The King's Falcon (Roundheads & Cavaliers Book 3) (70 page)

*
 
*
 
*

The following morning dawned grey and surly.
 
Up and dressed long before Athenais was awake, Ashley was able to slip through her room and make his way downstairs undetected.
 
It was so early, he’d expected the rest of the house to be sleeping but realised, when he entered the kitchen, that he should have known better.

Pauline sat at the table, staring into a cup of steaming, bitter-smelling liquid that appeared to have bits of weed floating in it.
 
Ashley eyed it uneasily and wondered if it was the same brew that Athenais had been drinking to avoid conception … and whether she was still taking it.
 
He didn’t realise that Pauline was looking at him until she said, ‘Yes it is. And since her courses came, no she isn’t.’

Ashley’s heart slammed in his chest.
 

Oh God.
 
Why didn’t I think of that?
 
She must have been terrified.
 
But she’d have told me if there was any chance of a child.
 
Wouldn’t she?

He said, ‘You’re razor-sharp for so early in the morning.’

‘You think I can sleep with this hanging over us?’

‘Perhaps not.
 
Is Francis similarly afflicted?’

‘God, no. I imagine you could bang pots together over his head this morning and he wouldn’t stir.’
 
She eyed him acidulously. ‘But you’ll be glad to know that his shoulder doesn’t seem to be giving him any trouble so you’ll be able to knock seven bells out of him again later.
 
Not that it will do much good.
 
He’s not going to be up to your standard inside twenty-four hours no matter how much torture you inflict.’

Ashley drew a steadying breath and held on to his temper.

‘I’m aware of that – which is why I sent Jem to the Louvre to ask Hyde to arrange for some firearms.
 
To the best of my recollection, Francis is a reasonable shot.
 
Does that make you feel any better?’

Pauline came abruptly to her feet.

‘
Nothing
about this is going to make me feel any better until it’s over and all three of you are back here, safe and sound.
 
Odd as it seem, it’s not just Francis I’m worried about.
 
I’m also far from ecstatic at possibly having to tell Athenais why you aren’t coming home.’

And, snatching up her cup, she stalked out.

It was nearly an hour before Francis materialised, yawning and looking annoyingly relaxed.

‘Christ,’ muttered Ashley.
 
‘It’s clear enough how you spent the night.’

‘A fair proportion of it,’ agreed Francis lazily. ‘But one doesn’t like to brag.’

‘Presumably, one also doesn’t like what Pauline would do to one if she caught one speaking of things one shouldn’t,’ came the sarcastic retort.
 
Then, ‘Come on.
 
Let’s try and get an hour in before Athenais gets up and commiserates with you for worrying about your failing physique.
 
I had to explain yesterday’s exercise somehow so I told her you were suffering from low self-esteem – but one look at your face this morning will give the lie to that.’

The sword-play went better than on the previous afternoon.
 
Francis had never been a master-swordsman and wasn’t going to become one now; but his speed and flexibility improved as the hour wore on and Ashley taught him two highly unconventional moves that combined defence with attack and could usually be counted on to drive back, if not disarm, one’s adversary.

Towards the end of it, Ashley suddenly dropped his arm and said, ‘Oh God.
 
I nearly forgot.
 
How could I have been so stupid?’

‘Forgot what?’

‘This.’
 
He gestured to his blade.
 
‘As coachman and groom, neither Jem nor I can be seen carrying a sword, can we?
 
You’ll have to take them in the coach with Cyrano.’

Francis frowned.
 
‘I will, of course.
 
But that will leave you unarmed.’

‘Not entirely. There’ll be a musket in the coach.’
 
He reached into his boot. ‘And then there’s this.’

Staring at what was in his hand, Francis said blankly, ‘You carry a knife in your boot.’

‘No fooling you, is there?’

‘Why do you carry a knife in your boot?’

‘Old habits.
 
Jem does the same.’
 
Ashley shrugged and grinned.
 
‘Don’t worry about it. Just take the damned swords to Cyrano.’

*
 
*
 
*

Later, while Pauline and Francis slipped out of the house to collect their selected haul from the theatre and deliver it to Cyrano’s lodgings, Ashley distracted Athenais by offering to help with her lines for the forthcoming play.
 
She grimaced but settled down willingly enough and was soon engrossed.
 
Ashley wished that he was.
 
Between watching the myriad of expressions drifting across her face and listening for the sound of the front door, the play was the last thing on his mind.

When Francis finally sauntered in, Ashley lifted one brow and received an almost imperceptible nod in response.
 
A little later, Jem stuck his head round the door and said, ‘Pardon, Mamzelle.
 
Colonel – this note come for you.
 
The King again, I reckon.’

Ashley took the sealed missive and walked over to the window, waving Jem away.

The note was brief and merely gave directions to the room in a virtually disused part of the Louvre where ‘all required items’ would be waiting on the morrow.
 
A postscript in the King’s own hand confirmed that the Duke of York had returned to Paris.

Thank God
, thought Ashley.
 
If Cyrano has done as he said, everything should be securely in place … so there’s only one thing left for me to do.
 
And since I’m standing here with a letter ostensibly from Charles in my hand, now would be a sensible time.

He looked across to find Athenais’s gaze fixed expectantly on his face.
 
Summoning a rueful smile, he tapped the letter against his palm and said, ‘This is something I could well do without.’

‘What is?’

‘A gentleman is arriving from England with a budget of correspondence and information – all of which is apparently highly confidential and would be extremely detrimental should it fall into the wrong hands.
 
Inevitably, the result is that His Majesty wants me to go to the coast and bring both it and the courier safely to Paris.’

‘Oh.
 
When?’

‘Tomorrow.
 
For obvious reasons, he hasn’t given me the full details here – just asked me to report to him in the morning. Damn.’
 
Ashley crumpled the letter in his hand and tossed it into the fire.
 
Then he leaned against the mantelpiece watching it burn and apparently deep in thought.
 
‘I can only hope some of the snags that are occurring to me are also occurring to him.’

Athenais didn’t like the sound of that.
 
Still less did she like the idea of him going away.
 
She said, ‘What sort of snags?’

He looked up, his expression a perfect blend of mild annoyance and resignation.

‘Organisational ones.
 
Firstly, if these papers are so important, I’d be insane to ride off to Le Havre on my own.
 
My horse could go lame or lose a shoe and there are hedge-thieves everywhere.
 
Secondly, there’s no guarantee that this fellow will arrive precisely when Charles thinks he will.
 
If the weather is bad, he could be delayed for days – leaving me kicking my heels in Le Havre.’
 
He stopped and drew an exasperated breath. ‘But that isn’t really what’s bothering me.’

‘Then what?’

‘I’m going to need to take Francis and Jem with me.
 
Francis for back-up and Jem in case messages need to be sent.
 
And I don’t like the idea of leaving you and Pauline alone here – not even for the three days that is all this should take provided everything goes smoothly.’

Athenais sat up a little straighter and shook her head.

‘Pauline and I will be fine.
 
It’s not like … before … so you don’t need to worry about us.
 
And I’d much rather Francis and Jem were with you.
 
You
need
them.
 
And I – I don’t want to think of you possibly facing danger on your own.’

‘It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done so,’ he murmured, smiling a little. ‘But I thank you for your concern.’

‘
Don’t!
’
 
She stood up in a flurry of skirts.
 
‘Don’t be so damned polite! I know things between us have been … difficult lately.
 
But that doesn’t mean I don’t care as much as I always did.
 
You
know
it doesn’t.
 
So don’t insult me by saying ‘thank you’ in that chilly, well-mannered way of yours.
 
It – it makes me want to
hit
you.’

‘Ah.’ Quite without haste, he strolled over to face her. ‘There you are.’

Athenais planted her hands on her hips and glared at him.

‘I’ve no idea what you mean.’

‘My beautiful little volcano,’ he explained with a grin. ‘The one that always erupts when I least expect it.
 
But it’s been a while … and I thought I’d lost her.’

*
 
*
 
*

Ashley found a private moment to acquaint Francis with the story he’d given Athenais and told him to pass it on to Pauline when the opportunity arose.
 
Later, the four of them walked to the theatre and Ashley chose to stay through the performance in order to snatch a few words with Etienne Lepreux.

Once back at home, the atmosphere was inevitably a little strained.
 
Everyone took a glass of wine but conversation grew increasingly desultory.
 
In the end and for different reasons, both Athenais and Pauline chose to retire, leaving Ashley and Francis facing each other across the hearth.

Ashley said, ‘As far as I’m aware, we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.
 
Once we leave here tomorrow, I won’t see you again till the inn near Louviers – so if you’ve any doubts or questions, now would be the time to raise them.’

‘Aside from being shut in a carriage with Cyrano de Bergerac for God knows how long, nothing springs to mind,’ replied Francis lightly.
 

‘Then I suggest we both go and face the music with our respective ladies – since that’s doubtless what’s in store for us tonight.’ He paused and then added, ‘By the way, I’ve arranged for Etienne Lepreux to escort them home each evening while we’re away.
 
He was happy to do it anyway but has asked for more fencing lessons by way of a reward.’
 

‘God,’ said Francis, heading for the door.
 
‘Some people are gluttons for punishment. Speaking for myself, I hope never to face you over a sword again.’

*
 
*
 
*

Francis found Pauline still fully-dressed and sitting by the window, staring out into the dark.
 
When he entered the room, she turned her head and said baldly, ‘I don’t mean to make this difficult for you.
 
But I find I just can’t accept the possibility that, after tomorrow, I might never see you again.’

He sat beside her and wrapped his arm around her.

‘I know that.
 
And the fact that you care that much means more to me than you can possibly imagine.
 
As for the rest … I’ve faced worse, you know.
 
Worcester was an abomination.
 
But Ashley got me out of there and I’ve every faith he’ll get me out of Honfleur, too – should my own skills prove insufficient.’
 
He leaned his cheek on her hair.
 
‘Your role is equally difficult … and hiding your concern from Athenais will require all your formidable talent.’

She nodded and disengaged herself so that she could stand up and offer him her hand.
 
‘Come, then. Take me to bed and hold me. Just that and no more.’

‘If that’s what you want.’

‘I want the comfort of having you close … and I want you to sleep.’
 
She paused and drew a long, fortifying breath.
 
‘And if you promise you’ll come back to me, I’ll give you another promise in return.’

Francis captured her gaze and held it. ‘Yes?’

‘If you come back safe … and if you’re still of the same mind … I’ll marry you.’