"You can not be serious!" I heard my aunt scream from inside her room as I stood laughing quietly outside the door. I had known all along that, being the typical high society woman she is, she would object to my engagement to Marguerite.
"I have never been more serious about anything Aunt Aggie!" I answered my flippant tone unscathed by her anger.
If the door had opened any faster, I would have had a broken nose since I would have not missed it. Although Agatha's expression could have killed me right there if looks could do that, for her stare appeared to be penetrating me deep down to my bones. It was certainly a humorous sight to be remembered for years to come.
"Percival, I had always thought you to be the stupid yet sensible one of the family," she growled rather menacing for a woman of her age. "How could you actually consider marrying that French hussy?"
May the Lord forgive me but if she were a man, I would have taught her a lesson right then and there. "Very easily, milady; 'tis not hard to feel the need to have her for a wife."
"Percival, can you not think ahead into the future? That woman, if you could even call her that, will ruin our family's good name forever! We shall be corrupted eternally should she become with child. I will not allow the bloods to be mixed!"
It was my turn to send my glare down upon her. Speaking firmly and just as threatening as she, I answered, "Why should this marriage concern the entire family? First of all, there are not that many of us left, and secondly the important matter is that I actually love this woman. Marguerite is certainly more sensible and caring than any of the haughty young things you have set before me already, and I will never choose one of them over her. As for any children, Marguerite is the only person I trust to be my coming son or daughter's mother. She raised her brother from the time he was nothing more but a mere infant, and did a damn fine job at it if I do say so myself. Therefore my decision stands. Marguerite shall become my wife, whether anyone, even you, approves or not."
Trying to rise to her fullest height, which was not much compared to my own, Agatha stared straight into my eyes. "All right then. Whatever you should do, I know you are too stubborn to have your mind changed, but Percival Blakeney, I warn you. If you decide to go along with this madness, you will not see me that wedding. I refuse to be present at an event that will brand us for life. Go ahead and marry that harlot you dare to call your future wife; you will regret it!"
"Sink me I will have the most regret filled life then!" I shouted as she made her way to the front door with her bewildered son following close behind.
* * * * *
Many pairs of eyes must have shot their gaping looks in Marguerite and my direction. The entire league had gathered in the study the day before the wedding at my wishes with the exception of Tony. He was still in France trying to find the warrant for St Cyr's arrest since we had figured that it would have helped us in finding some other clues in a complete explanation of his death.
But that was not the important matter at hand. The only thing I wanted was to see how my friends would react to Marguerite, and at that point in time, everything seemed as though things would go smoothly. Very good sign! I thought with a smile.
"Gentlemen," I began placing Marguerite in front of me to show her off. "All of you must have heard about the stunning creature you see before you. My letters had certainly explained that I had shockingly found the love of my life as well as the fact that one day I would bring her with me across the channel to marry her. Odd's life but that day has finally arrived and I reveal the angel to you now. My friends, may I present my fiancée, Mademoiselle Marguerite St Just of Paris."
The lady herself curtsied quickly out of respect as all eyes remained focused on her. Blushing slightly, she spoke, her charmingly accented voice breaking the silence that lingered throughout the group. "I am honored, messieurs, to have the chance of making your acquaintances." Allow me to note that she turned a questioning look on me to make certain that she had spoke correctly. Of course I nodded, rubbing her uneasy hand comfortingly.
That having displayed her nervous tension, Andrew, being the good man he was, stood up and walked over to her. Taking her hand from my own, he kissed it politely and said in the same manner, "On the behalf of the boys and myself, Lady Blakeney, the honor is all ours. We welcome you wholeheartedly into our…unusual bunch."
With a few laughs here and there, Andrew escorted Marguerite deeper into the room with me following behind to watch the scene unfolding before me. Leaning against my desk, I smiled as I realized the sudden bond that they were all forming with her and sighed relieved that they had. I wanted at least some people to enjoy Marguerite's presence and who better to do so than my own friends?
"Now be honest, Marguerite…pardon, milady I meant…" Ozzy had started after quite some time but she interrupted him.
"Please, Marguerite shall suffice, and that goes for all of you," she said with her famous smile.
"Marguerite it is then," the old boy replied before turning to indicate me. "As I was saying, you can be honest with us. What is it about that young jackanapes over there that caught your eye? I feel it my immediate obligation to warn you that should you marry him, you have chosen the most dandified Englishmen that ever lived!"
Laughing along with the clearly joyful group, Marguerite stood up to join me at the desk. I watched her closely, feeling the intense look of passion coming from behind as she passed around to my back. As every one of the men snickered under their breath, she ran her hands over my shoulders. "What is there not to love about him?"
A mischievous grin on my face, I said, "You will of course excuse me, gentlemen." Then pulling her in front of me, feeling the warmth between us as I held her in my arms, I pressed our lips into a deep kiss as each man either cheered teasingly.
"That just shows us where we belong, does it not?" Hastings said in a jokingly taunting tone. "Clearly the two lovebirds wish to be…alone! I say we run along home now before things really become interesting."
Having agreed with him myself, I pulled away to watch as they quickly said their farewells and exited the room. Then I returned my gaze to Marguerite, noticing that she had rested her beautiful head against my shoulder, touching her lips to the bottom of my throat. Holding her tighter, I whispered intimately, "Only one more day, my cherished one. Tomorrow morning, Armand arrives with Louise and by the evening, I shall be able to proudly call you my wife."
"Oh Percy I do not think that I can wait that long!" I heard her comment in her best impatient five-year-old sounding voice.
"All right then, we will elope tonight in order to have the ceremony sooner. How does that sound?"
Looking up at me playfully, Marguerite granted her irresistible hands the permission to roam wherever they favored. "The ceremony was not quite what I had in mind…"
Picking her up into my arms, I interrupted without any hesitation, "Say no more, my little temptress," And with a small laugh from her, I carried her to our room, intending to give her what she desired. Besides, I thought eagerly, what harm could a day early do?