Chapter 7
Strength
As the carriage pulled up the drive to the cottage in Runnymede, the girls all turned to stare at Ms. Di Rossi.
"That is not a cottage." Penelope observed. "I had thought we were to live in a modest hovel for three weeks and run wild like gypsies." Serena offered. The large house at the top of the hill certainly had a rustic feeling about it, but it was by no means the small, dilapidated structure the girls had collectively imagined.
"It is the home of my good friend Ms. Stanton, who will be our hostess these three weeks. She's also an American, so you can drink champagne and run as mad as you choose, and she will not think the less of you for it." Ms. Di Rossi smiled, looking forward to seeing her friend.
The girls burst forth from the carriage in a display of rainbow colors. Ms. Stanton greeted them at the door, and Ms. Di Rossi introduced her charges. A knowing smile from Ms. Stanton, she said, "Go on." And the girls took flight, chasing each other around the house, running through the meadow, down to the lake, enjoying themselves, and the freedom to laugh heartily, to shout, and call out loud at the top of their lungs.
Ms. Stanton hugged her friend, "Shall we have some tea on the terrace? You must be exhausted from the travel- and your charges I imagine!" The two ladies caught up over tea, reveling in each other's company. "Tell me of your girls?"
"Where to begin!" Ms. Di Rossi smiled, "They all four come from good families, they are well educated, have money, of course, and the three older girls had a rough season last year in New York. So here we are."
"Does it look promising this year, in London? Will they all find matches, do you suppose?"
"Penelope I have no doubt! When that girl sets her mind to something. She wants a title, and I am sure she will get it. Serena is already rather attached to a Captain in the Prince of Wale's guard; they make a lovely couple and are very well suited to one another. Kati is a sweet girl, she wants love and comfort; you will find no grand schemes with her. In a way she's the hardest, I keep an eye on her so that she won't be taken in." They stared out over their teacups, watching the girls frolic in the yard.
"What of the little one? Blair was it?"
"My heart breaks for her. She's well liked by all the gentlemen, but she has a tumultuous relationship with an Englishman they all know from America. From what I can tell, he quite broke her heart yesterday. But I think being here, at your lovely cottage in the country, will help her mend before returning to the city."
A maid appeared, curtseying, "The Duke of Norfolk, ma'am." The two ladies rose from their seats, and curtseyed to the Duke. Ms. Stanton smiled at him, "Your Grace, welcome. This is my dear friend, Ms. Di Rossi." He bowed, "Ms. Stanton, I am glad to see you are well. I thought I might pay a visit to see what type of savage creatures you are allowing to stay in your home for these next few weeks."
Ms. Di Rossi turned to call the girls, who promptly scrambled up from the meadow to the terrace, "Your Grace, my charges for this season." She introduced each of the four girls in turn. "Ladies, this is Lord Henry, Duke of Norfolk, he oversees the lands in these parts, amongst his many other duties."
"Would your Grace like to stay for tea?" Ms. Stanton offered, of which he accepted. It was a long, delightful tea, everyone enjoying the fresh, country air and the making of a new acquaintance. Before departing, his Grace suggested, "What if we picnicked tomorrow? I could bring a few friends?" It was to be, their first country picnic.
So it was for the next few weeks, the Duke and his friends visiting for picnics, dinner parties, boat rides, all manner of diversions they could think of. The girls generally enjoyed seeking the Duke's attention, but it was Blair who surprised them all. She refused to acknowledge what had passed in London; she rejected her sadness and heartbreak, instead she threw herself fully into flirting with their present company, and being as agreeable as possible. She even out maneuvered Penelope in her flirtations! The Duke enjoyed her attentions, and she his. After a short time, he would bring Blair flowers when he visited and she would play his favorite pieces on the piano. She was a great deal bolder and learned to play coy when it suited her needs.
One night the cottage hosted a dinner party; after the delicious meal, the Duke suggested they play a game. One member was blindfolded, spun in circles, and then everyone ran to hide. Blair was the first to be blindfolded, and she felt her way around the house, following the laughter of her friends. After what felt like long minutes, she found someone hiding just beyond a doorway. She reached out, feeling his jacket, "Aha! I found a gentleman! Who is it, is it you Lord Henry?" She gave a pert smile as she reached up to his face. The smile faded when her fingers met with a strong, wide jawline that most certainly did not belong to the Duke. She pulled back the blindfold, her eyes shining- she did not need her eyes to tell her who stood before her.
Charles Bass had come to Runnymede.
Blair placed her hand on his chest, lifting herself on tiptoe, placing the softest, most delicate kiss on his cheek. Chuck gasped, the soft touch of her lips felt like fire on his skin, as though she had branded him. When Blair pulled away, Chuck proffered the gift he had brought for her. An intricately made lace parasol with blue ribbon; Blair took it in her hands and looked up at him as he spoke, "I thought, as there is a lake, we might…." Blair's feelings turned rapidly, fury burned in her eyes, and she smacked him across his fine jawline, hard. She gathered her skirts and ran, looking for Serena. Fighting tears, she bumped into Lord Henry first, "Your Grace, forgive me!" Blair found her in the next room and she fell into her friend's arms. Serena took Blair to her room, as to not make quite so much of a scene.
Blair only sobbed a little, fighting to keep her resolve. Serena was absolutely confused, not having yet seen Chuck, "Blair, what happen!" a small sniffle, "Chuck has arrived."
"My word! Really? Of course really, but how bold of him!" Serena sputtered, "And he brought you a parasol? It is quite pretty." Serena took the parasol from Blair's hands and set it on the bed beside them, "Do you need to tell me anything? Or should we just return to our company?"
"He once asked me what I was looking forward to during the season. I said I thought boating on a lake with my beau, with a pretty new parasol, reading, and being in love. But Chuck doesn't love me! So I don't know what he wants, giving this to me." Blair fumed.
"Maybe he's trying to say it?" Serena suggested.
"No, he only wants to own me, and I will not be a piece of art or a collectible object to display!" Blair exclaimed, then sighed, "Why must he be so vexing. I slapped him just now, hard too. After everything these past few weeks, I did not know what else to do."
"I think you need to decide one thing." Serena said, Blair looking back at her, hope in her eyes," Do you love Chuck?"
"I…will have to think on it. For now, let's return to our guests, and see what time will tell? Actions speak louder than words, after all." Blair took one last shuttering breath and gathered herself up. She could do this, she told herself, she could do this. He may be Chuck Bass, but I am Blair Waldorf!
Lord Henry was the first to approach her when they walked back into the parlor, "Blair, is everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, I just had a bit of a shock. That is a very dangerous game you introduced us to, my Lord!" Chuck came out of the shadows, and Ms. Di Rossi introduced him to the other gentlemen. Blair spent the rest of the evening on Lord Henry's arm; she was flirtatious and coy, while being a perfect lady and tending to the needs of those around her. She spoke hardly a word to Chuck, what could she say to him in polite company, after all? As such, Chuck watched the scene, watched Blair, unable to recognize his own handiwork, for this was the Blair he created with his actions in London. He sat, his outrage building with every passing moment. As the other gentlemen prepared to leave, Chuck asked to have a word with Ms. Di Rossi on the terrace. He wanted to hear how Blair had been these past weeks and nothing Ms. Di Rossi said gave him any comfort, only more rage. She offered to walk him out, but he declined, saying he knew the way. Only, Chuck was not planning on departing just yet.
He went to Blair's room. She was by now in her nightgown, setting on her bed, her knees tucked under her, brushing her long hair, humming some Mozart, pondering Serena's question. She dropped her brush and gathered her nightgown around herself, startled to see Chuck in her doorway. He descended upon her, grabbing her by her shoulders, pure anger burning in his eyes. "What are you trying to do to me Blair?" Chuck snarled, "Making me watch you throw yourself at the Duke and his friends all evening. If you want to behave like a harlot, I can help make you one." He pulled her to him and buried his face in the ivory neck that had been haunting him for months, tasting it, dragging his teeth along it as he panted, his hands pulling her nightgown off of her shoulders.
