Captain d’Aumont climbed into her carriage, poking about it, but all appeared to be quite in order, and after a few very long minutes he climbed out again. “I ask your pardon, madame la marquise,” he said, “but you will understand it was necessary.”
“Indeed, Capitain,” she replied dryly as he helped her back into her coach and firmly shut the door behind her. “Drive on, Henri,” Autumn called to her coachman, allowing the musketeer to believe she was piqued at him, as any normal, innocent woman would have been.
“Oui, madame!” Henri called down and whipped the horses up again.
“Your majesty must remain where she is for now,” Autumn said softly. “I cannot be certain they have gone away entirely. Do not reply, madame. Just stay silent. We are not far from Chermont, I promise.” Then, suddenly, she had a new thought. She called to her coachman, “Henri, only one woman will exit the carriage when we arrive home. Do not be surprised. Afterwards you will drive the coach into the stables.”
“Oui, madame,” came the impassive reply. The coachman understood his mistress quite well. The fewer people in on this dangerous secret, the better chance they had of keeping it, and of helping their good queen.
The marquis was awaiting his wife in the chateau’s courtyard. He helped the hooded lady from the carriage, and it then moved on into the stables. When the doors had been closed and bolted, Autumn arose from her seat and was helped out by Henri. She nodded at him, and then without a word slipped from the stables, running quickly across the the darkened courtyard and into the chateau through a small side door that opened into a narrow hallway with a small staircase. Hurrying up the stairs, she exited into the broad corridor of the bedroom floor and ran to her apartments.
“You’re back!” Lily greeted her eagerly.
“Where is Orane?” Autumn demanded.
“I sent her to the kitchens to have her supper. She knows nothing, nor will she,” Lily answered.
“We were stopped along the road, but I had her hidden by then. Where is my husband?”
“He took her to him,” Lily replied.
The door to the salon opened, and Sebastian entered. “Well done, madame la marquise,” he said with a broad smile. “You would, it seems, have a talent for intrigue. They want to see you. Come!” He held out his hand to her.
Cardinal Mazarin and Queen Anne were awaiting them in a tower of the chateau. Jules Mazarn had his arm about the queen, and she was smiling up at him, but her eyes were tear-filled with her relief. They turned as the marquis and his wife entered the room.
“Ahh,” the cardinal said, “here is our brave heroine. My dear marquise, you did very well indeed. The queen tells me that your demeanor was quite clever, and you now have a musketeer captain enthralled.”
“Captain d’Aumont is too clever, I believe, to be enthralled. He simply couldn’t figure out whether I had the queen or not, or if there was a plot or not. All he knew for certain was that the queen was missing, and she had gone missing after her guests left. Since my coach was the last to depart Chenonceaux, he caught up with it first.”
“We are so grateful to you,” Queen Anne said. “Jules has told me that the plot was devised by you, and that you went to all your neighbors and enlisted them in our cause. Bless you, my dear marquise, but now, how do I manage to return to Paris?”
“We must hide you for the next few days, your majesty,” Autumn replied. “They will be searching every coach and cart on the Paris road after they have searched every chateau in the region. Neither of you are safe here, but there is one place I am certain you will be safe, although even it may be searched. My mother lives just past Archambault in a small chateau called Belle Fleurs. It has always been a refuge to my family and is quite off the beaten track. It is just possible Captain d’Aumont will not know of it, but even if he does, Mama will make certain that neither you nor the cardinal will be found. We must, however, go tonight, before your enemies mount a great search. My mother is expecting us. As soon as the servants are in bed we will leave. We have entrusted this secret to only a few people. It is much better that way, and even they do not know that the cardinal is the cardinal,” she finished with a small smile.
“Such a clever madame,” Jules Mazarin said, “and she would remain in the country. ’Tis a great waste.”
“Now, Jules,” the queen replied, “I am not certain she hasn’t chosen a better course than any of us. Her life will be tranquil. Ours has been chaotic, to say the least.”
“Ah, but she was not born Infanta of Spain, my dear, nor will she ever become Queen of France. You were and are all those things,” the cardinal reminded his beloved. “You have done your duty, and you have performed well. Your life has brought you two fine sons.”
“And it brought me you,” the queen quickly added meaningfully.
He took her hand in his and kissed it, nodding. “Despite it all, my dear, we have been happy, and Louis is at last king in his own right, but he yet needs us, so you must return to Paris.”
“What of you?” she cried.
“Louis has asked me to return, but it is not quite safe for me to do so. I will arrange to meet him well outside of Paris, probably in January at Poitiers. By the time we return to Paris we shall have things well in hand. The country can no longer take all this fighting. The princes of the blood and their allies must be brought to heel once and for all. Paris must be quieted. I think a cardinal’s hat for Gondi will accomplish that. I have already written to the pope from Cologne. He has promised that when I have regained my authority and our king is firmly enthroned, he will grant my request. Then, my dear Anne, we will set about to defang these noble snakes who surround us. Louis’s power must be absolute!”
The queen turned to Autumn. “How do we reach your mother? Will not a coach at midnight attract attention?”
“We will ride, and the horses’ hooves will be muffled, your majesty,” Autumn said. “My husband and I will accompany you ourselves. I will have my serving woman, Lily, bring you some supper, your majesty, and then I would suggest you rest until I come for you.” Autumn curtsied.
“This is a new side of you, cherie, that I certainly never expected,” Sebastian said to her as they returned to their own apartments.
“I thought by now,” she teased him, “that you had seen every side of me, mon coeur. If you have missed something, it is not from want of trying.” She spun about and kissed him quickly upon the lips.
He laughed. “Behave yourself, madame la marquise,” he told her with mock sternness. “We have not yet come to the end of our day.”
“When did that ever stop us?” Autumn said mischievously.
He chuckled. “Tonight it will. I would feel the cardinal was peeping over our shoulder the whole time. Let us get them settle and then, madame, we will pray together.”
“He loves her,” Autumn observed, “and she loves him. They behave like an old married couple. I remember my parents interacting in that way. It is rather sad, and yet very touching.”
“It is rumored that they are married, and have been for several years; but, of course, there is no proof of it. Such proof of a morganatic marriage between Anne of Austria and Jules Mazarin would be a disaster.”
“Why?” Autumn asked him.
“The queen was wed to King Louis the Thirteenth for twenty-eight years before her first son was born,” he explained. “There would be those who claimed Louis was Mazarin’s son, and not the legal and legitimate offspring of King Louis the Thirteenth.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Autumn replied. “The queen hardly knew Mazarin then, for his station was not high enough to allow them daily contact. Besides, the king looks like the portrait of his father I have seen at Chenonceaux.”
“That is true, and the queen is a virtuous woman, but, ma petite, you are wise enough to know there are those who would not care about that if a lie would gain them greater power,” Sebastian said.
“I am glad we live a simple life,” Autumn responded.
&n
bsp; “And yet the cardinal believes that a royal court would be a proper venue for your talents, Autumn,” her husband said. “Would you like to visit Louis’s court?”
“Perhaps one day, when our children are grown,” she admitted. “By then Louis should have his palace at Versailles built. That would be interesting, mon coeur. Oh, Lily, there you are,” she said to her serving woman. “Go to the kitchens and bring a tray to the queen and Monsieur Jules in the north tower. Say the tray is for us if you are asked. Marc may help you. Hurry!”
“Yes, madame,” Lily said, and hurried out.
“Marc will go with us tonight,” Autumn said. “He will carry the lantern that will guide us. It will be slow going, but we cannot be certain whether Captain d’Aumont is out searching. We must attract no attention on our way to Belle Fleurs.”
“I don’t want you to go,” he finally said to her.
“What?” Autumn was outraged.
“The fewer horses, the less difficulty, Autumn,” Sebastian told her. “Besides, if your musketeer should come to Chermont tonight, you can hold him off. If he sees you, he will be satisfied, but if Lily insists you cannot be disturbed, his suspicions will be aroused. I will take our guests to your mother’s. You know I am right, cherie.”
Autumn sighed. He was right, but this whole adventure had been such fun, she was loath to have it end. Still, she would not endanger Queen Anne or the cardinal. King Louis’s reign depended on the queen returning safely to Paris and the cardinal meeting the king in January. She nodded, albeit reluctantly. “I shall take a leisurely bath and be awaiting your return in our bed, mon coeur,” she told him.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard. “Madame, you would tempt the very angels with your words. I shall return to your side as quickly as I possibly can.”
When the hour came for the queen and the cardinal to depart Chermont, the marquis offered his wife’s farewells and God speeds, explaining why she would not accompany them. The cardinal agreed.
“Captain d’Aumont is like a rat terrier when he is seeking something. It is best that your wife remain here.”
Lafite had made certain their passage through the house was unobstructed and empty of servants. Marc awaited them in the stables with the horses. Their journey would take several hours, as they must go slowly through a black woods with Marc leading them, the dark light of his lantern falling only on the ground at his feet. It was a tedious trip, with few night sounds, the muffled hooves of the horses barely audible. By the time they reached Belle Fleurs it was obvious that Captain d’Aumont had erred on the side of caution and did not intend to conduct his hunt for his missing prisoner until the morning.
Exiting the forest, they came to the edge of the low garden wall and the marquis dismounted, helping the queen, who was now quite exhausted, from her mount. With his own key he opened the gate into the chateau’s gardens and led his two companions through them, entering the house by means of a small hidden door, almost entirely covered over with ivy. Adali was awaiting them. He bowed first to Queen Anne and then to the cardinal.
“My mistress bids you welcome. If you will follow me, I shall take you to your chambers.”
“How can we thank you?” the queen said, taking Sebastian’s hands in hers. “With such loyal friends as we have found here on the Cher, Louis’s reign is secure.”
The marquis kissed the queen’s hands. “It has, madame la reine, been our pleasure to serve you.”
“You will hear from me,” the cardinal said, before turning away to follow the queen and Adali.
“Of that I have no doubt, your grace,” the marquis replied with a wry smile. Then, letting himself out through the same door through which he had entered, he rejoined Marc and the horses. Together they returned to Chermont, arriving just before dawn.
Autumn greeted her husband sleepily, holding out her arms to him as he entered their bed. “The sky is lightening,” she murmured.
“It is dawn,” he responded, nuzzling her round little breasts.
“Ummmm,” she encouraged him.
He opened her nightrail and licked between the shadowed valley of her breasts. Then his dark head moved to kiss a nipple, his mouth opening to close again over the sentient nub of scented flesh.
Her fingers entwined in his soft hair. “Ohh, that’s nice,” she told him, enjoying the sensation of his mouth tugging upon her flesh. His head moved to her other nipple, and she sighed with her pleasure.
He pushed her garment up to to her waist and covered her body with his. Autumn’s hand smoothed down his long back as he entered her. She was no longer embarrassed by her eager response to him and welcomed him readily, her body wet and hot as he pistoned her slowly at first, and then with increasing vigor. Her legs wrapped about him. She made little sounds of passion and utter delight as together they exploded into a fury of utter satisfaction. Collapsing into each other’s arms, they fell into a contented sleep, but they did not sleep long, for a pounding came upon their bedchamber door, and it burst open suddenly.
Sebastian d’Oleron sat up, half-awake and utterly startled to find his bedchamber filled with musketeers. “What the hell . . .” he began. By his side, his wife clutched the bedclothes to her half-naked body, eyes wide with her shock.
“I told them you were sleeping, monseigneur,” Lafite, the majordomo said angrily. “I said I should fetch you, as this man, insisted he must see you and madame la marquise.” His look marked Captain d’Aumont. “But he would not allow it. He demanded I take him to you.”
“It is all right, Lafite. Captain d’Aumont comes on the king’s business. Is that not right, Captain? However, I should ask that you remove your men from my bedchamber. Lafite will take them to the kitchens for some wine and food. Then, if you will await me in the salon, I shall be happy to speak with you.” He stepped naked from the bed, his demeanor assured and cool. “You have frightened my wife, and I do not appreciate the lustful looks your men are directing at her.” He slid his arms into the fur-lined velvet robe Lafite wrapped him in, and then moved toward the door to the salon. “Come, messieurs,” he said to them, and they followed him.
When the salon had emptied of all but the marquis and the captain, Sebastian said, “I assume this unseemly invasion of my home is in regard to the queen’s disappearance. Has she been found yet? I told my wife she had probably wandered into an unused portion of the chateau. Chenonceaux is a large place, after all.”
“She has not been found, monseigneur,” Captain d’Aumont replied.
“Ah, so you have come to search my house, then,” the marquis remarked with a small, amused smile. “You have my permission, Captain.” He poured them both a goblet of wine, handing one to his visitor.
Captain d’Aumont took the silver vessel and raising it, then said, “To the king!”
“The king!” the marquis agreed, lifting his goblet in return.
“I should search your house with or without permission, monseigneur for, as you noted, I am on the king’s business. His mother, placed in my care, is missing. The king will be very distressed.”
“I have it on the best authority that the king is already upset, Captain, for he does not even know where his mother is,” Sebastian said to the soldier.
“But my orders came from the king! They had his seal.” The musketeer looked discomfitted. “Certainly the king knows his mother’s whereabouts. Why wouldn’t he?”
“Perhaps it is because the same men who have kept France at war with itself since this Louis succeeded his father wish it. Only the queen and the cardinal kept the boy safe from those orders. You are no fool, Captain d’Aumont. You know how power corrupts. The king is still a boy, despite his responsibilities. Did I not hear it said that he asked his mother to be his right hand when he was crowned? My wife was there and told me this. Ask yourself why this faithful and devoted woman would have left her son at this critical juncture in his life? I do not think I should look to the families of the Cher for some plot or other. I should look
to those who seek to gain power and wealth for themselves by means of a young boy king. It is to their advantage that his mother disappear, certainly not to the people of this region. We are grape growers and makers of wine. Politics does not interest us, nor do we involve ourselves in the power struggles of the Seine valley.”
Now the captain looked confused, but then he stubbornly said, “I must search your house and the chateau of every family who came to Chenonceaux yesterday. I should not be doing my duty otherwise.”
“Suit yourself, Captain, but you will understand if I wish to rejoin my wife.” He put down his goblet and with a smile turned, reentering his bedchamber. Closing the door behind him, he waited until he heard the door to the salon open and close. Then, looking out, he satisfied himself that the musketeer had left their apartments. He could see the questions in Autumn’s eyes. He put his finger to his lips in a cautionary gesture. Then he climbed into bed with her and, enfolding her in his arms, kissed her a long, sweet kiss, one hand going to fondle her breast.
Autumn slapped the hand away. “I cannot!” she whispered at him. “Not while those men are in our house, Sebastian!”
Kissing her hand, he laughed, then nodded his assent.
In early January there came from Paris a king’s messenger bearing a gift for the Marquis and Marquise d’Auriville. It was a large silver and gold gilt salt cellar engraved with both the king’s crest and the crest of d’Auriville. With it came a small parchment with but three words scribbled upon it: Our thanks. Louis. By mid-February word had come that the king had welcomed Cardinal Mazarin in Poiters in late January. The cardinal had arrived at the head of an army of twenty-five hundred men, fifteen hundred of whom were foot and a thousand cavalry.
The cardinal immediately began to consolidate his power, acting in the king’s best interest to jail his enemies, soothe egos, and strengthen France internally. Those who had fought Jules Mazarin so hard were finally forced to realize that he could not be beaten. He would do whatever was necessary to make Louis XIV a strong and good king. Any who attempted to stand in his way would be disposed of without hesitation.
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