Chapter 6
It'd been a full week and most of the bruises on my pale skin had healed. I was safe in the castle walls and so far no one knew of my escape. If anyone asked I simply tell them I had worked off my masters debt and I was to search for work elsewhere.
But it was Gustave's and my future, which I thought now. Who would have thought 5 years ago that it would be Gustave who I'd grow to love? But my main concern was, did he love me? A chill ran down my spine as I realized the extremely over cast sky. It was going to storm terribly.
Cracking from the far sky also grabbed at my attention. But hearing them again caused me to become even more aware. Was that thunder or someone in the forestry?
Suddenly from behind me a hand covered my mouth and I was pulled up and behind a near tree. What was happening? Turning my back against the tree I saw it was Gustave who had pulled me aside.
"What are you doing?" I demanded. He lifted a single finger to his lips and then to mine.
"Gustave what is it? What is the matter?" I began to become worried.
"Le Piue is on castle grounds. Marguerite he is searching for you." He said.
"Oh no."
"Marguerite promise me you will not leave anywhere with out someone with you." I just stared at him blankly.
"Promise me Marguerite." But I couldn't promise him. If he endangered anyone it'd be my fault.
"MARGUERITE!" Gustave grew stern.
"I promise." I said quickly.
An hour after I had spoken with Gustave I returned to my chamber. There I found a neatly written letter on my bedpost. Fear struck through me as I read aloud.
"Meet me in the stables tonight at 6, or may your dearest possessions be lost to you.
Le Piue"
I did not cry or feel ill. I just knew what I had to do. It took me 5 minutes to figure out where everyone had gone. The dining room was full and I heard the ill-fated voice that I had forgotten. Why?
Le Piue sat at the head of the table with wine in his hand. Around him sat the King, Queen, Henry, Danielle, Jacqueline, and Gustave. He who looked most devastated of all.
"Marguerite pack your things. You're returning with me." Le Piue ordered. He stood setting down his glass and began walking toward me. I looked at Gustave. What was I to do? What did he tell them?
I glanced at Danielle. She looked as if she'd been stabbed in the back. But bye who.
With all of this sudden frustration built around me I almost exploded.
"NAY!" I screamed and backed behind the table where he could not reach me.
I panicle glanced at Gustave again.
"What did you tell them Le Piue?" I demanded.
"The truth." He said slyly.
"Then it must have been a lie." I glanced over at Gustave for help.
"Help me please…" I muttered through sudden tears. He looked away.
"Gustave." Is the last thing I whispered in a defeated sigh as I realized they believed him and not I. Off guard Le Piue came around the table and grabbed my arm.
"Owe!" I cried in pain as he dug his nails into my skin.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" I heard Gustave snap. He charged toward us and pulled his grip from my now bleeding arm.
With Le Piue behind Gustave, Gustave placed both his hands on my shoulders.
"Tell me Marguerite. Tell me now. What are you running from?"
"Le Piue and my mother." I cried.
"Why?"
"Because everyday I am abused, and tortured. Everyday is a beating of some sort for no reason at all. He wanted to kill me."
"Who did you kill Marguerite?"
"No one Gustave. No one."
"There you have it! He lied. I told you she'd changed." Gustave shot a venomous look at the crowd in front of him. He enveloped me in a hug as his hand rubbed my back. He believed me.
"You are going to believe a servant?" Le Piue sniggered.
"No." I heard Danielle and spun on my heal. Did she believe him?
"Good girl Danielle." Le Piue smiled.
"I believe my sister." She said proudly standing. Fresh tears struck my face as Gustave hugged me again.
"Damn you. Damn you all to hell." Le Piue spit and pulled a dagger from his pocket.
"NO! STOP!" I screamed as I tried to push Gustave.
But it was too late. The blade pierced his skin slashing his cheek and ending up in his left shoulder. As I cried he backed into the wall and Henry rushed to his side. No one was able to stop Le Piue from hauling me from the room.
It'd been a full week and most of the bruises on my pale skin had healed. I was safe in the castle walls and so far no one knew of my escape. If anyone asked I simply tell them I had worked off my masters debt and I was to search for work elsewhere.
But it was Gustave's and my future, which I thought now. Who would have thought 5 years ago that it would be Gustave who I'd grow to love? But my main concern was, did he love me? A chill ran down my spine as I realized the extremely over cast sky. It was going to storm terribly.
Cracking from the far sky also grabbed at my attention. But hearing them again caused me to become even more aware. Was that thunder or someone in the forestry?
Suddenly from behind me a hand covered my mouth and I was pulled up and behind a near tree. What was happening? Turning my back against the tree I saw it was Gustave who had pulled me aside.
"What are you doing?" I demanded. He lifted a single finger to his lips and then to mine.
"Gustave what is it? What is the matter?" I began to become worried.
"Le Piue is on castle grounds. Marguerite he is searching for you." He said.
"Oh no."
"Marguerite promise me you will not leave anywhere with out someone with you." I just stared at him blankly.
"Promise me Marguerite." But I couldn't promise him. If he endangered anyone it'd be my fault.
"MARGUERITE!" Gustave grew stern.
"I promise." I said quickly.
An hour after I had spoken with Gustave I returned to my chamber. There I found a neatly written letter on my bedpost. Fear struck through me as I read aloud.
"Meet me in the stables tonight at 6, or may your dearest possessions be lost to you.
Le Piue"
I did not cry or feel ill. I just knew what I had to do. It took me 5 minutes to figure out where everyone had gone. The dining room was full and I heard the ill-fated voice that I had forgotten. Why?
Le Piue sat at the head of the table with wine in his hand. Around him sat the King, Queen, Henry, Danielle, Jacqueline, and Gustave. He who looked most devastated of all.
"Marguerite pack your things. You're returning with me." Le Piue ordered. He stood setting down his glass and began walking toward me. I looked at Gustave. What was I to do? What did he tell them?
I glanced at Danielle. She looked as if she'd been stabbed in the back. But bye who.
With all of this sudden frustration built around me I almost exploded.
"NAY!" I screamed and backed behind the table where he could not reach me.
I panicle glanced at Gustave again.
"What did you tell them Le Piue?" I demanded.
"The truth." He said slyly.
"Then it must have been a lie." I glanced over at Gustave for help.
"Help me please…" I muttered through sudden tears. He looked away.
"Gustave." Is the last thing I whispered in a defeated sigh as I realized they believed him and not I. Off guard Le Piue came around the table and grabbed my arm.
"Owe!" I cried in pain as he dug his nails into my skin.
"Get your filthy hands off her!" I heard Gustave snap. He charged toward us and pulled his grip from my now bleeding arm.
With Le Piue behind Gustave, Gustave placed both his hands on my shoulders.
"Tell me Marguerite. Tell me now. What are you running from?"
"Le Piue and my mother." I cried.
"Why?"
"Because everyday I am abused, and tortured. Everyday is a beating of some sort for no reason at all. He wanted to kill me."
"Who did you kill Marguerite?"
"No one Gustave. No one."
"There you have it! He lied. I told you she'd changed." Gustave shot a venomous look at the crowd in front of him. He enveloped me in a hug as his hand rubbed my back. He believed me.
"You are going to believe a servant?" Le Piue sniggered.
"No." I heard Danielle and spun on my heal. Did she believe him?
"Good girl Danielle." Le Piue smiled.
"I believe my sister." She said proudly standing. Fresh tears struck my face as Gustave hugged me again.
"Damn you. Damn you all to hell." Le Piue spit and pulled a dagger from his pocket.
"NO! STOP!" I screamed as I tried to push Gustave.
But it was too late. The blade pierced his skin slashing his cheek and ending up in his left shoulder. As I cried he backed into the wall and Henry rushed to his side. No one was able to stop Le Piue from hauling me from the room.