Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart and his parents were yet again out of the English countryside. Normally, they lived in Richmond out in the country but since his mother was ill they were constantly trying to find a cure for her madness. As if that were ever going to happen.
At seventeen years of age, Percy was a gawky teenager- with long dangly legs (which sometimes got in the way of whatever he might wish to do) and often got picked on by his peers. Not that he minded much, Percy usually blew them off. But whenever somebody picked on Dewhurst- that poor sickly boy who lived in Combwich Hall, they got nailed. The same went for any of his friends.
In was such a lovely spring day that Percy decided to ride his horse, when he saw a young woman walking on the side of the road carrying a rather heavy bundle. Instantly, Percy stopped and was incaptivated by her. His mouth went dry and his heart began to pound. In fact, it was pounding so loud that he feared she would hear it.
Claudette Laurel DeClaireville walked along the road to Calais, with a large bundle strapped to her back. As she walked along, she sang the sweet little ballad that her father taught her when she was younger. Today she was taking her mother's sewing to M. Planchette, who was a very generous employer and would probably have some work to Laurel as well.
Several years ago, Laurel's father the Compte de Claireville, the former ambassador to England, had died and when his assets were assessed it was discover that the poor man had wasted away his fortune on gambling and drink leaving Lady De Claireville and their daughter, with little money and only a small piece of property near Calais where they took residence. Though Lady DeClaireville was an English woman of noble decent, her pride kept her from seeking out assistance from family and friends.
Despite their fall from grace, Laurel was a very happy and energetic young woman, with all the beauty graces and charms of the finest ladies of court, yet as adventuresome as a school boy. And it was for all these gifts that people, like M. Planchette, took her into their hearts.
Laurel hear the sound of a horse�s hooves approaching behind her, she turned to see a fine white stallion and atop thin, awkward-looking young. She smiled at him and continued walking.
Clicking the horses' sides, Percy slowly made his way up to wear the pretty girl was. The horse's pace had slowed and Laurel looked up to see the young man looking down at her, his face wore a singular expression, which made Laurel wonder if he was constipated. "Parden moi, mademoiselle. Would you care for a lift? I detest the sight of a lady walking on this road by herself without a companion. Preferably me. Might I do the honor?" Percy asked, his pure blue eyes peering down at her from underneath his bangs. His hair was a dirt blonde color and well- since it was still somewhat growing out it was in that awkward stage and often stuck out in places whenever he put it in a pony tail.
Today it was NOT in a pony tail and he wore it down his back, giving him an almost rugged appearance, so his chances with this girl were almost slim to none... especially since he was so skinny.
Laurel gave a little laugh, "I don't know milor. Am I safe with you? You could be one of those fierce highwaymen that I've heard travel these roads and make off with young women. If you can prove to me that you are not such a man or that at least you're a highway with respectful intentions, then I would enjoy your companionship"
Percy gave a shy smile in her direction. As he was not used to conversing with a pretty girl such as this one he couldn't help but wonder if he was making a big mistake. "No, I promise you- I am perfectly harmless." To prove his point, Percy swung his leg over the saddle and leapt off of his hose, landing on the ground in an awkward heap.
Laurel laughed good humouredly once more at the saw of Percy's somewhat awkward landing.
"Well- maybe a bit on the clumsy side." Once Percy regained his footing, he slowly rose to his feet and offered his clammy hand towards the girl. He gulped and felt himself begin to sweat. "Where are you headed and do you have a name?" He blurted out before he could stop himself. "My name is Percy Blakeney, Baronet by the way. You must think me rude. I assure you, I am not that way on purpose. It runs in the family."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquiesce, Sir Percy Blakeney, Baronet," Laurel replied and curtsied. "My name is Claudette Laurel DeClaireville, but you may call me Laurel. Only my mother calls me Claudette. I am going to Calais to the shop of M. Jean-Paul Planchette and I would be honored to have such fine company." At this, she took his out-stretched hand.
Percy gave Laurel an awkward grin as he led her towards the horse, praying that he wouldn't do anything stupid like stumble again and wind up lying halfway across the saddle. "If you can direct me to the shop in Calais, I believe I can find it. Though I won't be able to stay long." Percy did not want to risk getting beaten for being late like he had last time. His father had a temper on him and more often times than not wasn't afraid to show it. "Ever ridden a horse before? I promise, he doesn't bite. Tame as a kitten, this one."
"A few times, but never one as fine as this," Laurel said, and accepted Percy's help up. At first she straddled the beast, then recalled that it was improper for a lady to ride in such a fashion and didn't want to give Percy the wrong idea, so she pulled her leg over and sat side-saddle. "Forgive me, milor, how rude of me. You'd almost think I didn't have any manners."
In fact, it was safe to say that Percy WOULD get beaten when he got home just for wandering off again. Since he couldn't stand being around his parents anymore, Percy had taken off on his horse, hoping for some type of an adventure. Well, this was one thing he hadn't counted on. "Aww, he's gentle, like I said. You'll get the hang of it. Besides." With that, Percy swung his too long of legs into the saddle and about fell off but his grip on the saddle horn was strong enough that he didn't. "You'll have me to hold onto so you'll be able to keep your balance." 'Lucky woman,' Percy thought to himself as he tried to keep the horse still so that his new lady friend could mount.
In fact, Laurel did consider herself a lucky woman, instead of an hour walk she would be in Calais in no time and her encounter with Percy was amusing to say the least. If he tried any harder to be impressive he was bound to injure more than just his pride, in fact Percy was the most awkward nobleman Laurel had ever met and found the whole affair to be quite memorable. As they rode, she took a fuller measure of her companion, he was skinny with hardly any muscles and looked as if he had never done a hard days work in his life. If he had been a highwayman, she probably could have laid him flat for she was used to work and was surprising strong when need called for it. Curiosity got the better of her and she asked, "I can tell that your from England, your accent is rather heavy, if it helps we can speak in English. And if it's not too presumptuous, why are you here in France?"
Percy would have looked back at her but he had to concentrate on where he was going because once he got himself off track, it was hard to get back on. His facial expression fell when he was asked why he was in France. "Yes, I am from England- Richmond. My mother is ill and we came searching for a cure for her." Though Percy didn't see any need to tell what KIND of cure they were looking for, no need to dump on somebody else. She could not possibly understand.
Laurel sensed that she had touched on a sore subject, she could feel Percy stiffen slightly and the tone of his voice had changed notably. "I'm sorry to hear your mother isn't well," she said with sincere sorrow in her voice. "I know what it's like to have an ill parent." She stopped at that point. There was no need to make her friend feel worse by telling him about her father's unpleasant days before his body ultimately failed him or her mother's progressively worsening state. She could sympathize, but could tell that this was a subject best dropped for both their stakes. She quickly thought of a subject that she hoped would avoid any further embarrassment, "We used to live in London and visit some of the providences that surround it, I remember my father once mentioned Richmond. What's it like there?"
Percy gave a weak smile, hoping that she did not think him a cad. "It's dull and boring- rains all the time over there, not at all like here." Percy added with a tone of sarcasm as they slowly plodded along down the road. He was half tempted to tell her that his father would often beat up on him (once behind the barn with a stick) when frustration kicked in and it did not help that his teenage son was quite literally, uncontrollable. "I'm sorry to hear that.." Then he promptly dropped the subject. "So tell me. Do many Englishmen stop to torture you while you are headed to work?"
"No, not many Englishmen come by here," Laurel replied laughingly. "And I would hardly call it torture, I find your company most amusing and enjoyable. Occasionally, farmers pass or the Vicompte Lovell may come riding by, but no mad Englishmen. I shall have to put you down as a unique experience... or are you planning on torturing me?"
Percy noted with a sense of dread that they were not too far from Calais. That meant when he got home, he would more than likely get it from his father as he usually did when Percy did something that he didn't like which was more often than not. "No, I don't plan on torturing you..." Despite the fact that no matter how hard he tried to hide the fear in his voice, it trembled as Percy spoke. "How much further is it to your work? My um, father is expecting me back any time and will no doubt have a search party going by the time I get there." Scowling, he attempted to relax his hold on the reigns but his nerves did nothing to help the current situation. If he had his way, Percy would be away from home as much as he could..."Forgive me, you must think me an ill mannered lout."
Laurel noted the fear in Percy's voice and instinctively wished to help him, but couldn't think of any way to do so. She was trying to cheer him up by joking around, but that seem to make him more miserable. "M. Planchette's shop is in that building right there, just near the entrance," Laurel said pointing to the building, then after a pause. "I don't think of you as ill mannered, I'm just sorry we had so little time to talk." Trying to avoid the subject of how much he trembled and the fear in his voice. "See here we are," she said as they approached Planchette's fine tailoring.
Percy nodded, hardly looking at her. What would his father do to him once he got home, what? Fear mounted when the horse stopped- and Percy's entire body seemed to tense at the same time. "I-I'm sorry, but I have to go. NOW." Feeling almost sick, Percy tried to back the horse up so he could be on his way. "I-it was nice talking to you.. See y-you soon?" Percy hated the way he stammered like an idiot when he spoke but he was petrified and whipped that horse around quicker than lightening and galloped down the road, taking every bend tighter than usual so if his pop had any mercy at all, then he would beat him soundly and get it over with. By the time Percy got back to where they were staying, he felt that knot in his stomach all the way to his bones and quietly crept into the house so he would not be heard but soon Percy ran out of luck...
