The carriage came to a halt and Blakeney got out and helped Emilie descend, once again taking her arm. As he saw Plourdes approach, he commanded. "Where are they? Let's see them at once!"
Emilie took Milord's arm and was helped into the carriage. He seemed lost in thought and Emilie wisely chose to pay attention to the scenery around her and not disturb him. She thought about Hastings mostly and planned the wedding. A bit of time later, the carriage stopped. Milord helped her out of the carriage and in a protective manner, took her arm. She stared up at the prison and shuddered, trying to hold on to him tightly. Antoine spent the carriage thinking of the dark haired beauty riding behind him. He wondered if she was thinking of him too. Well, he was sure he could get her alone sometime. The Lord would be busy and all he needed was a few moments to woo the girl. "Yes, right away, your lordship" He said and bowed again and motioned for them to enter, noticing the Lady was terrified and holding her guardian's arm tightly. When they entered, he motioned for some of the soldiers to bring out the manacled prisoners, the girl and the two men and to hold them. He noticed the Lady had gone pale when she saw Claudette and stared at the ground. Emilie was at first pleased to see Laurel there but then a bit sad for her. "Here they are" Antoine said.
Blakeney regarded the trio, as a wolf might regard a nest of chicks. It was hard to believe these people could aid in the evil acts that had been commited, but the evidence was there. The oldest amongst them was short and stocky, but scarely a muscle on him, the boy was as thin as a reed and not fit to attack anyone, the girl seemed the strongest of the pathetic lot. The girl was remarkably beautiful and held herself like a true aristocrat, despite being a peasant. A bit above her station, for what was proper. They were all pale and the men bore expressions of terror, while the girl was obviously to naive or vain to know that she stood on dangerous ground. No, none of them had actually committed the attack, but they hid the true culprit!
"I should have the three of you hung for harboring that criminal!" Blakeney said in a lofty, menacing air to Planchette. "What are their name, Plourdes?"
Plourdes stepped forward, "This one is Jean-Paul Planchette, a local tailor and the suspect's employer. We found the items in the stable connected to his shop. This younger one is Henri Vosloo, he works for Planchette as a clerk. The girl is Claudette Laurel DeClaireville, a steamstress, also in Planchette's employ." Laurel? Blakeney recognized the name... the whore that distracted Percy from his duty to his aunt. Yes, that seemed to fit her type, a seductress, possibly luring Percy while her cohort attacked Emilie. "The suspect, Andre, is a delivery boy for Planchette," Plourdes continued. "He has yet to be found."
"Andre? That delivery boy!" Blakeney demanded, he looked at Emilie her fearful _expression confirmed his suspicions. "That creature was in my house not two days ago, I had him flogged for entering the Lady Emilie's bedroom!" Blakeney reconsidered for some minutes hanging the lot of them, but if he did then it would be unlikely that Andre would come out of hiding. Blakeney took Emilie to a chair nearby and gave her a gentle, reassuring pat on the shoulder, then returned his attention to the prisoners. "Where is he?" Blakeney demand, and struck Planchette hard across the face, knocking the poor tailor into the wall behind him.
"I have no idea, milor!" Planchette said. "I haven't seen Andre in two days!" Blakeney struck him again.
"I don't believe you!"
Laurel threw herself between Planchette and the irate Lord, "I beg you, milor!" Laurel plead. "M. Planchette, is telling you the truth! Andre, couldn't have hurt anyone! He left work early two days ago to recuperate and has yet to return! Please, milor, I tell you the truth!" Laurel's eyes pleaded with Blakeney, surely the man could see reason. His eyes were cold and merciless, Laurel shuddered, there was no reasoning him. No wonder Percy was terrified of this man! Laurel looked to Emilie for some support, for some sign that maybe some horrible mistake had been made. But Emilie�s face was obscured by shadow, as she sat there and watched.
Emilie was holding onto Milord's arm tightly, knowing full well this was going to get violent. Lord Blakeney was staring at them coldly and Emilie choose that moment to stare at her shoes, not sure if she should be feeling happy that the people had been unmasked as brigands or worried. "I should have the three of you hung for harboring that criminal!" her brother in law drawled and Emilie shuddered. She couldn't even face the prisoners, even as she tried to tell herself at that these people were guilty and that slutty Laurel would get what was coming to her for seducing Percy. Alas, she genuinely pitied them but could do nothing to save them. She had to maintain the family honor. Her face turned pale when she heard the name "Andre"? Andre, that kind little boy, he couldn't have hurt her; he had been so kind to her and such a gentleman. Milord looked at her and Emilie looked to the floor, white with fear and holding his arm tightly. This must be a terrible mistake. Her guardian stared in thought at the frightened forms before him and then led her to a chair on the side and patted her shoulder. She nodded her thanks but it did more to worry Emilie. He always made sure she was safely out of the way before all hell broke loose. With that, her guardian struck the tailor across the face, slamming him into the wall. Emilie hung her head and stared down at her hands, trying not to watch. The tailor denied seeing Andre and was struck again by his Lordship. Then Laurel threw herself between Milord and the tailor and pleaded the case again. She seemed to be trying to attract Emilie’s eyes but the young Lady merely stared at her hands and pretended not to notice. Emilie would NOT defy Milord in public, she had duty to think of and all she could do was not actively participate.
Somewhere inside Blakeney, he felt a pange of regret, if his son felt about his family the way that this girl felt about the tailor then he wouldn't be standing here today. Percy and Emilie wouldn't have run off and this would be someone elses problem. Or if they had, Percy would have been there to defend his aunt and the blaguard would already be dealt with.
As it was, the girl's insolence further angered Blakeney. Did she think that she would use her charms on him? That her crimes could be so easily erased with the batting of her eyes? There was hell to pay and fluttering would not buy it off so easily. Blakeney grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back to face him as he stared down at her. "Then perhaps you know where the boy is, hm? Was not my son with one when the Lady Emilie was attacked? Perhaps you work together with this Andre. Is that what you do? You distract the men, while your lover attacks? Did you seduce my son to give this Andre the opportunity to ravage the poor lady?" He pulled back on her hair harder. Thinking of his son fueled his rage. "What price do you get for playing the role of the whore?!"
Laurel blushed scarlet at Blakeney's accusations. A whore?! Surely Percy would have told his lordship that Laurel had merely treated him respectfully and that they had searched for Emilie the moment they discovered she was missing! Why would his lordship think that she had any hand in this devilry? "I have never played such a role in my life, sir!" she gasped. "I tried helping the young milor in finding her!"
Blakeney let go off Laurel's hair and slapped her hard across the face, sending her colliding with Planchette, who awkwarding caught her. "I am well aware of what you were doing, girl!" Blakeney turned upon Plourdes, "I want those too men publicly flogged for their hand in the attack on my sister-in-law, I want you to see to it yourself. As for the girl, I want her shaved and placed in the stocks, maybe a few days there will help her to realize the suffering that she has brought down on Lady Emilie and Lady Michelle!" I want the punishment carried out immediately," Blakeney demanded, then returned to Emilie's side and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Lady Emilie's honor may in part be restored by this, but I still want Andre found!" Then he added as an after thought. "The girl will be branded, I want her to have a permanent reminder of this."
Planchette gasped, "My sir! I beg you to have mercy! Laurel is innocent of any crimes against the Lady! You can ask anyone in Calais..." Planchette was unable to finish, for in an instant Blakeney had his hands around the man's throat.
"That little hoyden, helped your demon delivery boy to attack my family! Be grateful you walk away with your lives!"
Laurel paled at Blakeney pronouncement and had scarely time to recover when Blakeney was once again upon Planchette. It took every once of strength to keep from laying hands on the lord to get him to release poor Planchette. "Please, sir!" Laurel begged. "I can see that you are angry with me! But I beg on M. Planchette and Henri's behalf to spare them!" Laurel got down on her knees before Blakeney. "I would take their punishment on myself, if you would spare them! Please, milor! They are good, honest men, sir, please have mercy!"
Antoine felt wrong about this treatment of prisoners but who was he to argue with a Lord? He wanted to comfort the poor Lady who obviously felt uncomfortable but he dared not go near her with this hurricane of a noble raging only a few feet away from where the goddess sat demurely. He shuddered when he heard the verdict and noticed Lady Emilie said nothing as Claudette fell to her knees but she seemed very unnerved. Antoine felt lower then a worm but he remembered the title of general and pulled Claudette to her feet and motioned with a flick of his wrist for soldiers to take the other two. "As you wish, Your Lordship. Take them away" he muttered, wondering if he was impressing the lady.
Laurel clutched at Plourdes, "Please, messieur! I beg you don't harm them! I will happily take their places! Please show some mercy! These men are innocent, messieur!" Tears were now streaming down her cheeks unchecked, she couldn't believe that innocent people would be punished so senselessly.
Antoine felt terrible about what he was about to do but defying Lord Blakeney was not an option. He didn't want to join them, after all. "It's not my choice" he whispered as he pulled her off him and pinned her arms behind her then handed the tearful girl to another soldier. "You heard his Lordship, bind them and take then to the public square. Fetch the equipment, lieutenant" he ordered his men who threw the three to the ground and bound their hands tightly. The lieutenant fetched a large whip, a branding iron and scissors. He saw that Lady Emilie was already chalk white at seeing just the utensils. "Might I suggest her ladyship stay here, my lord? She looks a bit faint" he suggested.
Emilie just didn't understand, Andre had a high voice and the man who kidnapped her had a low voice. It did make sense in one vein, Andre luring them to Laurel's house and her being kidnapped but yet, she could not believe Andre would do that, he seemed so sweet but rather distant. She just didn't know and what Milord thought did make sense. She just wished she didn't have to see it. She quivered when Lord Blakeney grabbed Laurel's hair but behaved like a good girl and said nothing. She trusted her guardian and would not allow him to look wrong, even if she had to play party to cruelty like this. She found herself staring at her gloves even more and wishing she hadn't been so eager to come. Laurel tried to defend herself and was slapped nearly into the wall. Was Laurel telling the truth? She didn't know. Emilie then heard her guardian's orders and flinched when she heard the verdict. "I want those too men publicly flogged for their hand in the attack on my sister-in-law, I want you to see to it yourself. As for the girl, I want her shaved and placed in the stocks; maybe a few days there will help her to realize the suffering that she has brought down on Lady Emilie and Lady Michelle!" I want the punishment carried out immediately," he commanded in a cold tone and walked next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, like a father should. Emilie looked at the floor, trying not to vomit at the thought of what she was about to see. "Lady Emilie's honor may in part be restored by this, but I still want Andre found!" he continued, his hand still on her shoulder. Emilie silently pondered the bloody cost of honor. Lord Blakeney continued even further. "The girl will be branded; I want her to have a permanent reminder of this." He decreed in a hard tone and Emilie winced. As much as she disliked Laurel, she didn't want her punished like that. Milord was in a fury now and if she spoke up, she'd be beaten when she got home just like Percy had yesterday and it would change nothing. The tailor spoke up on behalf on the girl and Milord had his hands around the prisoner's neck. Emilie just stared wide eyed, wishing she could help. She was always in this place, like a doll on a shelf, placed to be pretty on a high place but unable to do anything, just watch and be moved around at her owner's will. Laurel fell to her knees and begged for mercy for her friends, offering to take their punishments herself only to be pulled up by the captain who of course would follow the orders of his Lordship to the letter. Poor Laurel was pleading for her friends. Emilie felt her heart break and trembled at what she was about to see.
Blakeney gave Plourdes a cold look. "I wish to assure Lady Emilie that those who have wronged her will be brought to justice and that they will never be able to harm her again, I want her to know that she will be safe and that those who would harm her who do so at great expense! I want her to see justice, Plourdes. Now get on with it!" Blakeney followed Plourdes with Emilie on his arm, behind them the guards came with the bound prisoners. Plourdes show Blakeney and Emilie to seats that would give them a clear, unhindered view of the events to come. The soldiers dragged Planchette and Henri to a tall post and proceeded to tie Planchette's hands into the leather straps that hung from the post, while Laurel taken to the pillory. As this was going on the citizens of Calais began to gather another to watch the spectacle, and ask the soldiers what is going on.
Laurel was knelt down beside the pillory, one guard grabbed her hair and pulled it back, as other proceeded to cut it off. The crowd cheered as this was done. Strand by strand her lovely tresses fell to the ground around her. Moments later Laurel was brought to her feet, her head now bare save for a few short tufts. Tears were streaming down her face as she looked to the post where Planchette stood bound and watching, tears falling from his eyes as well. She watched as his shirt was torn from his back just as her hands were loosened and set into the pillory. Her head soon followed, then she felt the wood come down and within littl time she was sealed in the device, unable to see what was happening to her friends.
Blakeney watched silently, and not quite satisfied with the proceedure told Plourdes. "Plourdes, the brand! Administer it now!" Plourdes offered the brand heated then took the metal device himself and brought it down into Laurel's shoulder bone. The girl screamed in pain and Planchette fought against his restraints to go to her. But soon it was his turn to scream as a heavy whip was brought down, reatedly on his back. Blakeney watched with some small satisfaction. He only wished he could have done the job himself.
Laurel watched them tie up Planchette, tears streaming down her face, she prayed for some heaven intervention to protect her friend. One guard grabbed her hear and pulled her head back slightly as other approached with scissors, she saw locks of hair fall in the periphery of her vision, but her eyes were locked on Planchette, hoping that he could convey some message of hope, that something would happen to end this horrible tragedy before it when too far. All the while the crowd cheer! Cheered at their misery!
The next moment rough hands hauled her to her feet and realeased her bonds, but rather than free her they forced her int the pillory and locked her in it. She tried lifting her head to see Planchette and Henri, but she could only see the ground below her and a heap of hair that had once been on her head. The muscles in her back and neck ached, she wondered how long would she be there when she hear another man approach and saw his silohuette on the ground. The man moved around her, then all was silent the chatter of the crowd diminished. Laurel strained her ears to discern what was happening when blindly pain shot through her body from her shoulder, she screamed involuntarily and tried pulling away but she was trapped. Once again the crowd cheered and the cheering was interrupted by a terrible sound that she recognized instantly: a whip. Followed by the cries of poor dear Planchette.
Laurel continue to struggle and pull herself free, only inflicting more pain on herself. It was all her fault! She knew she was responsible for the injuries on the girls, even if she did not know why... but more importantly it was she who had brought the English into the lives of her, Planchette, and Henri... she thought that she was helping them, but at every opportunity things got progressively worse! If she had never talked to that Percy Blakeney none of this would have happened! And that Lord Blakeney! When she thought of him a strange feeling awoke within her, one that she had never experienced... she wished him pain and misery. She wished him to suffer as Planchette now suffered.
