If he was so happy with the fruits of his labor, why did he mourn so?
Glancing over at the clock, he waved his hands about in front of him. "I can't think about this anymore!" He said aloud to himself. Sir Andrew and Armand he had not seen hide nor hair. Resting up, for there was only half of an hour more until one. Turning swiftly, he moved out of the card room and began looking in all the usual places for Frank.
As Frank prowled the halls making sure that everything was in order for Percy's journey he saw Percy emerge from card room, looking distressed. "Is there anything I can help prepare Sir?" he asked, hoping to be of some use to Percy.
In a startled snap of the head upward, the thought-racked blues meet those greens of Frank. Yanked from his thoughts, he nodded at Frank. "Yes, keep an eye on Lady Blakeney. She is getting dangerously close to all I do. Converse with her. Keep her busy if you can. Do whatever it takes to keep her occupied, if such a thing is even possible."
Running both hands through his hair, he paused mid-pull and looked at Frank with both elbows up in the air. "What am I doing Frank?"
"You are doing what you know is right sir," he said seriously. He knew it was difficult for Percy but he also knew how deeply principled the man was. "And don't worry sir, I will keep a close watch on Lady Blakeney"
Unlocking his fingers from his blonde hair, he inhaled and exhaled largely. "Sometimes it feels Frank," he began softly, "like I am being punished the harder I try." He put his arms at his sides and shook his head. "I have to ask myself constantly why I ever decided to wed." He spoke this last part in but a mere whisper so barely Frank himself could make out the words.
Since that fatal day of being beaten by his father, Percy had never, nor could ever speak ill of his mother. That translated over to the memory of his father as well once Sir Algernon passed. Now, as the situation arose, he could not even bring himself to speak ill of the plotting and near-murdering wife. Him questioning himself over Marguerite was the best he could do in public. Thank God for the open sea and privacy of the Day Dream when the times called for it.
Carefully Frank looked at Percy. The heartache on his face was unmistakable. "You had no way of knowing sir...sometimes we are nothing but pawns of fate and we must simply deal with what we are given."
"It is of my own error Frank." Still he spoke softly. Habitual to his upbringing, he pointed the finger towards himself. "What did I expect by rushing things so? Perhaps if I had not let down my guard, I would have seen it for myself as it truly was."
Kindly he tried to comfort Percy. "Love can make us do strange things to us. You did what your heart led you to do and no one can fault you for that."
"I can fault me for it. I'm sure my father can as well. Damn me if I can't hear him now speaking wisdom to his idiot son in the darkness." He shook his head. He was tired and reminded himself to mind his tongue about Sir Algernon. Thinking over the recent words spilled from his lips just now, Blakeney reassured himself he did not speak ill of the man.
Sensing that Percy was growing more and more agitated he switched to a less volatile topic. He gave Percy a kind smile and said "Is everything prepared for your departure sir?"
Glancing about, he began to pat down his coat as if this action would justify the answer. "Am I ever completely ready Frank?" The Baronet tried to put on a more upbeat smile, forcing it on his own face. "I suppose it would do well to write the Lady a note, but that can wait until last departure. What shall you do with her for the next few days Frank? I can't imagine a more troublesome task next to my day
to day here."
"I'm sure I will manage sir." Trying to be tactful, yet honest he concluded, "Lady Blakeney does not have quite the reason for venom with me as she does you, sir."
As if it wasn't obvious enough to the entire manor, he half jokingly said, "Is it that noticeable?" A true smirk crossed the Baronet's features.
Smiling at Sir Percival he quipped, "I am afraid so, sir." He was glad to see some bit of laughter come across Percy, he would need his good spirits to get through the trials facing him, at home and in France.
With a nod of acknowledgement, Blakeney closed his eyes. "I am afraid too." As they moved slowly about the lower floors of the Manor, Blakeney gave out instructions of what he was doing. How he planned on it getting done and looked at Frank. "I wish to go in like I am after my favorite cobbler. The boot makers in France far exceed the English, as nearly all clothes go. Let's not forget to use what we can where we can."
He rubbed his chin and looked at his first Leaguer. "Now I have it worked out how to get the parents free. What I have not quite finalized is how to flee with the parents and be at the exact spot where the De Tourneys will be exchanged from the prisoner cart into the prison. It is a tricky spot and with only three of us, I am quite puzzled. Still, there are plenty of hours to ponder."
The look on his face was of a worriment. He had no concrete plan and to the skilled Frank, he was trying to express that to the other. "What do you make of it old friend?" Blakeney, in his proud sort of manner, was asking for help.
Sighing lightly Frank sought out Blakeney's troubled blues. "Percy, I'm sure you will think of something when the time comes. You should write that note to Lady Blakeney and then I will help you with your final preperations."