I'm sorry, I really am. I just can't help it. It's just an idea I had and I couldn't resist.
There was once a man named Francis Bonnefoy. He was a well-to-do noble who was known for his high living and expensive parties. Although a widower, he was known to be a lady's man, but he was so kind and generous to everyone he met, no one could ever find it in themselves to hate him. He had one daughter, Madeleine, who was famed for her beauty. Ash-blonde waves and light violet eyes accented her round face that was fair as porcelain. Delicate eyesight require the use of spectacles, which only magnified her looks. She was kind and very sweet, but she was also quiet and rather shy, usually preferring the company of books to that of other people.
What no one ever knew was that Francis Bonnefoy owed a great debt to a man, Gilbert Beilschmidt, who was rumored to be ageless. The rumors spoke of sorcery, or a curse. Some people even whispered that he was a vampire. Nobody really knew, though. Gilbert Beilschmidt never spoke to anyone, never met anyone, and never did anything for anyone but himself. The rumors were right when they said he had no heart.
The maid brought in the mail with a curtsey. Francis Bonnefoy took it from her with a wink. She giggled and sashayed out of the room. He grinned at the view and then inspected the mail. Most were expected, the usual, but there was one envelope in the stack that arrested his attention. The paper was silver and there was no address on it, just Francis Bonnefoy written on it in blood-red ink. He felt a chill, realizing who it was from.
He opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of the same silver paper. The letter was short, written in the same bright red ink:
Your debt is long overdue. If you do not wish to lose all you have, you will give me your daughter to be my wife. She will not be harmed, but any resistance on your part will be swiftly punished.
It had no signature, just a wax seal, black wax with an eagle pressed into it. Francis shivered. "Beilschimdt's come to settle our debt. Forgive me, Madeleine, my dear. Forgive me."
Anyway, review, comment, I know it's short, think of it as a preview, if you like.