Emilie lay in bed, her head hurting. The doctor had awoken and examined her. Even though, he had tried to be gentle and optimistic, she knew she was unwell. It hurt, every bruise, every bump ached. She also was worried about her looks and her health. While Emilie had prided herself on her brains, she had liked being considered pretty, especially now that Chris had noticed her. "My Chris" she thought, smiling slightly at the memory of the handsome boy. Unfortunately Percy's face kept appearing in front of her. She wondered if he even cared that she was gone. She still disliked Laurel for taking her place with Percy. Now, that she looked this way, no one would ever remember her, she'd be…ugly. She had handed her necklace for her maid to give Chris, she wanted him to have something of hers, close to his heart. She was also really scared. Every shadow, every noise made her cringe. She could not stop herself, she was so terrified of that man coming back, irrational as it seemed. Thankfully, her brother in law came in a few minutes later as the doctor was sponging her head. He sat down and took her hand. Emilie liked having Lord Blakeney around her; she was the only father she could remember well. He had been a good parent to her, rather strict but very kind. She felt safe around him, no one defied him. "I am sorry for bothering you, I suppose I am still a bit scared" she said as she smiled at him. She saw the pity in his eyes and her heart sank. "Sir, am I ugly now? Will I always look this way, like a monster?" she asked, angry at herself for being so petty. "I hope Percy is all right, wherever he is. I was so sure he'd find me, Percy always protected me. I miss him so much, I thought I'd never see you all again. I hope he even cared that I was gone; I was such a bother to him, I am sure he never wanted to see me again. At least, my Chris� I mean Cristof found me when he did. I � thought I was going to die there" she said a second later in a faraway tone, not realizing the danger of her words. She just wanted assurance that Percy still cared about her. She was also weak from fever, pain and hunger and therefore speaking without thinking. Charlotte who was at Miss Emilie's side did. "This should be a fine tale at the inn"
"I am sorry for bothering you, I suppose I am still a bit scared" Emilie said as she smiled at Lord Blakeney. Blakeney had to use all of his will to keep tears from flowing, "It's no bother, don't be frightened, dear girl, I'll stay beside you." She saw the pity in his eyes and her heart sank. "Sir, am I ugly now? Will I always look this way, like a monster?" she asked, angry at herself for being so petty. At these words Lord Blakeney bent down and kissed her forehead, "No, Emilie, you are not ugly. You are still beautiful, the bruises will go away."
"I hope Percy is all right, wherever he is. I was so sure he'd find me, Percy always protected me. I miss him so much, I thought I'd never see you all again. I hope he even cared that I was gone; I was such a bother to him, I am sure he never wanted to see me again. At least, my Chris... I mean Cristof found me when he did. I …I thought I was going to die there" she said a second later in a faraway tone, not realizing the danger of her words. Blakeney tensed at the mention of his son's name, that traitor who abandoned his family in favor of childish whims and school boy crushes.
"Charlotte, have the cook prepare a warm meal for her ladyship," Blakeney said and dismissed her. "You need your strength, you should rest, Emilie."
Emilie was touched by the kind way Lord Blackeny was treating her, kissing on the forehead, telling she was beautiful, sitting with her. It was like, having a father again. She also noted the way her brother in law reacted to Percy's name and realized her nephew was in for a large amount of trouble. nodded. She was glad to know she was still pretty since she had anouther question. "Thank you, sir. I hope so. I know I need to rest, I shall. But you meet Christof, what do you think of him?" she asked. She knew he was wealthy, titled and...suitable. She was sixteen after all and it was never too early to think about marriage. "He's a Vicompte and he is really wonderful, smart and...handsome" she continued.
Blakeney smiled, "The young vicompte is a very amiable young man. I have a lot of respect for him, especially since he brought you home. He ask me if it would be alright if he could call on you, I told him I would happily approve as long as you were in favor of it."
Emilie grinned and nodded. "Of course I would, he saved my life and he was so kind to me" she said. She turned to a less desirable subject. "How...How is Tessa" she asked softly. She felt so guilty about what happened yesterday.
Charlotte curtsied and walked out, thinking. She could not wait to tell the rest of the servants that little Miss Emilie was in love with this mysterious lord. She wondered when Master Percy would come home and complete this story. She ordered the cook to make some food for the young Lady and then spread the word to be on the lookout for the young master. "What a story" she thought as she helped the cook.
"Tessa is resting, don't fret. She'll be just fine," Blakeney said patting her hand. "I'll write the vicompte this afternoon and tell him that you would be honored to have his company."
Emilie nodded her thanks. "Thank you, sir". Charlotte who had ran to get something she had left in Emilie's room dropped the bowl. As Emilie heard the noise, she suddenly recoiled. "Please, don't hurt me, don't hurt me" she said, beginning to weep as she curled up in a ball. All the memories came rushing back, she could not take it anymore. She began to weep and kick a bit. "I'll be good, I promise, don't hit me anymore"
Lord Blakeney held Emilie in his arms and shushed her as he would a child, "Shh, shh... It was probably Charlotte or Dessau... shhh... I'm here...shh... it will be alright..." He gently rocked her, while vowing to himself that the villains who had done this to her would pay. "It's all right."
Emilie just sobbed as Lord Blakeney held her. "I just don't want to be hurt" she bawled and continued crying. "It was all my fault. If only I'd left Percy alone, he would not have yelled at me. I shouldn't have run off but he yelled at me and told me to leave him alone. I was just scared. I was so scared" she sobbed, coughing and heaving hysterically. Blakeney continued trying to calm her, but with every word from Emilie he anger grew. "Percy shouldn't have yelled at you, Emilie. As any proper gentleman should know, a man does not yell at a lady." And Percy's intentions for being alone were probably less than honorable as well. "You are Percy's kin and it is his responsibility to look out for you. The blame should not fall on you, but him for acting in such a disgraceful manner."
It took a good few minutes, but Emilie finally calmed down a bit. She was still in a lot of pain and was very tired. "At least I am home" she whispered and her eyelids drooped a bit. As her eyes closed, she whispered something "Thank you, Father, please just sit with me" and truly meant it. Lord Blackeny was really the father she had and she...loved him. This was her family and as hard it was, she would not trade them for the world. With those thoughts, she fell into a light sleep.
Charlotte who was trying to avoid Miss Emilie's room, (she was really not looking forward to explaining to his Lordship about dropping the bowl and throwing the girl into hysterics) was waiting for Cook to finish making the food. She was already afraid to come back, watching a story was dangerous business. A noise caught her ears. Someone was opening the back door! She rushed back there to yell at whatever thief or lazy servant was standing there. "H-hello- is anybody there?" she heard a voice say. "Yes, and you've better have a good explanation for being here, do you know where this is..." she said and then turned red and sunk into a curtsy. "Master Percy, so sorry" she murmured, a little nervous. The tall boy looked terrified but very determined. Charlotte pitied him a bit. �Is there anything I can do for you, sir? His Lordship is with Miss Emilie are in her room, she�s resting if you wish to find them. Miss Emilie has been asking for you,� she said softly. The story goes on.
Percy shyly crept towards Emily's room, really feeling nerved. What if she wasn't speaking to him anymore? That would suck. "Em, you in there?" Quietly, Percy wrapped on the door and waited for her to answer it, hoping he was forgiven�
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Emilie had been sleeping for a bit. She was not sure how much time had passed but she knew some had. As she awoke, she heard a voice. "Em, are you in there?" she heard a special voice say, a voice she knew. It was followed with a light rap on the door. It was Percy! He had He still loved her! She wanted to leap out of bed, and open the door, giving her adorable nephew an enormous hug and beg him never to leave her alone again. "Yes, I am, please come in, the door is open, oh I missed you" she called. Her body hurt too much to swing out and she sat up, the blood rushed from her head, making her lie back. She saw her brother in law sitting nearby her bed and realized what was going to happen. She knew he would not be happy, her head seemed a bit clearer now. She could barely remember what she had said since she came home but she remembered him being very angry with Percy. "Sir, please don't be upset at Percy, it's not all his fault, I should have been more careful. You aren't going to...punish him? He's been punished enough, won't you please just let this go forgotten" she asked in a low voice, getting scared. She had remembered how kind he had been to her but she wondered if he'd refuse. She hoped not, waiting for Percy to come in.
Percy felt his boots quaver as his feet shook from fear when he saw who was in the room next, his father. *gulp* That was his first thought. "H-hello, Em..I'm sorry I got angry, but I was scared. My anger was the only way I could cover up my fear." Percy hung his head in shame and almost was expected to bow down to his father whenever he entered the room. "Forgive me?"
Emily was overjoyed that Percy had returned but she wished she did not look like a monster. She was still swollen and that of course marred her looks. With a wary eye still on his Lordship, she reached out with one hand, the one not in a sling to give him a hug. "I am just glad to see you, I thought...I thought I'd never see you again, I was so scared that I would die with you angry at me. Oh, I missed you, next time you take me on an adventure, I am taking a sword with me" she joked. A feeling that he should have done more to help crossed her mind and it almost reached her lips. Then she remembered that her guardian was nearby and that holding her tongue would be more prudent. She wondered if her plea for mercy was accepted.
Lord Blakeney watched the exchange and bit his lip for fear of upsetting Emilie, but once she had settled down, Percy would get his just come-upings! "Perhaps you should try to sleep, my dear."
"I-I heard you were hurt, I'm sorry for getting angry." Percy's head dipped low and he got down onto his knees, holing onto Emilie's hand, shivering a bit. Percy knew that he was getting whatever was coming to him. His eyes were wide with alarm when he saw how badly she was hurt. Tears filled his eyes. "I've earned it, Emilie... everything.."
Emilie squeezed his hand as he knelt by her side. "I should have left you alone, it was my fault. Please don't blame yourself, I'll be all right. I am just glad that you are home" she said as she leaned back in bed. She desperately wanted to stay up but her head hurt. "I shall talk to you after I rest a bit" she said as her eyes closed. The medicine must have began working because she suddenly felt very lethargic.
Emilie felt her family sit with her for a few moments and then heard Percy and Lord Blakeney get up and leave her. Well, at least Percy was not being dragged out, at least it did not sound like it. Maybe they were just giving her some privacy to rest. A moment passed and she heard a door slam. Again the panic started. "Sir, where are you?" she mumbled, her body slowed by sedatives. "Please, don't leave me alone" she said softly.
