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Chapter 1 – The Long Road, by Corso
Where Lucien and Athos discover a most shocking truth while facing Rochefort and his mercenaries at his château at Bourron-Marlotte.
Chapter 2- Oubliette, by Mordaunt
Where we finally see what happened to Alessandra.
Chapter 3- Threads of Truth, by Corso
In Royaumont, Marie de Vignerot, the duchess d’ Aiguillon, begins to tell Athos and Lucien the truth. Athos and Lucien ride out early in the morning and Athos prepares to tell his musketeer brothers about his true origins.
Chapter 4- Artful Diversions, by Mordaunt
In Paris, Raoul meets a frustrated Captain Marchal, who fears his position is in peril. With his closest allies M. de Rohan, M. de Beaumont, and M. de Guiche they prepare a masked soiree at the House of Madam Zola meant to entrap their enemies and reveal conspirators and hidden alliances. Everyone at court vies for an invitation including the King. To Raoul’s surprise one of the King’s foreign visitors is a man he knows well.
Chapter 5-Love Unsought, Love Unaltered, by Mordaunt
Where Athos reveals the truth to his friends. Where Constance wonders if she has made a mistake.
Chapter 6-Mirror of the Heart, by Corso
Where the children learn the truth and Sophia decides it is time for a big family dinner.
Chapter 7-King of France, by Mordaunt
Where Raoul tries to warn Henri Bernard and realizes that Captain Marchal is a greater threat than they had imagined, so their plans must change and he and Layla must hurry to Royaumont. Where Henri makes a decision that will change his life forever.
Chapter 8-A Family Dinner, by Corso
Where Sophia brings together all the families at Royaumont, hoping to smooth over any difficulties from the revelation that Lucien and Athos are brothers. But like all such gatherings there are always surprises.
Chapter 9- Once More by the Moonlit Lake, by Mordaunt
What happens when Raoul and Layla learn the truth?
Chapter 10- War Council, by Corso
Raoul and Layla warn that Marchal becomes increasingly dangerous. Lucien’s daughter Suzanne and her husband Afonso are at risk of being arrested for their acquaintance with Henri. Marchal will attack Royaumont and all those hiding there will be found. A plan must be made for escape – but to where?
Chapter 11- Artful Retreat, by Mordaunt
Fabien Marchal tells Louis about Henri Bernard’s claim to the throne. What happens next, is not at all what Fabien imagined.
Chapter 12-The Red Dress, by Corso
The Duchess d’ Aiguillon presents a solution for the relocation of everyone at Royaumont. While plans are discussed for the routes to take and organizing the groups, Sophia and Agnes Bernard deliver the Noel boxes to the farm families. Lucien discovers their absence and that they left without a guard.
Chapter 13- In the Family, by Mordaunt
Where Raoul, finally, decides to speak to his father.
Chapter 14-Piecemeal Truce, by Corso
Sophia is shaken by the argument with Lucien. Constance seeks a remedy for one of the children. Lucien seeks out Marie but finds Athos already with her, and feels a moment of jealousy. Marie reveals more about knowing Alessandra as a young girl, her parents and their life at Glènay. Knowing he is soon to leave for Glènay, Lucien goes to find Sophia to repair the rift between them.
Chapter 15-Pandora, by Mordaunt
Where Marie Cessette and M. de Rohan join forces to fight an altogether different kind of battle.
Chapter 16-Road to Consequences, by Corso
Lucien, Gasparo and a contingent of mercenaries depart from Royaumont for Glenay. Back at Royaumont, Lieutenant Olivain Maillard arrives with Layla and Rohan’s message of Marchal leaving Paris with two musketeer recruits. Anticipating Marchal’s arrival, Sophia prepares for the departures of Marie and Suzanne, Elodie and Constance departure with the children, disguised as nuns traveling with orphans.
Chapter 17-Intermezzo, by Mordaunt
Of course, nothing ever happens as one might expect!
Chapter 18-When the Devil Knocks, by Corso
Marchal arrives at Royaumont and is met by Lucien’s wife, Sophia de la Croix. With him are two young recruits to the musketeers and a group of street thugs. He demands a painting and for the traitors, Athos, Porthos and d’ Artagnan to be handed over to him. When he is refused, Marchal threatens Sophia, orders his men to ransack the house.
Chapter 19 Part I-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
Everyone is on the road traveling from Royaumont to Glenay, but they encounter trouble, both from hostile groups and a fierce winter snow blizzard threatens. Lucien decides to find his family, Marie must get Suzanne to a safe location, Sophia pushes hard to put distance between her and Marchal. Athos, Porthos, d’ Artagnan and Aramis must make a difficult decision.
Chapter 19 Part II-The Road to Glenay, by Corso
A blizzard has blanketed the towns, villages and countryside. Lucien, searching for the families and his children in the monasteries, is forced to seek shelter from the storm. Outside Tours, Marie sends Yusuf to a small priory for help as the arrival of Suzanne’s baby is very close. And, in a large country chateau hidden in the forest, the families find a house empty of the inhabitants, but seemingly prepared for their arrival. They are suspicious of a trap, but in a raging snowstorm, they have no choice.
Chapter 20- Château d’ Glenay, by Corso
The journey from Royaumont to Chateau d’ Glenay is finally completed. Tired, but happy to have reached their destination, and look forward to days of peace and rest. But for Athos, the Chateau d’ Glenay stirs dreams and hazy memories. What will he learn about himself and his past?
Chapter 21- Desperate Ruse, by Mordaunt
Where is Catherine de Renard and her son? Who are their accomplices? Where are they keeping Alessandra? What is her plan of revenge?
Chapter 22-The Red Herring and the Eel, by Corso
The families are slowly settling into Glenay. Lucien gets a message from the quartermaster of his ship, the Aigle, to meet in La Rochelle. Lucien gets news of a ship from Hispaniola, the Belladona, cruising near the Wrecks, the purpose unclear. When Lucien gets to La Rochelle, he meets a man who claims to have information on a woman who could be Alessandra taken east. Lucien rides for Glenay to tell Athos.
Chapter 23- Tempting Venus, by Mordaunt
Where Captain Marchal plays with temptation and realizes his power.
Chapter 24- No Choice but the Path Before, by Corso
Lucien returns from La Rochelle and tells Athos, Aramis, d’ Artagnan and Porthos about the message he received – Alessandra was taken to a Carmelite monastery, Bourbon-les-eaux near the thermal pools of La Roche-Posay. The four musketeers are startled, as this is the same monastery where years earlier an assassination attempt was made on the Queen’s life. Is it a trap? With no other leads, Athos decides that he must take the risk and prepares to ride to Bourbon-les-eaux.
Chapter 25- Thermal Pools at La Roche-Posay, by Corso
The families at Glenay are settling in a routine for both children and adults and enjoy pleasant family evenings together. While remaining vigilant to attacks, local people are welcomed as visitors. Acting on a message given to Lucien regarding where Alessandra is being held, Aramis, Athos and Lucien leave for La Roche Posay a small village renowned for natural thermal pools believed to help in healing many ailments. It is at the thermal pools where a hired mercenary tried to kill the Queen of France.
Chapter 26-Intentions Unmasked, by Mordaunt
At the masked soiree at Zola’s one revelation follows another. Raoul finally sees what has eluded him for a very long time, thanks to a most unexpected source.
Chapter 27-Secret Sins, by Mordaunt
Raoul arrives at Glénay, where his grandmother and Constance have to face the consequences of secret sins, old and new.
Chapter 28- Bourbon-les-eaux, by Corso
At Bourbon les eaux, Aramis takes time to revisit the monastery, remembering the events that unfolded there. Lucien tells Athos the truth of his involvement, Alessandra alerting Treville to a plot, and their intervention with the mercenaries hired to do the deed. Messengers from Glenay, Jasper and Tomaso arrive to deliver the news that Raoul is at Glenay and they are to return immediately.
Chapter 29-Stand to face me beloved…, by Mordaunt
Where the past, finally, unravels before Athos’ eyes.
Chapter 30- The Battle at Saintonge, by Corso
Convinced that Alessandra is being held at a house in Saintonge, a plan is devised to rescue her. With only two days to prepare, d’ Artagnan, Aramis and Lucien take a dangerous route to deceive their enemy.
Chapter 31- Wrath Unleashed, by Mordaunt
While a bloody battle rages in Saintonge, Athos and Raoul with Olivain’s help search for Alessandra.
Chapter 32- The Whip of Justice, by Corso
Athos has broken down the front door and mercenary armies have burst into the house, engaging in fierce combat. Athos fights his way clear to search the house. Lucien follows a man he believes to be Henri de Winter, the murderer of his son Gabriel Martinez and the man who protected Thomas de Renard, when he kidnapped Lucien’s daughter Rayya, and Athos’ daughter Bianca.
Chapter 33- Revenge and Retribution, by Mordaunt
At the end of the fierce battle at Saintonge, comes a moment of reckoning for all.
Chapter 34- Bitter Victory, by Corso
It is a bitter victory in Lucien’s eyes. Should he accept Catherine de Renard’s words or trust his reasoning? There is also Athos; and returning to Glenay without Alessandra.
Chapter 35-Harsh Recountings, by Mordaunt
Returning from Saintonge without Alessandra leads to difficult reckonings. Raoul realizes that he has misunderstood his father.
Chapter 36-The Past is Prologue, by Corso
Raoul and Lucien talk about next steps in the search for Alessandra, men wounded at Saintonge are tended at Glenay, Lucien expresses his reluctance to his mother to revisit the past and plans to go again to La Rochelle.
Chapter 37-Home, by Mordaunt
A letter and a missive arrive from Paris and Aramis has to make a decision. Raoul too. Lucien too. Athos makes a different decision and it leads him to a most unexpected place.
Chapter 38-Ghosts of La Rochelle, by Corso
Lucien changes his mind about avoiding his mother altogether. At La Rochelle, he is determined to find Bellesdens the man who supposedly has information about Alessandra. Lucien has been to La Rochelle many times before, and one time in particular that involved Richelieu.
Chapter 39- The Right Man, by Corso
Lucien has received a message that his men have found Bellesdens, or rather Bellesdens has surrendered to them. He wants to tell Lucien what he knows occurred at the house in Saintonge, hoping Lucien will be lenient towards him. Bellesdens’ information is intriguing. Lucien rides to the cove to find Athos.
Chapter 40-Phantasms of Love, by Mordaunt
Athos discovers that truth and love can be found where you least expect and no matter how much you resist.
Chapter 41- A Prisoner of Many Names, None His Own, by Mordaunt
Where we see what has been happening in Paris while the story has been unfolding at Glenay and Saintonge.
Chapter 42-The Belladonna Problem, by Corso
Lucien sends Bellesden’s information about Alessandra to Athos at Glénay. He chooses not to return to Glénay, however, perplexed as he is, by the fact that Belladonna, the ship from Hispaniola, is cruising close to the Wrecks, a cove that Lucien considers his own territory. Furthermore, Lucien is not at all satisfied with what Raoul has told him about that ship, which is very little. He decides to go to the Wrecks himself and find out the find out the truth.
Chapter 43-Smothered Mate, by Mordaunt
Where Rochefort makes a bold and unexpected move.
Chapter 44- Corsairs of St. Malo, by Corso
Frustrated, by the Belladonna lurking in his territory and Raoul’s evasion, Lucien decides to take action. In the meantime, Spanish survivors of the battle in the Cantabrian sea who have also been following the Belladonna’s suspicious route, meet secretly at the pirate haven of St. Malo. What brings them together is the Belladonna, which is owned by the Ogre, and is seemingly carrying something valuable but also the fact that the ship sails in Grimaud’s waters. This makes the Belladonna more valuable to them as a target. What these Spaniards have in common is that they seek revenge. Grimaud and his ship the Aigle was responsible for sinking some of their ships and killing their men at the battle on the mouth of the Bidasoa, when the Spanish Infanta was being delivered to France.
Chapter 45- Son of Spain, by Mordaunt
In Paris, M. de Rohan receives news from Spain. Although the news is not unexpected the implications can change his life and Layla’s life for ever. And then more unexpected news arrive.
Chapter 46-The Belladonna, by Corso
Lucien sails to Wrecks. The sighting of three ships sailing from St Malo causes concern. Odysseus decides to make the Belladonna an offer.
Chapter 47-Common Enemy, Common Ground, by Corso
Facing the uncertain intentions of the ships approaching Lucien devises a risky plan that requires help from the Belladonna.
Chapter 48-Fatherhood, by Mordaunt
On his way from Glénay, not to Paris but to the Abbey at Noisy-le-roi, Aramis finds himself faced with the one thing he has been avoiding: fatherhood.
Chapter 49- Of Eagles, Pigeons, Nightingales and Roses, by Corso
Lucien has to make some critical decisions on the Aigle, while in Glenay, Sophia is distracted from her fears at his extended absence. And then, a message about an expected arrival turns out to be… unexpected!
Chapter 50-The Price of Clarity, by Mordaunt
Aramis finds himself in Paris hoping that meeting Anne will give him clarity. But the clarity he gains is of a different kind. In the meantime, at their house at the Marais M. de Rohan and Layla with Marie Cessette and M. de Beaumont are trying to puzzle out the letter that Raoul has sent them from Glénay with M. Morant.
Chapter 51- Vanishing Act in Seven (Easy) Steps, by Mordaunt
Just what the title says!
Chapter 52- The Man Called Guerin Spranger, by Corso
In Rouen, Peter Eastman, of the Merry Adventure, one of Lucien’s associates, unloads a cargo of Scottish wool, from the Murdoch family. It is a legitimate cargo–more or less–to be stored at warehouses that once belonged to Richelieu. It is the usual sort of business, mostly above board. It is the usual sort of banter: who sails where, who is starting a new venture, so and so is marrying a title with an estate in Kent, so and so needs to be away from Cromwell’s roundheads so he is looking to settle in France. That sort of thing. And there is land to be had it seems near La Rochelle. In fact, a certain Dutchman, Meneer Guerin Spranger is selling land and promises investments in a colony of his own at the Caribbean. Word spreads from Rouen, to Le Havre, to the Wrecks, where Constance’s brothers are not very happy about that rogue ship the Belladonna, just as her mother, Madame Demaire is not at all happy that her daughter has stayed silent for so long. Constance’s younger brother, Malcom, is once again dispatched, this time to Glénay. He brings their mother’s grievances along with the rumors. Constance would care little about rumors if the land that is being sold around La Rochelle did not belong to someone she knows well: Rochefort.
Chapter 53- Son of France no more, by Corso
The final stage of Raoul’s plan to save the life of Henri Bernard is put into action. Henri leaves everything behind, forced to become another man.
Chapter 54-Le Sourcier, by Mordaunt
The proximity to Rochefort prompts Athos to investigate. Getting to know the land and the people of this remote part of his mother’s estate is an opportunity to make astonishing discoveries that perhaps lead him closer to Alessandra.
Chapter 55, Le Limier, by Corso
Lucien looks for his missing sailing master at Saint Malo and finds unexpected information with important links.
Chapter 56, The Brothers d’ Aiguillon, by Mordaunt
At Saint Malo, Athos and Lucien discover the proof they needed and much more.
Chapter 57, The House that Richelieu Built, by Corso
Prompted by their discoveries at Saint Malo, Athos and Lucien return to search for Alessandra in the mysterious house over the cliff overlooking the d’Aiguillon cove: the house that Richelieu built.
‘Mid-Season’ Break, by Mordaunt and Corso
Chapter 58-Light that Remains, by Mordaunt
At the house that Richelieu built, Athos and Lucien find Alessandra and much more. Raoul and Marie Cessette arrive at Glénay with a warning.
Chapter 59-Impending Risks, by Corso
Having found Alessandra, Lucien has another peculiar encounter in the house that Richelieu built. The return of Lucien and Athos to Glénay with Alessandra brings them face to face with new dangers.
Chapter 60-Lines Drawn, by Mordaunt
At Glénay, Athos makes some different choices, and this includes a confession and an admonishment to a man he loves as a brother.