Well if you want some thing done you have to do it yourself eh?
"Be careful with that! It's pure silk!" Norah ran frantically to take the fragile fabric from D'Artagnan. "You can't touch it without gloves, you'll pull it or stain it or something!" She looked at his roughened hands in horror.
She was stressed and scared. The excitement she'd felt earlier when she'd been making lists and plans had gone.
"I'm sorry." He held up his hands.
"Hmm. Ok. Well, maybe you could just take that instead?" She pointed to her wooden chest full of all her sewing equipment, needles, pins,scissors, threads, beads, lace and trimmings and buttons...... It contained everything she had ever bought and collected for use in her shop.
Only, she was moving now and she wasn't very happy.
"Hey, come on." Porthos took her in his arms again. She briefly allowed herself to relax against him, before noticing one of Lady Bea's men trying to lift a large bundle of fabrics.
"No! Please, just please don't drop it." She clutched her hands together in front of her as if praying. Porthos winced a little as he heard something fall to the floor just outside the shop.
"Well at least it's dry out there" She shot him a look and ran upstairs to check on her own belongings.
Her room, sparsely furnished before was now empty of all her things. All that remained was the furniture that came with the rooms. Unwittingly tears sprang up and she wondered again why she had agreed to live with Porthos at Lady Beatrice's house.
She knew why of course. She was in danger. Downstairs she heard Porthos' laugh and smiled. That was the upside to the arrangement she thought.
But even thinking of Porthos made her feel guilty. He knew Rochefort was looking for her, but had been led to believe it was because of her connection to Comtesse, not because she was the one who had ruined his sword hand whilst escaping from him. Porthos still believed her kidnapper was dead.
"Hey, it's going to be fine." He said, standing behind her and putting his arms around her. "With Comtesse at her country house he'll forget about you now. This is just precautionary, yeah?"
She nodded her head and leant back against him briefly.
"Well then. That's the shop boarded up and packed up. Time to go." She said casting one more look around her.
They went downstairs and stood, watching the cart trundle off in the direction of Lady Bea's home.
"Norah!" Helene's voice reached her from the corner of the street. "I'm so glad I caught up with you. Here." She handed her a small wooden box. In it was paper and pencils. Norah looked up at her friend and hugged her.
"It's so you can keep designing..you know?"
"Thank you. But how..?"
Hélène looked uncomfortable.
"Well, let's just say you probably shouldn't get that little lot out around cardinal Richelieu."
"You shouldn't have! He'll..."
"Oh no! I didn't take it, it was a gift." Hélène was indignant."I've got loads more at home. He's making me take art lessons. I'm drawing him later to practice." Helene's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Oh, well. That's...er... Nice?" Norah smiled at her friend and hugged her tight."do be careful though, please?"
"I'm always careful! Oh, which reminds me, I've broken it off with Rochefort. Far too intense for my liking." Hélène laughed so loudly that Norah couldn't help joining in.
"Well, that's good." She said.
"I'll see you soon?" She kissed her friend on both cheeks.
"Definitely. I exercise Lady Beatrice's stallion." With a cheery wave, Hélène walked off in the direction of the stalls in the market.
"It's not much, but it's warm, dry and safe." Lady Beatrice showed Norah and Porthos around the apartment she had set aside for them within her house. They exchanged looks. It had three rooms and was on the opposite and therefore less richly decorated side of the house.
But to Norah and Porthos it was luxurious, there were no leaks, the floor was smooth wood. The walls had paintings hung on them and there were so many windows, all with curtains.
"And the bedroom is through here" Lady Bea opened the remaining door and allowed them to step through.
Norah gasped aloud, even Porthos held his breath. They had both seen rooms that were larger more richly decorated rooms than this one, but they had never had one like this of their own.
"It's rather small I know. But I'm assured that the bed is comfortable and the apartment is a tolerable size. Will it do?"
Norah gaped a little, lost for words.
Porthos cleared his throat.
"Yes, thank you my Lady." He gave a small bow.
Lady Bea smiled.
"Good! Then I will leave you. We have dinner at 8, you will be served yours in here of course." She laughed. "Ring the bell for assistance of course."
"Of course. Thank you, for everything." Norah said
"It is my pleasure. Besides you will be working hard in return I can assure you!" She laughed again and left.
Athos, who had been waiting in the doorway, leaning against the door smirked, bowed a little and left, following Lady Bea.
Norah and Porthos sat down wordlessly on the bed, trying to take in their surroundings.
Reaching for her hand, he kissed it gently.
"Well. This is different."
Norah looked at him and laughed, climbed onto his lap and taking his face in her hands, kissed him passionately.
"This is where she'll be working." Lady Beatrice led Athos into a large, bright room, with huge windows and high, richly carved ceilings.
"It's normally the gallery, but I'd much rather it was put to better use."
Athos took in the large tables high enough to be comfortable to work at standing up or sat on one of the high stools. He saw the piles of fabrics and other notions. Norah's wooden chest looked rather small and ragged as it sat forlornly on the central table.
"She will be overwhelmed." He said, thinking of her small cosy shop.
"At first, yes. But she'll be busy and will soon get used to it. Don't worry." She stroked his cheek lightly.
Lady Beatrice turned to look at some rough sketches Norah had already started for a new evening gown she needed.
"Look at this! It really is..." She leant over the table. Athos came behind her and put his hands on the table either side of her.
"Yes. Amazing." He drawled, nuzzling her neck.
Lady Bea put her head back against his shoulder, turning slightly so he could reach her neck better.
Athos kissed it gently, half scratching and half ticking her with his beard. He found her pulse and swirled his tongue over it causing her to gasp.
Half turning, half twisting she turned to kiss him, and they kissed deeply until her head swam and her neck ached. Leaning on the table, she supported herself with her hands as she felt his cock press into her as he leant into her, reaching round to caress her breasts.
Again he kissed and licked her neck, finding that one place again and again. With the one hand he freed a breast, stroking and squeezing her nipple and with the other he lifted her skirts and freed his cock, his probing fingers stroked her, in and around her pussy, teasing her.
"Please..." She gasped. He smirked and plunged his cock into her, now bracing himself against the table with his free hand. With his other he held her tightly against him as he drove into her, first fast then slow, hard then gently until she whimpered and begged for more.
She was barely able to support herself now, and he buried his face in her neck, one hand playing with her clit and the other her nipple, then, pulling her hard against him, he plunged into her again and again, this time hard and deep, driving them both relentlessly towards their orgasm. This time he was first, but only just. He felt her shudder and heard her cry out in pleasure as he lost control and let his body take over.
It took a while for them to regain their breath and he remained slumped over her for a little while after, both their hearts racing and they laughed slightly.
He stepped back and did his breeches up whilst she re-did her blouse.
"So you'll be here a lot then?" Lady Bea asked eventually, still flushed.
"Yes.."
"Well, that's good then. I'm looking for another lover, you'll do very nicely until I find one to move in. I hope that suits you?" She have him a knowing look.
Athos flushed.
"It would be my pleasure, my Lady." He replied giving a little bow.