Emilie followed the maid to the solar by the kitchen, where a steaming tub of water lay waiting for her. She allowed the maid to undress her and sank into the hot water, feeling wonderful. As she bathed, reveling in the warm scented water, she soaped herself up. She noticed her bracelet was gone, the one she had loved so much. She supposed she was lucky to get back, but that bracelet, it had been given to her by Lord Blakeney, it had the family crest on it, just like as if she had been his real daughter. She had been so happy, she never took it off, not even to bathe. Now it was gone, to be melted down or used to buy ale for some fiend. She looked at her empty wrist and sighed. "Wash my hair" she directed in a sad tone. She wanted that bracelet so badly. As the hot water was rinsed through her hair, she suddenly felt really tired. The maid had her back turned to get a brush, and Emilie didn't realize she was slipping under the warm water until....she disappeared.
Penelope turned back around to scrub Lady Emilie's back only to find her gone. She shrunk back for a moment in superstitious fear, then realized that she must have slipped under the water. "Milady!" she screamed and dived her torso under to grab the unconscious girl. She haul Emilie's head to the surface and shook the girl. "Milady! Milady! Are you all right?"
Emilie was so tired, she wondered who dared wake her up. The pillow was covering her mouth, but it was so warm. Her head, who was holding her head. "Milady! Milady! Are you all right?" she heard someone yell. She started to cough. "What?" she said weakly, not opening her eyes.
"I found you under the water, milady! You gave me a right start!" Penelope exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
Emilie opened her eyes slowly. "I...was?" she whispered, being supported by Penelope.
"Yes, milady!" You could have drown!"
Emilie's mind was too hazy to even comprehend. The water was getting cold anyway and she was clean. "Give my a towel and help me up" she said softly. She was wrapped in a towel and as she walked out of the tub, she suddenly felt her head go light. She again collapsed to the floor, feeling nauseous. "Help" she whispered.
Penelope screamed and ran for Lord Blakeney. Heedless of the argument occurring in Emilie's room, Penelope burst in, breathless and hysterical, "Milor... Emilie...!" she panted.
Blakeney whipped around and stared at her for a second, noting her terrified face and wet dress then dashed off to the solar, where he found Emilie laying on the floor. "Emilie!" He scooped her up into his powerful arms and carried her back to the bedroom, where he ordered the flustered maid to retrieve the doctor.
Doctor rushed in a moment later, looking worried. The little maid was drenched and had just told him to come. By her face, she seemed terrified. "Milord, what happened? Did she faint again" he asked. The poor girl, what did he now do to her? Emilie lay on the bed, coughing but still not conscious.
Penelope spoke up, "I think she fainted in the bath, I had to pull her out and she collapsed.
"Doctor, stay with her," he gripped his son firmly by the arm and dragged him to his room and shoved him in. "If you don't want peace, I will not have you unsetting your aunt!" He locked the door behind him. When night fell he would clean up his messes.
The doctor looked at the shivering form before him and didn't comment as Lord Blakeney dragged his son out of the room. Lady Emilie was in serious danger. He didn't believe Lord Blakeney would try and drown the girl, the maid seemed to attest to that but breaking the box over her head did give her a bad concussion. She'd have fainting spells for a while, especially around heat. The girl wasn't awake yet, she just trembled in her sleep. He held a bottle under her nose and allowed her to breathe in till the shallow breathing grew deeper. Emilie wouldn't wake for hours, the way she was ill, most likely not till the next day. There was nothing much else to do. There was nothing he could do for her. He told the maid to check up on her and just allowed the girl to finally rest. The doctor walked home, feeling very lost. Emilie lay in bed, dreaming of her happy family.
After locking his wayward son in his room, he when to his study to compose himself and shut himself up in his study for the remainder of the day and into the night. Normally he would have visited his wife, but in her presence he felt overwhelming waves of guilt engulf him. When he was certain that he would not be seen, Blakeney stole behind the stable and found the body of Danielle still lying there. He was sure she was still alive, but did not confirm this for fear that he would prove himself wrong. He dragged her into the stable and saddled a horse, he hoisted her upon the horse and mounted behind her.
Blakeney rode out along the road, towards the Cliffside, but reconsidered it and took the road to Calais, dumping her into some bushes by the side of the road and galloping away.
************************************************
Percy would have walked away on his own but his father had done a plenty good job of locking him in his room before he could do anything. While the boy turning man fought an internal war at what seemed like hours, Percy finally broke into silent weeping, not wanting anybody to hear him cry. His tears were silent, bitter and self demeaning for the young baronet. Why had Andre' stopped him from ending his life? He wouldn't do anything to stop the torrent of tears running shamelessly down his face. 'Stop it Percy, stop it...you're supposed to be setting an example..' But for whom? He had no siblings- unless one counted his younger cousin, Tony who was constantly fighting one illness over an another. Normally the thought of no food for days which he was sure what his father was after- his blood- but now, he was beyond carrying.
Dessau trying to avoid notice, slipped Hastings note under the door of Percy's room, and crept away, hoping to avoid the inevitable.
No sooner had Percy begun to doze off when he heard something. Curious, he turned to see what it was- his father, perhaps? After another blood rush? No- it was a letter from Hastings, saying that he was coming over. Sagging with relief, Percy blindly searched for a spare quill in order to send a reply back. His hand writing was a bit shaken, underneath the circumstances...Percy dropped the quill and when he was positive he heard footsteps outside his door still, he quietly wrapped on the door.
