Hastings watched Michelle go with some relief, he knew that Michelle would discover the source of Emilie's vexation and calm the girl down. Furthermore, with all the ladies out of the room, the men could speak with far less reserve. "I do so hate to make a scene in front of the fairer sex, eh wont? But now that it is just us men folk, I feel sure that we can express ourselves more freely," Hastings smiled. "I beseech you, sir, do tell me of this amazing rescue! I am most intrigued, seeing as it has left quite an impression on the Lady Emilie."
Chris grimaced slightly. He could see Lord Hastings, Percival and the other blond boy were starting to feel violent. He didn't like what they were saying about scenes and speaking freely. He drew himself to his full height. "I share your sentiments and as a guest, would prefer no scenes take place. Ah, that. Well, I was walking by my house two days and saw some rags on the ground. I walked in a little further and found Emilie tossed on the ground, her clothes torn, crushed and beaten bloody and unconscious. I covered her with my jacket. I then awoke her and asked her name, all she could say was "Percy, where is Percy, don't let him hurt me, Percy," but no one seemed to help her. She got hysterical but I managed to convince her of my good intentions. Poor girl, all alone! I then carried her home to my house and had my servants dress her wounds and give her food. When she awoke, I spoke to her. She told me her name and then took her to her home myself. I shudder to think what would have happened if I didn't come since no one else seems to have thought of her. Thanks heavens I was there and it didn't matter what clothes I wore. I think that is what makes a gentleman, action, not fashion" he said, smirking at his own heroism but careful to delete any details that made him sound autocratic. He knew he was on dangerous ground.
Hastings fists and jaw clenched slightly at the description that Cristof gave, but he had a feeling that Cristof was holding back. "Ah, marvelous! Splendid show, old boy!" Hastings commented when Cristof finished hid narrative. "Pray tell then, were you rescuing damsels today? You know one can be chivalrous and well dress at the same time!"
Emilie was sitting tearfully in her room when she heard Michelle ask to come in. She didn't want to see anyone but Michelle was her closest friend. "All right" she said, her voice choked in tears and unlocked the door. "Oh Michelle, I am so confused" she said, breaking down in tears.
Chris shook his head haughtily. "I thank you, it's what any man who have done. Interestingly enough, another girl was found beaten today. If I were you, sir, I'd keep a watch on the ladies and less of a watch on fashion. Maybe your cravat is too tight and is choking the flow of blood to your brain. Well, how do you know my Pet?" he said softly.
Hastings laughed, seemingly good humouredly, "Ah, an attempt at rumor! I assure you that my brain has sufficient blood for my needs, sir! And such remarkable luck to stumble upon all these helpless victims. There does seem to be an epidemic going on around you! 'Pet', 'pet? You sound as though you've lost your poodle sir!"
Chris nodded. "Fate only awards challenges to those who can rise to them, that is what I feel. A man who is not consumed with fashion has the ability to see that. Also are you sure about the blood flow? I have not lost a poodle, why would you think that? I was merely referring to my Emilie. Might I inquire what happened between my pet and you? She must be so guilt ridden about it" he asked.
Michelle took Emilie's hand and closed the door behind her. She led her good friend to sit on a chair in her room and handed her a hanky. "Tell me what's been happening since you came to France. It seems that I have missed out on so much!" She gave her friend a reassuring smile.
Emilie wiped her eyes and motioned for Michelle to sit down as she composed herself. "What is happening? The first month was mostly eventless, I studied, played music, wrote some poetry and kept to myself but then two days ago Percy and I ran away from home and then we quarreled. I stomped off angrily and got myself waylaid and kidnapped. I was blindfolded alone in a room for a whole night, bound to a chair and alone. It was the worst night of my life, every minute seemed forever. In the morning, I was put in a sack and taken somewhere outside and beaten up so my belongings could be taken easily. I was knocked senseless and when I awoke, Chris was there. He had found me. He carried me home, he took care of me, he even took me home, carried me himself. He was so kind to me and he told me he cared for me. I spent the day at home in a daze, I was so scared. Then the next day, I fell and hit my head and was chained even more to my bed. Some poor delivery boy who had helped Percy and I run away came to see how I was doing and came upstairs, forgetting himself. Milord was furious, he had the boy whipped. I went downstairs to see how my friend was doing and one of the valets decided I belonged back in my room. I wanted to stay with the delivery boy and tend to his wounds, so the valet picked me up and carried me back to my room as if I was a sack of potatoes. Chris came to visit me with flowers but I was too sick to spend too much time with him. Michelle, I thought he was the person I was destined for, he takes care of me but... Hastings... he just felt like a dream come true for that moment. Who do you think I should choose? Chris is solid and dependable, I know he cares for me and we agree on literature and music, but Hastings and I only argue and yet, when he looked at me, I melted? Michelle, I don't know what to do? I shouldn't have kissed Hastings but I did and now I am so confused" she said, on the verge of tears. How lucky she was to have Michelle, she could tell her anything.
"Oh, Emilie!" Michelle exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend reassuringly, yet gently, mindful of her friend's bruises. "I'm sorry you've been through so much! It must have been so hard for you!" She pulled back a little, leaving her hands on her friend's and looking into her eyes. "Do you want my true, honest opinion about your vicompte friend?" She asked her friend. "I think that he is not for you. He may have rescued you, but I, for whatever reason, don't feel that you two should be together. I also believe that Hastings cares about you, and your happiness. He would never truly hurt you. Tease yes, that's the way he is!" she said with a slight smile. "But I have seen him also when you aren't there, and he *does* care!"
"Does it indeed?" Hastings said, a little suspiciously. "What an obsessive little man you are! Though I must say, I take great umbrage at the term 'pet', methinks it has a most disrespectful ring to it and as a gentleman, I would feel most obliged to defend the lady's honor in the face of so degrading a remark, the young Ffoulkes here has an even higher since of chivalry than I and I can see he is most offended by it." Hastings leaning in closely for his next remarks, so though saying them in confidence, "Not the wisest thing to anger him, he's got the temper of a devil!" Hastings took a step back, and gave Cristof the once over. "As you seem so possessive, I assume, that you've acquire my lord Blakeney's permission to court the lady. If this is so, I humbly apologize for behavior!"
Chris turned chalk white. "Ah, you English have no knowledge of romance, it's merely a diminutive. Please, it's really none of your affair; Emilie is more then capable of telling me if she dislikes my courtship. It's not disrespectful at all, but a mind not consumed with fashion will see that. I really would not want to upset poor Emilie by having to hurt her guests; don't you think she had been through enough? Really, is that all you English think about, violence and fashion? I hope you pick up culture here in France" he said. He looked over at Ffoulkes and noted the boy had the face of an angel but it was darkened in anger now. "It really is none of your affair, Emilie is my business, allow it to remain so, I mean no disrespect though" and then his face turned chalk white. Courting meant marrying, he didn't want to marry the pet. "Permission? Well, um, permission, um, courting, well, I have only known her two days. Why, have you?" he asked nervously.
Hastings's jaw dropped in mock astonishment, "Oh, dear! You've not asked milord yet? Such scandalous behavior! I think I shall have a talk with Lord Blakeney, sir!" Hastings exclaimed and went out of the library. He couldn't leave Emilie to the mercies of that brute, there had to be a way to save her. In the foyer, he spotted Dessau. "Please inform his lordship, that Lord Edward Timothy Hastings wishes to speak to him on matters of business." Dessau nodded and beckoned Hastings to Blakeney's study where he told Blakeney of Hastings's request.
Chris turned pale. He would have pulled the boy back but he was outnumbered. He had best get himself out of this house before he was flogged. He bowed to Percy. "I must go" he said and turned on his heel. He still had one task left. He asked a passing maid who had bloody red hands where Emilie's room was and was pointed to a white door. He knocked. "Pet, is that you? I must go, but I had presents for you in my carriage. Can you accompany me down?" he asked.
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Emilie sighed and hugged her friend. "Call it an adventure, my dear Michelle. I lived and now I am very glad it's over. I suppose it was very exciting for anyone else. I am all right now, and it will be a wonderful story to tell. I wish I could be as sure as you but I just don't know. Hastings won't want a girl like me, he wants some delicate little flower that is going to think he's God. You know I am not that type of girl. He's a handsome fop who will take and then break my heart. I don't know what got into Chris, he is usually so kind. I must have really hurt him. I trust your opinion, though. I wish I could be sure Hastings cares for me and isn't just teasing me. What does he say when I am not there?" she asked. Suddenly she heard the knock. "Michelle dear, thank you so much for talking, go back to the library, I'll be up there in a moment" she said, hugging her friend again and walked outside to the nervous Vicompte. "Of course" He bowed and took her arm, and they walked in silence till they reached the carriage and stood there alone. "Chris, you really should not have!" she began but Chris had grabbed the front of her gown and slammed her against the carriage.
"How dare you, you stupid little slut, you have the nerve to criticize me after what you did? What kind of person are you?" he demanded. Emilie didn't see her beau as much as she saw her brother in law.
"I am sorry" she whispered.
"Don't you love me? How could you after I saved you?" he continued. Emilie was sobbing but nodding. "This is your entire fault" he said and her hard with the back of his hand. Emilie didn't even cry out, she was so hurt. "Now apologize" he demanded.
"I...am... sorry" she sobbed, this was all her. "I hope that is the last time you need a reminder. I want you to be better then this; it hurts me when you act like a slut. I am going to make you a better person. Well, I forgive you. You don't deserve a kiss though, you'll have to earn it" he said, still pinning her there. Emilie cowered but nodded, not seeing another person besides Chris watching the entire thing.
Chris finally let the pet go. "I must go, just remember who you can trust. Boys like your little lordling are just after one thing, and it's not marriage. Trust me and you'll see, everything will go well. If your guardian is in a bad mood and it would be best not to see me, put a red scarf across your window. Till I see you again" he said as he climbed into the carriage, seeing the hair was tucked into the sleeve. The pet nodded. He motioned the driver to go and off he went, worried what the little lord would tell His Lordship. Well, he had bigger fish to fry, he had a plan to work out and then he'd destroy the guests of his pet.
Emilie just stared for a moment, in tears. She then walked back to the house and crept back to her room, locked the door and throwing herself on the bed crying. She was horrible, even Chris thought so. She didn't want to see anyone now, she had too much on her mind. She usually would play her guitar but it lay broken too. Everything was broken, most of all her heart.
Percy was so startled by the sudden confrontation that he couldn't even begin to rationalize what had just happened. Shaking slightly, Percy decided to go and check on his aunt to make sure that she was ok. That young strumpet of a Vicomte had an attitude in him that he did not like in the least. "Pardon, Andrew, Michelle- I need to go check on my aunt, she seemed in great distress." Bowing politely, Percy quickly retreated into the hallway and slipped down the hallway into his aunt's room where he could hear the sobs. "Emilie? It's Percy- I was worried, mind if I come in?"
Emilie heard Percy outside but didn't stop sobbing. 'I am all right, I am just not feeling well, I think I'll nap a bit" she said, her voice choked with tears. She couldn't face Percy now.
Needless to say, Andrew was extremely upset by what he had seen at the Blakeney house that morning, and on many levels. He spoke not a word to that French vicomte, but said enough with his eyes to let all know the kind of regard he held for him.
When he and Percy were alone, Andrew tried to elicit more information from the young Blakeney, but got little response. His old, fellow-devil seemed not himself anymore. Andrew knew the stress of his mother's condition was getting worse and worse, but it seemed that the curse on the Blakeneys had compounded here in France. Ffoulkes wanted a more coherent version of the bits of news he'd heard, but he didn't want to push his shaken friend.
Shortly after Michelle returned, Percy bade his leave to check on his aunt. The two Ffoulkes children, who had come to find friendship and diversion, had walked into a veritable hornet's nest of intrigue.
"Great God in Heaven!" exclaimed Andrew. "What has this chaotic world come to? How could such strange and distressing things have befallen our friends? I have a mind to pinch myself to see if this entire day has been naught but a dream!"
Then, looking to Michelle, Andrew approached her and gently held her by the shoulders. "My dearest sister, promise me that you will not go anywhere alone, not anywhere. Always make sure Mother, or Father, or I are with you. Percy and Edward will protect you, too, but you and Emilie alone are not safe. By Jove, I would kill myself if I let any evil befall my family or anyone else I love!"
"And stay away from that Lovell knave," he added.
"I promise, Andrew," Michelle told him, giving him a quick hug. "And don't worry about me getting involved with HIM. I don't like him." She shivered slightly. "Something about him... frightens me." She looked to her brother, glad that she had somebody like him who would always take care of her and protect her.
