Over the next several days there was a festive mood around the treehouse that not even the tension between the two handsome lords could break. They avoided each other like the plague and, much more annoyingly, Marguerite did too. Any overtures by either was quietly rebuked by a slight tensing of her body and a swift departure. Despite this infuriating development, Roxton was glad to be back. Veronica and Malone updated him on all the events since he had vanished. He noticed the puppy love they had held for each other had grown into a mature and loving full-fledged romance. He wondered if they would soon be engaged also . . .
The idea of Marguerite marrying another man bothered him more than words could ever describe. He had to talk to her and let her know how he felt. Then, he told himself, if she still chooses Byron, I'll just have to accept it. But he knew he was lying. He didn't think anything short of death could stop him from trying to win her back. He looked down to see her reading beneath the shade of the jungle canopy.
"She waited for you for years you know." Challenger's voice intruded into his thoughts and jolt him back to reality.
Roxton turned around and faced his old friend. Challenger's face showed the passage of time and the strain of thinking he had lost a close friend.
The quick laugh of his friend surprised him and he looked at him quizzically, "What's so funny George?"
"My dear boy, people do age. I'm no more immune than anyone else, including yourself," he said with a crooked grin.
Roxton playfully flinched at his friend's words. "I'm told a little graying around the temples makes a man look more distinguished."
"That it does, John!" he said as Roxton slowly turned around to continue his observation of Marguerite. This situation was as awkward for Malone, Veronica, and him as it was painful for the other three. Challenger always knew how deep Roxton's emotions were for Marguerite. As hard as he tried to hide them, there were just too many times Challenger caught him staring at her, much the way he was now, to not know exactly where his emotions lie. He only learned of the depth of Marguerite's feelings after Roxton vanished off the face of the earth. He had never seen her so upset! For the first time in his life, he seriously believed someone could die from a broken heart.
She would have died if not for Byron, he thought. That was the essence of his conflict. Although he had always thought of Roxton as a son, he could not deny that his friendship with the other young man was just as strong. Challenger had often thought over the passing years how much Byron reminded him of Lord John Roxton. Byron was honest, warm, funny, patient, and he truly loved Marguerite with all his heart. He was exactly the kind of man Marguerite deserved. Challenger had laid awake several nights thanking the powers that be for bringing Marguerite another love when his silly experiment had caused the lost of her first. Although it never crossed her mind to blame him, not a minute had passed when he didn't curse himself for the part he played in the loss of Roxton.
"Tell me about him."
Challenger didn't have to ask who he was referring to. He sighed. This was going to be very difficult.
"Byron showed up about six months after you disappeared. His plane crashed during the middle of a particularly violent storm. After the stormed passed, we went out to find the wreckage and help anyone who might have survived the crash. Byron and his cousin, Alexander, were both unconscious so we brought them back to the treehouse. Alexander quickly fell victim to the fever that racked his body and died within a week. Byron was just as bad but he fought it valiantly . . ." Roxton noted the pride Challenger's voice held and felt even worse. Marguerite wasn't the only one enraptured with Byron.
"Marguerite had been little more than a ghost for the months following your disappearance. When she found your hat in that field, she completely withdrew. She rarely ate or spoke, mainly she just sat on the balcony with your hat on a table next to her, staring off into the jungle . . . probably looking for you. When we found Byron, she once again had purpose. She nursed him back to health. They grew quite close during this time and I could tell that he had fallen under her spell."
Roxton's face looked stricken. He mentally shook himself and remembered that Marguerite was a beautiful young woman and it was foolish to imagine that no one would ever find her attractive again just because he was gone. He knew the reality, but that didn't mean he didn't want to change it.
"He was infinitely patient with her and drew her out of her protective shell. She was so completely different Roxton. I wish you could have seen her. There was never a complaint or foul word, she was always the first to offer help, and the last to abandon someone in need."
Challenger paused a moment to consider whether he should go on, Roxton had a far off look in his eye and he didn't want to cause him any more pain. When Roxton lifted his dark eyebrow indicting he wanted him to continue, he took a deep breath and forged on.
"Marguerite never forgot you. Every night she would go out to the pond and just sit for hours on end. I overheard her tell Veronica that she felt closer to you there . . . something about a last kiss" he finished with a faint smile.
Roxton was immediately taken back to the night at the pond just a few days . . . no years . . . ago. He had just finished lecturing her again for venturing out to the pond by herself and she had blown him off. When she tried to squeeze by him he had grabbed her arm. Something passed between them and before he had realized what he was doing, he had gathered her in his arms and was kissing her passionately.
"It took years, and a lot of persuasion from me, to get her to move on and realize what she had before her. Byron is a good man and he loves her completely. I thought he could help her heal," Challenger said shamefully. "Roxton, if I had any idea you would come back . . . ."
"Challenger, you know better than to think I wanted all of you to stop living your lives because I was gone. I know you only did what you thought best for everyone, like you always do."
Challenger gave a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Roxton might resent his part in bring about Marguerite's new relationship.
"The only question now is, what do I do about it?" Roxton said in a voice tight from trying to control his emotions.
"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that Roxton," Challenger turned to leave and thought of one other piece of information that might make his friend feel better. "She gave away all her jewels. She took them to the witch doctor in the village over the mountains. She was hoping he could tell us where you were. She really did love you John."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roxton grew bored with his own company and decided to take advantage of his solitude to explore the treehouse. Everyone else had gone to neighboring tribes to invite the villagers to the party being held in his honor tonight. As he wandered through the lab and kitchen he was struck by how much everything looked the same. It seemed like the mountains should have crumbled and the oceans should be dried up with the shambles his life was in so it seemed like a cruel joke that he still had the illusion of his former life with none of the previous joy.
He stopped in front of his door. Will this be the same? Would they have kept it for me in the hopes of my return? Veronica had kept her parent's room for years after they had disappeared.
He opened the door and was immediately greeted by Lord Byron O'Connell.
"Marguerite, you don't know how I've been hoping you would seek me out-" Byron's voice trailed off as he realized who was really at the door.
"Sorry to disappoint you, O'Connell." Roxton said in a voice that contradicted the words he spoke.
"That's okay. I should have known better than to think she would let me help her work through this."
"Ever thought that maybe that's because you're the problem, old boy?"
The corners of Byron's mouth pulled upwards even as he fought to keep a smile off his face. As bad as this situation was, he couldn't help but like Lord Roxton. He saw the integrity that radiated from the man standing across the room and decided to hold out the proverbial olive branch.
"She can really get under your skin, can't she?" Byron said with a smile.
Roxton had to fight to keep from growling in frustration. The last thing he wanted to do is stand in a room with his rival for Marguerite's affections and exchange antidotes about her. Whatever he wanted or didn't want, however, couldn't stop him from smiling back and running a hand through his hair. The man's smile was infectious!
"She told me a lot about you Lord Roxton. It took me years to win her from your ghost, I don't know how I will fare against the real flesh and blood version."
Roxton was surprised at the brutal honesty of both the man's words and his feelings. The fact that he was tied in knots about the idea of losing Marguerite was apparent and yet he still tried to act civil towards him. "At least you know the devil you're up against. I know nothing about you, about your relationship with Marguerite, or about what has happened to her in the last 3 years."
"I happened to her Lord Roxton." Byron said with a smile that revealed he wasn't thinking about the present but was lost in some distant memory.
"So it appears." John said studying the man closely. He didn't want to like O'Connell, and if it came down to it he wouldn't hesitate to steal Marguerite's affections from him without a second thought, but obviously the man meant well by Marguerite. He couldn't fault him for his choice. O'Connell evidently had excellent taste.
"I'm going to try to get her back," Roxton warned.
"You would never have been worthy of her love in the first place if you didn't try," Byron answered immediately. "I intend to keep her."
"You wouldn't be worthy of her now if you didn't," Roxton answered just as quickly.
"I'm glad we have an understanding," Byron said as Roxton turned to leave.
The idea of Marguerite marrying another man bothered him more than words could ever describe. He had to talk to her and let her know how he felt. Then, he told himself, if she still chooses Byron, I'll just have to accept it. But he knew he was lying. He didn't think anything short of death could stop him from trying to win her back. He looked down to see her reading beneath the shade of the jungle canopy.
"She waited for you for years you know." Challenger's voice intruded into his thoughts and jolt him back to reality.
Roxton turned around and faced his old friend. Challenger's face showed the passage of time and the strain of thinking he had lost a close friend.
The quick laugh of his friend surprised him and he looked at him quizzically, "What's so funny George?"
"My dear boy, people do age. I'm no more immune than anyone else, including yourself," he said with a crooked grin.
Roxton playfully flinched at his friend's words. "I'm told a little graying around the temples makes a man look more distinguished."
"That it does, John!" he said as Roxton slowly turned around to continue his observation of Marguerite. This situation was as awkward for Malone, Veronica, and him as it was painful for the other three. Challenger always knew how deep Roxton's emotions were for Marguerite. As hard as he tried to hide them, there were just too many times Challenger caught him staring at her, much the way he was now, to not know exactly where his emotions lie. He only learned of the depth of Marguerite's feelings after Roxton vanished off the face of the earth. He had never seen her so upset! For the first time in his life, he seriously believed someone could die from a broken heart.
She would have died if not for Byron, he thought. That was the essence of his conflict. Although he had always thought of Roxton as a son, he could not deny that his friendship with the other young man was just as strong. Challenger had often thought over the passing years how much Byron reminded him of Lord John Roxton. Byron was honest, warm, funny, patient, and he truly loved Marguerite with all his heart. He was exactly the kind of man Marguerite deserved. Challenger had laid awake several nights thanking the powers that be for bringing Marguerite another love when his silly experiment had caused the lost of her first. Although it never crossed her mind to blame him, not a minute had passed when he didn't curse himself for the part he played in the loss of Roxton.
"Tell me about him."
Challenger didn't have to ask who he was referring to. He sighed. This was going to be very difficult.
"Byron showed up about six months after you disappeared. His plane crashed during the middle of a particularly violent storm. After the stormed passed, we went out to find the wreckage and help anyone who might have survived the crash. Byron and his cousin, Alexander, were both unconscious so we brought them back to the treehouse. Alexander quickly fell victim to the fever that racked his body and died within a week. Byron was just as bad but he fought it valiantly . . ." Roxton noted the pride Challenger's voice held and felt even worse. Marguerite wasn't the only one enraptured with Byron.
"Marguerite had been little more than a ghost for the months following your disappearance. When she found your hat in that field, she completely withdrew. She rarely ate or spoke, mainly she just sat on the balcony with your hat on a table next to her, staring off into the jungle . . . probably looking for you. When we found Byron, she once again had purpose. She nursed him back to health. They grew quite close during this time and I could tell that he had fallen under her spell."
Roxton's face looked stricken. He mentally shook himself and remembered that Marguerite was a beautiful young woman and it was foolish to imagine that no one would ever find her attractive again just because he was gone. He knew the reality, but that didn't mean he didn't want to change it.
"He was infinitely patient with her and drew her out of her protective shell. She was so completely different Roxton. I wish you could have seen her. There was never a complaint or foul word, she was always the first to offer help, and the last to abandon someone in need."
Challenger paused a moment to consider whether he should go on, Roxton had a far off look in his eye and he didn't want to cause him any more pain. When Roxton lifted his dark eyebrow indicting he wanted him to continue, he took a deep breath and forged on.
"Marguerite never forgot you. Every night she would go out to the pond and just sit for hours on end. I overheard her tell Veronica that she felt closer to you there . . . something about a last kiss" he finished with a faint smile.
Roxton was immediately taken back to the night at the pond just a few days . . . no years . . . ago. He had just finished lecturing her again for venturing out to the pond by herself and she had blown him off. When she tried to squeeze by him he had grabbed her arm. Something passed between them and before he had realized what he was doing, he had gathered her in his arms and was kissing her passionately.
"It took years, and a lot of persuasion from me, to get her to move on and realize what she had before her. Byron is a good man and he loves her completely. I thought he could help her heal," Challenger said shamefully. "Roxton, if I had any idea you would come back . . . ."
"Challenger, you know better than to think I wanted all of you to stop living your lives because I was gone. I know you only did what you thought best for everyone, like you always do."
Challenger gave a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Roxton might resent his part in bring about Marguerite's new relationship.
"The only question now is, what do I do about it?" Roxton said in a voice tight from trying to control his emotions.
"I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that Roxton," Challenger turned to leave and thought of one other piece of information that might make his friend feel better. "She gave away all her jewels. She took them to the witch doctor in the village over the mountains. She was hoping he could tell us where you were. She really did love you John."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roxton grew bored with his own company and decided to take advantage of his solitude to explore the treehouse. Everyone else had gone to neighboring tribes to invite the villagers to the party being held in his honor tonight. As he wandered through the lab and kitchen he was struck by how much everything looked the same. It seemed like the mountains should have crumbled and the oceans should be dried up with the shambles his life was in so it seemed like a cruel joke that he still had the illusion of his former life with none of the previous joy.
He stopped in front of his door. Will this be the same? Would they have kept it for me in the hopes of my return? Veronica had kept her parent's room for years after they had disappeared.
He opened the door and was immediately greeted by Lord Byron O'Connell.
"Marguerite, you don't know how I've been hoping you would seek me out-" Byron's voice trailed off as he realized who was really at the door.
"Sorry to disappoint you, O'Connell." Roxton said in a voice that contradicted the words he spoke.
"That's okay. I should have known better than to think she would let me help her work through this."
"Ever thought that maybe that's because you're the problem, old boy?"
The corners of Byron's mouth pulled upwards even as he fought to keep a smile off his face. As bad as this situation was, he couldn't help but like Lord Roxton. He saw the integrity that radiated from the man standing across the room and decided to hold out the proverbial olive branch.
"She can really get under your skin, can't she?" Byron said with a smile.
Roxton had to fight to keep from growling in frustration. The last thing he wanted to do is stand in a room with his rival for Marguerite's affections and exchange antidotes about her. Whatever he wanted or didn't want, however, couldn't stop him from smiling back and running a hand through his hair. The man's smile was infectious!
"She told me a lot about you Lord Roxton. It took me years to win her from your ghost, I don't know how I will fare against the real flesh and blood version."
Roxton was surprised at the brutal honesty of both the man's words and his feelings. The fact that he was tied in knots about the idea of losing Marguerite was apparent and yet he still tried to act civil towards him. "At least you know the devil you're up against. I know nothing about you, about your relationship with Marguerite, or about what has happened to her in the last 3 years."
"I happened to her Lord Roxton." Byron said with a smile that revealed he wasn't thinking about the present but was lost in some distant memory.
"So it appears." John said studying the man closely. He didn't want to like O'Connell, and if it came down to it he wouldn't hesitate to steal Marguerite's affections from him without a second thought, but obviously the man meant well by Marguerite. He couldn't fault him for his choice. O'Connell evidently had excellent taste.
"I'm going to try to get her back," Roxton warned.
"You would never have been worthy of her love in the first place if you didn't try," Byron answered immediately. "I intend to keep her."
"You wouldn't be worthy of her now if you didn't," Roxton answered just as quickly.
"I'm glad we have an understanding," Byron said as Roxton turned to leave.