Captivity: the Second Day — The Three Musketeers

Milady wakes from a dream of D'Artagnan's execution and meets the woman Felton has just brought. She claims fever and asks to stay in bed. A physician would add watchers and might name the illness a comedy, so she refuses. When Felton moves to fetch Lord de Winter, she recants at once: she is well, do not call him. She weeps until he leaves, then hides a savage joy under the clothes. She has ten days. By evening two will be gone.

Felton returns with a Mass book and says "your Mass" with disdain. She reads the Puritan brow and answers in his key. She is not of the baron's religion. The book is a snare. She will name her faith on the day she has suffered enough. She will not touch the manual. She calls Felton the baron's accomplice. He leaves, thinking. At five Lord de Winter mocks her apostasy. She plays the victim because Felton is behind the door.

After supper she prays Puritan prayers, then sings a psalm. The Catholic soldier tells her to stop. Felton rebukes him: guard her, kill her if she flies, do not exceed orders. She sings again. Felton bursts in, pale and wild, and asks why she sings with such a voice. She apologises as if she had offended his creed. He tells her not to sing so loud at night and rushes out. The soldier admits her voice is beautiful.