As the royal couple ride through the streets in their carriage, a girl comes forward and is run over. They find a note in her hand and Constance (Tamla Kari) says she knows her. The note was intended for the queen and it is shown to her by Treville (Hugo Speer) with the cardinal (Peter Capaldi) obviously impetuously grabbing it from her. The other girl in the crowd with her, Fleur (Alice Sanders) disappears. The Musketeers will find her. The note is about wanting the poor educated (a story revisited in series 3) and Anne (Alexandra Dowling) is interested in reading it. With Louis (Ryan Gage) scoffing over why his poorest subjects would want to be educated. The countess Ninon De Larroque (Annabelle Wallis) teaches at her house and tells women they are all equal and it is God that created them, not a man. As she is taken before Louis, who wants to talk with her as he enjoys her company. She tells her Fleur is someone she taught to read and she does this with her other servants too, but she wrote the note.
The Cardinal wants Milady (Maimie McCoy) to discredit her so that her land and titles can become part of France as they need a navy. The Musketers arrive at the house, in search of Fleur, Milady makes a quiet retreat into the shadows. As Athos (Tom Burke) once again misses her presence. Ninon talks with Athos who wants to search her house and she tells them Fleur isn't here.
Ninon: "I know who you are, I've often seen you at court and thought how handsome you are. There is a melancholy aspect to your looks which I find intriguing, but it's probably only mental vacancy" Which the others find funny. She doesn't mince words!
Aramis (Santiago Cabrera) says he treats all women equally and Ninon says they have a romanticist in their midst. She lets him search the house, including her boudoir, where he says he has dark secrets which he doesn't want to talk about. She kisses him off guard and invites him to dinner. As Milady watches them.
There was a scuffle in the streets where a papal envoy was attacked and his bag stolen. Aramis got one bag back but not the other. He is here on business from the Pope and Louis recalls he wrote a pamphlet on how kings should be subject to a higher power and be removed legally if they are not, which Louis scoffs at. Later he, Luca Sestini (John Lynch) tells the cardinal he's here as there are many in Rome who'd like to see him become Pope. Bringing gifts from the Pope he hands him over a box containing the knee bone of St Anthony. He can't give him the other gifts though. The cardinal will ponder his request.
Athos goes to the morgue with Ninon and she sees the dead girl on the table. He sees the bag there too and says he'll send for it the next day, he could've just taken it now,
Ninon: "Don't look so worried, I won't kiss you again if you don't desire it."
Athos: "I'm better prepared to fight you off this time."
But obviously when they get to her house, he sees Aramis throwing a Red Guard out. There are more inside and they fight. Also finding Fleur and other girls hidden there. Ninon is arrested and taken to the church where she'll be tried and executed as a witch. The cardinal wants Fleur to give testimony and her father tells him she'll do it and will be married off soon, as the cardinal says a husband will keep her in order. Fleur is disappointed that she can't continue her education as her father takes her from Constance. D'Artagnan (Luke Pasqualino) says he'll come after him if he hurts her, which wasn't his intention.
At the trial, Ninon's accused of being a servant of Satan and all women are this. Aramis gives her his cross given to him by Anne, which should bring her luck and his God will help her. Fleur asks for water and the cardinal pours her a glass, which she drinks and gives back to him. He also drinks from the same glass too. As Milady tells them she tried to make her take part in a ritual as she was given something by her and found herself without her clothes. The cardinal and Luca are adamant that she's a heretic and a witch. Athos hears Milady's voice and loses his temper, shouting, "This woman is a liar, She is not even who she claims to be. She is a convicted criminal and deceiver." However no one listens to him and as Ninon is found guilty. Louis has give her a reprieve unless she confesses herself. The cardinal has a fit and passes out. Aramis says he's been poisoned and asks for castor oil and mustard which he makes him drink.
Porthos (Howard Charles) and Aramis ask Athos about the woman but he doesn't tell them. Once again D'Artagnan isn't around to see Milady, cos he would've known who she is as well, couldn't have that plot being foiled already. The cardinal will be fine and she is sent to the jail to get a confession from Ninon which she gives to the cardinal, who sentences her to be burned alive. The Musketeers head to the morgue where they find the man who stole the bag is dead and they suspect poison, as Aramis tells Porthos to open his mouth, smelling something bitter on his breath. Athos empties the bag and finds everything in there has been poisoned and he tells D'Artagnan to wash his hands, so how come he didn't. They rush to save the cardinal again, as he has the bone of St Anthony and Porthos wonders why they're rushing it's only the cardinal. Athos sees the stake being prepared and asks why as she was reprieved. As Luca attempts to get away dressed as a monk but not before he has a second attempt at the cardinal, but Athos uses his gun and shoots him. Which made me ask why he didn't do that to Grimaud in season 3. The cardinal says they will need a body to convince everyone Ninon's dead and uses Luca. He then sends his ashes back to the Pope, saying he'll get whoever he sends here back in the same condition.
The cardinal makes a full recovery and utters a speech about being not such a good man and he can be cruel as Ninon is taken away to be burnt. Athos pleads with him and tells him to spare her, there is a way. He tells her he's taking all her wealth and property and she has to leave Paris. She tells him her voice won't be silent, but he won't hear her. She returns Aramis's cross to him and says his God did help her. After Anne mentioned to him that he'd given it to her, well someone was jealous. As Athos takes her to a wagon where they say goodbye. She tells him she's going to teach (cos she can, ha) and he tells her he knew Milady and was once married. But neither of them are suited to marriage. As D'Artagnan and Constance can't keep their hands off each other and start an affair! As if we didn't know that was coming.
Aramis: "For what it's worth, this trial is a mockery of religion. The God I believe in stands for love, not cruelty.
Ninon: You are a contradiction Monsieur Aramis. The soldier who preaches love and a famous libertine who cherishes women."
Aramis: "We all search for truth in different ways." Here we see Aramis's other side as well, not only is he a soldier, but also a lover of women and he believes in their equality, as well as believing in God, which will lead him to take a different path later. An episode which contained not only the usual backstabbing and intrigue, but also one with themes which are even relevant today, of equality. As Constance also pleads with Fleur's father not to marry her off to some butcher, telling him Fleur will love him for it.
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