A drabble based off a scene from the Scarlet Pimpernel (1982).
Marguerite, beautiful in the glow of a new bride, laughed and chatted with Armand and Louise. Meanwhile, Sir Percy was standing to the side with Lord Timothy and Lord Tony.
"Look at her, Tony. And tell me, if you can, that I am not the most fortunate man on earth."
I don't think I have ever seen her happier, Percy."
"As well she might. On the same day she marries the man she loves, she has her revenge on the man she hates." It was the Baron de Batz walking up to join Percy's little group. Sir Percy looked at him quizzically.
"The man she hates, Baron?" He questioned carelessly.
"The Marquis de Cyr," he lowered his voice and spoke confidentially in Sir Percy's ear. "For what he did to her brother."
"And what manner of revenge might she have had on the Marquis?"
"Oh, well, having him arrested for treason, of course." Sir Percy shared a doubtful look with Lord Tony. Then he spoke to the Baron sharply. "What led you to believe my wife was involved in this?"
The Baron laughed. "Come, come, Sir Percy, you need have no pretenses with me. I saw the warrant for his arrest with my own eyes."
"I don't believe it!" Lord Tony burst out indignantly. The Baron ignored him.
"And your wife's name was on it." Sir Percy drew back, shocked out of his charade of careless interest. De Batz spoke again.
"Oh but, you need have no fear on my account. After all, I am a man of extreme discretion." He began to walk off. Sir Percy turned to follow him, but Lord Tony tried to intercept his friend.
"Percy, don't-" But Percy held up his hand and continued to walk after the Baron.
"A man could go to the guillotine for this," he said to the Baron, speaking quietly as he referred to the charge of treason. Baron de Batz looked at him in surprise.
"My dear Sir Percy, have you not heard?" The Baron's face held only the appropriate shade of regret, "The Marquis de Cyr and his entire family were beheaded this morning."
In contrast to the gossiping Baron, Sir Percy took this information very hard. With this new terrible realization, his features completely lost the mask of the rich, giddy Englishman; instead, he was the noble and grave Scarlet Pimpernel.
"All of them?" he asked. The Baron only stared. Percy prompted, voice low with distress, "The children as well?"
Taken aback by the deep change in the other man, the Baron stuttered slightly in his answer. "Uh, well, yes." Sir Percy was stunned. As for the Baron, he had never seen Sir Percy look so distraught.
"Sir Percy, I naturally assumed you knew about it. But I thought - Excuse me." And he walked off; sorry he had spoken at all.
Sir Percy turned to the wall, so the joyful assembly would not see his face full of grief. Lord Tony stepped up to his side. He tried to offer his leader comfort.
"I am truly sorry." The look on both their faces spoke of total horror and indescribable sorrow.
"She must never know, that I suspect her of any of this. We are now about to embark on the most dangerous mission yet - to save the heir to the throne of France." The sadness on his face intensified as he continued, "From this moment on, she must never be trusted. I cannot risk betrayal. I only pray God that I can conceal from her the horror I feel at what she has done." Only another moment did his face show the sadness he felt. Then he took a deep breath and wiped all traces of painful emotion off his face.
Turning back to the crowd, Sir Percival Blakeney, just another dull, stupid, and very rich Englishman, gave Lord Tony a nod, as if to say he was feeling fine. But it was far from the truth. It was only another part of the charade.
Written by my younger sister. Betaed by me. Tell us what you think!