There would have been no difference if it were the meal attacking his stomach and making him feel ill. Standing at the foyer door, to the very entrance of the Manor, Blakeney had stood next to Marguerite to bid their recent guest good-bye. As the man left, Sir Percy never once took his eyes from Chauvelin in that silly sort of girlish manner. The man had responded remarkably well to his tests, which in turn, only confirmed a growing suspicion. Did Armand Chauvelin know he had just dined with the enemy?
Sir Percy remained at the doorway, even when Marguerite returned from bidding the private adieu he himself allowed her. He could have walked with them to his enemy's carriage, however observing 'his loving wife' was more important. When she passed him by and headed out for the back, the Baronet stood there a while longer contemplating the moves that were made on this evening. His foe dined with him in his home. No matter how many times he replayed the scene in his head, no solution brought forth any sense, nor did the burning questions cease to bid him rest.
A full ten minutes he stood staring out the foyer window, moving not at all save for when his lungs in took breath. Admitting defeat, he turned and headed upstairs for his main rooms on the second floor. Percy wondered briefly about where Marguerite might have wandered off too. His head full of imprisonment, the imaginary shackles latched onto the ankles and his very footsteps felt heavy and weary. The long journey he forced himself to escape over the past few days bore upon his soul like an old, unwanted friend.
As simple as elementary arithmetic, everything was clear to him once more. His vixen wife had seduced him, taking advantage of his weakened state, be it the guilt from Frank or self imposed.
Reaching up to rub his pulsating head, Sir Percy faced reality that once again, he followed her right into the trap. Doubting his previous course only lead him into her arms. Her bed. The dinner meal once more lurched inside his body and he had to concentrate to not become ill. Oh how he wished to just follow in his parents footsteps and be rid of this world and mockery of a life he was forced into! What feeble and pathetic man would let lust come before honor and sense? Shamed, Blakeney sat in the large, leather chair as if asleep.
After the meal Chauvelin quickly excused himself, noting his need to get back to London. Marguerite and Percy walked him to the door, but she only waited to see him into his carriage. Quickly she turned and reentered the house. She walked almost as if in a daze through the house and to the grounds in back. Quiet and alone, she walked around and finally ended up
at the stables. All the stable hands were gone, probably eating lunch Marguerite thought. She walked through the stalls, offering a bit of feed to each one and stroking their soft manes. She stopped in front of Sultan's stall and gave him a large handful of feed which he greedily munch. Softly, alone in the stables she began to sob over what had happened so far that day.
After awhile Frank began to worry about Marguerite. Wandering about the grounds, he tried his best to be nonchalant when he found her in the stable. "Marguerite... can I do anything for you? Are you alright?"
Marguerite gasped a bit as frank startled her. Hastily she wiped her eyes
and looked at him, "Oh, no, no Frank, I'm fine. Where's Sir Percy?"
Quietly Frank approached Marguerite and patted her on the arm
comfortingly. "He's inside, Marguerite. Are you sure you're alright? Do you want me to bring you to him?"
Marguerite shook her head, "No, no if wanted to see me he would have
found me." She took a deep breath and looked outside through one of the
windows. "It's such a lovely day out, to lovely to be cooped up
inside. Frank, would you see that a carriage is prepared for me. I want
to go into town."
Frank looked at Marguerite worriedly, nodding quietly. "Of course, Marguerite. Are you sure I can't get something else for you?"
"I don't think so Frank, I want to get my dress and any of Helene and
Louise's clothes that are ready. Do you know Percy might be right now?"
"Of course. I believe Percy is in his study at the moment,
Marguerite. Would you like me to find him for you?"
Marguerite shook her head. "I think I'll go find him, would you just
please see to the carriage for me?"
Smiling comfortingly Frank nodded politely. "Certainly, Marguerite. It will be ready out front shortly. You should be able to find Percy in his study."
Marguerite thanked Frank again and went back to the manor. She checked a
few rooms downstairs before heading upstairs to Percy's suite. Upon
entering, she found Percy dozing in a comfortable chair in his main
room. Softly she slid her shoes off at the door so her footsteps would be
lighter before creeping across the room, climbing into his lap and
playfully putting her arms around his neck and giving him a playful kiss
on the cheek.
`My God, is she ever good.' He thought hearing Lady Blakeney come about the chair and feeling her crawl into his lap. `What gall this demmed woman has!' Blakeney continued keeping perfectly still and allowed her to do as she pleased. How stupid did she think he be, to sit in a chair and not feel her delicate weight? Deciding to test her as well, Sir Percy continued his feign of sleep and muttered in a very swooinish sort of way, "Mmmmm.... Armand……"
Marguerite giggled as she let one hand down from around his neck to gently
slide under his finely tied cravat and brush at his skin through his think
shirt. She began to place soft little kisses over his face whispering,
"Not quite, care to guess again?" and placing a soft kiss over his lips.
Why Marguerite refused to see the signs Blakeney was laying out for all to see, he did not know. Never one to give up, the blond Englishman decided to force her eyes to see what he wished them too. Turning his chin, and tilting back his head, Sir Percy smiled and muttered, "I've always wondered about your kind...." Had Lady Blakeney honestly sat through that entire meal missing the signs he gave? Surely he was not that awful in her presence at acting. To drive his point home, he added with a giggle, "Chauvelin." It certainly was not St. Just he was speaking about.
Once hearing that name uttered, Marguerite pulled back. She felt a hard
pain in her chest and she let her arms go limp around his neck. She felt
a small lump form in her throat as she turned away, unable to look at him.
Nothing could have made him feel more avenged in that moment. His lazy blues were closed, however the shifting of weight told him the entire story as if he could see. If only he could sneak a peak to see if his actions had caused damage onto her face, but no. Marguerite had spun him for a dance too many times. Settling his head back into a sleeping stance, he licked his lips and snuggled back into the brown leather.
Marguerite watched as Percy settled into the chair, now with what she
hoped would be a lovely moment between the two almost entirely
ruined. Carefully she shook him, lightly calling his name into his ear
trying to wake him.
What could be better than this? With a near shout he bolted his
torso forward, arms flailing about as if a child running in circles and now disoriented about position and placement. "WHA, WHOT!?" Blinking his confused gaze at Marguerite, his brows knitted in the middle as if annoyed. He sat staring at her a moment, coughed into his hand, reshifted his weight in the chair and watched her coming slowly out of his 'daze'.
"You, Madame, just inturupted a most wonderful dream. Where tis the emergency or let me close my eyes again, for perhaps the dust fairy will see it fit to return to me."
Marguerite giggled, "oh yes I'm sure. Now Percy, it's much to nice of a
day outside and I am not going to spend it here. I'm going into
town." she announced.
How quickly this woman went from upset to silly. He had felt her tense in his lap, had he not? Now she giggled as if to flirt with him once more. Unsure how to read her, the annoyed look remained as he closed his eyes, crossed his arms about his chest and settled into the chair. "Mmmm. Have a good time."
"So quick to be rid of me are you that you don't even bother to ask why I am going to town or for how long I'll be gone?" Marguerite teased.
"Uuunnng." He turned his head away and once more pressed himself into the aged cow hide, away from her. Quietly he muttered, "Shhhh. The dust giver is nearly here. Don't scare her away."
Marguerite, knowing Percy's weak spots, took a gentle hold on the lapels
of his coat and shook him gently once more, "Percy, Percy, I know you're
not really asleep."
"I can not be if you insist on moving and talking to me." He slowly opened one lazy eye and looked at her in a sorrowful sort of manner. Could she not tell he was trying to return to a dream?
Marguerite gave a little frustrated huff as he tried to go back to
sleep. "Fine then, just sleep the day away. I'm still going into
town. I promised the girls more peppermint sticks if they behaved well
and studied for Helene, which they have, I want to stop by the
dressmaker's and seeing anymore of Helene's and Louise's clothes are
ready, and check on my own gown as well, and" Marguerite added coyly as
she lifted one leg to let the shirt of her dress fall lightly away from
her bare foot, "it seems as if I am in need of a pair of shoes."
"Enjoy the day out." With a yawn, he curled himself up in the chair and glanced down at her foot. What he was blind to before was as clear as crystal for Sir Percy now. She was using her foot, his love for clothes, boots, and even for the little Louise. Nothing was sacred to her when she wished for something and this only fueled the stubbornness in the angered Baronet. Of course, he did not show his anger, only pumped up how 'tired' he was.
As the six feet odd of Blakeney became a small, compact mass, he
lastly tossed out to her, "If you think of it while out, a pair of simple blue socks, for riding britches. Last game I made a hole in mine, sink me." Wrapping his arms about his chest, the braided locks of the Baronet were placed upon on the armrest of the chair.
Marguerite was disappointed that Percy just slumped down across the
chair, especially with her still sitting on his lap. Carefully, she
leaned in closer again to him and placed a gentle kiss o his
cheek. "You're mad at me." she said softly.
Not bothering to look at her, he offered, "Yes. I am." Curling more into himself, he added, "Why wives insist on disturbing napping husbands is completely out of my grasp of understanding." He wiggled his legs about, trying to get her off.
Marguerite held tighter onto the chair to keep him from succeeding in
pushing her off. "That's not why you are mad at me."
Feeling her resistance, his arms still wrapped around himself,
Blakeney opened his lazy lids and gazed casually upon her. "I dare say, cleverest woman in Europe indeed. How lucky I am, to have you about my dear. You know when I am angry and upset before I do." He yawned again and shifted so he faced her. "Do share the secret you know, for, I would like to be in on it too."
Marguerite bit her trembling lip to keep from sobbing, "I wish I knew your
secret Percy. I wish I knew why you are upset with me."
"MY Secret?" He said it and raised a curious brow at her. The irony of his wife humored him, however he did not let that side be known. "I'm as opaque as glass, I fear. What you see is what you get. No more, no less. I can only conclude this disappoints the lady? If not, pray tell what my secret could possibly be."
"Why are you mad at me Percy, that's your secret." Marguerite said with a
sigh, "I know it's not because I have disturbed your slumber."
"Are you still feeling ill? I swear you are speaking of the most non-verbal things. Is the feline angry when it curls before a sunbeam? Just think of me as a cat, Lady Blakeney, who wants nothing more than to nap."
Marguerite sighed and moved away from him, but was not about to leave him
yet. She crossed the room and pulled a blanket from a closet. Returning
to his side, she lovingly placed the blanket over him and dropped to the
floor, leaning her own head to rest against the armrest of the chair.
"Really Madame," he looked down at Marguerite. "Do not lie on the floor, as it is rather unbecoming." He shook his head and stood up, not willing to play her little coyish games. Blakeney had near all he could take for one day.
Marguerite stood up as Percy had, "I wasn't laying on the floor, I was
sitting there. I was only going to stay with you until you fell
asleep. Why are you so cross with me today?"
With a glance, he folded up the blanket and asked in a very angered sort of way, "I thought you were going into town."
Marguerite simply glared at him, "Answer my question, Percy."
"I am tired and need my sleep. Why you insist on pestering me so over a subject I have already answered numerous times is beyond my comprehension. Please, if you must continue to ask, explain to my dull wit your manner of thinking."
Marguerite was fuming. "Alright then Percy, let us see if this is clear
enough for your dull wit. You are angry with me. I know this, and you
admitted it. I asked you why you are angry with me, so that I could
possibly make amends. I continuously asked you, yet you refuse to give me
an answer other then I disturbed your slumber, an answer which I know is
untrue. Why will you not answer me Percy?"
He turned and tossed the blanket he folded onto the day bed. "I will not continue in this line of conversation." Blakeney turned and headed out his door towards the main hallway.
Marguerite rushed out the door following him, "Why not Percy, would you
rather just walk around fuming at me with so much as explaining why you're
upset. Are you mad because I kissed you in front of Citoyen
Chauvelin? Are you upset at what you thought was rude behavior on my part
before? Why won't you talk to me."
" 'Fuming' is such an ugly word. Seldom do I fume. Please, leave me be. Enjoy your day." He headed toward his study and reached down to unlock the door.
Marguerite reached down and placed her hand over his, "How can you bid me
to enjoy my day when we are both so angry and upset. Why won't you let me
make it better?"
He stared at her, nearly as calm as if he were speaking to one of the servants about his dinner. "I do think, if you can call it thinking, that I asked not once, not even twice, but thrice to be left to my slumber. I am running of out ways to pose the question to you Madame. You wish it better? Leave me be now, and enjoy your day out shopping in town."
Marguerite threw her arms around her, determined not to let him push her
away, "I don't want to go to town, I want to stay with you." she said as
she began to sob.
Raising a brow, he watched Marguerite clutch to herself. Odd
behavior, but better her than him. "Then do not go to town and get ready for a nap." That was all he left her with as she cried.
Marguerite wiped her eyes and chocked back her tears. Quietly she left
his side and almost like a defeated child plopped down on his bed, laying
down to rest.
Inside, he sighed and rolled his eyes. Outside, Blakeney moved over near her and rested his head on the pillow. Some of the flowers fell out as the braids began to unfray, laying helplessly around his shoulders. He knew she would come over and attach herself onto him. In fact, the ego began counting in his head as he closed his eyes. Waiting.
One. Two. Three. Four......
Marguerite watched as Percy laid down beside her, but was disappointed at the distance he kept. "Percy," she said, "why won't you hold me, like you used to?"
The bruised ego protected itself, "Because I wish to rest." It was meant to be hurtful and implied everything and nothing.
"You've spent plenty of hours resting while holding me in your
arms." Marguerite said softly.
"And I've spent farther more alone. In fact," Blakeney continued to speak, his hands folded most comfortably across his chest, "in my entire lifetime, there are many a plentiful hours spent things I've been doing. Would you like a list?" His voice was stupid and foppish in order to cover up the sarcasm that was truly meant in his mind.
Marguerite began to clutch at the pillow and blanket with in her reach as
she sobbed, "Maybe you should tell me a list of all the things you've
spent hour doing such pleasurable things. I would guess seducing and
deceiving a trophy wife would among a list of recent outings."
As the actress cried, Sir Percy remained still, staring at the
vaulted ceiling of his bedroom. He half listened to his wife and
half counted the different striations and line patterns some poor
architect had carved into his ceiling years ago. While still
counting, he answered Marguerite.
"List... a list. What is in a list, Mmm? My list would be a simple list containing only simplistic, yet to me, entirely fun things. Why, there is the afternoon nap, like we are taking now. There is the cricket and of course, the riding. Gads, how I love to take long solo rides on Sultan. The poor creature must be feeling neglected by me these past days. Staying indoors and being anywhere save the stables. What else do I spend hours doing that I enjoy? There is reading in my study of course. I like the books with all the pretty pictures in it. In fact, sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly tired, I will pull a book that has more pictures than words. Doesn't that strike you fun?" Percy turned his head and with a sincere look,
smiled at her almost excited to be talking about how stupid he was.
Marguerite looked at him half in disgust and half in frustration. "Close your eyes and go to sleep." Marguerite said.
It was the smartest thing she had said all day. Gladly, the
gentleman complied.