This is the best I could come up with. Plot.
Rocheforte left the musketeer garrison with a smirk. He had seen the tall dark musketeer with her the other day in the park. He was easily recognisable even if she managed to blend in. He allowed himself a smile, this was going to be easy.
"I don't like the way he looked at you Porthos" Aramis told his friend later in the tavern.
"It's nothing, I'm used to it." He replied shuffling his cards, looking for his next victim.
Aramis and Athos exchanged glances.
"I think you should stay away from Norah. Just to be safe." Athos said quietly, unblinking as Porthos stared disbelievingly at him.
"I can take him."
"Maybe. But she can't and you could lead him straight to her, you definitely caught his eye earlier."
"So? I can protect her? She should be with me more, not less."
The other musketeers sighed and slumped back against the wooden benches. Porthos drank his ale quickly and got up angrily.
The Tavern went quiet, he was a formidable man, especially when he was was angry.
He looked around at everyone paused in their drinking and their conversations. Pulling on his gloves he sighed.
"Fine." He picked up his hat. "I'll stay away. For now." He fixed them all with with an angry stare. They nodded, understanding.
"But if anything happens to her I will hold you all responsible. You got me?"
"Of course. We will keep an eye on her."
Porthos looked sad and scared for a second.
"Hmmm" he replied, back to angry. He left for the garrison letting the door slam behind him. The other patrons of the tavern resumed their chatter.
Norah sat up suddenly with a gasp of fright. Breathing hard and sweating she listened, trying to make out if there were any noises above the hammering of her heart in her ears.
After a while, she relaxed a little. It was another bad dream. Rinsing her face and hands in the bowl of water she calmed down.
Again unable to sleep she lit a candle and pulled her shawl around her. The small stove had almost gone out and she was nearly out of wood. She would have to let it go the shop needed heat more than she did.
It had been days now since she had last seen Porthos. Aramis had come to visit, briefly telling her that he had been called away. But she knew he lied, she had seen him across the market place looking extremely furtive.
She hoped it was work related rather than.... But she knew the reputation of the musketeers as much as the next person. The thought of him with some one else made her sob, but she held back the tears and swallowed down the pain and carried on down the stairs to look at her latest projects.
He saw the dim light as it flickered as she went to sit at her desk at the rear of her shop.
He thought about the layout. He had only been in once before, briefly and hadn't been particularly interested in either the dressmaker or her shop. He knew she had a small area near the front where she would welcome her customers, then there were a few shelves of fabrics and wooden dress stands with examples of her work on them. Then thick curtains behind which was her desk and, he presumed where she did most of her work. There had to be somewhere for ladies to change for their fittings as well. And lots of light. She'd need that he reasoned, lots of light to work in, which meant glass. And glass was easy to break.
How could she afford such a luxury though he wondered, not for the first time. She must have extremely rich patrons. He thought of Comtess, she was definitely rich enough, but he had only seen her once, briefly enter the shop and she had definitely not had a fitting. It didn't make sense.
As he stood and thought, it began to rain. He chewed his thumb, pulled his cloak round him and went home.
"I need you to bring her here, before lunch." Treville said, glancing up from his paper work.
Aramis nodded and turned to leave.
"Be discreet."
"Of course."
Aramis looked across the yard to where Porthos was wrestling again. He felt for his friend, taking out his frustrations on his opponents.
"You should feel worse for them than him." Athos smiled, appearing at his side. Aramis chuckled slightly.
"Go! I'll take care of Porthos." Athos assured him. "D'Artagnan!" He beckoned over the younger man. "Go with Aramis, make sure you are not followed. Make sure she isn't being watched."
D'Artagnan nodded and the two musketeers left quickly, avoiding the stare of Porthos.
"Porthos! We are required at the Palace." Porthos glared at Athos, but nodded and made ready to leave.
Norah awoke with a start, wincing as her neck cricked from being slumped over her desk.
Rubbing it she noticed with dismay how light it was outside.
"Fuck!" She couldn't allow her work to be delayed. Her customers would leave if she couldn't be relied upon. She pulled back the heavy curtains and the work area was flooded with morning light, despite the rain.
She screamed with fright as she saw a man at the window. Then cursed him as he smiled apologetically,wearing a sheepish smile.
Unbolting the door, she stepped aside to let him in.
"How..?" She looked at the high wall that surrounded the tiny yard. There was no way in.
"I climbed." D'Artagnan shrugged. "I'm sorry I scared you. It was Aramis' idea, he said we shouldn't be seen entering your shop."
"Aramis? Where is he?" She looked out past him.
"Waiting on the other side. Treville wants to see you."
"Does he now. Well, I'm too busy, I have to make a living and if I lose this place I can't carry on. I'll be ruined."
D'Artagnan looked uncomfortable.
"I'll get dressed." Norah sighed.
"Aramis suggests you wear your other outfit."
"Uh - huh." Norah replied from the stairs.
When she was dressed in her breeches and fully strapped down, she went back, straightening the wig.
D'Artagnan looked at her oddly, but smiled slightly and nodded.
"Ready?"
Norah's stomach lurched but she nodded back. They went out into the rainy yard. D'Artagnan jumped up opposite the old bush that stood on the other side of the wall and held onto the top of the wall, half pulling half scrambling up. When he reached the top, he looked around quickly, then nodded at Aramis.
A rope appeared. Norah used it to help climb up, breathing fast when she reached the top.
"Just drop down."
Norah gave him a look but did it, landing next to Aramis who stood beside the bush looking at the passers by.
Everyone carried on about their business, not noticing Norah and D'Artagnan suddenly appear.
Aramis lifted his hat briefly as a greeting, a quick smile on his face before looking about him.
"Come on. I'm getting wet." He said, walking briskly off in the direction of the garrison. Norah and D'Artagnan followed.
He saw the musketeer walk past him on his way to the garrison, flanked by a younger man and a trainee. Normally he'd have tried to start a fight with him, but not today. He sat back, bored,cold wet and hungry.
The smell of fresh bread reached him and his stomach growled in complaint. A small scuffle drew his attention, but quickly resolved itself and he returned to watching the shop.