A short story about Marguerite and Percy ad how they spent their Christmas eve separated and thinking of each other. It was inspired by the beautiful but sad song "I'll be home for Christmas"
English is not my first language so I apologize for some possible mistakes.
Disclaimer: Marguerite, Sir Percy and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel belong to Baroness Orczy.
The snow was silently falling and covering the whole garden with a white blanket. Marguerite stood silently on the veranda, wrapped in a heavy but warm coat gazed at the stars in the dark sky. It was Christmas eve, but she wasn't in the mood of celebrating. She was alone with the servants. Percy was in France, rescuing a bunch of aristocrats from the clutches of Madame Guillotine. Even during the holidays the killing of innocents went on. For this reason she was able to understand why he left her alone at Christmas. A few month ago she wouldn't have been able to understand it. Not with all the misunderstandings and secrets between them.
She only hoped he was safe and unhurt. She couldn't bear it if Sir Andrew, Lord Tony or any other member of the League came back to tell her Percy got captured, hurt or worst of all killed. It was normal to fear for him. Marguerite had this feelings every time he left her for his missions in France.
But this time her fears were specially strong. Now that she was all alone and not able to occupy herself otherwise. Suzanne was off to visit her parents and her brother while Andrew was in France. And she didn't feel in the right spirits to attend the Christmas ball she was invited to. Armand wanted to visit her, but with all the snow it was impossible to travel long distances. So has visit had been canceled. And so she nothing to do than to stand and watch the falling snow and the sparkling stars in the sky. And of course to pray for Percy.
Percy stood at the window of their rented room and looked at the stars in the night sky above Paris. But his thoughts were miles and miles away. What was his beloved Marguerite doing? Was she celebrating with her brother or was she alone? Was she looking at the sky, too, thinking of him? Missing him? Oh how much he missed her. But he had to go. Here in Paris were people whose lives depended on him. Innocent women and children amongst them. He knew that Margot understood his reasons. But it was hard to be separated from her. Especially during the holidays.
He glanced over to his companions and friends. Some of them had wives, too. But they also knew, that they were needed in France. And so they made the best of the situation and sat talking around the large table in the middle of the room.
With a quiet sigh Percy turned back to the window to gaze at the stars again and to dream about spending Christmas at his beautiful decorated home back in England, with his equally beautiful Margot.