Aramis woke up with a familiar headache. Rubbing his face he turned and groaned slightly, threw off the covers and strode naked to the mirror. Running his fingers over his hair and neatening his moustache he smiled a little. Dressing quickly he decided he would use the roman baths before he got to the garrison. His stomach rumbled and his mind flew to the events of the previous evening at the bakery. As his thoughts wandered, his legs followed suit and before he realised what had happened he found himself standing in front of Jeanne and her cart, her dark blue eyes sparkling as she greeted him and grinning from ear to ear.
“Bonjour monsieur” she smiled. “May I help you?” he smiled back at her, finding himself pleased to see her.
“What would you recommend?” he asked, teasing her slightly and liking the way she blushed a little.
She made a show of looking at her wares, before settling on a pastry sweetened with honey and cinnamon. Laughing with her he accepted the pastry, pocketing the coin she had waved away.
“No, father told me I must feed you for free as thanks for your assistance yesterday”
“Indeed? Then I shall have to make sure I return at lunch.” He meant only to flirt a little, to tease her but found he very much wanted her to say yes.
Turning to serve another person she gave him a sideways look that reminded him of her mother.
”Of course. I’ll save you something if you like?” the side of Aramis’ mouth twitched upwards. He was sure she had just flirted back at him, but her attention was on the customer. He was forgotten. Raising the pastry as farewell, he walked away, turned to look back to her, confused and she flashed him a huge smile before being swallowed up by the crowd.
He walked into the baths, chewing thoughtfully on the pastry thinking about the recent turn of events, cursing the bad timing that seemed to be plaguing all four of them.
***
“Everything packed and ready?” Kate asked Norah gently. Norah nodded, feeling sick. There wasn’t much; the crib Lady Bea had given her for the baby had been sent to Kate’s house already, along with Comtesse’s generous gifts among which was the provision of funds for a wet nurse should one be required, so it was just some of her dressmaking supplies, various unfinished things she was in the middle of, mainly for the baby it seemed and a few clothes. She had also managed to hide one of Porthos’ shirts in amongst her things to wear at night, as he had insisted on taking his new one.
Eventually, everything was ready and they were all waiting for Treville and Aramis. Norah and Porthos were in their kitchen, Kate and Athos waited outside, also saying their goodbyes. Gone was the pretence now as they held onto each other whispering endearments and promises to be careful.
Norah made a small scared noise and squeezed Porthos even harder at the sound of Treville, D’Artagnan and Aramis’ cheerful greetings. He caught his own breath and returned the gesture, desperate to keep hold of her, again wondering why he was allowing this to happen. She looked up at him again and tried to smile,
“I should go.” He nodded, but neither one let go.
There was a loud knock at the door which made Norah jump although she’d been waiting for it. After one last kiss they left the house, arm in arm and went to the carriage.
Athos looked pale and withdrawn, Kate couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes and was fidgeting with a button. Aramis stepped forward to hug her, kissing her and making her promise to take care, that he would make sure Porthos would get back to her soon and that he would pray for her every day. She smiled and nodded, thanking him. D’Artagnan stepped forward to kiss her on both cheeks, also wishing her good luck.
Treville nodded at her, a brief tight smile on his face, which she returned along with a squeeze on his arm as she walked past him, and he seemed to relax a little. Athos kissed her as well, but Norah pulled him into a hug, smiling broadly at his initial surprise, but noted he returned the hug. Turning to the carriage, Porthos, Aramis and D’Artagnan were at once pleading and threatening the driver to take great care of them.
Kate rolled her eyes, turned once more to Athos and held him tight, kissing him briefly then went to help Norah into the carriage. Norah was back in Porthos’ arms. They were both holding onto each other tightly, but at Athos’ touch on his arm Porthos kissed her, made her promise yet again to look after herself and helped her into the carriage.
After a brief hug and quietly exchanged words with Porthos, Kate also got in and sat beside Norah with a faint smile as she tried to reassure her.
As they set off, turning the corner, they both looked back; Athos standing a little apart from them looked resigned, whilst Porthos had both Aramis and D’Artagnan’s arms about him as they tried to comfort him and, possibly, hold him back.
Sitting around again, pressing her back into the seat, Norah took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, holding on tightly to Kate’s hand.