d'Artagnan And Her Musketeers (The Cosette D'Artagnan Romances, book 1)

chapter 12: A Mother's Intuition

Aramis and Agnes were left alone when Cosette and Constance were out trying to catch the mercenaries. Aramis revealed much about his past, on how he was sixteen years old when he was engaged to a young woman. However, their relationship was broken off when his then fiancee's father cancelled the wedding after she had suffered a miscarriage. When he asked about her past, Agnes attempted to stray away from her past because she only trusted one man: her husband. After a while of thinking, Agnes decided there was no harm in telling Aramis her past.

"My husband, Philippe," she began, trying hard not to cry, "was like a helpless child when I first met him. He'd been locked away so long, he never learned to fend for himself. He didn't look like other men. He was malformed from birth. Touched by the devil, they said. I was sent to be his nurse. I was petrified. I'd believed everything I'd heard. He had the kindest heart I've ever known. He was shy and confused. Frightened. But full of innocent love and goodness."Aramis couldn't help but ask.

"What of his family?"

"Well, they abandoned him at birth," said Agnes. "His mother came to visit once. In secret, because she was ashamed. I was lonely and he was kind. I soon learned to see the beauty of his soul. And I fell in love with him. We married in secret. Father Duval had kept Philippe out of sight for most of his life and when Henry was born, everything changed. Philippe felt alive. He refused to hide any longer. We walked through the village together as a family."

"That must have been a fine moment," said Aramis, giving her a smile. However, he felt the sad part of her story.

"They beat him... until his bones shattered. Burned him while he still breathed life."

"You saw this? You were there?"

"They made me watch."

Aramis couldn't help but feel that d'Artagnan had a similar situation, as he too watched his father die in front of him. Agnes smiled, looking down towards her.

"He's still with me. In here," she touched her chest. "And in Henry."

"I promise you, on my honour, the safe return of your child," said Aramis, as he laid a hand on her shoulder. Whatever it took, he would save her.

Cosette and Constance met up with Agnes and Aramis the very next morning. Constance was dressed to look like a wet nurse and more confident than Cosette ever was. She continued having doubts about this plan. Sure, Cosette was one to talk based on her appearance and masquerade as a man. Honestly, she was quite tall for a young woman at fifteen, being about five foot eight, but that was beside the point. It was plausible for Constance to do this rather than Cosette. They could have done this themselves, have Cosette dress as the woman she was to get the baby and Constance wait. However, Cosette suspected that the older woman wanted to protect her (in a way).

"We need to know which room the baby's in and how many men there are," said Aramis. Agnes went right up to Constance's unoccupied side.

"He likes music," said Agnes. "If he cries, sing him a lullaby."

"Will humming do?" Constance asked. She was a good contributor to coming up with plans, but singing? She never was a good singer. "My singing might frighten him."

"Then give him this," said Agnes. She gave Constance her baby's blanket. "Tell him I love him."

Cosette walked closer to Constance.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" she whispered in her ear.

"Thanks for your faith," said Constance sarcastically.

"That's not what I meant," Cosette whispered.

Constance rolled her eyes at her best friend's answer.