ALL I KNOW OF LOVE
Erik and Christine are the creation of Gaston Leroux; the reference to Persia and some of its customs are derived from Susan Kay's book, "Phantom". All other characters and the backdrop of the story are the creations and property of GerrysJackie.
Some places and all names are fictional.
PLAYERS:
Erik – Gerard Butler - Perfect
Christine – The face and coloring of Zooey Deschanel (Failure to Launch, Elf) – and the body of Marilyn Monroe, except 3 inches taller
Gustav - Billy Connelly – Because I really like him.
Patrick Connelly - Paul Bettany – (A Knights Tale, Firewall, A Beautiful Mind)
Pascal – Mel Gibson's looks (slightly older with graying hair) with the cunning and cruelty of J.R. Ewing from "Dallas".
Madam Marie Forsythe – Miranda Richardson
James Lumpkin (the butler) – Daniel Davis (the butler from the TV show "The Nanny")
Kamilla – Georgie Henley (Chronicles of Narnia)
Duke Sergei Beauvais – Derek Jacobi (Underworld:Evolution)
Use your imagination on all others.
This story has taken a while to develop, but I hope it has been worth it. I have several chapters already written, but I am taking my time. There is humor, drama, and romance in this story, so I hope you will enjoy it.
This rendition of Erik is one of a man who has suffered greatly in his life, at the hands of just about everyone in his life, but his spirit is still intact. He is less self-loathing than others that I have written, but he is very much aware of his self-proclaimed faults. He is dangerous and ruthless, but has had enough of death and destruction. Women are still a mystery to him, and he needs a strong, independent woman who is his equal in every way.
This Christine is not a drop-dead gorgeous woman, but her beauty is less assuming and soft…Erik will see it.
I will try to update twice a week, depending on how quickly I write chapters. I don't anticipate this being a particularly long story, but we'll see.
Enjoy.
CHAPTER 1 – Foundations: Past and Present
Genes Region, Town of Tretradia, France, 1871
He scanned the papers in front of him with scrutiny, seeking the flaw his friend wanted him so desperately to find. He had already done this several times, but Gustav Delancy was not a man who gave up easily.
"Gustav, there is no more that I can do for you; the Duke demands this and it will be done."
Gustav was beginning to see the hopelessness that was slowly descending on him from a great distance. Patrick Connelly had been his solicitor for fifteen years, and he had never led him astray; he knew this time was no different.
"When I read the demand, I thought it was madness. Why would he do this…I merely asked for a little help in getting my shipping business back on the right track before I lost my entire income?" Gustav was bewildered and aggravated by the lack of control he had over the situation.
Connelly was slightly baffled himself. This was an unusual request for a commoner to receive from the Duke…there had be to extenuating circumstances.
"We are simple people, Patrick…we are not nobility…this is absurd."
"You're in desperate need of his help and support, Gustav; this marriage will ensure that." Patrick reminded him. "The Laroque Family, although known in the past for its cruelty and dark practices, is one of the most prestigious and wealthy noble families in Eastern Europe."
"Who is this man, Connelly…the one she is to wed?"
"Erik Rameau Laroque, Marquis of Merlot; he has taken the family name and rebuilt it from the bottom up – after his father's philandering ways and drunken stupors practically ran it into the ground. Little is known about the man himself, but his physical appearance and strength, as well as his genius mind are legendary." Patrick looked at his employer and tried to ease the worry on his forehead, "He is known to be fair with his punishment….and his people seem to respect him."
Nothing was going to ease Gustav at this point, he was going to lose his daughter to this man; at the whim of the duke, a man he respected and thought to be fair in his judgment.
Gustav narrowed his gaze at the man he had called his best friend for many years, "And I am supposed to just hand my daughter over to him and believe that he is going to love and cherish her?"
Patrick sighed; he had hoped to avoid this whole, dreadful mess, but he knew he could not, "I don't think love and cherish are required, but you really have no choice in the matter, Gustav…you know that."
The older man clenched his fists and began to pace the floor. The only things he knew of the Laroque family were rumors and stories drenched in the legends of the past.
As the patriarch of the Delancy family grieved over the plight of his eldest daughter, Patrick thought about how this contract affected him. He had thought to court Christine on his own at one time; even though she was a strong-willed, independent woman with a sharp mind and she could match any man with her intelligence.
He had finally decided that he needed a docile, easily managed woman – not an independent, dominant woman like Christine Delancy. He knew of no man that wanted a woman as strong of mind and sharp of wit as she was.
There was nothing stunning about Christine; she had long, black tresses that almost seemed blue in the sunlight and her eyes were a deep shade of blue, almost appearing black; just the opposite of her hair. Her beauty was not the kind of beauty that stopped a man in his tracks, but she had a kind, gentle beauty; and few men ever cared to notice it.
Her eyes were too big for her face and she was rather buxom and full-hipped. Her features weren't delicate and refined, as was the customary look of the modern, beautiful woman; and her form was not dainty. However, she had creamy, ivory skin – untouched by the suns rays and completely without blemish; and a perfectly straight, perky nose. She was unusually tall for a woman, at five feet, eight inches, and she was the apple of her father's eye.
The few suitors she had entertained barely made it past a couple of months. Men wanted a soft, submissive, quiet woman with only womanly interests; Christine did not fit that profile by any means.
Gustav had made her the son he never had; she had a mind for numbers and formulas and she understood statistical problems and strategic equations. She kept the books for him at the shop, keeping track of all the purchases and orders; making sure everything was where it belonged when it needed to be there, and handling the customers.
What would he do without her?
"There has to be something I can do…I can offer myself as a slave to him." Gustav growled, forcing Patrick out of his thoughts.
"You know you can't do that, you have a family to consider…Teresa and your two youngest daughters don't deserve this, Gustav, you know that." Patrick knew Gustav was just thinking aloud, but he had to talk some reason into him.
"Think of Bethany and what has happened; she will need your help with Giorgia."
The tall, barrel-chested man before him could bare it no longer and sank into the confines of the soft, leather divan that rested in the far corner of the office. He buried his head in his hands and drew long, labored breathes, trying to keep from sobbing.
Patrick heard the deep despair coming from Gustav and wished there was more he could do; he had no idea why the Duke required this of him, he knew he needed the money to rebuild his estate after the war had completely depleted his funds, but he had not wanted it to be at the cost of his daughter.
He must surrender the one to save the other. No father should have to allow this to happen; and Teresa, it was killing her.
"Why must he resort to this…is he so overbearing and monstrous that he can't obtain a wife through normal means?" Gustav spat.
Patrick had no answers that would provide Gustav with the peace he required. Little was known about the mysterious man who had become the new Marquis of the Merlot Region some ten years ago.
"No one knows Gustav….he's shrouded in mystery and secrets." Patrick stated. "He seldom leaves the estate; and when he does, his whereabouts are not disclosed."
"And yet, I have no choice but to hand my oldest and most precious daughter over to him without question."
Gustav rammed his fist into the desk, feeling the wood give very little against his strength. Tears stung his eyes and he felt rage boiling in his veins.
That very morning he had held his wife as she mourned over the future of their eldest daughter. She was certain the mysterious Marquis was some sort of deviant sent to bring hell to earth.
Where had this man come from? Why was his past so secretive and his name whispered as though it held some unearthly power? Gustav was determined to meet this man and get some answers on his own.
ЖЖ
Jenei Province, Merlot Region, France, 1861
"Your grace, we have found him."
Duke Sergei Beauvais stood and acknowledged the man who had just entered his office. His eyes were inquisitive and speculative, as he was eager to hear what news this man had.
"You found him - where?"
Edmond Pierpont, personal aid to the Duke, bowed low and cleared his throat.
"In Persia, your grace…he is a prisoner there."
Sergei was hesitant to believe the news Edmond was offering him. Several times before they had thought they had found him, but the reports were false - and the house of Laroque remained decadent and foul.
"How can you be certain it's him?" The duke asked.
Edmond drew closer to his long-time master, "There is no mistaking the distinct family resemblance and the scars…" Edmond shuttered at the memory of the scars that claimed the right side of the man's face. "…I've never seen a man with such resilience and determination…he is what you have been looking for."
Duke Beauvais turned toward the window and clamped his hands together behind his back. He spoke to Edmond, but did not look at him,
"The current Marquis Laroque has all but sent the estate into poverty and his sanity has been brought into question…he has practically destroyed the name and shamed his family." Sergei turned abruptly and regarded Edmond with shrewd eyes, "Bring him to me…" The Duke instructed, giving Edmond all the necessary paperwork to release the prisoner from the confines of his Persian jail. "…immediately. The royal family of Persia does not want any issues with France; let alone, with Europe, they will release him as I have instructed." Sergei stated with a knowing smile.
Edmond bowed as he was dismissed.
Sergei turned back to the window; he was thankful they had found the heir to the Laroque name, and dearly hoped that bringing this man back from the dead would put the Laroque family back on the correct path.
TBC