Dessau awoke to his duties early the next morning, he oversaw the preparation of the breakfast and made sure that the staff knew the household most likely would be breakfasting in bed this morning. He then stole upstairs and silently unlocked the doors of Percy and Emilie's rooms and stole a peek into Tessa's room to see that Blakeney was there as usual. He hurried downstairs again to begin drawing the curtains when he heard a knock from the door.
Plourde had awoken early the next morning in the barracks and examined the evidence. Only the jewelery gave him any idea of where to start. A plain ring, that was not useful, and the locket merely had potraits, but no names. But the bracelet had a crest on it with the name Blakeney on it. He decided that was the first place to start. He gathered the evidence in a cloth and took the company carriage and a soldier to aide him in directions up to a stern imposing and enourmous manor. He then gathered his courage and knocked on the door.
Dessau was slightly puzzled at who would be arriving this early in the morning and was surprized to see a regiment at the door demanding to see Lord Blakeney. Perhaps they had found that Andre fellow! Dessau showed their leader and two of their number into the parlor, while the rest remained outside, then he hurried up the stairs to Tessa's room.
"Milor, their is regiment come to see you, lead by a man named Plourde," Dessau told him. Blakeney stood up and straighted his attire before proceeding down stairs. Had they found the villian? Blakeney thought. What if they found the maid? He stomach knotted slightly at this thought.
Quickly he left Tessa and descended the stairs, noting with some uneasiness the number of guard outside the front door as he passed to the Parlor. "I am Lord Arthur Blakeney, I am told you wish to speak to me," Blakeney stated as he entered the room, not even the slightest hint of his troubled thoughts could be seen in his demeanor.
Antoine was more then slightly nervous as a tall and rather broad shouldered well dressed man walked in. Antoine himself was no weakling, he was even considered tall but next to the man, he suddenly felt extremely tiny and insignificant. The fact that the opulent decor made him feel gauche didn't help. Antoine bowed slightly and kept his eyes on the floor politely. "Greetings, your Lordship. My name is Captain Plourde and I thank you for meeting with me. My troop is investigating the kidnaping of your daughter and of another girl, who has yet to be identified. We received information that an employee of a Calais tailor shop has been acting suspicious and we found some evidence there. All employees were arrested but the youth whose belongings we found them in was no were to be found. We'd like to ask if the following articles belong to your family" he said, reaching into his satchel and handing the tall Lord the evidence, then taking a step back in case the Lord got angry.
Laurel had spent another restless night, only this night was spent in a dark, freezing cold cell as opposed to her home where she at least had the comfort of her surrounding and a warm fire. She shivered from the cold, her muscles cramped, and her eyes burned from exhaustion. But this was nothing compared to the state her soul was in. Her heart was breaking with worry for her mother, for Planchette and Henri... and there was nothing to relieve her fears. She had tried sleeping, but the cold and nightmares of faceless assilants, bloody broken bodies, and landscapes writhing with worms prevented her from gaining much peace from it. Her dreams were filled with forboding and fear.
With some little relief she watched the sky outside change from inky blackness, to a dark blue which lighten to oranges and pinks which lightened to a peaceful gold. Then she heard motion and voices issuing outside her cell. What was going on? She strained her ears to listen, but the noises went away. So she continue to wait. She wished that she had a cup of water, her throat was dry and sore, but more over wished that she could see Planchette.
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Emilie spent the night sleeping fitfully, her dreams filled with blood and beatings. She finally awoke at dawn, dressed herself(she would have to spend days in her room when she and Percy had misbehaved and she had to learn it) and sat reading by candlelight, until she heard a click. She was free! She walked down to her nephew's room and gave her sleeping relative a kiss. He seemed to be in a lot of pain. She had to leave, if Milord caught her, she'd be slapped and back in her room for a month. She walked through the halls silently and heard some voices downstairs in the parlor. She crept down and sat on the stairs to listen.
Blakeney looked at the items in turn, the ring and bloody clothes were from someone of wealth but not distinct enough to recognize. He opened the locket and instantly recognized the pictures inside. "This belongs to Lady Michelle Ffoulkes, she was atteacked just yesterday afternoon in the woods behind the house," Blakeney said, tossing the locket into Plourde's hands. The next object he recognized immediately, "this bracelet belongs to my sister-in-law, Lady Emilie Spencer, I gave it to her when she was placed into my care." Blakeney caught the barely audible sound of a gasp at the door, and realized that the conversation was being monitored. Blakeney looked at the locks of hair and recognized that one was Emilie's and the other most likely Michelle's. "This is Emilie's hair and I'll wager that that other lock belongs to Lord Ffoulkes's daughter," Blakeney said coldly, anger rising in him. He walked over to the door and opened it without looking out. "Please come in, Lady Emilie," he said, then turned to Plourdes. "So you say you've caught the villian's collaborators?"
Antoine nodded. "Then the Ffloulkes will be visited next. Well, now we have the name of the other lady. I promise you, this will be dealt with. So she was attacked yesterday. Another lady, that is interesting." Well, he now had everyone identified. Emilie listened and gasped unconsciously when she heard about the missing bracelet. So they had caught the person? She then heard her brother in law's cold voice ordering her in, apparently, she had been found out. Well, no point in running away. She walked in, curtsied to her brother in law and smiled at the captain who was turning a shade of red. Antoine was sure an angel had walked in; she was beautiful and delicate, dressed elegantly, complementing the ornate d�cor. She was a Lady, a real Lady. "My lady" he murmured as he kissed the lovely hand. Emilie nodded at him. "Good morning, captain" she answered. "My lady" he said again and Emilie just stared. "Yes," she said in a soft tone. Antoine finally nodded and turned his attention back to the Lord, realizing he was making a fool of himself. "Yes, we did. They are being held in town for questioning but not much have they told us. Would you wish to question them yourself, your lordship? Unless you think it's too much of an imposition, if so, I shall personally see to it. I would never allow anyone to get away with hurting such a lovely lady" he said, still giving Emilie a shy smile. The young lady was sitting on a chair and watching demurely from a corner, worried that her spying had angered her brother in law.
Blakeney scowled, he did not like the attentions that the officer was paying Emilie. He cleared his throat and said, "It would not be an imposition on me, M. Plourdes. Quite the contrary I would be most interested in meeting the scoundrels who would aid the villian who harm these noble ladies." He voice was deadly. "My lady do you wish to accompany me? After all it is you who has been wronged." Antoine realized he was stepping on dangerous ground and that the Lord was looking like thunder. "Of course, if your lordship wishes, you and her ladyship are welcome to come along with us" he said softly, glad to be able to spend more time with the pretty lady. Emilie hesitated. The last time she had been "wronged" a boy had been flogged in her bedroom but she was under strict house arrest and this could be her only chance to go out. She nodded. "If it pleases you, sir, I shall most willingly come. One moment" she said. She went back to her room, placed on a hat, cloak and gloves and looked at herself in the mirror. She had dressed herself alone and very well, she would look more then presentable, there was no reason she shouldn't see the people who had hurt her and her best friend. She walked downstairs, her head held high. Antoine resisted the urge to take the lady's arm and merely bowed. "Your carriage can follow ours, your lordship, and my dear lady" he offered lamely.
Blakeney offered Emilie his arm and escorted her to the carriage and helped her inside. The ride was a quiet one. Blakeney's mind was filled with anger at the brazen officer, the man was far to forward and stepping beyond his station. He should have some respect and reverence for people of quality. And those monsters that awaited him. they would pay for aiding that villain...
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Hastings had a rather somber dinner after telling his cousins of the horrible fate of Michelle Ffoulkes. He had decided to post-pone telling them about the engagement, he was worried they might tell his mother before he had the opportunity and she'd never forgive him for that. The next morning he had woke early and wrote her a brief, concise letter.
"My Dear Mother,
I hope this letter finds you well. France is extraordinary this time of year, I know how much you despise sea travel, but the weather is worth it! I fear that I already have bore witness to bad news, only just yesterday poor Michelle Ffoulkes was brutally assaulted. Evidently, it's quickly becoming an epidemic! Hector and Isabelle are doing very well.
Your devoted son,
Lord Edward Timothy Hastings III
P.S. I am now engaged! - Love Tim"
Smiling ear to ear, Hastings found a courtier and ordered him to deliver the letter to his mother.
That business out of the way, Hastings sat down to breakfast with his cousins, then took his stallion to Calais to keep his word with the pretty little Laurel before calling on his beloved Emilie.
