I awoke the next morning to the usual sunlight shining through the thrown back bed curtains. Giving an extra layer of shading to my closed eyes, I buried my head under my pillow, and groaned in annoyance. Armand did this to me every morning and every morning I wanted to turn around and take a swat at him!
At first the only thing I said was for him to go away, and when he only continued to nudge me, I rolled over, the pillow now behind my head and my eyes still closed.
"Armand St Just," I warned without hiding my irritation. "If you do not let me sleep, I shall flail you within an inch of your life! Now leave me be you foolish boy!"
Within seconds I heard a soft giggling noise, and right before I could answer, a female voice replied laughingly, "I would really like to see you try giving me a beating, but I must warn you that I will put up a good fight."
Immediately I opened my eyes and what I saw had given me such an astonishment, that I fell off the bed! Marguerite was there in Armand's usual morning place, and for a moment I only sat on the floor, my mouth locked shut in a wordless state.
When I finally was able to speak, I answered her in complete embarrassment. "Milady, you really should have made your presence known; you must forgive my harsh words."
"Sir Percy you need not feel discomfort, for 'twas all in good fun that I performed Armand's signature prank in his absence," she said giggling with amusement before helping me back up onto the bed.
Smiling gratefully, I replied, "In that case, all is forgiven, but sink me where is that young jackanapes, pray tell?"
"He had to get to work earlier than usual today," she said with a disappointed sigh. "I am sorry for sounding as I do, but I only returned last night. I was hoping that we could spend some time together, for I missed him so."
Sympathetically I nodded. "I can not blame you; Armand has told me how close the both of you are."
With that she lowered her gaze to the floor. "Yes, but I was hoping that…"
"Hoping for what, milady?"
She looked at me shyly as she answered, "That you would come with me to delight in my first day home again. I believe it would not only help make your leg stronger, but also I would rather take pleasure in your company. Dinner last night was one of the most enjoyable I have had in the longest time, for you were a humorous and fun addition to our table. The least I could do to repay you would be to help you with your morning schedule and take you on a tour of France."
Odd's life, maybe I did make a good impression! I decided happily. Taking her hand in my firm grip, I kissed it gallantly. "Anything that involves you gracing me with your presence shall be enjoyable for me, mademoiselle," I uttered quietly.
The soft rosy hue flushed her cheeks once again. "Sir Percy, you can be such a tease!"
It was my turn to blush, literally turning as red as a pimpernel. "If it makes you uneasy…" My sentence was left hanging in the air, however, as she pressed her fingertip to my lips.
"To be honest, milord," she began tenderly, "It felt more natural than anything else."
"Honesty is the best policy," I answered the same way as she took away that pleasant touch.
Marguerite laughed softly and then handed me my cane. "Oh get up now, you lazy boy, and get changed! We have a whole day ahead of us, and we must not waste a minute of it!"
"If you say so, mother!" I shouted out the door that she had exited, a mischievous smile fleeting across my lips.
* * * * *
Moments later, I looked myself over in the mirror, making sure that I looked my best. My outfit was very simple, waistcoat and coat matching in a golden-striped pattern, billowy shirt, and beige trousers. Not one of my best ensembles, but it was good looking and certainly enough to impress a lady. Therefore with a smile, I quickly pulled back my sandy colored hair fashionably, grabbed that wretched cane, and headed outside to the carriage.
However, despite that plan, my feet stopped dead in their tracks as I beheld the attractive figure awaiting me at the doorway. Marguerite was enveloped in a white dress of lace with her hair covered a bit by a straw woven hat, tied under her chin with a matching ribbon.
Approaching her slowly, I offered her my arm. "Shall we go then, sweet lady?"
* * * * *
The horses had trotted on swiftly that morning, and the fresh air felt good as I breathed it in refreshingly. The sun shone bright in the sky and I covered my eyes from the glare as best I could with the small brim of my hat. The only thing I had wanted to see was my lady, who sat contently happy, holding onto my arm while I held the reigns tight in one hand and a whip in the other.
My Marguerite. It sounded better each time I had whispered it. Along the way, she had pointed out every marvel and wonder that Paris had inside her walls, but the beautiful princess beside me was all I needed to feel happiness. Nothing I had seen or did with her could be more splendid then Marguerite herself! Not our ride along the Seine, our stroll down every possible street, or our relaxation in a café could compare with the beauty at my side.
Then suddenly, the excitement we had so far seemed to be in ruins as a voice called out her name, and we both turned our attention from the café table to the street. There we found a man dismounting his black horse and walking toward our direction.
"Marguerite St Just, I knew that I saw your one and only self; I could have recognized this figure anywhere," he said removing his tri-cornored hat, kissing her hand, and causing the level of jealousy in me to increase rapidly.
"Paul Chauvelin!" Marguerite exclaimed nervously, looking at me with a timid expression. "I had not the slightest idea that you were not working today."
"My dear," he continued, "if it were not for my discovery of your ride throughout the city, I would be returning there right now. What is a charming woman like you doing out and about on such a warm day?"
My sense of hearing had stopped as I took the time to look the caller over. Clad from head to foot in black, the Frenchman had a head of dark hair and icy blue eyes that could have matched my own had it not been for that eerie feeling about them. He was also a follower of the Republic, I knew by the tricolor sash he wore around his waist.
"Sir Percy, are your thoughts running away with you again?" Marguerite suddenly said clearly amused and jolting me back into reality.
Smiling lovingly, I replied, "Milady, if I was ever unconscious, it is only because I am so amazed by your beauty."
All right, so I admit it. I had tried with that last answer to cause double emotions, happiness from Marguerite and envy from that Chauvelin fellow, and la! I had succeeded for he was indeed turning green!
"Marguerite, who is this foreigner?" I heard him whisper, and to tease him further, I shoved my hand in-between him and the lady.
"Sir Percival Blakeney, baronet of Richmond, England, citizen…Shovelin is it?"
Pretty much ignoring me, he growled as he pushed my hand away, and if it had not been for Marguerite's admonishing expression, I was certain he would have struck me. Thus leaving only an angered glare in my direction, he turned to Marguerite taking her hand once again. I looked away, my heart aching as it began to break, but I continued to listen in.
"Ma cherie," Chauvelin began again. "I must be leaving you for now…but I hope we shall meet soon." His voice lowered to a fervent whisper before finishing his words. "Possibly, we can have another evening together like the one we had before you left. You and I, alone without anyone to bother us…locked passionately in each other's arms…" The last of his words were lost as he tried to trail his lips up her arm, and I looked back to them as I caught sight of Marguerite pulling it away. And praise God with that, he put his hat back on, and stormed off. Good riddance! I thought childishly.
Noticing the angry tears begin to build up in her eyes, I lifted Marguerite's head by the chin. "Is everything all right, milady?" I asked concerned for her well being.
"I will be just fine, Sir Percy; I only need a few moments to gather my thoughts. That is all I wish to do right now, do you understand?" she entreated as sharp as a knife and slowly pushing my hand away to lower her gaze.
My heart nearly shattered wholly, but I held those feelings inside by simply saying, "Of course mademoiselle; whatever pleases you shall please me."
We sat there for quite some time as I felt my expectations beginning to shatter. What could I possibly have done to revive them…? Ah yes! Now I know!
"Milady, I have some plans that I have been meaning to carry out all afternoon, thus would you care to join me? I would be quite glad should you accept my invitation."
In response to this, Marguerite watched closely as I rose from my chair and offered to help her do the same. Smiling a bit, I guessed gladdened by my attempt to cheer her up, she nodded taking my hand, and following my lead back to the carriage. Then we were off to the one event of the day that would assure the return of our developing bond.
* * * * *
"Sir Percy, can I see where you have taken me? You would not keep me in such suspense, would you?" Marguerite asked slightly laughing.
I joined in as I took my hand away from her eyes, revealing the surprise location. I could only her gasp as she glanced around at the picnic dinner I had, with permission, set up atop Notre Dame's right tower. According to one story Armand had told me, this had been Marguerite's favorite place to visit ever since she was a little girl, thus making it the best spot to put together a romantic dining atmosphere.
"Do you like it, m'dear?" I asked as she ran to the railing at the edge of the tower excitedly.
She turned back to me, her smile stretching to its fullest length. "Oh Sir Percy, to say that I only like it could not express my feelings enough! This is the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me."
"Well you can not even begin to imagine how much joy I feel seeing your happiness, sweet lady. Now please join me to sit down, eat, and enjoy!"
And so we did but in silence as dinners mostly were eaten in that fashion. I did not mind at all however as I began to work on my famous thinking. Marguerite was a dream come true for me, for in my entire lifetime, I had not enjoyed a woman's company as much as I did when I was with her. The lady was an entire mixture of cleverness, laughter, kindness, and energy that I had never thought existed. Just being with her was what my heart and soul had cried out inside me for so long, and I did not want to lose her now.
And then it hit me like a bolt of lightning. In the course of one day, I had fallen in love with Marguerite St Just. I, an English baronet, had lost my heart to the spell of a French plebian actress, and the last thing I wanted was for it to be broken. Marguerite was really the missing part of me, and she alone completed the man I was meant to be.
"The dinner was wonderful, milord, and I thank you for having it with me," Marguerite said, dabbing her mouth with the cloth napkin beside her.
Gazing at her with the lovelight still in my eyes, I whispered, "Please, Marguerite, I would feel much better if you called me Percy."
She looked up, shock filling her body at the fact that I had finally used her name instead of a title or formality. "All right then…Percy. I apologize."
"No, there is no need for that. It is just…just…"
"Just what?"
I breathed deeply to calm myself down before speaking. I had to tell her.
"Marguerite St Just, I have held my feelings in long enough, and now they must come out. My dear lady, ever since I saw your portrait hanging in the parlor, I knew that there was more to you than simply being only another woman I had the pleasure of knowing. I have known many throughout my life, family and friends, but I care for none of them, more than I care for you."
"Percy, really now, that silly thing is what caught your attention?"
"Yes indeed, and I will never regret seeing it." Kneeling down in front of her, I reached for her cheek. "Marguerite, you must know by now what it is I wish to say. My dear, I am desperately in love with you, and I can only hope that you could return that feeling. But no matter what, my sweet, I would never be able to live without you. Whether our relationship is to be more than passion or only friends, I need you in my life. Can you understand that?"
Marguerite let tears run free down her face as she smiled. "Of course I can, Percy. This has been the most glorious day of my entire life, and I spent it with a man who still has some kindness in his heart. Many I know have lost every bit of goodness they once had, but you are not like other men. You still care for people other than yourself, and I consider myself very fortunate that one of them is me."
As we both sat there wordlessly for a moment, I still was uncertain of what she felt exactly. "Does that mean that you love me in return?"
Giggling softly, she touched her lips to my cheek, and in reply I moved my arms around her tiny frame. Then, taking my boldest action of the day, I folded my own mouth to hers in a gentle kiss, to see at first how she would react. Luckily she did not make any objections, and I moved in again, overjoyed that after so long, my dreams had finally come true. The miracle of love had found its place in our lives.