Marissa by Sandra Kyle

Author:Sandra Kyle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: historical adult romance, historical romance, musketeer romance
Publisher: Sandra Kyle
Published: 2017-12-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Musketeer Guardhouse, Paris

Weeks later

Michael parried the sword lunge of the most gifted recruit. The demonstration in front of his current trainees proved a worthy exercise for both men. Out of breath by the end, he patted his competitor on the back.

The bell rang in the yard three times. Michael dismissed the group. They dispersed and headed into the dining hall for lunch. He was about to follow, hunger filling his stomach from the exertion, when one of the gate guards called his name. “You have a visitor. She’s waiting in the street.” The guard grinned.

Michael hurried to the pass-through by the colossal wrought-iron gate allowing or denying entrance to the musketeer guardhouse. One of the palace carriages parked along the Paris sidewalk. Its gold paint shimmered in the sun. A female, hooded in a yellow cloak with her back to Michael, stood beside the carriage. Another musketeer, this one a king’s guard, alerted her to his arrival. She turned. Michael smiled as he took in the sight of Cecilia.

She approached, and Michael bowed. “Oh, stop.” She tapped him playfully on the shoulder.

He rose. “How are you, little sister?”

“Well, big brother. I decided to take a ride into town and see how you are doing.”

“That’s all?” He narrowed his eyes in jest. The pedestrians passing by ogled her opulent figure. Michael overheard inquiring whispers around them.

“And some shopping.” She laughed. “But you were first on my list.” Her hand waved to the king’s guard. “Gerard here is my constant companion whenever I leave the sanctuary of Saint Germain.”

“That will continue for some time,” Michael stated with certainty.

Cecilia smiled excitedly, like she did as a child when their mother would come home with new art supplies for her studies. “When the king left on some business this morning he told me your induction into the First Company may occur within a month, if not sooner. Once the threat diminishes.”

“I imagine one indication will be when the queen’s former ladies-in-waiting no longer need protecting as well.”

“Or, they no longer follow the king’s wishes and forego such protection.”

Michael prodded his sister with a questioning gaze.

“Louis” —Cecilia corrected herself quickly— “The king told me that Marissa has left her family home. Guards returned with news that she is back in Paris.”

Michael filled with worry and exhilaration.

She is here.

“Where?”

“Her father said she’s working at the Petit Bourbon and lodging with the troupe.” Cecilia studied Michael. “I thought I might go and see her performance one night this week. I would need someone to accompany me. And Gerard hates the theater. Don’t you, Gerard?” The king’s guard gave her a perplexed stare. Not seeming to expect a response, she fixed her gaze again upon Michael. “Are you free to join me, big brother?”

Michael hesitated in his reply.

“Good.” Cecilia nodded. “We will go on Wednesday, I think.”

* * * *

Michael withstood the jibes and ridicule of his fellow musketeers when word got out that he was attending a play. He sat in the yard, dressed in his full uniform, weaponless aside from the hidden dagger in his boot.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.