Chapter
10:
One Day
More
"You can not be serious!" I heard my aunt scream from inside her
room as I stood laughing quietly outside the door. I had known all
along that, being the typical high society woman she is, she would
object to my engagement to Marguerite.
"I have never been more serious about anything Aunt Aggie!" I
answered my flippant tone unscathed by her anger.
If the door had opened any faster, I would have had a broken nose
since I would have not missed it. Although Agatha's expression could
have killed me right there if looks could do that, for her stare
appeared to be penetrating me deep down to my bones. It was certainly
a humorous sight to be remembered for years to come.
"Percival, I had always thought you to be the stupid yet sensible
one of the family," she growled rather menacing for a woman of her
age. "How could you actually consider marrying that French
hussy?"
May the Lord forgive me but if she were a man, I would have taught
her a lesson right then and there. "Very easily, milady; 'tis not
hard to feel the need to have her for a wife."
"Percival, can you not think ahead into the future? That woman, if
you could even call her that, will ruin our family's good name
forever! We shall be corrupted eternally should she become with
child. I will not allow the bloods to be mixed!"
It was my turn to send my glare down upon her. Speaking firmly and
just as threatening as she, I answered, "Why should this marriage
concern the entire family? First of all, there are not that many of
us left, and secondly the important matter is that I actually love
this woman. Marguerite is certainly more sensible and caring than any
of the haughty young things you have set before me already, and I
will never choose one of them over her. As for any children,
Marguerite is the only person I trust to be my coming son or
daughter's mother. She raised her brother from the time he was
nothing more but a mere infant, and did a damn fine job at it if I do
say so myself. Therefore my decision stands. Marguerite shall become
my wife, whether anyone, even you, approves or not."
Trying to rise to her fullest height, which was not much compared
to my own, Agatha stared straight into my eyes. "All right then.
Whatever you should do, I know you are too stubborn to have your mind
changed, but Percival Blakeney, I warn you. If you decide to go along
with this madness, you will not see me that wedding. I refuse to be
present at an event that will brand us for life. Go ahead and marry
that harlot you dare to call your future wife; you will regret
it!"
"Sink me I will have the most regret filled life then!" I shouted
as she made her way to the front door with her bewildered son
following close behind.
* * * * *
Many pairs of eyes must have shot their gaping looks in Marguerite
and my direction. The entire league had gathered in the study the day
before the wedding at my wishes with the exception of Tony. He was
still in France trying to find the warrant for St Cyr's arrest since
we had figured that it would have helped us in finding some other
clues in a complete explanation of his death.
But that was not the important matter at hand. The only thing I
wanted was to see how my friends would react to Marguerite, and at
that point in time, everything seemed as though things would go
smoothly. Very good sign! I thought with a smile.
"Gentlemen," I began placing Marguerite in front of me to show her
off. "All of you must have heard about the stunning creature you see
before you. My letters had certainly explained that I had shockingly
found the love of my life as well as the fact that one day I would
bring her with me across the channel to marry her. Odd's life but
that day has finally arrived and I reveal the angel to you now. My
friends, may I present my fiancée, Mademoiselle Marguerite St
Just of Paris."
The lady herself curtsied quickly out of respect as all eyes
remained focused on her. Blushing slightly, she spoke, her charmingly
accented voice breaking the silence that lingered throughout the
group. "I am honored, messieurs, to have the chance of making your
acquaintances." Allow me to note that she turned a questioning look
on me to make certain that she had spoke correctly. Of course I
nodded, rubbing her uneasy hand comfortingly.
That having displayed her nervous tension, Andrew, being the good
man he was, stood up and walked over to her. Taking her hand from my
own, he kissed it politely and said in the same manner, "On the
behalf of the boys and myself, Lady Blakeney, the honor is all ours.
We welcome you wholeheartedly into our…unusual bunch."
With a few laughs here and there, Andrew escorted Marguerite
deeper into the room with me following behind to watch the scene
unfolding before me. Leaning against my desk, I smiled as I realized
the sudden bond that they were all forming with her and sighed
relieved that they had. I wanted at least some people to enjoy
Marguerite's presence and who better to do so than my own
friends?
"Now be honest, Marguerite…pardon, milady I meant…" Ozzy
had started after quite some time but she interrupted him.
"Please, Marguerite shall suffice, and that goes for all of you,"
she said with her famous smile.
"Marguerite it is then," the old boy replied before turning to
indicate me. "As I was saying, you can be honest with us. What is it
about that young jackanapes over there that caught your eye? I feel
it my immediate obligation to warn you that should you marry him, you
have chosen the most dandified Englishmen that ever lived!"
Laughing along with the clearly joyful group, Marguerite stood up
to join me at the desk. I watched her closely, feeling the intense
look of passion coming from behind as she passed around to my back.
As every one of the men snickered under their breath, she ran her
hands over my shoulders. "What is there not to love about him?"
A mischievous grin on my face, I said, "You will of course excuse
me, gentlemen." Then pulling her in front of me, feeling the warmth
between us as I held her in my arms, I pressed our lips into a deep
kiss as each man either cheered teasingly.
"That just shows us where we belong, does it not?" Hastings said
in a jokingly taunting tone. "Clearly the two lovebirds wish to
be…alone! I say we run along home now before things really
become interesting."
Having agreed with him myself, I pulled away to watch as they
quickly said their farewells and exited the room. Then I returned my
gaze to Marguerite, noticing that she had rested her beautiful head
against my shoulder, touching her lips to the bottom of my throat.
Holding her tighter, I whispered intimately, "Only one more day, my
cherished one. Tomorrow morning, Armand arrives with Louise and by
the evening, I shall be able to proudly call you my wife."
"Oh Percy I do not think that I can wait that long!" I heard her
comment in her best impatient five-year-old sounding voice.
"All right then, we will elope tonight in order to have the
ceremony sooner. How does that sound?"
Looking up at me playfully, Marguerite granted her irresistible
hands the permission to roam wherever they favored. "The ceremony was
not quite what I had in mind…"
Picking her up into my arms, I interrupted without any hesitation,
"Say no more, my little temptress," And with a small laugh from her,
I carried her to our room, intending to give her what she desired.
Besides, I thought eagerly, what harm could a day early do?