Yes, Guest. Kitty is the new character I was talking about. In Alexandre Dumas's novel The Three Musketeers, Kitty was Milady's personal handmaid.
For my fic here, I visualize actress Saniyya Sydney who played Amy Bellafonte in The Passage as Kitty, and in here I'm making her much younger than she was in the original book.
Glad you are enjoying these chapters. Don't worry, there is much more to come of Milady, Felice, and Buckingham. Will Buckingham actually seduce Felice, or will he know enough with this country girl to back off? We shall have to see. If he even smiles at her wrong, which apparently he already has, he will have to answer to four angry musketeers!
"So, you have served Milady for 4 years." Felice stated.
"Aye, Miss." Kitty nodded.
"And...is she a fair mistress?"
"Fair enough." Kitty answered. Felice puffed out incredulously.
"Kitty, can you tell me, why did she bring me here? What am I to her? I do not even know who she is."
"She is a countess." Kitty said quickly. "A friend of the pretty duke's. She does not confide in me, only to tell me what I should or shouldn't do." A sudden knock on the door startled the both of them.
"Come." Felice answered. The door opened, and a guard stepped around it.
"My lady," He bowed. "The Duke requires your presence in his office at once."
Felice gulped hard. "You may go." She told him.
"I am to escort you." The guard argued. Felice slowly stood up.
"I suppose you may go now, Kitty." She said lowly. "But do please come back to me soon, and we shall talk together again."
"I'd like that, Miss. Until later." Kitty smiled with a curtsy, then departed.
"Best not keep his lordship waiting, Miss." The guard reminded Felice.
"L-lead the way." Felice said meekly. I am a Gascon. Gascons do not back down. I must do what Father, Mother, and Charles have taught me: observe my surroundings, and keep my ears alert for overlooked details that may later become significant. I...I'll have to find out what Buckingham truly wants of me, and then...make a plan.
A plan. Does Charles ever have a plan? I suppose...sometimes. But when the plan falls awry, he easily just follows his instinct. Charles...he is brave without having to be. How can I be brave without him? I shall have to try! I have to!
Just please, please, Lord, DON'T let Buckingham...have fun with me! I beg of You!
"My lord?" The guard bowed before Buckingham in his office. "The lady has come at your bidding."
"Fine." Buckingham nodded from his slouching position in his chair, with his lanky boots crisscrossed on his desk. Felice entered with her hands folded, and stared at her feet. The guard left as Buckingham waved him away.
"Ahh." Milady cooed, walking to Felice and taking her hands, like a mother. "Are you quite recovered?" She asked.
"I…" Felice mewed, unable to form the words.
"Come sit." Milady led the girl back to the chair facing Buckingham. Felice clasped her hands tightly together.
Buckingham slowly straightened up and rose to his feet. "Ahh, my little country flower." He smiled. Felice threw him a dark look then stared straight ahead. "What? No rhetorical insult? No witty smile?" Felice sighed in a bored tone. "You know? Things could become much more comfortable for you, if you cared to be a little more friendly." Buckingham whispered, curling his finger around her wavy hair. "I have been known to display a charitable side at times."
"You're wasting your breath." She said dryly, trying not to shake. "I was brought here under shady circumstances, possibly sinister. And, you insulted my good companions, my lord. So," she kept gripping and loosening her fingers on her skirts, "as of now, I do not consider us friends."
"What a shame." Buckingham shrugged. He lifted her chin with his finger. She tried to breathe normally, but her memories went back to Rochefort's ugly advances toward her. "I am relieved though to see that you have retained your amusing wit." Felice drew her face back.
"What do you want?" Felice asked.
"You seem to be friendly enough with the musketeers, no?" Milady spoke up, slowly walking around the chair, quietly like a snake slithering on around a tree. Felice gaped in surprise. Buckingham knew she was with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. But how did this woman know? And what's more, why?
"Captain de Treville is head of many musketeers, Madame." Felice answered vaguely. "I am afraid I am not familiar with them all."
Buckingham snickered. "Oh, indeed she is! Burly, boisterous Porthos. Bookish, wiry Aramis. Ah, yes."
"And Athos." Milady 'reminded' him. "Ahh, dear Athos. How is he these days, Felice? Suave? Still hard-shelled on the outside, total soft-hearted on the inside? Does he still prefer his wine to human conversation?" She let out a girlish giggle while Buckingham snorted darkly.
Felice narrowed her eyes. What was this woman's game? Who was she, really? "How do you know so much about Athos?" She asked suspiciously.
"Why, we are old chums." Milady replied. "Did he not tell you? He and Buckingham were in bad blood together, over my hand. Do you recall, my lord?"
"Most deliciously." Buckingham drawled.
"Ugh." Felice curled her lips. Then she remembered, what Aramis had said to explain Athos's gruff manner: a woman. The older musketeer had been jilted by a beautiful woman he'd loved. He had never gotten over her. This was her! It had to be!
"Oh, please. Why don't you two just kiss already? You are quite dull entertainment. I'd sooner see Porthos dressed in an apron, dancing with his manservant." Felice complained. Buckingham threw his head back, laughing.
"That's what I love about you, my little garden flower." He clapped his hands. "You brighten my day even without trying. Porthos has always been an oaf. What I would pay to see the picture you just described for us!" Milady shook her head, grinning.
"You have little respect for the defenders of the king." Felice said stiffly to Buckingham, with a steadier voice. Their japes at her good friends angered her, and emboldened her. "As I recall when we first met. You have a habit of mocking those you consider beneath you. A trait I do not find attractive, my lord."
"So, you haven't entirely extinguished that little spitfire I first saw in you." Buckingham pet her hair while Felice bristled and shook her head to fling his hand away. "You are fond of Athos and his loyal brigade of dogs."
"They're men! Not dogs." Felice growled.
"After all, they are your friends, no?" Milady murmured softly. "You wouldn't want to see them...annihilated, now would you?"
"W-what do you mean?" Felice gulped.
"The musketeers are valiant, yes. To a fault. They are obviously fond of you. Do you think they will not come here for you with hot-headed intentions? What shall become of them if they plan to take up arms against Lord Buckingham, against the Cardinal himself in their impetuous impulsiveness to save you, their little lost lamb?"
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Felice faced Milady for the first time, and she glared icy daggers at those purely polished emerald eyes. "Besides, another unsuspecting victim shouldn't weigh too heavily on your conscience, Milady." She snarled.
"Why, Felice, child. You should thank me!"
"Thank you?! For what?"
"For my generosity." She placed her hand on Felice's shoulder and caressed her hair. She was very gentle, but it reminded Felice of a spider's touch. Milady whispered in her ear. "Consider this: I could've just handed you over to Rochefort. He would've delighted at that notion. Imagine how much worse everything would seem for you had that been the case." Felice went pale, bracing herself, her breath coming out in small, ragged gasps.
The man's name leaves quite an impression on my little country wench. How interesting. "You know him." Buckingham remarked, surprised and intrigued by her frightened reaction.
"I know him." Felice gritted her teeth, clenching and unclenching her skirt. "The bloody thug."
"See, I am not altogether as hard as ice. I know what a girl wants." Milady continued. "You could have all of this, and a dashing, charming master to look after you. If you would just say the word. All you have to do, is tell us the musketeers' plans of undermining the Cardinal and everything will be sweet. Picking fights with the Cardinal's men. Mere boys' play. Surely they've discussed their plots with you for bringing the realm about to their own advantage?"
"But I told you, I do not know." Felice persisted. "That is your fault. You had me taken away from Paris, before I knew anything about what you want to know. So, the joke's on you, Milady. You faltered, so now I'm afraid you'll have to fend for yourself."
"Too bad." Milady shrugged. "You'll have to forgive me, but I truly hoped everything would've been much better for you. What do you want done with her, Lord Buckingham? Shall we send for the dungeon, or shall I just give the signal and hand her over to Rochefort?" She asked cockily.
Oh g-, Felice bit her lip, her heart racing. No matter which option they decided over her fate, it appeared she was in for a rough time. Kill me already, she thought with dread. Don't place me in the vile hands of Rochefort! I'd rather die!
"No, no. That won't be necessary." Lord Buckingham shook his head, flashing that charming smile. He stepped over to the prisoner and pulled out his knife. Felice braced herself, staring straight ahead, holding her breath.
This is it! I'm going to die. I never imagined this would be how I met my end…But the blade to her throat never came! Rather, the all too glamorous duke picked up a wave of her hair and slit a curl off. He placed his knife back in its holster and brought the hair to his lips. Felice cringed. I didn't give you permission for that, you repulsive peacock of a cavalier! She thought.
"Sweet." Lord Buckingham purred. "Take her away, but keep her safe. And no horseplay either. I like her. I want her preserved.'Til later, my little country flower." He grinned a dashing smile. Felice rolled her eyes as the officers removed her from the room. Only when they were out in the hall did she allow her shoulders to relax with relief.
"Who is this Rochefort?" Buckingham asked.
"Rochefort is what one might call...brutish. Nowhere near as merciful as my lord."
"Ahh, then most fortunate for me that you placed her in my hands."