The days of lodging in the St Just home had been passing ever so much more quickly than I thought they would. Had it really been so long since Day One? But the last thing I should seem to be doing is complaining, for I was truthfully having the time of my life.
Young Armand and I had become fast friends over the course of my stay, and since he was feeling the same way, he had become more open to talking with me. Thus I learned quite a bit about him and his sister Marguerite. Their parents had died when the both of them were still of a young age, and the only mother, let alone family in general, that Armand ever truly knew was Marguerite herself. They both had to work in order to survive, he with the government (not the first thing that I would enjoy but oh well!) and she as an actress of the Comedie Francaise, and I personally admired that. Two people, barely children at one time, were forced into adulthood so soon in life, and yet they had made it through this far successfully. I had to admit that was quite an achievement!
But on another note, these talks with the boy were highlight of the day, as he was always working until the late evening hours and I would be staying at home the whole day alone. Yes Andrew and the others had come by every once in a while to check in on me, but that was every once in a blue moon. Therefore, I had to make my own entertainment, and for that, I went to see the lady of my fantasies in the parlor.
Even though I had yet to meet Marguerite face to face, I clearly felt that between the portrait and Armand's stories that I had known her all my life. I must have stopped in the room ten times a day while I was alone, wishing that she would return from her travels. I longed to have more than only the painting beside me and gradually my thoughts grew wilder. I was repeatedly asking myself what her embrace would feel or the touch of her kiss? But being the gentleman I was, I banished them immediately to the back of my head.
Then at long last, the day came when my heart leapt for joy! Armand had returned home and having joined me in the parlor, willingly read to me a letter from Marguerite that he had received that morning.
"Sir Percy you will be glad to know that she is coming home tonight, or by now any minute," he concluded, summing up the whole thing in that one sentence and placing the letter before me with the option to read it.
Having picked it up to look more closely and grinning exceedingly, I asked, "And she knows about me?"
"She should, for I sent her a letter previous to this explaining about your residing here, the reasons for it, and such."
"She would not have any objections then, I pray?"
"Oh no of course not! Did I not tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"I will take that as a 'no'. What I did not mention is that in another part of the letter that I did not show you, she mentioned that she can not wait to meet you," he answered with a tease in his voice.
Now I had looked up with interest! "Really? That is good to hear…as well as torturous to my patience!"
He started to laugh when as if on cue, there came the sound of carriage wheels approaching outside and we both looked to the clock.
"Right on time, as usual!" Armand said happily before running to the door.
As he had run outside, I tried to listen in, and taking my cane I walked over to the window to possibly get a glimpse of Marguerite in the flesh. Unfortunately it had grown far too dark, and I could not see her completely just yet. Then out of nowhere, voices rose up in the hallway, one distinctly being Armand's and the other obviously was Marguerite.
"Come now Armand, I am able to carry my own bags!" she scolded with a hint of laughter in her voice. "I may be a lady, but I can also do things for myself."
"I only want to get everything inside more quickly so that you can meet our guest," Armand replied as he put the suitcases down on the floor and then rushed her to the parlor, laughing with her the whole short way. With the footsteps coming closer every second, I returned to my seat and tried to look as casual and calm as possible.
Moments later, there she was right before me, the woman who owned the key to my heart. My senses beginning to start up again, I tried to rise again in the presence of a lady, but seeing the grimace of pain on my face, she tried to stop me.
"No monsieur, please do not hurt yourself for my sake."
I on the other hand would hear nothing of it. "Mademoiselle must forgive me then. I was raised a gentleman, therefore I was taught to stand when such an exquisite creature as yourself enters the same room as I. I would feel ashamed if I could not do so, pain or no pain," I explained taking her hand and kissing it gently. "Sink me, I have never touched a hand that was so soft and delicate in my entire life." Good God did I say that out loud?
Marguerite blushed, grinning from ear to ear. "You flatter me…Sir Percy yes?" she asked uncertain of what to say.
Although I had lowered her hand, I did not release it. "That is correct, and I hope that milady has not taken offence to my words."
"Not in the slightest, milord. I am very honored by your gracious greeting, but since we have never met before, I did not expect it."
Neither did I! I thought with a smile. "Well it pleases and relieves me to know that you liked it, for just now I daresay that I must have sounded like a fool. I tend to do that quite often, blurting out words without thinking, but since you have been so kind as to accept it, I feel much better."
Marguerite laughed as I said this, and I could not help but simply listen to it. I felt as if an orchestra had begun to play a lovely melody, and the more I heard it, the more I wanted it to continue.
"Sir Percy, are you all right?" she asked out of nowhere as I realized that I must have drifted off into my thoughts again.
"Yes of course! You must forgive me, mademoiselle; it has been a long day!" And tortuous too awaiting your return, I thought to myself.
She smiled again, and I noticed that she seemed to do that quite often, which was wonderful for me! I adored that simple curve of her lips, for it sent my heart racing at an incredible rate! I wonder if it would go faster if we…Percy stop it! You are a gentleman remember?!
"Well since your thoughts seem to be taking you away somewhere, I guess that it would be rather foolish of me to ask for your escort to dinner?" she asked after another moment of silence on my part.
"Oh no, mademoiselle!" I answered quickly. This was my one chance to show her the real me and I was not going to lose it over something as silly as my mind's escapades. "I would be honored to accept that offer!" Holding out my arm, I concluded simply, "Shall we?"
"Yes thank you," she said in that dainty sort of way. I tried to be as graceful as I could with my stubborn leg, but I was also determined to keep everything going as well as it was. For now, she was mine, and I wanted that feeling to not only be requited soon, but also never to leave. In my eyes, Marguerite was my lady, and I intended to keep things that way at any cost.