Exasperating Men We Have Known {Marie, Margot, Percy, Chauv}

Life was escaping me

I couldn't find myself

till it was all lost

Life was escaping me

I couldn't find myself

till it was all lost

TAG: PAUL CHAUVELIN. NOTES: dare hiM: give her a crazy sweep her off her feet kiss right now

Marie tilted back her head letting out a laugh very much full of joy de vivre. She honestly couldn’t remember when was the last time she’d been so happy about someone calling at her home. After all, a decade separated Margot’s last visit, and though letters were long and frequent.. there was just something all the better about a visit in person. Especially one promising to be as long as this one was to be. “Dear Margot.. I think you have discovered the man’s secret! He is quite good at giving all matter of prattle but is quite incapable of receiving it. He does rather like the attention does he not?” Privately, Marie thought, and suspected Margot probably shared her views, that Percy’s ability to grab and hold the attention probably had kept his head on his shoulders by keeping anyone from having proof that Percy was indeed the Pimpernel — and that was a blessing both on a personal front for Margot and on a larger scale for the people of France who were in danger. It was no small thankfulness that Percy was as good at both drawing attention to what he wanted people to see and leading it away from that which they shouldn’t..

Chuckling mirthfully at Margot’s comment about starving to death before finding her way to breakfast, Marie pointed out where each hall splitting off from the central point of the house led. “And you shall have a much more proper tour before bed rest assured. And perhaps I shall even send a maid to escort you to breakfast to be certain you don’t expire with pangs of hunger as well.” She teased good naturedly as she lead her friend into the comfortable parlor.

The parlor was a comfortable place: a mixture of elegance and comfort. It had French rococo design with mint green papered walls with elegant floral designs and edging of medium brown wood with trimmings of gold design. Thick carpets covered the floor and hand carved furniture in beautiful wood with fancily embroidered velvet cushions sat about the room. Pink draperies with gold tassels hung at the picture window which were pulled back leaving only a gauzy white sheet before the window such that light spilled into the room over the furniture. Marie sat right beside Margot on a davenport before the tea table. As if on silent cue, a nicely dressed maid entered bearing a tea tray with a steaming tea pot, lemons, milk, and sugar. Another maid followed bearing a large tray with little tea sandwiches and finger foods and petite fours.

“And you’ve seen nothing yet, Margot. I have such the plans for our elegant dinner! In fact.” She hesitated before giving the best part as if to build the suspense. “There will even be mint ice-cream!” She enthused with a smile. Ice cream was such a rare treat as it took such a long time to make and was rather expensive, but Marie had spared no small trouble for her dear friends. “And after dinner we must play some music and have Percy take turns dancing with each of us!” She enthused quite excitedly.

And she also listened as Margot filled her in about life in the last few years. “It sounds for all the world as if your life has been quite idyllic. Rather picturesque, in fact.” Marie murmured with a smile. “I’m glad of that.. ” She also kept her voice to a whisper thereafter to avoid any ears even though she was sure there were none — it was more befitting of the situation. “I can understand that.. living a play every day would be.. quite tiring because it’s not like being on stage where after every evening you take off your stage makeup and your costume and retire home..” Marie turned to Margot filling a cup of tea for her guest in just the way she liked it. Marie hadn’t forgotten in a decade. She handed the steaming cup to Margot before continuing. “I.. had been thinking of that myself.” She responded in a whisper. “From what I hear, unrest in Paris is growing.. Now Maximilien Robespierre is becoming more powerful daily. Rumors are that the little King has tried to do things to thwart those in control.. but what can a boy be expected to really do? Though speaking of him.. There is to be a ball! A grand event in just a few days. You MUST come.. And Percy as well. We’ll find a way to doll you up so it’s not as obvious who you might be.. without completely hiding your lovely face and then we will both dance all night long.. just as we used to do when we were both.. well.. a great many number of years younger.” Marie winked conspiratorially.

She was about to say something else about the coming Fete when there was a knock on the door and the maid who had brought the tea returned holding a silver tray which Marie used for collecting calling cards.

“Now that’s interesting.. I wasn’t expecting -two- sets of guests today. Shall we see who’s decided to drop in?” Marie inquired of her friend as she removed the greeting card from the tray and looked at it for just a moment before laying it back. Probably, she realized with a slight blush, faster than Margot was even able to see it. The color rose pink in her cheeks. Paul was here. Now her doubts that she was in disgrace and he hadn’t wanted to see her faded as easily as a popped soap bubble. After all, she lived thirty miles from the city.. a long day’s travel.. It was for certain that something must have come up keeping him distracted and away from being able to call on her and he had done so as soon as he could. And, of course, she wouldn’t think of turning him away… Whatever they.. were to one another.. he was an important part of her heart now. And, she realized to herself, his timing was wonderfully perfect as now she would be able to introduce him to Margot.

Margot had encouraged her to look for happiness again after Jean-Claude passed, but she had always brushed it away. Marie suspected Margot had been waiting for her to act on the advice as she might be the only one save Paul who had any indication that Marie’s feelings for Jean-Claude had been.. friendly, fond, the kind of love born over almost two decades together… but that was all.. There had never been the passion there that Margot described in her relationship with Percy in letters where Marie could imagine Margot blushing as her quill hovered over the parchment as she decided what to write.

“Now this is someone you must meet Margot.. I’ve finally taken you up on your advice when it comes to gentlemen.” she winked at her friend knowing she would interpret that well enough. She could tell her about the specifics of what had gone on later.. maybe get some help making sense of it all. “Let me go and welcome him. I’m sure you don’t mind if he joins us for dinner also?” She inquired jovially. Now the day was quite perfect. All of her favorite people were around her save Henri — and that would have been a taxing, quite unpleasant affair, so it was quite good he was off in the woods. Again. Marie hadn’t seen him for at least a month.. thus was the nature of Henri now that he’d taken off with the Sacred Heart. She did miss him.. though it was easier to manage the estate as -she- wished without him under foot..

Marie disappeared from the room with a soft swish of skirts crossing the hall to the second, even more formal parlor. Marie rarely entertained here, but it wasn’t becoming to welcome a guest right into the parlor with another without a proper introduction first. She entered the parlor casting her eyes upon Chauvelin, finely dressed in riding clothes but impressive all the same. Her heartbeat rose to a palpable level and her breath caught as memories flashed through her mind. Especially how his mouth had felt on hers… She had tried not to think in too much detail of that evening — which had been quite the thankless nearly impossible task without his presence.. but now that he was here…

“It’s good to see you.” She murmured, letting the parlor door fall shut with a quiet sound as it went into place leaving the two completely alone.. at least for a moment. “I’m glad you’ve come..” She said softly as she stepped close to him. It wouldn’t be proper to take long before returning with him to the parlor where Margot waited. But they could take a moment at least. Slowly, she reached a lace gloved hand toward his hand, slipping her fingers around his as happiness rushed into her body with the warmth of his touch. She tried to think of the words to explain there was someone she wanted him to meet, but his dark eyes captured hers and made her mind quite foggy and she couldn’t.. not for the moment.