"His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; Sir Percival Blakeney and Lady Blakeney!" the valet announced to the entire crowd of guests as one after the other bowed with courtesy. With HRH and my wife in the lead, the three of us made our way into the ballroom, and out of instinct I knew it was going to be a long night.
Especially with Chauvelin waiting in the corner! I thought not knowing whether to be more angry, concerned…or even jealous. No doubt that he was there for one purpose and for that only, the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel which Marguerite alone could discover. If there was only some way to know how to stop her!
"Blakeney!" the Prince had called interrupting my planning. "Zounds man! You really must convince your lovely wife to have the first dance with me!"
I laughed flippantly and turned to Marguerite. "Your Highness must forgive me but Lady Blakeney makes her own choices, don't you madam? Not even her lowly husband, namely myself, can persuade her otherwise. You would have to be a fellow compatriot of hers to do that, isn't that so m'dear?"
Looking at me suspiciously, not knowing that I knew the truth, the lady in question replied, "What exactly do you mean by that, Sir Percy?"
The Prince sensing the oncoming argument simply said, "Ah…I shall just ask again later on this evening. You will both excuse me."
As he left, the both of us bowed respectfully and Marguerite accepted my hand escort. "Now Percy that we are as alone as we can be, may I ask again what you meant that I make my own choices?"
"Precisely that, madam," I replied impassively. "After that little visit from your friend Citizen Chauvelin the other day, I thought that you could be quite capable of handling certain decisions on your own."
"You heard that?!" she suddenly exclaimed, releasing her grip from my own and trying to keep her volume as low as possible.
"Well, not all of it," I lied casually. "But look at it this way. You had to decide whether or not you really wanted to see that foul-dressed Frenchman, and obviously you believed that you could manage a conversation with him. Therefore, your choices belong to your own clever mind; should you choose the correct one is entirely up to you."
Taking my hand once again, she lowered her gaze shyly to the ground. "Is something wrong, milady?" I attempted to ask coldly, not wanting to give away any of the worry I had for her disintegrating happiness. Who knows what I was trying to do more: seeking to change her mind's set plan of spying or showing her that everything would somehow be all right? But regardless of whichever I was striving to do, she only shook her head.
"The dances are about to begin and I have promised myself to many a partner. Your lordship will excuse me, I pray?"
With a final pleading glance to her, I succeeded in letting go of her soft hand and headed for my usual place against the wall. As planned Hastings was waiting for any possible instructions that I may have had, and undoubtedly, if we were to stop Chauvelin and rescue Armand, I would certainly have something for him.
Masking our intentions, I shouted, "My dear Lord Hastings that is unquestionably the finest collar I have ever seen! Come now and tell me which tailor's hand created such a masterpiece?"
"I most definitely shall, Sir Percy, if you shall join me!" he answered, knowing well enough to play along. Then as we neared closer, he whispered seriously. "Any news from Paris about Armand?"
"Yes, Ozzy, Leggett, and Hal wrote that he was taken prisoner in the Conciergerie," I replied once I was out of the public's hearing range. "Have no fear, though; they shall not kill him just yet."
"How can you be so certain?"
"Simple! Chauvelin may not be wise but he is no imbecile either. He knows damn well that the league will go after the bait, thus Armand is as good as safe until we get there."
"So what are we to do?"
Pulling a small note out of my pocket, I slipped it to him. "We must leave for Paris tonight, so listen carefully. Read this letter as soon as you have the chance, and then pass it on to every bounder in this evening's attendance. It shall explain to them all about our sudden trip as well as gives the name of the place where I need you all to meet me."
"And where is that?"
"The footbridge at one o'clock; from there we head to Dover and board the DayDream. Oh and one more thing! Be sure that the last one to receive this note destroys it immediately! There are too many spies around and I do not need our plans to be ruined. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely Percy!"
"Good; now go quickly! You know the rendezvous and I trust I will see all of you there shortly."
"Quite so! Good luck!"
"That as well! We are going to need it!" As he left, I looked quickly back into the room to find Marguerite, who was no where in sight. We are really going to need it!
* * * * *
"They seek him here,
They seek him there!
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!
Is he in Heaven or is he in Hell?
That demmed elusive Pimpernel!"
No wonder my wife had previously been an actress, for I must confess that the sound of applause is glorious even that of a small group of ladies. All evening, my two constant admirers, Ladies Digby and Llewellyn, and the young pretty friends had been entreating me for something about their mysterious hero, and as he himself, how could I have refused?
"My dear ladies you are far too kind!" I began as their cheers of glee lowered back to normal. "That silly little ditty was only done during the tying of a cravat, not years at a writing desk!"
"Oh don't be so modest, Sir Percy!" Lady Digby admonished sweetly at my one arm.
Lady Llewellyn, who claimed the other, squealed in agreement. "That's right! Anything that has to do with the Pimpernel is truly amusing for us all! 'Twas a lovely poem, and you are still the best lyricist!"
With a polite bow, I said, "Oh you honor me, ladies, really you do! Although I shall never understand what is so wonderful about this ghost of yours, I daresay that he is truly a saint! Sink me I would not have any of my inspiration without him!"
As we continued our little stroll throughout the palace halls, the two women began to chat and I took out my watch. 12:45, quarter to one and time to work!
"Ladies, I trust you will forgive me, but I really am feeling quite fatigued! In fact I believe I shall be returning home."
"Oh Sir Percy must you leave so soon?" Lady Digby pleaded profusely
"Yes! Who will keep us in good humor without you?" Lady Llewellyn added matching her friend's tone. "After all, Marguerite may not want to leave and you would not want to disappoint all of us in our own ways, would you?"
"A thousand pardons but I regret that I must! As for my wife, would you both be a dear and tell her of my early departure when you see her next? Tell her that I did not want to intrude on her enjoyment, and that she may leave whenever it pleases her."
"Of course!" Lady Digby nodded disappointedly.
"My thanks to you both! Your servant, ladies!"
And with a gallantly exaggerated bow, I let them go about their routines and I headed for the doors to begin mine. There was a footbridge waiting for me to tread upon it, and I did not want to be late.
* * * * *
Zounds! I had never remembered the walk to the bridge to be so long; I really must have been fatigued! Oh well, the league was waiting for me and I did not want to…
Someone's out there! I thought completely alert of the figure that was on the bridge as its view became clearer with every step. At first I could only slow down my cautious tread, and squinting my eyes, I tried to adapt my sight to the darkness.
The person must not have wanted to be seen, for after a moment I noticed that he or she had been trying to hide amongst the trees. Had the men destroyed the note as I had ordered? Did anyone intercept it on its route to each of them? A guest? Chauvelin? Or even worse…Marguerite!
Oh God it was her! As I moved in more closely, my vision pieced her figure together slowly but surely. Her cherry dress matched her cheeks, tainted the same color; her curls fixed up in the style of the day as diamonds, rubies, and other gems adorned her neck, hair, and uncovered hands and wrists. Could she become any more beautiful…?
No! I thought, my will power battling my emotions. You have a job to do here, and if she stays than everything shall be in shambles!
Knowing that I had to rid her presence from the bridge instantly, I crept up slowly to the trees, and wrapping my cloak around me, I tried to blend into my surroundings. Having heard my wrong step, Marguerite whirled in my direction and I barely managed to hide out of her view. Far too close!
"Hello?" I heard her squeak, and I realized that I had never really heard Marguerite be so afraid before, not even on the first day of the estrangement. "I know someone is out there!"
There goes my cue! Smooth as a cat could have done, I silently slipped out of my hiding place as I was faced with her backside. Then I pounced having held her tightly by her waist and my hand clamped over her mouth.
As she thrashed strongly against my hold, not knowing who it was, I struggled just as hard matching her every move. After a few moments she must have given up for she finally kept still long enough for me to speak to her.
"Lady Blakeney I presume?" I began in a low voice that not even the 'cleverest woman in Europe' could identify. As she nodded, her fear increasing once again, I proceeded. "First and foremost, I have no intention of harming you, I assure you of that. I promise you, sweet lady, you should have no reason to be afraid. Now I may let you go, but I would not want to have to leave you alone on such a dark night. If you give me away by your cries, then I would have to do that. Therefore, do I have your word that you shan't utter a sound?"
As she nodded her reply, I released her. Watching her walk to the rail of the small structure, I added quickly, "One other thing that I must entreat of you. As much as I would love to see that physique which all of the world claims is the most stunning, I can not allow you to see me, so please remain in the direction you are facing."
"I am talking to His Most Courageous One then? That of the Scarlet Pimpernel?" she whispered timidly.
"Yes you are, and I thank you for your kind compliment. But rather tell me this; what is such a refined…angel like yourself doing out here in this beastly climate?" I replied, reprimanding myself for my words that could have given me away.
"I was waiting for you, monsieur; I read the note that Sir Andrew had in his possession written by you. Please do not be angry with him, for I am at fault for doing so."
"Why is that? What was so important that you had to nearly give me away by coming here?"
Marguerite looked to the ground with humiliation. "I know that I deserved that scornful remark." As she tried to continue speaking, I could hear the emotions ready to free themselves from her body. "Monsieur, I can not go through with this a moment longer! I could only pray to the Lord and apologize to you, for I have done so much that needs forgiveness."
She was actually going to admit it? "Madame, what would your entreaties have to do with me?"
"Citizen Chauvelin, the French ambassador, if one can even give him that important title, has asked me to betray your identity to him in his hopes that you would be captured. I swear to you that I was not going to agree, but he holds a price over my head, or should I say that of my brother."
Continuing to play along as if I knew nothing, I persisted, "And what does her ladyship mean by that?"
"Chauvelin has told me that Armand is in league with you; is that not so?"
"No you are correct. Armand St Just is one of my most obedient friends and followers; you are certainly lucky to have such a man to call your brother."
"That is why I needed to protect him. Armand is in deadly danger of being guillotined under the sentence of traitor. My God I have raised him from a child, monsieur, and I absolutely refuse to let him die, even if I would have to take his place!"
"Well since we would not want that to happen, sweet lady, I pray you tell me the rest of your story."
"Yes I will. Now then, Chauvelin himself had come to me just the other day, informing me of this, and being the devil he is, he threatened to send Armand to his death unless I helped him to…to discover your identity."
Would you truly care if I were killed instead? "I see what you are trying to say, Lady Blakeney, but I must ask you what would be one more life to you?"
"I do not understand, monsieur."
"Oh but I believe you do. My life in your eyes? Zounds but that would be no more different than that of the St Cyr family, would it?"
"That is not true! I did not have them killed!"
"But did you not see the arrest warrant? I protest that it beared the name of Marguerite St Just, and that is your maiden name is it not?"
"Yes it is, but I protest that you sir are not unlike my own husband. You would believe anything you see or hear without even thinking that maybe there was a reason for it to have occurred."
Well this was certainly unexpected. "I must admit, fair lady, that I do not know whether to take that as a compliment or a curse."
"As a scolding would be more like it," she began bitterly and I could feel another story coming on. "You have asked me so many questions already, but I have only one to put before you."
"Whatever pleases you shall please me."
With that she seemed to stiffen with thought. "What did you say?"
Realizing my mistake, I attempted to stall. "Beg pardon?"
"That comment you just said to me; repeat it again."
"Whatever pleases you shall please me."
"My husband said that to me once before…"
"A small coincidence, milady," I interrupted. Marguerite was a smart woman and if I had let her think anymore I would have given myself away on the spot. "Now please continue with your question."
With a shrug of her shoulders, she did as she was told. "Why must you along with everyone else judge people by their first impression? You said just now that your life was nothing to me, as the St Cyrs appeared to be the same. How would you know that by only meeting me this one time; you scarcely know me."
"I know more about you than you realize, fair lady."
"If that is true then you should know the truth about the whole St Cyr story."
She had me there; whether I was the Pimpernel or myself, I had not known her so-called side of the story. "No milady, I fear that you are correct. I do not know the complete tale as you call it, and now that you have mentioned it, I would like to hear what you have to say."
"Monsieur la Pimpernel, I hardly even knew the St Cyr family. I was a schoolmate with a small few of their relatives, but I had never actually known the family themselves. However, my ears had unfortunately overheard a piece of information about the marquis plotting with Austria, and I stupidly mentioned it to…a friend."
"And that friend, I am guessing, was Chauvelin?" As she nodded, I laughed teasingly. "The both of you seem to be fairly close to one another." At this comment, I watched confused as she turned even further from me, holding herself as if the temperature had suddenly decreased to bitter cold. "Madame? Have I said something to embarrass you? If so, then I am deeply sorry, for that remark was only meant as a jest."
Hearing her sobs, I knew that the tears must have at last streamed down her face. "Monsieur, I have a small confession that I have been meaning to make. It is only the end of my story but something that needs mercy nonetheless."
You have needed nothing more all night, Marguerite. Might as well confide this in me also, I thought coldly, although I wanted nothing more than to see her comforted. "Well, Lady Blakeney, I am not a priest, but if it should make you feel better, than I am more than willing to listen."
Breathing deeply, she began again. "When I was younger, monsieur, too young to know the difference between real love and that of which comes and goes, I made a mistake that would out do the length of time. I was, if you could excuse the expression, a 'free woman'."
What? "Please continue, fair one, I am listening."
"I met Chauvelin during the storming of Bastille, the ever glorious fourteenth of July, three years ago. He seemed to me everything that I had imagined a lover could be at such a youthful time of my life and one night we…well, you must know what I mean."
"Yes…I understand," I replied slowly, for now I wanted so much to run back inside and beat that man until there was nothing left of him. The nerve he had to take his advantage and pleasure out upon a young innocent woman was beyond my forgiving.
"Anyway, the times changed everything about that," Marguerite continued shyly. "Fortunately I had not become with child, and a few years later…I was able to learn what real love was. I had met the man that I knew I was going to marry…and before I came here to be with him that is when Chauvelin made his move."
"What did he do?"
"He threatened me. He said that if I were to marry the Englishman, he would tell him of the past we had."
That had confirmed all for me! I really would teach the Frenchie a lesson as soon as Chance allowed me to do so. But why had Marguerite not told me this? "My dear lady, do you think that your husband would have deserted you had he known of your past?" I asked tenderly.
"I really can not answer that; I do not know the answer. I know that Percy loved me, but I had never thought about what would have happened if he knew the truth. The whole thing with Chauvelin was mad and brief but it did happen, and the only thing I had to do was give him any information he wanted to have."
Oh my God… was she innocent? "And so he blackmailed you into giving him the whereabouts of St Cyr?"
"Yes, that is what happened. As for the warrant, he only did that because I had spurned him for another. Chauvelin was the one who had them killed monsieur; I could never lived with myself had I been responsible for their deaths. I had only wanted them deported or humiliated, not murdered!"
How could I have been such a fool? Marguerite was not guilty the whole time, and I had been too blind and angry to have even listened to what she had to say, to know the truth behind this whole madness! Lord forgive me for my wrongs!
I was about to make my own confession right there, to tell her everything and then kiss her with all the love in my heart and soul…but she spoke again.
"Monsieur, the time grows late and should Chauvelin find me here, Armand will be guillotined for sure. All I have left to say is, can you do aught for my brother, to free him from the clutches of your enemies…and mine? I must somehow hear that Armand is safe! Please, can you help your comrade as you would any other prisoner?"
For you, my beloved I would do anything! "It will be done, milady. My league and I leave for France immediately, and we shall do anything we can to get Armand out alive." I said with a shake in my voice.
"You do not sound so certain."
"Oh it is nothing, sweet lady; I have only just been relieved of a burden that has been at my back for the longest time. Now you must go! Go home to Richmond and remain there until your brother is once again in your lovely arms."
"May I not thank you, monsieur?"
"I do not deserve the thanks of such a wonderful woman, and I would not be able to take a kiss from you. You are married after all, and there is no way to hide one's face in doing so. Now go on! Hurry now!" As she did begin to run, I called to her quickly as she stopped to listen. "Lady Blakeney, I have known your husband all his life! I guarantee you that he would not have ceased his feelings had he known your secret. He loves you far too much for that!"
"I wish you could see my smile, monsieur; as your own burden has been lifted, so has one of mine by your words," she answered before continuing her run.
Falling to my knees with joy, I quickly kissed the place where she had stood moments ago. My love, my angel, the guardian of my heart, was just that, and I had been such a stubborn mule to her! Well now it was going to be different! After I had restored Armand to the arms of his sister, I would be the next in line, ready to bow down at her feet. I would beg her forgiveness, and remain with her forever as we had always planned. Not even Chauvelin could ruin this moment, for my Marguerite was just that, and I had no intention of letting her go. Our love had endured its hardships after all!