Chapter Text
"Why don't you go ahead and marry him?"
Queen Anne, Queen Mother and Regent of France silently thanked her strict upbringing and years of experience as a queen that she did not let any surprise show at this impertinent question. Seemingly unmoved, she continued to bring her cup of hot chocolate to her mouth and gave her sister-in-law just a questioning look.
The Duchess of Savoy sighed indignantly.
"Minister d'Herblay," she specified, pointing with a grand gesture towards the lawn where Aramis was currently fighting simultaneously against the thirteen-year-old Louis and slightly younger Duke Francis of Savoy. For a man who had exchanged the musket and rapier of a musketeer for the pen and seal of the First Minister of France almost seven years ago, Aramis fought with fascinating agility. He had discarded his jacket and beneath his shirt his still well-trained body could be envisioned. Anne resisted the urge to drop her eyes treacherously quickly and turned seemingly calmly back to her sister-in-law.
Dowager Duchess Marie Christine of Savoy, the younger sister of Annes late husband Louis XIII of France, and Anne found themselves in a remarkably analogous situation. Like Louis, Marie Christine's husband, Duke Victor Amadeus of Savoy, had died when his son and heir to the throne was still very young. Like her, Marie Christine had had to assume the regency for her son. And like her, the Duchess had had to fight for it.
For almost a month now, the Dowager Duchess and the young Duke of Savoy had been visiting Paris. They had arrived especially for Louis' thirteenth birthday. In accordance with tradition, Louis had been declared of age on this day and had thus become the reigning king. Officially, Anne was no longer regent, but since Louis had immediately appointed her head of his council, she continued to conduct the affairs of state - only now on behalf of the reigning king instead of as the representative of a minor child.
After the celebrations of the King's majority, the Duchess of Savoy had used her stay in Paris to negotiate a new version of the more than fourteen-year-old treaty between Savoy and France. Even though the negotiations - in contrast to the negotiations between the Duke and Richelieu at the time - took place in a thoroughly friendly atmosphere, Anne had for some time had the vague feeling that her sister-in-law was studying Aramis and her with interest. Now the Duchess had apparently decided to lay her cards on the table.
"Come on, my dear," the latter sighed once more as Anne continued to remain persistently silent. "It is an open secret in all the courts of Europe that you and your First Minister get on exceptionally well. Those who thought seven years ago that they could do whatever they wished to a weak queen and an inexperienced First Minister have since been taught otherwise. France's stance in the world is better than ever. The war with Spain has been successfully settled, the discontented nobles have been pacified, the people are living in prosperity as they have not done for a long time. And what is still more remarkable, all know and acknowledge that this is entirely your and Minister d'Herblay's doing."
Anne smiled. "The minister is a very capable man indeed."
The Duchess rolled her eyes. "I have had more than three weeks now to observe you and your minister. Oh, you have not been guilty of any real indiscretion," She raised her hand defensively, "but obviously the Crown Council is blind or perhaps has simply become accustomed to your extraordinary understanding - are you aware that you and your minister finish each other's sentences?"
No, indeed Anne had not been aware of that. Again her gaze fluttered over to Aramis.
"And the looks you give him when you feel unobserved - and how he returns those looks..." Was Anne mistaken, or did she hear something like longing in her sister-in-law's voice? Meanwhile, Aramis seemed to have sensed her attention and, as if to confirm the Duchess's thesis, his gaze also pulled away from his young opponents and he gave her a brief smile.
Marie Christine shook her head impatiently.
"As it is, I have to do all the talking. But the very fact that you continue to listen to me tells me enough. So why don't you marry him?"
"It would be inappropriate." Even as she uttered these words, Anne realised that she had made a tactical error. She had practically admitted to wanting to marry Aramis - and she did want to. More than anything else. But she had never allowed herself to even think about it. A fleeting kiss, a stolen night, that was all Aramis and she could allow themselves. At least that had been her firm conviction until just now.
Again she turned her gaze to the "duel" on the lawn. Aramis' young opponents had taken advantage of his moment of distraction and were now giving the former musketeer a hard time. It would not be long before Louis' skills would equal those of his father. Aramis had already complained about this several times with both sighing and pride.
The duchess leaned back. "It would be unusual," she acknowledged. "But why shouldn't a widow have the right to remarry just because she happens to be queen and regent. That being said, there have been queens who remarried, Mary Tudor or Catherine Parr for example. Well, both of them were English and neither of them was head of the council, but that seems more of a minor detail to me..."
To Anne, this detail seemed rather large. With the death of their respective spouses, the aforementioned queens had also lost their power. As a dowager queen with no children of her own, one was merely a factotum from a bygone era at court. She, however, had to run a kingdom for her son.
Marie Christine seemed to read her face. "Well, perhaps not a detail," she admitted. "But you are at the height of your power. Your position is secure. As I see it, you would not take undue risks. Besides, your son is of age now, that should give you even more freedom."
Anne studied her sister-in-law's face. Why was Marie Christine talking to her like that? What interests was she pursuing?
"The subject seems to be really close to your heart," she remarked, "I wonder..."
"...Why?" asked Marie Christine, laughing softly. "It is understandable that you are suspicious. After all, I am your late husband's sister. I loved Louis, but my brother was an idiot in many ways." Again Marie Christine laughed softly when she saw Anne's astonished face. "Sisters are often particularly clear-sighted in this respect," she said with a wink. "He didn't treat you well and that wasn't right. Above all, he is dead for so many years now. But you are alive," now Marie Christine looked at Anne insistently, "you are alive and if you really care for your First Minister, you should not let old convention hold you back. As I said, I firmly believe you are in a position where you can afford to do so - and you would set a precedent for all other female regents."
Including you?, Anne wondered silently. Aloud she said warmly, "I will think about it. Thank you for your candour, dear sister-in-law."
Down on the lawn, Aramis surrendered with a laugh.