and what kind of husband needs a fall from a horse to see his wife's shoulder for the first time anyway, I ask you?

LOL! Yes, I wondered at that myself ;) I agree that Athos was not in the right in that case. I just felt that it couldn't be the sole cause for Milady's future choices.

I think Athos began to be redeemed first by his affection for D'Artagnan, then when he became a father.

D'Artagnan broke my heart after Athos' funeral, when he sadly told himself to just go forward.