Chapter Nine: The Getaway

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Author's Note: Yeah. Surprise!

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An emerald eyed girl stood waiting in front of large oak doors, engraved with the Gautier family crest. One of the men had handed her a pale blue gown which she had changed into in the coach.

A gift from the Duke he called it, and told her to look presentable whilst he waited outside. At least he had some manners.

The gown had changed how she looked, but the fierce determination hadn't died in her eyes. Nodding towards one of the men, she stared ahead when he rang the doorbell, the echo resonating throughout the manor.

A maid answered the door, a confused expression dawning on her young face. The Duke hadn't told her about any visitors today.

"Charlotte, announce the Lady Sakura," said the man beside her, as the young girl nodded obediently, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Sakura started getting nervous, what if she wasn't what he remembered she was? An escort was different to a life commitment.

She didn't have any more time to start thinking about regrets as the young girl popped her head out again. "The Duke is expecting you," she said quietly, opening the door open.

Sakura followed the man's lead as she entered, glancing quickly at the young girl with her head tilted down. Pulling the material of the dress along with her, she walked across the hard marble floors, the heaviness of the gown unfamiliar to her.

Stopping in front of a door, the man she had been following halted, waiting as the young girl announced them. A confused expression dawned on Sakura; normally the host would greet the guests not the other way round. But this was not usual.

Sakura entered the door, her heart jumped when she heard the door being shut behind them. She was alone with the Duke.

"You're looking well Sakura."

"Thank you sir."

"Please it's Rolfe."

Sakura cringed. "Rolfe." She corrected herself, the word strange on her tongue.

"I pray you had a pleasant ride?" he continued, heading back to his desk as he filed away some papers.

"I did." It had been bearable. The room had began to feel uncomfortable hot, the thick layers of material didn't seem to help her flushed face.

"You'll want your room then." said Gautier, his eyes penetrating as he motioned for Sakura to follow him.

They walked up several staircases, each adorned with monumental animals, lions, eagles. Glancing sideways at the rooms they were passing she noticed that they were all almost empty, it seemed his home was an empty one, only full of servants to attend his needs.

"This is it." Gautier broke the silence, Sakura holding in her breath to take the scene in front of her.

He had unlocked what seemed to be a fairly ordinary door, but inside was almost too majestic to fit its exterior.

"Are you sure?" asked Sakura hesitantly. It was the largest room she had seen, its interior seemed to have been designed specifically, and the desk chairs looked antique and priceless.

"Its yours… for the moment anyway." He added, "Until I get the details finalized."

Thank god he still recognized the correct way of doing things. Not that it mattered; she had already been compromised beyond redemption.

"But until then…" his expression turned serious.

He didn't get far however, as a knock came from the door he had left open.

"Sorry to interrupt sir."

Gautier glared at his maid who had her eyes downcast. "What is it?" he snapped.

"You have a guest waiting; shall I show him to your study?"

"No, I'll go down to the foyer myself," he replied, turning back towards Sakura he placed both hands on her shoulders. "You may go" he added, as a second thought to the maid who nodded graciously and left.

"Go… learn to make tea or something," said Gautier. "We'll continue this later," he added, striding out of the room, leaving Sakura alone.

She collapsed onto the bed when she was sure he had left the room. What was she meant to be feeling? Relief? Gratitude? She couldn't place it.

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Duke Gautier was not in a good mood. However years of training had taught him to mask his emotions.

"Colonel Li, what brings you here today?"

He had been surprised when he saw the young Colonel waiting for him in the foyer. However he invited him into his study and barked orders at his maid to get them something to drink.

"Paperwork."

"Ahh… take a seat," he offered, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk.

"I would rather stand."

Moments later, Charlotte came in to serve the drinks. In her haste, she spilled a little onto his desk.

She gasped, bending down in an attempt to clean up the mess she had created. More water spread across the table, adding to the mess.

"Clumsy girl!" he swore, "No, never mind. Leave it, I'll take care of it myself." He yelled, taking out a cloth from under his desk to wipe the table clean.

Charlotte nodded apologetically, backing out of the room.

"Let's see those papers Colonel." Gautier reached out for the papers, snatching them forward to take a better look.

"Permission for leave?"

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"I would rather stand sir."

The familiar voice jolted Sakura out of her reverie. She knew that voice. It couldn't be…

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"Yes sir."

"Why the sudden desire?" the last word curled at the end of his tongue. "Have you finished with the soldiers?"

"I only need your authorization sir." Li replied, his tone firm as he dodged the question. He wasn't here to discuss why he wanted to leave. Why he had to leave.

"Eager to get back with the wife now are you? What was her name? Pretty little thing, the last time I saw her."

"My fiancée sir."

Gautier stiffened at having been corrected. Did no one teach this boy?

"Give me a pen." He replied coldly, changing his mind and he got it himself. Scrawling his signature on the bottom right-hand corner he tossed it back across the table.

"Have a good day and what not." He barked at Syaoran's retreating back. "And close the door behind you!" he added for good measure. Someone needed to put that boy in his place.

Syaoran smirked to himself as he shut the door behind him. The Duke had authority issues. He would too, if he was that insecure about his position.

"So you're engaged?"

Syaoran turned, he couldn't see where it came from but he knew that voice. The smile on her face was almost mocking.

"What are you doing here? Oh wait, don't tell me." She looked different. Almost like a lady, but he knew she wasn't one.

Sakura laughed. He thought he knew.

"Does your fiancée know?"

She watched as his gaze cooled. "Are you going to tell her Sakura?" he replied almost lazily.

Damn him. She had never met anyone so confident. She was trying to unsettle him, but it wasn't working.

"He must be waiting for you," he continued, not taking his eyes off her. They both knew who he meant.

She didn't reply. For a moment there she had no idea what to say. Insulting him would get her nowhere. She wasn't even sure if this was what she wanted.

"Wait," she called softly across the hall when he had started to turn and leave. Syaoran stopped and turned around.

"Are you forgetting something?"

A quizzical look came onto his face, but he didn't answer her. She watched his face darken when she pulled out a ring and dangled it on her finger.

"Where did you get that?" he snapped at her, coming forward to retrieve it.

Sakura snatched it back behind her before he could make a grab for it.

"You lost it, it's mine."

"You don't know what you're holding." he bit at her. His father had given him the ring to give to Aimee when they got married. That ring had been in his family for generations.

Sakura's eyes flickered. Was that desperation in his eyes? The ring was worth more than she had thought.

"What do you want Sakura?" his voice came strained. He didn't want to fight her.

"You take me with you." The words had tumbled out before she could stop herself. If Syaoran was shocked, he didn't show it.

"For a ring?" his eyes narrowed.

She wanted to slap him. "Fine I'll keep it then," she replied, sounding bolder than she felt.

She turned to walk away but his hand caught her wrist. His gaze swept over her, eyeing her up and down. Sakura had never felt more embarrassed. In her line of business she should've been use to it, but still a shy blush swept across her face.

"Fine."

"Fine."

It sounded almost childish, but at that moment she didn't care.

"I'll wait for you outside."

Sakura nodded. Gautier was still inside his study, he would never know. She spotted her bag of belongings in the foyer. It was lucky no one had decided to move it yet.

She grabbed it and ran.

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Author's Note: I know it's been a ridiculous wait, and for that I'm really sorry. I'm not sure anyone is actually waiting for this update anymore. Anyway, let me know what you think!