Emilie Spencer looked anxiously out her window at the French countryside, straining her eyes to find some sign of Percy. "That boy is going to get himself killed" she thought to herself, hoping against hope that her brother in law would forget about the argument with his son and not beat him. She hated that, she hated the yelling and she hated seeing poor Percy suffer. She had been with the Blackeneys for ten years, ever since her mother had died and her father had remarried again. "I am sending you to your to your sister's family. They have a son a little older then you. It will be good for you to have a friend and even better, Lord Arthur is well connected. It's the perfect opportunity for you to find a good marriage" he had said before packing her off to Richmond. She had been so scared and alone, crying the whole way there.
But then she met her nephew Percy who had been so kind to her, showing her around the manor and even calling her aunt. He was so much fun to be around, fencing and riding with her. In fact, she had loved Richmond. Her sister was a lovely and sunny person and the family seemed so perfect. But then she got sick and all the sunshine faded.
Now Lord Blackeney was angry all the time and Percy seemed to be getting in trouble and taking the brunt of it. She herself was not spared her brother in law's anger but he rarely struck her since Percy usually took the blame for her. "Dem chivalry" she would mutter to herself as he would confess to her misdeeds. She knew it meant a lot to Percy to protect her but it is not like she was a child. She thought of riding after him but she knew that would be a silly thing. She had no idea which direction he went and even if she did find him, he'd be punished for "endangering" her. As she picked up her guitar, she heard a knock at her door. "Come in" she called.
Lord Blakeney entered the room and asked, "Have you seen Percy about? His mother is having one of her better moments and I think it would do her some good to see her son and her sister." Lord Blakeney had, as ever, an air about him of perpetual disappointment as he surveyed the room. He was an older gentleman, made more so by the strain of a mad wife and willful son, with gray hair and light eyes and tall for an Englishman. He didn't like being anger or lashing out, but it seemed that he did so more and more often and that his son, more often than not took the brunt of it. If only Tessa were well, if only they could find some way to restore her to her old self, he would make it up to Percy. "Or has he taken off again?"
Emilie paled slightly. While she was very glad that Tessa was feeling better, she was now trapped into disclosing Percy's whereabouts. "Of course, sir. I am so glad Tessa is feeling better, I'll come at once. Well, I really don't know where Percy is but I am quite sure he is around somewhere. Perhaps he is in the garden or in the kitchen. You know how boys love to eat, I am sure he will turn up soon" she sputtered as she followed her brother in law into her sister's room. Emilie pitied her brother in law. She knew that he was not a bad person for the most part, and she knew that most of the anger directly resulted from the way she and Percy behaved. She knew she should try to be more helpful, she did love her family. She walked into her sister's room. "Good morning, Tessa. How are you?" she said in her most calm voice.
The site that met Emilie and Lord Blakeney was a truly heartbreaking sight for anyone to see, especially anyone who had knew Tessa in her youth as a young, vivacious, and beautiful woman. The person that lay before them could hardly be recognized for her former self, she was thin and pale with dark purple circles round her eyes, more like a spirit than a creature of flesh. Tessa smiled weakly when she heard her sister's voice and spoke in a voice that was barely above a whisper, "Emilie? Is that you? Please do come closer so that I can see you. It seems so long since last we spoke. And is Percy with you? How I miss him?"
Emilie walked forward hesitantly and looked at her sister. What she saw made her shudder ever so slightly. Tessa had always been so beautiful, so full of life. Now she looked like a ghost. Emilie's voice quivered a little as Lord Blackeney left, most likely to find and thrash Percy. She could not blame him this time, even she was angry with Percy now.
Lord Blakeney quietly left the two women alone, he could hardly bear to see his wife like this and being an Englishman was quite uncomfortable at expressing emotion in the presence of others. So he used the excuse of looking for Percy to excuse himself from staying. He walked outside, quickly dabbing back the tears that were trying to form at his eyes. He wondered where Percy had gotten to; the boy didn't seem to care about his poor mother's health. He understood the boy's reluctance to face the fact that his mother was slowly deteriorating, but Percy had to learn to be a man and face his problems. He walked around the side of the house towards the garden; perhaps the boy was reading or playing with the family dogs. He was so lost in thought that he didn't see the horse and rider appear at the front gate. Percy was trembling so badly from nerves by the time he got home he had to lean forward on his horse in order to keep himself calm. His father was in plain sight! Since his legs were so long and awkward, it made it difficult to get off the horse's back noisily. Percy was trying so hard to be quiet that when his foot got caught in a stirrup, he let out a yelp and tumbled to the ground, twisting his ankle a bit. "Damn," He murmured to himself, wincing in pain. "Aren't you bright, Percival?" Percy murmured to himself, mimicking his father behind his back.
Lord Blakeney heard a cry a swung around in time to see his son, tangled in his saddle. A tremendous anger rose in him, his son was out gallivanting around the countryside while his mother was lying close to death. Lord Blakeney was literally seeing red; he stormed across the field to his son and yanked him free on the saddle, causing the young man to topple painfully back to the ground. Blakeney grabbed the horse by the rein and his son by the ear and march them both to the stable, where he flung his son into a corner and installed the horse into its stall. Grabbing a horsewhip that hung on the wall, Blakeney wheeled around on his son. "Get on your feet, boy!" Blakeney demand and flicked him with the whip. "I said get on your feet and explain yourself!" Percy let out a startled cry when he was flung against one of the walls of the barn. His ear still hurt from his father having pulled on it whilst dragging him to the barn. "I just wanted to go out r-riding, that's all...� Even though Percy was utterly terrified, he bit his lip and took it like a man. Hot tears stung his eyes as Percy fought to keep his dignity intact. "I was coming back, I promise." He whimpered slightly, wincing from the pain that surged through his body nearly causing him to crumble towards the ground. "I'll double my chores tonight...it was only for a little while.
�This is not about chores, young man!" Blakeney fumed, striking the lad again. "Do you know that your poor mother is upstairs asking for you?" and hit the boy again. "Why must you be so selfish?" He was about to strike again, but stopped himself. He knew that he was being too hard and that it was mostly because of his frustration at being helpless to save his wife. He didn't want to lose his family as well, and as the time passed he realized he was being distanced further and further from his son. He dropped the riding crop and was about to apologize, but stopped himself, if he apologized Percy might think it was alright to run off without permission. Instead he said, "Go upstairs and see your mother."
Percy blinked, fighting the urge to break down and cry. How lucky Andrew was not to have a father who struck him at every opportunity given! "I-I'll go...I promise to be a good boy..." Had he not been so terrified, Percy's voice would have had an edge of sarcasm to it but he couldn't endure another beating, not today. Nor had he intentionally hurt his mother's feelings. Quite suddenly, tears began pouring down his face and he turned tale and ran into the house as fast as his long, scrawny legs would carry him, tripping over a few stones along the way and up the stairs. "Mother- it's Percy- I-I'm sorry... I never meant...� He winced in pain but hoped she wouldn't see the fact that his backside was covered with red marks from the horse whip, the pain so bad it nearly caused him to black out.
"He's coming, he'll be along, he just wanted to give us some time to talk a bit. It has been a long time, Tessa. I have missed you too. I am so glad you are feeling well today. Percy misses you too, he always says so" she said softly. "Please God, let him come, she seems better now. Maybe this time, she will get better" she silently prayed as the moments past. "Tessa, maybe when you feel better, we can play music together. You always played the harpsichord so well and my guitar lessons are going well" she continued as she sat down on the foot of the bed. "I thought I heard you playing a moment ago, you play so beautifully," Tessa was saying. "I so look forward to playing with you and I can teach Percy how to play. Do you think he's old enough? I wouldn't want to confuse my little darling."
Emilie heard a loud sound come from outside and winced. She figured by now that Percy had been found. "No, Percy is definitely old enough and I doubt he will be confused. He has such an ear for music, he is such a darling" she said amiably and prayed that Percy would be in one piece and get up here to see his mother. "Tessa, my dear, would you like something to eat, a drink perhaps" she said kindly. She looked out the door and saw a figure in the darkness.
"Yes," Tessa replied to Emily, "I would like some water." She then heard Percy call to her. "Percy, my dearest, is that you? Please come give your mother a hug, she has missed you terribly." Emilie made out the outline of her gangly relation. "Why Percy, so good to see you" she said with great joy, sprinting over to give him a hug. He seemed to be in a lot of pain and his back had some blood on it. Emilie winced but chose to ignore it for now. "Look, Tessa, Percy is here" she said as brightly as she could. "Tessa and I were just discussing music. Come and sit with us, my dear" she said, as she half dragged him over. "Percy, are you going to faint? You look like the devil" she whispered. Percy glanced over at Emily, wanting to be spared yet another lecture. But from the look in Emily's eyes, Percy knew that she knew the truth about what had happened to him. "Perhaps," He murmured, swaying a bit but managed to catch himself and fall onto his knees before hand. "Yes, it's me, mother- I'm sorry, I've been terrible to you. Selfish and stupid. Can you forgive me? Music�sounds�nice." He said faintly, still feeling the horse whip on his back. Whatever do you mean, Percy," Tessa said softly, reaching up and stroke his hair. "No mother in the world ever had a child that was as smart and generous as you." She laid there staring lovingly up into his face for quite some time, repeating "My beautiful little boy, my sweet little angel."
Percy looked gray and unsteady but as always was brave to a fault. "Perhaps" he had merely said to her as he fell to his knees beside his mother. If it had been her, Emilie would have been bawling. Her eyes teared up as she squeezed Percy's hand affectionately and ran to get the water. As she did, she saw Lord Blackeney, with riding crop nearby and was quite sure that it was not used on a horse. Poor Percy, sitting up there in such pain. From the way Percy was walking, she knew Lord Blackeney had laid it on quite hard. She knew he deserved it this time but she had a hard time believing that with her heart. Percy was such a good person, she admired him and sometimes, she would pray to find a husband just like him. She knew she lectured him too much but she was his aunt after all, it was her duty! He should know she only did it because she loved him so much and because of how close they were. She filled a glass from a basin and walked back into the room. "Here you are, Tessa" she said and returned to her spot on the bed near her nephew.
Tessa gratefully accepted Emily's aid in drinking it. "Percy, you know that your father and I are so proud of you. We could never have asked for a kinder gentler son." Percy felt his head begin to spin and knew it was from having been slammed up against the wall so hard. Choking back bile, Percy took hold of his mother's hand as gently as he could so he would not hurt her and clutched it. "Please forgive me, maman- I honestly didn't mean..." He glanced up at Emily, feeling helpless. Each time his father beat him, it took a toll on Percy's poor skin. It was hard to even move. "Is she going to be ok?" He asked, glancing up at Emily though the effort cost him. "It's my fault, I know it is." With that, Percy lay his head down on her chest while he let his breath catch up with him. "I'll be fine- be not worried about me.�
"What wrong, dear?" Tessa whispered, stroking his head. Tears were starting to form in her eyes. "You need not ask for forgiveness, you done nothing wrong. My poor sweet little boy." Percy could have sworn that the second his mother said that his father was proud of him; his heart skipped a beat or two. He literally felt sick to his stomach. Relentless waves of nausea washed over him and he turned his head away so neither woman could see the so obvious emotional and physical pain that he was in. He had to hide it. For if Percy had to run outside and get sick, his father would think him selfish. How could one be selfish and good at the same time? "I love you, maman...� Percy blurted out, not sure why there were suddenly tears in his eyes.
Tessa's calm face suddenly transformed, the eyes that looked so lovingly on Percy widen and her body tensed. She stared around her, like a wild animal backed into a corner. She was no longer this young man's mother, he was a stranger. Emilie watched her sister go from weak to insane again. "Who are you?!" she scream, pushing him away from her. "Where is my son, Percy? What are you doing here? Where is my husband? Arthur! Percy! Where are you? Get away from me, you creature!" Emilie began pulling at Percy. "Percy, come on, we must get your father" she snapped. Emilie tried to pull Percy along but as she mentioned getting his father, he yanked away from her rabidly as they reached the hall and shut the door. Percy blinked, a bit startled from his mother's reaction. "M-mother? It's me, it IS Percy!" he had cried. But then he heard Emilie's voice telling him that they needed to get his father. . Instantly, Percy felt himself begin to react, "NO! Don't you get it, Emilie? If Father sees Maman like this, he'll kill me! Literally." he yelled. Just then, he yanked his hand away from hers and took off at a dead run down the hallway, as if chased by demons hoping to find a place of sanctuary before his father found him and beat him to a pulp.
Emilie thought of following him but knew he did not want to be found and she feared he might be correct in his assumption. "Well, I still have to make sure he is all right" she said and followed the boy who was cowering behind the barn. 'Please don't find me, please...� Percy begged silently, weeping behind the barn and holding onto it so he wouldn't fall on the ground into a heap. "Percy, it's me. Don't worry; you will not be blamed for this. I'll say it was my fault" she said, giving him a hug. "Just stay here, dear I'll go back alone and you just say you said nothing of much to her and it was my fault" Percy jerked away from his aunt and looked at her with wide, terrified eyes, the tears streaming down his cheeks. What was wrong with him, anyway? Men weren't supposed to cry, show emotion! Yet here he was, doing both. How absurd. "You would do that for me?" Percy choked out, feeling his entire body shudder. Emilie was getting more and more worried; she knew that Percy hated crying or showing emotion. It meant he was deathly afraid. "But what if he hurts you? I can't let him...� Poor Percy seemed so torn. Emilie smiled and patted his shoulder. "Of course I would, you've had done it for me many times. You always take the blame for me; he thinks I am a well-behaved young lady. So I doubt he will beat me, he knows that your mother is ill and it's not anyone's fault. Even if he does strike me, I'll be fine; you know I won't break like glass. You managed to survive all these years and I doubt he would hurt me that badly. Percy, you have to come back soon unless you are going to run away again and I won�t let you! Your father will be twice as angry. Just let me handle him and you come home." she said, trying to sound braver then she felt. She was scared of Lord Blackeney too. Even if he was not the cruelest of people, he was very cold and strict. She knew it was because he was sad over Tessa and unsure of how to manage Percy but she wished father and son could be closer. They needed each other. An idea suddenly came to her.
"Percy, I can see two options to avoid you being punished. Either you come back and blame me or if you are planning to run away again, take me along. I am as quick as you on a horse and I can dress as a boy. They'll be looking for one boy, not two. We'll both be severely punished when we return but come, let's have an adventure! We can see the world for a few days, roam free and pray that Lord Almighty have mercy when we return" she said brightly. Percy glanced up at her, startled. "Come with me? How'd you guess that I was planning an escape?" He asked weakly, finally managing a wavering smile. His lower lip trembled making it hard for him to talk. Carelessly, Percy wiped his nose with his shirt sleeve, not caring if it made a mess or not. "I wouldn't mind the company- I just can't face him right now. No matter the good things you say, Father will blame me anyhow for making Maman upset. I think he left dents in my back from earlier." He half joked, slowly beginning to relax. Percy rose to his feet, grabbed hold of the barn for support then nodded at Emilie to come inside to prepare.
