Chris rode off in his carriage. It was almost too easy to manipulate little Miss Spencer. Lord Blackeney had been even easier to charm. Chris had deduced from the story that this damnable Percy was rebellious and lacked proper filial respect. All he wanted was a son like him. He fancied himself an Antipater to King Herod, destroying the real son by cunning. It would be no trouble now that he was getting closer to the father and the lady Emilie. He had to say, she was smarter then he thought, for a girl of course. He had actually enjoyed her presence, but it was all too easy, she was too willing. He could have demanded anything, and the girl would have given it to him. He had her well trained; she'd be an excellent pawn. He could honestly say he was fond of her a lot and not all the things he had said to her had been lies. She was a perfect pet, pretty and obedient, smart and yet, knowing her place. But she was his, he wanted the fruit denied to him; he wanted to make Laurel his. He still did not know what attracted him to that minx's side. It was true she was brave and beautiful, smart and well spoken, but there were many girls just as wonderful, Emilie for instance. He did even like her haughty, independent, aloof and prideful ways, a woman was expected to be subservient and follow orders. It irked him that Laurel did not throw herself at his feet, as she should. She was just some prideful little wench who carried herself too high. He knew he felt some admiration for her, in an odd way, he loved her but it was the love he felt for a prize horse. He just wanted her to want him, and then, he would leave after he had his fill of her charms. He already had plans to destroy her means of support with that confounded Planchette, making her desperate for money. This was complicated by a rich suitor like this Percy character. He needed to get rid of him and his plan seemed to be working perfectly. He defined his goals simply; he wanted Percy sent away in disgrace to England. Emilie could stay in France, she had a rich dowry, and then he'd try and woo Laurel. If she failed to respond, he thought, Emilie would not be the only one who suffered a good thrashing in the woods. He found pain to be a good remedy for many problems. If he could not have that Delilah, no one would. All he needed was to get this Percy out of the picture and he'd have everything. He smiled thinly; he was going to take both ladies from his new rival. He arrived at Laurel's house and told the carriage to wait outside. He then knocked on the door.
When dawn broke Laurel took Percy's horse and continued her search, Percy was in such a sorry state that she didn't have the heart to wake him. But the search was to no avail, so around 11 am she decided to return home and see if Percy were in a state to go on. Much to her dismay, she saw Cristof knocking upon her door as she was returning. There was no way of avoiding him so she dismounted, tied the horse to a tree, and ran to meet him. "Good morning, M. le vicompte! Were you just looking for me?"
Chris turned around to see pretty Laurel standing there. "Ah yes, I was. I was hoping you'd be able to clear up a mystery for me. The young lady who was at your house, Emilie, she's been very badly hurt. I was riding and I found her in the woods, badly beaten and her money taken away. Apparently she was kidnapped and robbed. I wanted to bring her here, but she wanted to be taken back to her house. Well, after bringing her home, she begged me to find some person named Percy. She kept saying "Percy, where are you?" in her stupor. If you know who this person is, a brother perhaps, can you tell him to go home and see her? Her father or guardian was so worried he could barely speak to me" he said, feigning concern and touching the necklace he was given and now was wearing. "Come into my web said the spider to the fly" he thought.
Laurel was stunned at the news, but the logical side of her asked what Cristof intended to get out of this situation. Was this his attempt at trying to impress her or was he trying to do something to Percy? Either way, she knew Percy would never forgive her or himself if he wasn't informed. "I know of whom you speak, he is waiting inside. I'll go fetch him."
Chris nodded and bowed. "I thank you so much, cher. If anything happened to the poor girl,...I'd be heart broken" he said. So, he'd be able to meet this Percy character. He waited outside politely, hoping Laurel noticed how kind he was being.
Hesitantly, Laurel went into the house. She should have gone out earlier and looked, she might have found Emilie before Cristof or stopped her attacker. How long was Emilie out there? She when to the bed, she felt Percy's forehead, he was hot but not feverously so. Tapping his shoulder lightly she said, "Percy wake up! Percy, Emilie's been found."
With a start, Percy opened his eyes. Emilie..found? His eyes were soon wider than his mouth. "She has?!" Percy's voice resembled a mouse because it quite suddenly, went higher pitched. "Is she alright, where is she? Did you find out who hurt her?"
Laurel cast her eyes down, she didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, but it was better than letting Cristof tell him. "She was taken back home this morning by le viompte Lovell, but..." she faltered. "S-she was hurt. I don't think they know by whom yet..."
Gulping nervously, Percy wondered if he should stay here or make a run for it back home, even though he knew that a beating was coming his way. It was enough to make a man crazy. "I need to get home, Laurel. Right away. When father finds out how mean and selfish I've been, I may as well be dead. Would you forgive me if I left you suddenly like this?"
Laurel looked into Percy's eyes and saw the terror in them, fear was etched upon his face giving him the illusion of appearing much older. She desperately wanted to easy his pain, to rectify the tragedy that she felt herself at fault for. "Of course, milor! Is there anything that I can do to help? I would be only too happy to help," she pleaded, then after a pause. "Cristof is outside, he is the one who found Emilie and brought her home. But I must warn you that on the other side of that door stands a man you must be wary of, you must avoid letting him see how upset you are."
"Thank you, m'dear- hopefully I will see you again, non?" Gently, Percy carresed Laurel's face with his fingers, his hands trembling slightly. "Take care." Nervously, Percy ran towards his horse, hopped on and galloped the whole way home, knowing that he would get it the second he walked through the door. When he arrived, Percy's palms were sweating and he felt sick, nauseated. How many nights would he be spending in the cellar this time? Or would it be possibly be weeks. Not that his father cared- or even- at the very least, had a heart. Percy nearly threw up on the porch. Instead, he regained his composure and almost timidly, opened the door and shook. "H-hello- is anybody there?"
Chris waited by the door to meet this Percy. After a few minutes, he heard the sound of a horse from behind the humble little excuse for a house. A tall and unfortunately rather handsome blond youth rode off in the direction of the manor. "So, that is my foe. I lost the chance to meet you now, but fear not. We shall meet again and right now, I am the least of your worries" he said, wondering if Laurel would come out.
The unexpected display startled Laurel, was Percy's gesture one of gratitute or affection? Perhaps it was an attempt at grasping so sort of solace before facing the executioner... She watched him gallop off into the distance, wondering what would become of the young man that she was beginning to grow fond of. It was only then that she remember Cristof waiting outside, who had surely seen Percy go. He would not leave until he had got what he was after.
Pulling her shawl tightly around her she when out to meet Cristof, "Such stranger manner these English folk have, M. le Vicompte! I told the young milor, about his aunt and of the compassion you showed by bringing her home, and I left. I suppose he was so anxious to get to her side, that he forgot to thank you for your kindness."
"Indeed, English folk lack the good manners of the more proper French, I do not know why you even bother with a boy who can't even seem to say hello. Miss Emilie is polite though, gave me this necklace for saving her. Poor girl, her family barely recognized her, she was so badly hurt. You seem a bit troubled, would you like to come for dinner, is their anything I can do to help you? You know I am always at your service" he asked, still trying to be kind and win her affections the normal way, though this plot was most enjoyable.
"I thank you for your kind offer, M. le vicompte, but I fear I would make you poor company. I fear for the health of poor, Lady Emilie, the poor girl," Laurel said with true sincerity. "It was truly wonderful of you to take her home and may the lord praise you for it. As for her nephew, he is young and English, they have very different ways than us in expressing themselves." She paused a moment, reflecting on her last exchange with Percy. "We were searching all over for the young lady, where did you find her? Do you have any idea who might have done this?"
Chris shook his head and wondered why Laurel insisted on being so difficult. It made her maddening and yet alluring. Most girls he knew were like Emilie, needing a man to revolve around but Laurel was a sun in her own right. "I was walking to visit you and saw scraps of fabric on the ground. I became suspicious and followed them, and found Emilie, thrown on the floor, unconscious and beaten, her clothes almost totally ripped off. I picked her up and heard her ask where Percy was, and then to not hurt her. I assured the young lady I was honorable and took her to my house to rest, where my servants could tend to her. She was badly injured, you see. I meant to return her to you, but when she awoke, she asked me to take her home, poor girl was shaking in fear. We talked a bit, but she seemed distracted and in pain. So I took her to her cousin's house, at least I think His Lordship is her cousin, she did not call him Father or Uncle. He put her to bed and thanked me. Rather scary fellow, a head taller then me. He seemed very angry, I suppose he expected Percy to take better care of her. I would love to find the person who did this to the poor girl, I am amazed someone could hurt such a sweet young lady. She gave me this necklace as a token of friendship and I decided to find out from you, mon cher, where to find this Percy. So, how do you know Emilie?" he asked.
Laurel gave a slight shudder at Cristof's description, poor Emilie! She should have gone out earlier, should have done something more. She felt tears rising, but quickly suppressed them. Crying wouldn't help Emilie nor would it change what happened. "I met them both yesterday, they seemed to be a bit out at elbow, so I offered to help."
Chris nodded, catching her in a lie. "How very kind of you. So, you usually take in friends of Andre? I did not know that strange little boy had such noble friends. So, tell me, what is this Percy like? The way the young lady spoke of him, you'd think he was a saint, albeit one who forgets common courtesies "he smiled. "I do hope you are all right, you seem rather upset" he continued. "The occasion has never arisen before. Andre is quite a unique young man, I am forever amazed by the people he knows. As for milor Percy, it is hard to say... typically English I assume. He was primarily concerned with milady Emilie," Laurel said, she didn't like Cristof's tone. "You must forgive my emotion, M. le vicompte, I am greatly grieved for Lady Emilie. I was up all night will worry."
Chris's eyes nodded. "Well, please don't worry, Emilie is all right, a few days rest will fix everything. She's a strong young lady. Now are you sure you would not want any help with anything, I am here for you, lunch perhaps?" he said, trying again.
"That's very kind of you..." Laurel started, then suddenly remembered that she should have left for work hours ago. "Oh no! Please forgive me, M. le Vicompte, but with all of the excitement I've forgot work all together! And M. Planchette will be so worried!"
Christof bowed. "Then till we meet again" kissing her hand and decided to walk home to think. That had given him a good idea, he needed to ruin Planchette's business and make her desperate. Starvation and poverty did such good things to people, he had broken Little Lady Emilie easily enough. But how to do the same to a business? He had to think about this. He was in a pleased mood, Emilie was eating out of his hand, with any luck that rude brat of an Anglais was lying under a whip and the net around Laurel was growing closer. He walked back to his house and ordered a light meal in his study. How to ruin a business, what a question? He supposed he could spread rumors, or see if he could dig up some debts on the place. He was quite thoughtful, this was a delicate operation, his hands could not be seen on this. He walked outside to find his most loyal lackey. "Albert, would you listen about the town about Planchette's shop, every bit of information you can find, tell me; But be discreet" he directed.
"Yes, sir!" Albert said and went off about his task.
