Title: La Belle et La Bête
Author: Shelby
Summary: Lady Blair Waldorf has been wed to Lord Charles Bass. She knows little of him since he has been kept in his castle by his father practically all his life. Others tell her he is an awful man. Then how has she fallen in love with him? (Historical CB Series)
A/N: I hope you enjoy this chapter. This story is really starting to buildup to the end, well it was already building up, but I think you know what I mean. Oh and I am an official senior today! Junior year is over! Woohoo! Alright, sorry about that, enjoy.
If you have not yet done so, please vote in the poll on my profile.
Blair Awaits Chuck Dress:
http : / / www . costumersguide . com /ma23 . shtml
Blair's Night Robe:
http : / / www . costumersguide . com /ma63 . shtml
Blair In the Bathtub:
http : / / www . costumersguide . com /MA/bath2a . jpg
Blair & Abby Nightgowns (Little Girl is actually Abby):
http : / / www . costumersguide . com /MA/kids3a . jpg
XOXOXOXOXO
Night passed, then morning, and finally afternoon, but no sign of Chuck had come. He did not write to her or send word. It devastated Blair even further than before. Her emotions had been up and down, but now she felt swallowed by darkness. Her gown was back, her chestnut curls felt lack luster, and her eyes looked far more tired than they should have been. She kept herself from Abby. The last thing she needed to do was upset the child. And she was in no state to see her without doing so.
Instead, she roamed the castle and sulked as the fight with her husband replayed over in her mind again and again. She was terrified that he would abandon her. It was strange, for she thought it was a feeling that would never come over her, but it did. Thoughts of how the Duchess would soon leave stayed in her mind, while others reminded her that Serena was already gone. She felt alone in the world. Perhaps it made her pathetic, but that didn't matter. It would not stop the way she felt, but only made the tolerance of her emotions that much more unbearable.
With an exasperated sigh, Blair ventured out onto one of the many, high front balcony's. The sun beat down with warmth that should have felt comforting, but today was nothing more than a factor of her annoyance. She touched the thick, stone railing and gazed out. Her eyes must have searched for his carriage for what felt like decades.
"Chuck," Blair gasped. She saw his carriage in the distance. It entered the gates and made its way towards their home. Her heart lifted and she fled from the balcony back inside. Despite their fight, she was full of glee. Her feet hit the steps with great force and once downstairs she threw open the doors before the servants could even greet her. Hands clenched her dress and she ran straight towards the freshly parked coach.
The door opened to reveal her husband. Her doe brown eyes lit up and she smiled. "You have returned to me," she said gaily. It took all she had not to throw her arms around him. But what she did not notice in her merry state was his livid eyes or overall solemn expression.
He got out with indignant stops and merely nodded. She frowned and moved to greet him again, but his horrid behavior persisted. Her hand grabbed his, but he moved to pull it away. Finally, Blair felt the last straw happen. She spun him around, right in front of his office door, and pushed against his chest.
"Chuck, stop it! Tell me whatever is the matter. Where have you been? Are you hurt or wounded? Let me know something!" Blair cried. She didn't care of she looked like a fool in front of their entire staff. Her hands and eyes searched him briskly. Then they touched his face and she tried to lock their eyes.
He grabbed her arms roughly and removed them. "It is not your concern. All you need to know is that now you are safe and I wish to be left alone," Chuck retorted. He then released her petite form and stormed into his study. The door slammed in her face.
Blair clutched her stomach and slowly turned to watch him flee. Her eyes gathered salty water in the tear-ducks and she choked on a sob. She then shook her head and moved away from the door as if it were on fire. To her room she went and planned to stay until the husband who loved and wanted her returned. As for what would happen if he didn't, she wasn't sure. But she only knew that it would surely be her end.
XOXOXOXOXO
Blair blinked her eyes open in the dead of night. She had heard someone violently stumble in the darkness of the first floor. With a whimper, she pushed herself from the fur rug and stood. Her shaking hands clutched the white, ruffled robe, which was trimmed in blue around her body. She set forth down the grand staircase, but kept a watchful eye.
And oh did she see him. Halfway down, her eyes centered in on her husband. Chuck walked back and forth in the dining room. He appeared to be drunker than she had ever seen him. There were empty bottles of antique liquor scattered around his feet. His hand sloppily attempted to finish one off as he spilled more out of a crystal glass than into it.
Blair knew the grave difficulty it was to deal with him in such a state. She decided it best to return to their room, be asleep when he retired for the evening, if he ever retired that was. Quietly, she turned to try and go back up the stairs.
"Blair!" Chuck called. She froze and squeezed her eyes shut. A curse was muttered under her breath and she turned back around. Their eyes connected. Not for long though because he could not stand straight. He stumbled and she hurried towards him.
"Chuck!" Blair screamed. She attempted to catch him so that he did not fall. It was an almost fail, but at least she got him propped up against the table. There was a long silence and then she shook her head in irritation. "You should be ashamed of yourself. Imagine, if Abigail were the one to come down and see you," she scolded.
He rolled his eyes in his intoxicated state and scoffed. "Yes, my insolent behavior is nothing short of barbaric. What shall we do if the little servant girl sees me?" His eyebrows rose in question and he held up his hands in a sarcastically, dramatic shrug.
Blair gasped and then before she knew what happened, her hand harshly slapped him across the face. A sob rose in her throat, but only her eyes were allowed to water. "I shall never forgive you for that. I may forget, but I will never forgive. You may sleep alone tonight. I will be locking my doors," she threatened.
Her body turned to leave, but his hand grabbed onto hers. He yanked her back into his embrace. She squirmed with great fight. "Unhand me!" Blair ordered. But then the way his eyes suddenly were, made her stop.
Chuck looked on her solemnly, remorseful with intoxication. He shook his head, "I am so sorry. I did not mean it, I—" His voice stopped mid-sentence. Confusion of what to say filled his mind. Tears formed in his eyes as he stopped moving his head from side-to-side.
It was one of the saddest sights she had ever laid her eyes upon. Her hand touched his cheek. "You what? Tell me. I cannot bear to go on like this, to watch you go one like this," Blair pleaded.
As if what he needed to tell her sobered him up like medicine, the words finally formed and passed through his lips. "I-I am being sued by my Uncle Jack, Blair. He was the man on the horse, the one who sent you the jewelry," he admitted. His eyes fell from hers in momentary shame.
Blair frowned, almost more confounded than before. "Why would your uncle do such a thing? He is your family. He—" she started to protest.
"Because he is absolutely horrid," Chuck snapped. His eyes came to hers again, but the hate expressed through them was not targeted in her direction.
"We-well he cannot have anything. All of this is rightfully yours, Chuck, not his," she offered. It was an attempt to put him some at east, but she knew it wouldn't work. And it didn't.
He shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That is what I first thought as well. But I have learned that some of the estate was left to both my father and my Uncle Jack when my grandfather died. However, Jack had not been around to claim it so my father unrightfully left it all to me in his will," he explained. His throat was dry and therefore his voice scratchy, uneven.
Blair bit her bottom lip and then sighed. "Then we shall give him—"
Chuck interrupted and said, "He wants to take everything now. And if it is brought to court than I have no doubt that he may indeed have it. His reputation from another town, even if bought, appears far better than mine here. He has lists of everything that I have done against the court, the aristocracy. All of the brothels I have stepped into in my younger years, even proof that I am the one who attacked Lord Baizen." He never wanted her to know any of that, but then it came out. He looked to her hopeful that she wouldn't run. She didn't.
His wife shook her head. Her beautiful eyes looked pained, unsure of what to do. She touched his chest. "Well then wh-what are we supposed to do?" Blair questioned.
In that moment, he appeared to detach himself some. It took a lot to be honest about what he said next. He knew her reaction would be less than well. His voice dropped lower, almost below a whisper. "I fear how you shall fare to this, but nevertheless I must tell you. There is only one way to settle it outside of court," Chuck told her. He knew she would know what he meant.
"No," Blair denied. She shook her head and instantly started to cry. At first she moved to back away in denial, but then forward and clung to him. Her voice whispered breathlessly into his ear. "You cannot do that. You cannot duel. It's too dangerous." Tears flowed down her cheeks in rivers like the Great Nile in Egypt.
Chuck closed his eyes, expression tormented with grief. He held her close. His hand stroked the back of her head soothingly. "I must," he returned in a stern, but melancholy voice.
She pulled back to look at him. His eyes told her that he would not back out. It was all too much. Blair pushed herself away from him. Her hand wrapped around her body. "No!" she screamed in sobs louder than before. Then her hands hit his chest violently. "No!"
Chuck grabbed onto her and forced her to stop. He held her tightly. She broke down as her fists fell limp and she against his body. She bawled in his arms while he rocked her back and forth. "I shall be fine, love. Do not cry, please," he begged.
But she did not heave. It only increased. She held to him for dear life, literally. Both of their hearts broke for the other.
XOXOXOXOXO
Blair awoke in the morning, eyes still bloodshot. She had fell to exhaustion in her husband's arms. He must have carried her upstairs to their bed. Suddenly she gasped and put a hand to her mouth. She untangled herself from his arms and ran for the washroom.
"Oh no," she choked. She found the washbowl and bent over. The bile rose in her throat and spilled into the previously clean, white porcelain. She coughed it up and clutched her stomach. Finally, relief came when she stopped, but only stayed for seconds.
Realization hit. It all made sense. "Oh no," Blair whispered.
She was with child.
XOXOXOXOXO
Blair lounged in the bathtub, knees brought to her chest. She wore her right, sheer bathing cloth. Her hair fell down, the tips in the water. She had cried more so. The servants only prepared the bath to try and calm her. No one knew what to do and she refused to let one wake Chuck. Now she had pruned in the water. It had been almost an hour.
The door opened and her husband entered the room. He looked worried; little did he know the extent that it should go though. Chuck sighed to announce, "I have heard you are ill. I just wish to say that the duel shall not take me from yo—"
"Please, do not speak of it," Blair interrupted. He stopped; frown on his countenance, and bent down. She shook her head as nerves twisted her stomach into knots. "I have something to tell you." Her voice was barely audible. He had to read her lips.
His hand reached out to touch hers. He felt how cold it was, but decided to not mention it until she said what she needed. His lips offered a light smile. "Good news, I hope," Chuck replied.
His wife's eyes fell from his. "Now I am not so sure," she admitted. For it was true. What were they to do now? She did not want a baby if her husband was to die… It made her want to cry more just at the thought. Never could she say it aloud.
He laughed anxiously. "What do you mean? Nothing has changed," he said. His voice was obviously trying to be confident. In reality though, he was edgy, tense.
She looked up at him. And then she said it. Her voice was eerily calm. "Nothing, but the truth that I am pregnant," Blair admitted. The words burned at her ruby lips. Before that, she felt them scorch her throat. Her eyes awaited his response.
Chuck stared at her for a minute and then his face fell. It was not the reaction she wanted, but the one she feared most. But then, it got worse. Without one word, he stood up and walked from the room. Her eyes widened in shock. She felt like her world had just shattered into a million pieces.
XOXOXOXOXO
"Come Prince Edward, before the governess sees us. We must find mother and father and wake them with kisses. It is necessary, given our predicament. You did break that vase and I can only hide it for so long," Abby told him. The puppy barked and trailed behind her. With quick footsteps, she ventured towards her parents bedchambers.
Just when she had reached the door though, it opened. She watched as her father came out, eyes in a trance-like state. "Papa!" the little blond cried excitedly. Prince Edward wagged his tail and jumped at his owner's feet.
Chuck stopped and looked down at her. He frowned and then without a word walked away from them. She gasped, not greeted by him, and watched him go. Then the mind of a child took over and without another word, she chased after him.
"Wait, father! Mother and I need you! Where shall you go?" Abby cried in distress. She pulled at the bottom of his coat, but he did not stop. The doors opened and Alfred swept her up.
"Abigail, stop. My Lord where are you to go now?" the elder man questioned. The little blond kicked and struggled in his arms.
"Do not speak unless you are spoken to," Chuck responded breathlessly. The old man nodded, but his face fell. The doors were shut and the child cried in the servant's arms.
"Put me down! I want my mother! Put me down, I say!" Abby screamed. Her high-pitched voice made Prince Edward bark and whimper. The man looked unsure of what to do, how to comfort. The child started to sob uncontrollably.
Victoria came to try and soothe her, but was pushed aside. The servants gasped as Blair came in just a robe, still wet, and grabbed Abby. She pulled her daughter tightly against her chest and rubbed her back.
"Shh… Father, didn't mean it. Your mother is here. Do not cry, Princess. Please," Blair whispered with hope. She wiped at the little girl's tears. Then she turned to look at the two servants that stood before her.
"Do you know where he went?" she inquired. Her eyebrows rose and lips pursed. Abigail continued to wail against her chest. Victoria and Alfred sadly shook their heads. Their eyes fell to avoid the disappointment they feared she'd tell them of, but she didn't.
Blair nodded instead. "Very well. Tell me if he sends word or returns. Abby and I will retire to my dayroom. I request that you urgently bring some hot tea and our nightgowns," she instructed.
"Of course, My Lady," Victoria replied obediently. Both her and Alfred bowed as Blair then left the room. She held Abby close and Prince Edward stayed at their pace. And then they entered their safe haven. Only, they did not know that was where they would stay far longer than ever expected.
XOXOXOXOXO
Chuck rode horseback aimlessly for what felt like days. He didn't know what to do. The thought of his own home scared him now more than ever. His wife, the only person he had ever loved romantically, was pregnant with his child. Not only did he still fear her fate would be that of his mother's but the stress of him dueling would surely wear her down even more.
He couldn't bear to lose her. He didn't to cause her distress. Part of him wished that he could make her not really love him so that if something did happen with his Uncle, then she would be fine. But he knew that was impossible and if he were to die, it would destroy her.
So while he rode on, he thought of what to do. He had to make things right. It was a strange sense of rational, but he refused to return home to her unless he had news that would fill her with relief, make her feel safe again in his arms.
That was how he soon ended up on the road to the last town his Uncle had stayed in. He was going to meet with a man who promised that for a high price, he could solve all of Chuck's problems. He had sent word that his only problem was Jack Bass. The man wrote back that then it could be even more easily eliminated.
Chuck prayed to whatever greater force out there that he was right, truthful. He needed to protect his family, even the part of it that only grew in his wife's still flat stomach. If only he had known before, but the time for that thought was over and done with.
"I love you Blair," he whispered to himself. His eyes closed for a moment, but then opened. He looked up to see the starry night above his head. He knew the same one hung over their castle. Well at least she was safe there. But he would never be at ease until he saw so for himself. And if there were justice in the world, that would be sooner than later.
XOXOXOXOXO
A few days later, Blair and Abby lied awake on a blue daybed in the same sitting room reserved for the Lady of the house. Prince Edward slept in a ball at their feet. They both were dressed in their nightgowns. Blair did not have the heart, or the want to turn her daughter away.
At least, both females had stopped crying. Perhaps it was only because there were no tears left, but they felt relief for it regardless. Abby turned her cheek on the mattress to look at her mother. Her blue eyes gazed with a troubled curiosity. "Mama, wh-where has father gone? And why… why has he not returned yet?" the little blond pressed.
Blair stared as she contemplated what to say. Her hand reached to brush back Abby's crazed curls. Then she mustered up a smile with all the fake confidence she had left. "You have no need to worry, my little Dauphine. Your father shall return," she assured her. But under her breath she added, "I hope." Abigail did not hear of course, as Blair intended.
Abby nodded sleepily and then yawned. Her mother rubbed her tummy soothingly and hummed until she drifted off to sleep.
Blair continued to remain wide-awake though. Her thoughts flashed a mile a minute. She could not believe that Chuck had just disappeared, took off without a word. He did not even leave a note with the servants or verbal goodbye. It had been almost a week and now the town talked. She knew the rumor was that he had a mistress, but she believed that he just ran from her. Nate and Gabrielle were looking for him, but he clearly did not wish to be found.
"What shall I do without you, my Love?" Blair whispered to the night. Her husband, the one the words were intended for, was not there to hear them. She closed her eyes and one single, surely last tear spilled down her rosy cheek.
She knew there was only one thing left to do. Her mind was made up. The decision was made that tomorrow she would go herself in search of him. Even if it was dangerous for a woman to solely travel the road. She did not care. It was up to her to bring him home and she vowed that she would.
XOXOXOXOXO
A/N: So how was the chapter?