Percy sat by his cousin's bed and thought on the week. Emilie, his Emilie, what had happened to her. First he had ran off and she had been hurt. His blood boiled at the thought that she had been mistreated like that. One day, he swore he'd find some way of accounting for the cowardice he shown. God have given him a second chance, he could have lost her, and any beating his father would have dealt him for it, would have been meaningless. If someone ever needed aid again, he would run into Hell itself to redeem himself. But he had lost her in a way, she was getting married. He knew it would happen and in some ways he was glad. Emilie had been his best friend, he loved her a lot but she had always been the favored child. Sometimes he felt like the ward. He hated the selfishness inside him but when Father would give her a pat on the head and he would feel as if his heart was broken. He was acting selfish and he knew it but...would Hastings be good to her? Who was he to He acted like an idiot and it almost cost him and Emilie their lives. Well, it all changed her. He looked at his sleeping cousin and realized he needed some help. He needed some time to think and here was a good place. He knocked on Michelle's door. "Sir, where is Andrew" he asked. Andrew was always good to talk to and Andrew was Hastings's best friend. Maybe he could help him some more.
Sir Matthew looked at Percy. "I wish I knew, Percy. I'm fairly sure he has gone into town." His anger at his son, who was usually quite well behaved, was apparent from the expression on his face.
Percy nodded. He could see Sir Matthew was furious and as much as he knew him to be a fair man, Percy's heart went out to his friend. A chance to redeem himself. "I am sure he's safe. Andrew is the most responsible boy I know and he won't do anything foolish. Please, don't be mad at him, he must be blaming himself badly. I'll go find him and bring him home. He must be too ashamed to face you" he said softly. Sir Matthew put his hand gently on Percy's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, Percy. I will deal with him when he returns."
Percy winced. When parents said they would deal with children, it meant nothing but pain. Here was an opportunity to help, he would go after Andrew. Tony was in good hands and he didn't want to see that Vicomte, it only reminded him of his failed duties. He knew there was great danger in this, Andrew could wind up in more trouble and he himself could be taken back to his father to be punished, or punished by Sir Matthew himself. "Enough cowardice" he muttered to himself. "Yes, sir" he said and waited in his cousin's room till Sir Matthew went down the stairs. "Sorry Tony but Andrew is in trouble" he said and climbed out of the window. He had a sinking feeling this would result in the back of someone's hand but he had to do it. He went to the stables, threw a rock against the barn so that the grooms would run to check, took a horse and off he went. Calais would be the first place to look. He rode as fast as he could, till he got to town. The town was filled with people speaking.
"What a spectacle today, the Comte never allows that"
"Well, today was a day to remember. I thought for sure the whipping was going to kill one of em"
"I was sure he'd have one of them hung"
"That Big Anglais sure had a temper, put on a good show for us. Made the little Lady with him watch the whole thing. She didn't like it so much, fainted"
Percy wondered what was going on. "Excuse me?" he said. He knew his father had gone to town with Emilie, this was sounding bad. "What happened, who was whipped?" he said. One of them turned and paled a bit, obviously noting a resemblamce. "Milord, some people were caught and whipped for their crimes of aiding in the beating some ladies" he answered, removing his cap. Percy nodded. So, they had caught the people who hurt the girls, this was wonderful. "Excellent, who were they?' he said. "The Tailor Planchette and his workers, a clerk and a girl" he answered. Percy turned white and without another word, tore off to Planchette's shop. He knocked on the door. "Please, is anyone there?"
After a short while, Planchette heard another knock at the door, and went once again to investigate. Planchette heard a voice call out, "Excuse me, milor!" he said to Andrew and went to the door without looking out. He opened the door and looked up to see Percy, who instantly reminded him of the English milor who had assaulted him and his assistants, he stumbled backwards.
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Hastings rode into Calais and ignored the group of citizens merrily chatting about the scene of violence that had taken place that morning. He was disgusted that these people took such pleasure in the pain of others. He tied his horse up in the same stable that held the damning evidence against Andre, and proceeded around the corner to Planchette's shoppe when he saw Percy standing in the door. What was he doing here? If he run away again, Blakeney would lay into Emilie with little hesitation. Hastings rushed forward and ploughed into Percy knocking him into the shop, Hastings entered slamming the door behind him. "What the devil do you think you're doing, Percy? Do you want his lordship to take your cowardiceness out on your aunt? The moment he finds out your gone, he turn on her! I'm taking you back immediately!"
Percy saw a stocky man open the door and then step back in fear. "My name is…" he began but felt someone brutally push him inside the store, knocking him to the ground. He looked up and saw Hastings, looking livid slamming the door behind him. Percy had seen Hastings in a variety of moods but the anger written on his face was truly scary. Percy could knock him flat if he chose but he was more taken aback by his words. He didn't think leaving the house would cause such a problem, Father knew that Emilie was with himself, he wouldn't blame her for him leaving. Father adored his dear little Emilie; she was usually safe in the house. "Peace, milord, I may be a runaway, but it's not from my father. Sir Matthew took me to his home, I came to find Andrew and I heard about what Father did. I came to see if Laurel was all right. Emilie is safe, Father took her to town this morning, I heard she fainted. Father won't blame her. I am not going back without Andrew and without checking up on Laurel"
Hastings stared down at him, "Perhaps that was the case this morning, but your father is in a deadly mood. Emilie did chance to speak up against him this morning, before le Compte Lovell, in order to end the assault on the good Planchette and his assistants! Learning of your disappearance will undoubtedly add to his distemper!"
Percy bit his lip as he stood up. Emilie, why did she always have to speak up? Why did his father have to unleash his temper on everyone? Why were his friends turning on him? He longed to take out his anger on someone. It would be too easy to pound Hastings into the floor, but too much like his father. He sighed and picked Hastings up by his collar so that he dangled off the floor a bit. " Will you cool your temper, future uncle? I would like to settle this without violence. As much as what happened to my aunt worries me, I I have to bring Andrew to his home first. Edward, if I go home, Emilie will again speak up in my defense and she'll suffer for it. As long as it seems she has nothing to do with it, she's safe. Seeing me will only make him angrier. Understood? Now please, tell me what happened so we can think rationally. Can I release you?" he asked.
Hastings distinctly felt the awkwardness of the position he was in, but it was the logic of Percy's words that cooled his blazing temper. He looked Percy coolly in the eye, "If any harm comes to Emilie because of this, old friend, then we will have more than words. But as we are friends and we have the same purpose at heart, perhaps it is best that you put me down and help me to alleviate poor M. Planchette's nerves, before he thinks that all Englishmen behave like ravenous dog."
Upstairs, Andrew heard the sounds of a scuffle. Had the bloodthirsty townspeople come to finish off the job?
Ffoulkes rushed downstairs, only to see his friends, Blakeney and Hastings, looking as if they were about to wrestle. "My word!" Andrew exclaimed. "Percy, Edward, what the Devil are you two doing?"
Hastings gave Andrew an awkward, but bemused smile. "Ah, Andrew!" Hastings gave a choked laugh. "So good to see you again! This? Ah yes! Percy and I were just getting caught up on old times." Percy placed Hastings back on his feet and released him. "Lud, sir! In your excitement you've destroyed an excellent coat in front of it's manufacturer!"
Percy leaned against the wall, staring at his friend coldly, almost looking like his father. How dare Hastings act as if he didn't care for Emilie, he most certainly did. He knew the last few days showed poorly but when the two of them lured that horrible geography tutor into the cellar and locked him in there, who had taken all the blame and the whipping for it? Not Hastings, it had been him. When Emilie had fever, who sat with her all night and read to her? Hastings may love her, (Percy had known that for a long time, everyone besides Emilie had known the way he had felt, speaking of which, he had to collect some money from Bathurst who wagered that Hastings wouldn't get a kiss from Emilie, Percy had been planning on holding her down if need be to win the sovereign) but he would never replace Percival Blakeney in her heart and he had better get used to it! Once Percy had a chance to talk to Emilie and tell her how sorry he was, Hastings would be a mere suitor again, and Percy would regain his position of her doting. The more he thought of it, the more he didn't want this marriage happening. Even though she had been the favored child, she had earned her place with the frequent soothing of tempers. If Emilie left, there went the angel who mitigated Father's ferocity. Hastings may be his friend but Emilie was his confident and secret advocate. How would he deal with Father without her? He knew it was selfish, Emilie deserved love and happiness, but this was not the time to deal with it anyway. He'd have to have a nice long talk with Edward Timothy Hastings on the issue to see if he would allow this marriage to happen on any account. Edward was better then that arrogant Vicomte but still, only the best for his aunt. "Your coat has graciously taken your fate; pray do not demean its sacrifice. I swear on my honor, if I knew Emilie to be in the slightest pain, I would not be standing here speaking to you. I assure you, she is safe in that house, far safer alone then with me in it as well. If you are here to find me, then consider your quest a success. I find your lack of faith disturbing, I had hoped a fellow Devil would have more loyalty but I know it is your feelings for my aunt that turns your head" he drawled coldly.
Percy turned to find Andrew standing there. "I have been looking all over for you. Ffoulkes, you must get home, post haste. Your father is furious with you; I've never seen him so angry. I slipped out of the house to warn you. Please you must come back with me" he said in a warmer tone.
