Artagnan will be waiting," Anne reasoned wisely, perhaps understanding better than most what it meant to have to be forcibly separated from a lover with little hope of ever being allowed to be together freely. "Let the world say what it likes. I will receive you both at court and then no-one will dare gossip." Meaning well, Anne was smiling as she spoke, but I noted how Constance did not entirely reciprocate the tender feeling. Something troubled her.
"Your majesty, don't let Rochefort stop you seeing the King." Speaking what was on her mind, I glanced to where Rochefort stood amongst the courtiers who were bringing their own agendas before him in place of the king. I was startled to find him staring at us, at Anne. Discreetly, I stepped to the left and hid my queen from his view. "He needs you now, more than ever before."
"What do you mean, Constance?" Puzzled by her concerns, Anne did not share in Constance's concerns, trusting too much in Rochefort to see his ploy even as it stood right before her very eyes.
"The King is not well." She stated simply, as if this was reason enough for her not to disagree with Rochefort's words. "I'm certain Rochefort has all our interests at heart." If only it were true, then the palace and all of France would be better for it. Knowing better than to press the issue, Constance said nothing more, but the look we shared convinced me that there was something in her words which rang true. I promised myself to watch Rochefort carefully. There was something…I could not rightly put my finger upon it.
All day I was on edge. There were simply too many things which were causing me to be anxious. Porthos and his father, Treville's secret connection, Rochefort…it seemed everywhere I turned there was one issue placed atop another. I should not have been surprised when another one arrived, but since it was delivered in the shape of my brother, I received it willingly and with no small measure of love. "Athos," it seemed of late we had not had much time to ourselves, so I was grateful for the opportunity to see him alone.
"How are you, sister? Are you eating well?" Tilting my head from side to side to regard me carefully, I chuckled at my brother's quiet fussing as his gaze washed over me.
"Better than most, I often finish the biscuits her majesty leaves and many other delicious delights. I am as you see me, dear brother," pinching at his cheek to tease him, I then brought him to a seat so that we might be comfortable for a moment. "Why are you here? Is there something you need of me?" A pulse of panic cast itself through me. "Is the captain…?"
"Treville is fine, do not concern yourself." Putting me at ease, I allowed myself to relax against my chair. "Can a brother not visit his sister simply for the joy of seeing her?" Unable to help myself, I smiled at his charm which he did not often use, admiring how smoothly he had transformed my panic into peace.
"I know that look, Athos. Something is trouble you, so tell me. What is it? Is it perhaps Porthos?" My brother hesitated.
"In some sense, yes." Now intrigued and concerned, I straightened myself to listen with full attention to what Athos had sought me out for. "Porthos has a half-sister, Eleanor, and she is married to a man named Levesque. There was an altercation upon their arrival with two girls who were attempting to flee the estate. Later, one of them turned up dead, and Aramis is certain that she was murdered." The breath rushed from my body.
"Dead?" Understanding the importance of this, the gravity, I soon found myself leaning forwards. "You suspect them? Porthos' family?"
"Aramis followed Levesque when he brought the other girl from the estate to a townhouse here in the city. From what we know, the girl is being held there against her will and tonight, Levesque and his wife are hosting…an entertainment evening." My brow twitched, wondering why my brother was being vague in the details. "We are not certain what this entertainment involves, but we have a feeling it is nothing good. D'Artagnan and I are going to enter tonight to see what is happening and rescue the girl if necessary. The only detail standing in our way is…" my brother faltered and suddenly looked mightily ashamed of himself, struggling to force the words from his mouth. Reaching for his hand, I held it gently, encouraging him quietly to not be ashamed, no matter what it was he needed to say or ask. He blanched for a moment, struggling to contend with his pride until finally, the words passed over his tongue. "There is an admittance fee for twenty livre. Forty, for two of us. They will not allow us through the door without it."
"Twenty livre?" Such a price was unexpectedly high for a simple entrance fee for entertainment. The only places which demanded such a price rarely had a good reason for such a toll. I suddenly understood. "You are asking if I will give you the fee."
"Loan," my brother hastily corrected. "Loan me the fee." I nodded with understanding.
"Loan," I agreed. "And you say you suspect that these people are up to something nefarious with this girl? Possibly more?" The first guess which came to mind was something which roiled my stomach and made my blood boil. I was torn between slavery and prostitutes. Though, if these girls were being handed out to men against their will, the two labels were practically one in the same. My rage burned deeper.
"The funding for our regiment has been limited because of Rochefort. We could perhaps gather the fee, but it would leave us dry until the next quarter. I would not ask unless it was absolutely necessary, Madeleine. However…I knew that if anyone was to have the coin and would not be overly affected by its loss, it would be you." This was true. Owing to my wages as a lady in waiting, as well as my share of the profits from the estate and the commissions I still undertook from the court for my rather famous embroidery, I was quite a wealthy woman. There was no reason to refuse, and every reason to agree.
"You shall have it, on one condition." Hesitating, Athos warily queried the condition. "I shall be going with you."
"Absolutely not, you cannot think…"
"If you are right and that there are young girls in that house who have been mistreated and terrified out of their wits, then even though you go to save them, being surrounded by more men might only frighten them further." Reasoning calmly, I set my expression into an unwavering determination, signifying that there was going to be no argument on the matter. "The presence of another woman might comfort them." After several long, silent moments, my brother eventually sighed.
"You will not waver in this, will you?"
"Not at all. It is my one condition and I shall not be shifted from it." Proving my point, I went to my dresser and promptly unlocked the secret compartment, drawing out two velvet purses and counting twenty livre apiece. I held them before my brother, showing him that the coin was ready before I tossed both to him, one after the other. "So," I planted my hands upon my hips, "where is this house exactly?"