BACK IN A FLASH IV- Finally Alone with Maeve

He sat in the black and tan carriage and watched the tails of the white horses swish back and forth. "Overall, not a bad meeting with the brother" Blakeney mused and rubbed his chin. The two St. Justs had gone upstairs, perhaps to gossip with each other, while he waiting patiently in the seat of the open carriage below. He held a light conversation with himself, leaning back and glancing about to make sure his ears were the only ones around.

"So, Chauvelin exists. The infamous man who strikes terror into those that meet him." Blakeney pictured Chauvelin's face in his mind. Those beady little eyes and thin face burned into the Baronet's mind. The small thin fingers and odd smile. Why, if push came to shove, Blakeney could simple wave an arm about and the other would be flat on the floor. Why did people fear this little man?

He was going to continue his wonderment when he heard the sounds of her delicate footsteps approaching. Turning around, his blues met her greens and the fiancee to Mlle. Marguerite St. Just broke into a pearly white smile. The thought crossed his mind, now that they were engaged, to tell her tonight of his secret rendezvous and the intricate part he played with France. After all, she deserved to know he could speak French as well as kiss French. As she neared, her beauty overcame him and he got out to help her in.

There is a time and a place for everything. Tonight he wanted to forget Richmond. Forget France and Madame Guillotine. Forget St. Cyr and forget Frank. Tonight he only wanted to be with her and think of nothing else. His silly secret would have to wait.

Marguerite smiled as she took Percy's hand and stepped onto the carriage. She waited for him to climb in next to her. Once he joined her on top of the carriage, she gently wrapped one arm around his and rested her head on his shoulder. As they started off, she spoke, "So Percy, what do you think of your brother-in-law to be?"

As she wrapped her arm around his, he turned his head and smiled down at her. "I think he will do alright. Not nearly as beautiful and charming as you my dear Maeve. But I suppose you drained all that your parents had to give long before he." Thinking of Armand and the evening, he gave the horses a whack and laughed. "Energetic little sprout, isn't he?"

Blakeney lead the horses east and spoke in a near whisper in her ear. "Where to now my Maeve?"

Marguerite thought for a minute. "Do you remember the park where we danced on the night we met?" she whispered sweetly in his ear, wanted more then just a carriage ride tonight.

She did not need to ask him twice. He pulled back, looked into her green eyes and smiled. "Do I!?" With a turn, he gave a "Yeeei!" to the horses and whipped on the reins. He laughed as the horses lurched forwards, making the entire carriage jerk and bump about at a fast pace. Oh how Blakeney loved a fast ride.

Marguerite laughed as Percy gave an excited grin but was slightly startled when the horses took of. Marguerite held tighter onto Percy, but she doubt he minded. Within a few short minutes they had slowed as they reached the park. Marguerite waited for Percy to secure the horses and then come around to help her down of the carriage. Once firmly on her feet, she gently reached up and put her hands on his shoulder, looking up into his bright blue eyes, "Well, my Sir Percy, will you invite me to a dance?"

He heard her, but his mind was elsewhere. Seeing her beauty all evening. Being on his semi-best behavior with her brother. Yes, Blakeney heard her, but he had other things on his mind.

"Yes Maeve," he whispered, and pulled her close. "There is something else that I need to do first." And that is when he took her mouth full in his. So thankful to be alone.

Marguerite closed her eyes as Percy let his lips glide over hers. She felt so safe in his arms, so secure, as if there was nothing wrong at all in the world. Her lover's kiss was all that was needed to wipe away all of her troubles, and banish the unhappy encounter earlier in the evening from her mind. Happily, she returned all of Percy's affections as she tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, unwilling to let him go.

His kiss did not start off as a simple soft pressing of lips together. He had been awaiting her all evening, it would seem. The presence of her brother had him reserved from the affections he or flirtations he might normally bestow up her. No. This was no simple kiss or soft kiss on the lips. The gentleman in Blakeney was no where to be found tonight.

Marguerite, if not so enthralled with passion, probably would have giggled madly at Percy. She could tell he had pent up feelings and emotions tonight, having to impress her younger brother, no doubt the little game with her feet under the table drove him mad at dinner and the soft kiss at the table was only a small fix to suppress the desires inside. Tonight she felt him come alive in her arms.

He found himself pressing against her and leading her backwards. Both of his ungloved hands were lost deep into the back of her head, rubbing up and down wildly at her hair. Carefully removing one of his hands, he slunk it down her back and pushed it hard into the lower part of her back. Soon, Blakeney found he had walked her back into a tree, and it was there he leaned down and ran his hands along her sides and hair freely.

Marguerite felt Percy lean her backwards and was forced to take gently steps back or else fall over. His lips became more passionate with every caress of her own and she attempted to match every bit he gave her. Out of happiness and pleasure, she gave a soft moan as she felt his hands move through her thick auburn hair and massage the back of her head. She continued moving backwards until she felt her back against a tree, but her mind was to occupied noting the feeling of Percy's hands beginning to explore her body then worry about the harsh bark behind her. There was so much more she wanted to do, so much more she wanted to show him, but at this point she feared pulling her lips from his would end the magic of this moment. It didn't matter anyway, she thought to herself, as she unwrapped her arms from his neck and slid them down to brush against his chest, caressing and stroking his face and neck on their way, there would be plenty of time for that later.

Running around like a fool, rescuing fair French maidens and men, none of it was as thrilling as the forces surging through his body now. Blakeney could think of nothing, not a single thought. Only instinct and primal urges guided. Hearing the soft passionate cry from Marguerite only encouraged him.

The sound itself was foreign to his relationships. Sure, Blakeney had heard plenty of people moan before. It was not as if his ears had never been in the presence of such vocals before. In fights, he had heard plenty a men moan and grunt at the blows. Waiting in disguise before Madame Guillotine, men and woman alike would cry out and moan for him to hear. However, never had the very chilling sound to effected him like this.

It was as if there were a silent underlying conversation going on. His fingertips would press into the back of her shoulder blades and the reply was she would kiss him deeper. His eagerness of a kiss in return would press her back into the tree, and her hands would pull his neck closer.

This constant back and forth conversation did not stop, and Blakeney could not help himself. Finally, after many, many passing minutes spent like this, there was a break where both lovers caught there breaths and amazed, he gazed down into her eyes.

Quietly, like a small boy with bigger ideas, he whispered, "I don't know if I can wait a whole week. Won't you marry me on this very night Maeve?" He moved back into kiss her, not letting her answer him. Blakeney knew what married people did behind closed doors. He was inexperienced, but he was not truly the fool everyone took him to be. He did not want to wait, for his world of relationships had been closed his whole life, and Marguerite opened the flood doors.

When they broke apart again, he managed weakly, "Do we really have to wait?" Knowing the answer, he smiled down at her. The interactions of the heated moment had his hair all undone and his blonde bangs fell over into his eyes. He ran the back of his hand along her cheek, watching how her smooth skin would press and depress away. It was as if he had never seen a face before. Blakeney knew what he asked was ridiculous, as they were already rushing things, but still, he felt the urge to ask it.

Marguerite stared up into his eyes. Her breath was coming faster now, she could feel her cheeks warm as his hands brushed over them. She wanted so badly to answer that question with a no. No, they didn't have to wait to get married, they didn't have to wait until they were married. She had had lovers before, lovers in the physical sense. She never had feelings for any of them as strongly as she had for Percy, and she doubted any of them had the same feelings for her as Percy did. She would gladly give herself to Percy right then and there if he wanted it, though as free as he was, she doubted the English gentleman inside would let him go that far. Even more so, she wouldn't want him think question her past, which would prove that she was not to be the often valued virgin bride. No, it was too much to risk, so rather then give a direct answer, she wrapped her arms around his chest and stood up on her toes and gently kissed his earlobe whispering, "Not even a week, and the lifetime afterwards will be well worth it, I promise you my love."

He knew the answer when he asked the question and nodded with a small smile. The little boy in him was showing, as his kind blue eyes gazed into her greens. He brought her hands up to his lips and kissed them, trying to calm down the feelings inside that could not surge any further. The poor man's britches had become tighter.

She pulled her face back just slightly, but close enough to let her nose gently rub against his. She pulled her hands up to brush the hair back off his face. Doing so, she caught a glimpse of her naked left hand. Remember the little box she had taken from her room, for just a moment she painfully took her hands away from Percy to take out the box. "I took this off when I got home that night. I didn't want Armand to keep seeing it before he meet you, especially since at first he did not approve of the idea." Marguerite smiled as she opened the box containing the ring Percy had given her when she agreed to be his wife.

His eyes followed hers until she reached up and touched him. He closed his eyes and was about to lean into her hand, when he felt it retract. Blinking them back open, he glanced at Marguerite and then smiled, seeing what she was doing.

"I was wondering why you were not wearing it. I could only guess it was that little sprout of a brother of yours." He smiled and brought the ring on her hand to his lips and kissed it. Never once taking his blues off of her.

Marguerite watched as Percy once again slid the ring onto her finger. She hadn't realized how naked her hand had felt until the ring was back in it's proper place. She looked back up into his eyes as he once again let his lips wander over her hand and brush the simple yet elegant diamond ring that now adorned her finger.

Marguerite moved her hands to once more cover his face. She wanted to know every part of his body, but she knew for now she'd have to settle for the bits already given to her. She moved her face within inches of his and just looked into his blue eyes, wondering once more what thoughts might be fillings his head. She wanted to ask, but dared not break the sweet silence surrounding them.

He once more pulled her close and kissed her deeply. Closing his eyes, he wished the vows had been said and they were alone somewhere in some honeymoon place. All he wanted to do was make Marguerite his wife and spend the rest of his life worshiping her.

Marguerite once more fell into Percy's sweet embrace. Tightly wrapping her arms around his body and keeping herself as close to him as she could. She closed her eyes and drank in the sweet touch of his body next to hers. Becoming a little more daring, she gently let her tongue brush against his lips as he kissed her.

Now a small surprised voice tried to escape his lips, and he leaned into her more. This was beyond his comprehension and his hands reached down, grabbed her hips and pulled her close as he returned the kiss. He had no idea what he was doing or why. All he knew was it felt right.

Marguerite had become lost in their own little world. She didn't know if it was from the lack of sleep the night before, the long day today, or the passion with which Percy had held her and kissed her, she hoped and was almost positive it was the last one, but her legs shook gently beneath her, a sign she probably wouldn't be good on her feet much longer, even with the added support of the tree behind her. Without taking her lips from his, she slowly attempted to sit down, bringing Percy with her.

Having no idea what he was doing, other than basic instinct, he moved down to sit on the ground with Marguerite. The red flag of properness waved around in his head as he kneeled down in the grass and dirt in his best clothes. There was no blanket here and he had to admit, he stopped kissing her for a moment to glance down.

"Percy?" Marguerite asked as he pulled away, "Percy is something wrong?"

In his mind though, he told himself that Sir Algernon was not here and to hell with the dirt! Blakeney leaned over her again and continued the open mouth kissing.

"Nothing.. nothing" He said between kisses and then pulled her close again.

He said nothing, but she wanted to be sure. She put a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back, looking into his eyes, "Are you sure everything is alright? I'm mean, you're not uncomfortable with this are you?" She doubted he would be troubled, but was this temptation too much? They had slept in each other's arms in the meadow that one night, but then again that night temptation won out and he allowed himself to press his lips to hers. Was this again going to be too much for him to hold back she wondered to herself.

He tried to not answer, but she started to evade him at every turn. Finally, when he could not resume his wonderful world of kissing, he looked at her and laughed. "I'm dirtying my britches." He said it almost with a laugh like that would explain everything. "Never mind Marguerite. Sir Algernon is not here, bless his soul." With that, he tried to move in and kiss her once more.

Marguerite turned away when Percy mentioned his father. Mentioning his parents is not something he did often. "Percy, if your parents were alive now, what would they think of me?"

He smiled and hugged her now. "They would think that I am one hell of a lucky bloke and I don't deserve you. Just as I think now." Calming down, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

She gave a soft and contented sigh as he hugged her. This wasn't the ardent, passionate embrace they shared before, but a softer, caring one. In her mind she was almost sure that would not be the truth. She was much younger, french, middle class, and an actress, but she wouldn't say anything of such to Percy, she just let him hold her and she snuggled closer to him.

He leaned his head down and took in her smell. Marguerite always had on some exotic perfume that filled his senses. Sometimes it was different. Sometimes it varied. Never did it matter, because each one drove him equally crazy.

Resting his head on her shoulder, he brought her hand up to his face and gently kissed her fingertips. He was trying to calm down from the earlier kissing marathon and could only think of being along with her on their honeymoon night.

Marguerite smiled down at her bridegroom to be as he rested his head against her. as he took her fingers of one hand, she wrapped her other hand around him and gently rubbed his back. As much as she liked to think she knew him inside out, she knew there was still much more to discover about the man lying in her arms, especially when he grew silent like this. "Percy," she whispered, "what are you thinking about?"

"Mmmm." Was her reply. He pulled her arm towards him more and readjusted his head so he could slowly work his kisses down her hand and passed her wrist.

His blues glanced up at her, and a smile crossed his lips as he kissed more inches of her arm. "What do I" he started between the kisses. "think about?" He continued to meet her eyes and now repositioned himself into facing her, so as to not strain his neck nor break her arm.

He kept moving up her arm, but she began to give him that look that he knew would be followed up by the question again. He was learning a lot about Marguerite and her ways. Instead of letting that happen, he stopped himself and leaned upwards, facing her only inches away.

"I was thinking about how I can not wait for one more week to get here. I am thinking about how amazing you are to me Maeve. I have thought about you every minute we are not together and I dream about you when I am asleep." This last part wasn't really true, for he did not really remember most of his dreams at night, but it sure sounded good and a little bit of Blakeney vs. Sir Percy snuck through.

He leaned into kiss her neck and whispered, "One week, huh?"

Marguerite giggled as her tickled her neck with his lips. "Not even one full week. Goodness, I would hate to think what you would be like if we had a lengthy engagement, I doubt either of could stand it." Marguerite carefully leaned forward and reached back to free her hair from between her back and the tree. Catching long hair like hers could occasionally become painful if she moved the wrong way and it got caught, but really, it was easier to move her head and show Percy more of her neck, which she did in a subtly way once it had been freed and draped across her opposite shoulder. The move itself may have been dangerous, enticing Percy's passions so, but, she told herself, she was holding back so much until the honeymoon, she might as well give he every little bit she could and still deem proper, or at least, no less improper then what they had already done.

"Mmmmmmmm" was again her reply, as he found himself becoming lost in the kisses he offered and she took willingly. Blakeney slowly worked his way from her shoulder up her neck, finally finishing by nibbling in her ear. His breath was short and soft, her power over him intoxicating into a submissive manner. He did this all willingly. These past 5 weeks had him convinced this is how a life filled with love should be. He grew up watching Sir Algernon taking care of his mother loving. Maeve was not sick, and he remembered hearing stories from Thomas on how his two parents acted together prior to his birth.

Marguerite continued to draw in slow, deep breaths as Percy's mouth explored her neck. She closed her eyes and just floated in his arms and he caressed her. Never had any lover been so tender with her, so loving. It was hard to believe that he was as inexperienced as he claimed, but she never doubted his words, only his touch.

As he nibbled gently on her ear, he whispered, "If I had to wait a lifetime for you, I would find a way to manage." Gently, lustfully, his teeth tugged on her ear and he found his tongue running alongside the exposed part of her lobe in his mouth. It had to be right what he was doing, judging on her reactions. Releasing her lobe for a moment, he whispered, "Still, I'm glad you will be my wife in only a few short days."

Marguerite forced her eyes open to look into his, pulling back for a brief split second before once more closing the gap between her lips and his. After a moment of brushing her lips against hers, which always seemed to short, she once more pulled back and looked into his eye, "Well, I'm glad you could manage because I'm not sure I could."

He smiled and laughed now hearing her. Oh how she awoke the passions buried deep within. He was not sure what she meant by this, and was non to glad but stop. Thinking he was reading her correctly, he did stop however and stretched out in the grass, resting his head in her lap.

Closing his eyes, trying to calm down from these flash flood feeling, Blakeney squeezed her hand and rested, feeling very, very content.

Marguerite was disappointed when Percy pulled away from her, but could not help but to smile down on him when he rested is head on her lap. Perhaps it would be best that he did though, help to keep their passions in check. She felt Percy take hold of her hand and give it a loving squeeze. She ran her other hand over his shoulder giving his back a strong massage as best she could. She closed her eyes and reflected back to her previous relationships, her previous lovers. None of them ever effected her the way Percy did, but none of them were truly lovers in the sense that they loved her as Percy did. She gave a few of them her body, but she never gave them her heart, not the way Percy had captured it at least. And in the end, she could not imagine pledging to spend her life with any of them, but she was gladly willing to give up her home, friends, and career for Percy, and she did not mind it one bit.

Glancing up at her, Blakeney became enveloped in her smile. It was so pure and sweet. So innocent to him it seemed. She was younger than he. He was 32. She was... 25? He had tried to figure it out once, but when the distance in age seemed to detour him from dating her, and then he promised himself he would not try and figure it out again. No matter, he didn't care if he knew now. He humbly asked for her hand in marriage, and she said yes.

"How old are you anyway Maeve?" He smiled up at her, kissing her hands. "I mean, I have guessed you must of passed eighteen by now." He looked at her, his light blue eyes laughing in a teasing matter.

Marguerite smiled as she continued to stroke his hair and his face, "Passed 18, but not by much. I'll be twenty-one this coming summer." She thought for a moment and it seemed odd in a way that they were already engaged but some simple things such as age and birthdays they did not yet know about each other.

He nearly choked. 21?! "Egad!" Was his only response. Not even 21! He suddenly felt ancient. Worse than he did when around his friends at court. George, Andrew, Tony, Frederick, Edward. All were younger than he. Now his fiancee? Good God! He didn't mean to, but he felt his face pale a little at the very thought.

Marguerite was taken aback by Percy's response. She stopped stroking his hair and almost nervously asked, "Percy, is something wrong? I hope my age does not bother you." then her worst fear came to her, what if something like her age did bother him. She fingered he was older, but not by much.

He sat up now, facing her. Her age bother him? Hell. It was the grandest of compliments. How old did she think he was? His father and mother had always had a youthful appearance. Growing up, he would constantly hear how strong bones and good nutrition helped the ageless wonderment of the late Lady Blakeney. He squeezed her hands and brought them up to his face.

"No nono. It does not bother me at all Maeve. Quite youthful, say?" He closed his eyes and rubbed her hands against his cheek. Good God Almighty. What was she going to say when he told her?

Marguerite smiled as he held her hands to his face. "I'm sorry Percy, I suppose I should have told you sooner. Most people don't believe my age when I tell them, they insist I must be older. Is it not acceptable for someone my age to be married in England Percy?"

"Ohhhhhhhhh it is quite acceptable I would guess." He opened his eyes and looked at her with a smile. Something, just something about all this had him on edge. 20 years old. Egad!

Marguerite looked at him with a puzzled smile. "Are you sure this is alright Percy? You seem, unnerved."

"Maeve. I only seem unnerved, because, well. I suppose I am. Your age is complimentary to me Maeve. You are a well educated woman for your age and upbringing. I mean no offense when I say that now. But Maeve, just exactly how old do you think I am?"

Blakeney blinked at her. What if when she found out she reality sunk in and she wished to call off the engagement. Good Lord! What a laughing stock he would be back in London. To have not one, but two engagements called off and still be unwed.

It was enough to make a Baronet pale.

Marguerite looked into Percy's blue eyes. "Well, I don't know Percy. I guess I never really though about it." She really hadn't put much thought about his age, or their possible age difference. Was there a large age difference? He didn't look that old and he always seem so alive and passionate with her.

In her mind she quickly tried to piece together bits and pieces of stories he told her, trying to estimate, but everything ran together and made her mind spin. Unable to bare the look in his eyes and not yet ready with an answer she closed the gap between his face and hers and let her lips just gently brush against his. "You could be a hundred years old and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to me Percy." A surge of emotion over took her again and he pushed her lips more forcefully against his, demanding another kiss from Percy. Breaking contact with him for just a moment, she looked in his eyes and teased, "You're not a hundred years old are you Percy?"

Carefully, his eyes searched out her own. Blakeney had always prided himself on being able to read the body language of another. His light blues searched her greens, wondering what might lie within her causal answer to his questions.

A smile started to cross his features when she told him age meant nothing to her. Before his face could complete the transformation, Maeve near dove in on him, stealing the kisses from right under him. Not that he minded in the least.

He leaned back and wrapped his arms around her torso, pulling her down with him to lie in the grass. He had seen the grass stains already pressed into his fine coat and britches from their earlier passionate sessions. Blakeney all but forgot to care and his hands moved wildly through her hair. He did not mind this journey.

"You're not a hundred years old are you Percy?" Her bell like voice sang down at him and he breathed heavily catching his breath. "Just a year shy, Maeve." He pulled her close again, and kissed her the way the French meant for it to be done.

Marguerite tried to catch her breath once Percy pulled away slightly to answer her question, but as usual, it was of little use. She wrapped her fingers and hands around his shoulders as he once more held her body to his. She gave a slight giggle at his answer before he once more ran his hand up to the back of her head and through her hair and pulled her lips down to meet his. He sent excited shivers through her body as she felt his tongue begin to explore her own mouth and became so lost in his embrace that she forgot the world around them. Even the bells of the nearby clock tower striking the hour and the clip-clop of the street patrol walking through the park could not awaken her from the world she had entered in Percy's arms.

His mind began to become filled with thoughts unfitting for a gentleman again as the two explored one another. The wanderings were not necessarily indecent. Out in the open, the small movements were subtle. Those that passed by would turn their heads and take a gander, however this type of display of lovers in the park was not entirely unseen in France. Usually it was carried out with a little more discretion, but it had been done before.

Unable to get past the explosive feeling, Blakeney quickly pulled himself away from her and lay on his back in the grass, gasping for breath. Marguerite enchanted him with her spells that he was powerless to overcome. "One more week." he told himself in his head, trying to calm down.

Marguerite felt Percy pull away and slide back from her. She nearly protested, but held her tongue, she had a fairly good idea of why he did so, and it was best for both their sake. She stayed near watch as Percy fought to regain control of his now rapid breath.

He reached over for her hand and closed his eyes. "You will be the death of me." He gasped, and then slowed his breathing until it returned to somewhat normal.

"I certainly hope not." she replied as she draped her torso over his a gave him yet another kiss before retreating and allowing him to recover, "What would I ever do without you?" Marguerite, still squeezing his hand, slid down over his body and rested her head on his chest. She closed her eyes and through all layers of his fine English clothes, she listened to his heartbeat.

Reaching up, he gently petted and stroked her beautiful auburn hair. Keeping his head back and staring up at the heavens, Blakeney tried in vain to think of a time that he might have ever been happier in his life. He could not come up with one.

He did not answer her question, for it wasn't something that demanded a close. Instead, he laid there, resting, calming down, and began the countdown in his head until the day they became wed. There was much to do in a short amount of time, however these past weeks in France had been the best five he might had ever known.

Marguerite could not help but to smile to herself as she rested her head on Percy's chest. It was rising and falling much slower now and his heartbeat was less rapid. Feeling his hand run through her hair made her smile even more, and to think a few weeks ago she nearly cut it down because of all the trouble she had been having with her wigs at the theatre.

She gently let her hands wander over his chest and arms as she laid in the grass with him, even reaching up once or twice to stroke his cheek and his neck. "Just a few short days," she said in a near whisper, "just a few more short days."

Hearing her, Blakeney nodded and squeezed her close. They laid there for a while like that. He did not try and kiss her, nor did he wish her to do the same to him. It only drove him mad and he somehow heard the voice of some English gentleman telling him about properness that the Baronet was only too glad to ignore.

Marguerite laid still in his arms, with nothing but the soft sounds of his breathing to slowly nearly lull her to sleep. The coolness of the night gave her a slight shiver and she held herself tighter to Percy to keep warm.

After a while, when he felt himself drifting in and out of slumber, when he felt the misty cool of the night become damp on the grass, he sat up and covered his mouth in a languid yawn. "I should take you home." He smiled at Maeve, hating to do this, but knowing the reward of letting a new day start.

He sat up but rather then moving with him, Marguerite let her body limply slide down and she rested her head on his leg. She gave a soft sigh, not wanting to leave. "What time is it?" she asked, having not paid attention the last time the clock chimed.

Blinking down at her, her head resting precariously close to, well, him! He just stared at her as she rested and glanced around in a slight embarrassed manner. "I I have no idea." He looked around the park and it appeared that no one was about.

Blakeney smiled down at her and again, stroked those beautiful and soft long locks. "Come on now. The sooner I get you home, the sooner we both can sleep. And lud! We will wake up and be that much closer to our wedding day."

"Or we could just sleep here and when we wake up we'll be that much closer to our wedding day." Marguerite teased, playfully prolonging the night as much as she could.

He tried to stand now, but Marguerite was resisting the fact that her legs, indeed, did have muscles. With a tired sigh, he leaned over and tried to get her to stand, but she would not have it. Finally, with a shake of his head, he bent over and picked her limp form up. "There there now sleepy Maeve." The night mist had begun and he could barely make the outline of the horses and carriage as he headed towards them.

Marguerite gave a short laugh as Percy picked her up, "Oh well, if you're so determined to be rid of me for the night." she teased as she place a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Nay Maeve. I think it is the wisest until I get to see you tomorrow. You still need to get a dress, say? Go to a place that sounds like "Louelle de Trapise". I have opened an account for you and they will treat you like a queen." He smiled and gently settled her in the carriage.

Marguerite laughed as Percy slightly tripped up on his French, but it didn't matter, she knew where he was talking about, she also knew it was a very expensive dress shop and she never dreamed of buying a dress from their on her own salary. "Really Percy?" she said as she hugged him tightly, "Of course then, I will see to my dress first thing in the morning. And there's so much more we need to do until then for the wedding and of course I have to pack my belongings and send them ahead and settle some of my affairs here, and how am I going to do it all before the wedding?"

He sat in the carriage next to her and lead the horses to her flat. "I guess tonight will have to be the last night we date Maeve." He took her hand and squeezed. "I don't mind I suppose. Something all the more to look forward too."

"No." she said firmly, "It's awful enough of you to take me home early tonight, I can not bare the thought of not seeing you until the ceremony."

Get your affairs in order. I should send word to England and send for some things myself. How fun. Won't they be surprised?"

Marguerite could only laugh. "What would all of your friends say when you write to them. You leave England for a short business trip and come back with a bride!"

He glanced over at Maeve and smiled. "32." He steered the horses towards the apartments of Paris and just offered nothing else.

An odd and puzzled look crossed Marguerite's face. "32? I don't understand, 32 what?"

He smiled and glanced over at Maeve. "My friend will hear that I am coming home with a 20 year old bride... and wonder how an old man like me ever captured you."

"32 years Percy? Well, you certainly had me fooled. I wouldn't have guessed you where that old."

His breath stopped for a moment and he looked concerned over at her. She had said his age did not matter, but with the truth out.... who knows what a young woman of 20 would think. Why, when she was born, he was studying and running around on Sir Algernon's ship.

Marguerite settled into her seat and as customary wrapped her arm around Percy's. "And I don't think 32 is old, in fact I think it's a fine age for a man to be." Truly he wasn't that old, many of the people she kept company with were around that age, many of them older.

He smiled and relaxed now. "I couldn't agree more with you my dear." Stopping the horses, they now were in front of her apartment complex.

Marguerite sadly looked up at her apartment building. She was sadden first of all by the fact that this meant her time with Percy for the day was over. She leaned over and kissed his cheek before he exited the carriage to come around and help her out. As he moved around, she looked up again to the windows of her flat. She and Armand had lived there for several years, and now she was preparing to pack up her life and leave Paris. She couldn't wait to marry Percy, but she would miss Paris.

He lead her up the stairs to her apartment and leaned over to give her a gentleman's kiss good night.

On the steps to her building, as Percy leaned forward for his kiss, Marguerite lifted her hand and placed a gently finger over his lips, letting the sadness she was feeling go. "I'm not quite finished with you yet tonight Percy. I believe you still owe me a dance."

"Ohhh. You are an evil woman Maeve. Get some rest. There will be plenty a time for dancing soon." He could not allow himself to get close to her. He had to admit he was tired and feared himself once her perfume hit his nostrils.

"Oh Percy, just one dance, just for a few minutes." She giggled as she slid her arms under his and laid her head against his chest, rocking back and forth as if in a dancing motion. "come now, you would deny your little Maeve such a simple and easily granted pleasure?"

He shivered. She sure had a way with him. He smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her hand up in his. Giving his infamous off-key hum of "God Save the King", Blakeney waltzed her on the patio slab of concrete of her apartment building.

Marguerite laughed as Percy lead her around on the sidewalk in a quick dance. "See now, is this so hard for you? I feel much better now that I'm getting my dance." As he continued to swing her around she placed a long, lingering kiss on his cheek.

His voice raised a little when she planted the kiss, and the humming staggered as he tried to remember how it went. It was not as if he had never sung the song before. Being a Brit, it was part of his make up and being to hear the song and know it by heart.

Still.... Maeve possessed the power and it took all his concentration to continue waltzing and resist the urge to just kiss her fully and indecently on her porch.

Hearing his voice rise and humming waver, Marguerite giggled as she continued to hold her lips pressed against his. Finally hearing him come to an odd stop, Marguerite pulled her lips from him and looked into his eyes. She laughed and gently teased him, "What's the matter Percy? Does the cat have your tongue?" and then firmly pressed her mouth to his for a final kiss that night.

What poor soul was he that Blakeney had no choice but to return the kiss? Poor man. He closed his eyes, and against his better judgement, kissed her open mouthed and fully right there on the porch. This act, while he enjoyed it, did make him uncomfortable, as they were right in front of where she lived. An easy target to pinpoint names and remember faces. Still, the old fashioned English gentleman did it.

When the departed their lip lock, Blakeney smiled down at her and whispered, "No cat, just you Maeve." He brought her hands up to his lips and kissed each finger tip good night.

With her bright green eyes that sparkled in his presence, Marguerite watched as Percy tenderly kissed her fingers. Regretfully, after his lips had brushed each of them, she stepped back towards the doorway, though still holding onto his. "I know it's time to say goodnight, but I really don't want to. I used to love this time of day. Everything would be calming down and I would go to my soft bed to sleep for the night and await the next day. Now I hate the idea of the late night. I hate leaving you, and I hate going to bed alone."

He stood there listening to her, carefully trying to judge her words. Was she inviting him up? "I hate leaving you, and I hate going to bed alone." Why, he did not know even how to respond to that. Perhaps she was just being polite due to the fact that they HAD to depart.

The look on his face must have been puzzling, for the older man just stood there like a dead stick. His mind racing with the possibilities. They had a wonderful time in the park, yet he knew they had to be careful to not push things too far. They were to be wed in only a few days time! She couldn't possibly mean....

Unsure what to do, Blakeney trusted his instincts and wit. Instead of offering to come lie with her, which could lead to other things, he gave her hand a squeeze and let go. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say Good Night till it be morrow." The Shakespearean quote may have been terribly out of place, but it was the first counter he could think of. Relying on "when in doubt, go with what you know", the Baronet took a few steps backwards and smiled. Regarding her attractive physique.

Marguerite absently held our her hands as Percy stepped back and let go. She gave a soft, somber smile at his words, but dared not to take her eyes off him even to blink if she could help it. She felt like she could have stood there all night, just standing in silence, looking at him. But what he said before was right, the sooner she fell asleep, the sooner the new morning would come and they'd be that much closer to their next meeting, and that much closer to their wedding day.

He too watched her. Still in a lustful manner after their heated kiss. Reminding himself, Blakeney kept his retreat.

Finally daring to break off the glance between her eyes and his, she looked down into her small bag and dug out the key to the building. She was about to put the key in, but paused for a second, and retreated back into the middle of the street to look at the windows of her flat. Not seeing any candlelight, Marguerite assumed that Armand by now was well asleep.

Rejoining Percy on the sidewalk she broke the soft silence between them, Percy, you didn't really mean what you said early, about this being the last time seeing me before the wedding. I'm not sure could bare being away from you for so long."

The silence broken by her voice was the best music he had heard all night. He turned, took her in his arms, so glad to have her close again. Blakeney said not a word, but hugged her tightly in his tall and strong embrace. He found himself rubbing his cheek gently, against her.

Pulling back, his hands on her shoulders, he beamed down at her. "I can not wait until I can do that to you every night." His voice barely a whisper in the night air. "I will call on you tomorrow." He smiled and promised her; his blues gazing into her greens.

Marguerite smiled and leaned in to give Percy one last embrace that night, but as she lifted her foot to move closer, she tripped against a stone on the walk. Falling forward, thankfully into Percy's arms, Marguerite gave a startled shreek as Percy caught her. She quickly covered her mouth with one hand and look up innocently into Percy's eyes. She let her hand drop and began to laugh, "I bet you did not know your bride to be is a bit clumsy. All the years I've lived here and yet rarely a day goes by I don't trip on that stone."

Armand sat up suddenly, hearing a faint shriek. "Wha...?" He went to the window next ti his bed and threw up the sash. He leaned out and looked out at the street that ran past the front of the building. He saw no one.

"Well, fine then...." And he lay back down, but not before he realized that Marguerite still was not home.

Oblivious to Armand and the rest of the neighborhood waking up, He smiled and held onto her. The shriek in the nights silenced air made his heart jump and near stop all at once. When he began to breathe again, he glanced down at her beautiful face and just smiled. Blakeney could not help himself and upon hearing her, he laughed softly, "It would seem that you have fallen for me all over again, Hmm Maeve? At the mere thought of not seeing me for a few days, why, you just seem to have lost all of your senses all together."

Marguerite smiled and looked up at Percy, taking a short moment to brush her lips to his, "I fall every time I see you." Once again she ran her lips over his for what she promised herself would be the last time for the night, for both their sakes. She pulled back, "I don't think I could manage even another full day without you, but I think a few hours to sleep would b well for both of us."

Of course he accepted her kisses graciously. Nothing else could be more priceless in his mind. Hearing her, giving her hands a good bye squeeze, Blakeney nodded and bid his adeiu. "Yes, of course. Just a few though. Good night sweet Maeve."

He climbed into the carriage, blew her a kiss and then slapped the reins on the horses and headed back to the inn he had practically lived in for the past six weeks. It had been a most wonderful evening.

Marguerite smiled at Percy as he prepared to leave. She laughed and reached out a hand as if to catch the precious kiss he blew her way before he left. She stood silently and watched the carriage until it had turned a corner and was out of sight. She sighed and turned to enter her apartment building.

Sneaking upstairs, as quietly as she could, she made her way through the apartment towards their bedrooms, hoping that Armand was peacefully asleep.

Armand's eyelids fluttered open at the sound of footsteps coming inside. One pair, not two. Well, naturally, she'd have the descretion not to... He sat up in bed.

He was in his nightshirt, but he didn't care. "Marguerite," he called, softly. "is that you?" He came to the doorway and saw her creeping nearly silently to her room. "How was the carriage ride?" Armand asked, grinning slyly.

Marguerite jumped like a startled cat and stepped back into a wall. Stepping back into things was all too common an occurance tonight. "Oh, goodness Armand you startled me. The carriage ride, oh, um, yes it was lovely. I hope I did not wake you coming in."

"Actually, no. I was awakened before by a cry." Armand gave Marguerite a long look. "Any idea what that was about?" She didn't seem shaken, and physically looked fine. So the question came out in a wry, teasing tone.

"A cry?" Marguerite said, thinking she did not recall hearing anyone crying on the street, then she remembered the near fall on the street. "Oh, that was probably me, I tripped over that stone on the walk again."

Armand laughed. "You'd think that after the amount of time we've lived here, you'd stop tripping!" He kept laughing a little, and it died down after a moment. "Are you all right? Can I go back to bed now?" He asked, yawning.

Marguerite started to nod with her own lazy and tired eyes and she an her hand through her hair, pausing once she felt a few blades of grass caught in it. She turned hoping Armand wouldn't notice them. Suddenly remembering Percy, she had to know before going to bed, "Before you go back to sleep Armand, tell me, what do you honestly think of Percy?"

Armand crossed his arms, cocked his head, and leaned against the door frame. "He's nice, I suppose. A bit of an idiot, to me, and somewhat annoying, but who isn't?" He added, quickly. "Besides--" with a cocky grin "--I don't know him the way YOU do!" He was teasing 100%, and after saying so, leapt back into his bed and pulled the covers over his head.

Marguerite rolled her eyes and followed Armand into his bedroom, taking special care to sit down on his legs. "I think he was a bit nervous meeting you, and being a bit silly trying to make things light, but seriously Armand, how do you feel about my getting married."

As she sat down on HIM instead of the bed, Armand squirmed out of the way, pulling the covers off his head. "I feel that it's your choice, and who am I to tell you what to do? If you love him, then... I'm sure everything will turn out all right, despite his aristocracy." He laughed and sat up on his elbows. "He's nice enough. 'Long as you are happy, my Margot."

Marguerite sighed as she moved closer to her brother and pushed the bit of hair out of his face. "Armand, I want to know that you are really alright with this. I want to know that Percy and I have your blessing, and I think Percy would like that too."

"Well where is he? I'll go tell him!" Leaping up, Armand opened the window and yelled in English, "PERCY! YOU CAN MARRY MY SISTER!" He closed the window, cutting off a few curses from the neighbors. "There," He said, laughing. "Will that do?" He stopped laughing long enough to say, "Margot, marry Percy with my blessing, and that of our friends. Well, maybe not Citizen Chauvelin, but I don't think he's much of a friend." That set him giggling again.

Marguerite smiled as Armand sat back down and she wrapped her arms warmly around him. "I am so happy that we have your pleasing. As for people like Citizen Armand Chauvelin, I'd be happy if I don't have his blessing." She paused and pulled away from Armand, getting ready for another confession, "Armand, I'm sure in time you'll grow to like Percy more, at lest I hope you do, but Percy and I plan to marry at this week's end."

Armand hugged her back. Then..."Mon dieu! so soon? I never thought that!" He grinned nonetheless. "That it wonderful Margot. I'm happy that you are happy. Now," He stifled a yawn, "it's rather late, and I think we are both tired. Can I go back to sleep now?"

Marguerite stood up, "Of course it is." and like a good mother she tucked the covers playfully around him and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight, Armand, I will see you in the morning."

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