Chapter 6
An angry Malone isn't interested in keeping Roxton's secret. Roxton is forced to tell Marguerite the truth.
Finn watched out on the balcony for some sign of the men's return. She turned when she heard Marguerite approach, dressed in a robe.
'Marguerite? I thought you were out of it?'
Marguerite smiled at her cute phrase.
'If you mean indisposed, surprisingly, I feel like a new woman.'
Finn smiled at her and walked off of the balcony.
'That's good to know. The guys are off trying to keep the Countess from escaping.'
Marguerite shrugged and sat down. Finn stared at her wide eyed.
'You don't care?'
Marguerite shrugged.
'I very much doubt she's going to get anywhere in a hot air balloon. We only try it once a year and fail. And even if she does manage to get airborne, I'm sure she'll land somewhere else on this plateau.'
'Wow! If that woman had screwed me out of my birthright like she did you, I'd be looking for blood!'
Marguerite stood up.
'I don't know what is wrong with me. Maybe it was something the medicine woman gave me or something. But I had the oddest dream. I had given birth to a girl and Roxton and I were here, content and happy. I awoke feeling content and happy! So, if we leave, then yes, I want my birthright, but if we don't, I'll live happily ever after.'
Finn's mouth dropped open.
'I wish I had a tape recorder!'
'A tape recorder? What is that? I'm sure Challenger would be fascinated!'
The sound of the elevator coming up gave them a start. Finn walked over and greeted Challenger, Malone and Roxton. All three were stunned to see Marguerite out of bed. Roxton rushed over to her.
'You shouldn't be out of bed!' he admonished.
Marguerite smiled up at him. She playfully slapped his hands away, when he tried to steer her back up the stairs.
'I'm fine! Actually I've never felt better I...'
She stopped suddenly and looked past Roxton. Challenger and Malone were wearing the strangest expressions.
'George? Ned? What's happened?'
She then looked at Roxton. 'Where is the Countess?'
'Dead.' Malone said in a flat voice. Finn peered at him.
Marguerite moved past Roxton and over to them.
'Dead? What happened?'
'So she did fall in the quicksand?' Finn asked. Marguerite looked at her.
'Quicksand? Will someone please tell me what is going on?' Marguerite demanded.
'Because if she did die in the quicksand,' Finn continued, 'then we can just use her balloon.'
Challenger spoke up. 'No, she did not perish by quicksand.'
'We caught her trying to escape in the balloon, rather, Roxton did. He let her get away.' Malone said snidely.
Roxton gave Malone a dirty look, something that was not missed by all. Marguerite, sensing something amiss, moved to be near Roxton.
'I don't understand.' she said, looking around at everyone. 'Will someone just please tell me what happened? Where is the Countess?'
'Raptors got to her just as she became airborne.' Challenger said.
Finn sensed something else had happened, something worse than the Countess's death. But so far no one seemed to be talking.
Marguerite looked at Malone. 'Then why would you blame John for letting her get away?'
Roxton reached out and turned Marguerite so she was facing him.
'Never mind that now. Let's get you back to bed.'
'I don't want to lie down, John. That's all I've been doing.'
Roxton lowered his voice. 'We need to discuss a few things.'
Marguerite looked over at Finn, who shrugged. She then looked at Challenger and Malone. Challenger was avoiding her eyes. Malone just looked angry. What the hell was going on here?
She looked up at Roxton. 'Alright. Maybe we'd better.'
Malone watched as Roxton helped Marguerite up the stairs. Roxton looked over and gave him a pointed look. Malone turned and stepped on to the elevator.
'Where are you going?' Challenger asked,
'I need some air!' Malone snapped.
Challenger watched as Ned descended the tree house. Finn walked up to him.
'What's going on?' she asked.
Challenger took a deep breath.
'It's nothing I can get in to right now.'
Finn gave him a pointed look. 'I understand secrets. But this treehouse is too small for everyone to be mad at each other. I hope whatever this is gets solved pretty quick. Otherwise Ned and Roxton are going to come to blows.'
Challenger didn't answer. He watched as Finn disappeared upstairs as well. He then got on to the elevator and went down to find Ned.
****
Veronica was just returning from the Zanga Village, when she came upon Ned angrily gesturing with Challenger, in the yard. She sped up her steps. When they saw her, both stopped talking. She folded her arms.
'Don't even try it! I know an argument when I see one. What's going on?'
Ned looked at her. 'The Countess is dead.'
Veronica's eyes widened. 'How?'
Ned looked at Challenger. He said nothing and looked away.
'She was trying to escape by balloon when she was attacked by raptors by air. Royce is dead too. He stepped into some quicksand.'
There was a silence. Veronica didn't know what to make of it.
'Well, I'm sorry Challenger. Whatever we thought of her, I know she was someone special to you.'
Challenger straightened his hat. 'I don't know what she was anymore.'
Veronica looked from Challenger to Ned. She then looked at Challenger.
'Could you excuse us?' she asked Challenger.
Challenger looked at Ned. Ned glared back.
'I won't lie for him!'
'No one is saying that you should. Just wait until Marguerite learns the news first.'
Ned turned his back. Veronica watched as Challenger headed towards the elevator and pulled himself up. She then walked in front of Ned, so that he was facing her.
'I have never seen you like this! What happened today?'
Ned cast a wary eye up towards the tree house, then spoke in a low tone.
'Finn and I found out from Royce that Marguerite is indeed the missing Von Bubrik baby. We were on our way back when we got separated from Royce. All we found of him was his hat in a pile of quicksand.'
'Oh.' was all Veronica said.
'Anyway, Finn and I rush back here, to tell the Countess of his death. Only she isn't here. Roxton gets the idea that she is probably at the balloon and trying to leave without us. Roxton, Challenger and I run after her. But Roxton gets a big head start. We didn't know if he was going to throttle her or what. But by the time Challenger and I caught up with Roxton, he was in the balloon with the Countess, trying to keep her from leaving.'
'Okay. Is that when the raptors came?' Veronica asked.
Ned put his hands on her shoulders. 'The raptors are the least of it. The balloon would've never been airborne, if Roxton hadn't climbed out and let her go.'
Veronica was really confused now. 'Why would he do that?'
Ned slowly let go of her. His tone became malicious. 'Because when Challenger and I finally reached the balloon, the Countess was threatening Roxton. She was threatening to come back here and tell Marguerite that Roxton was already married!'
The words didn't hit Veronica's brain right away.
'What did you say?' she asked.
Ned nodded. 'You can't believe you heard me right, can you? The Countess said that Roxton was in some arranged marriage that took place shortly before he went on this expedition. She even said his wife's name is Emma.'
Veronica's mouth dropped open! 'Ned! You heard her wrong, or she was lying. That woman never told the truth not one hour that she was here! Roxton is not married. He would never do that to Marguerite.'
'Not intentionally, no. Think about it, Veronica. None of us expected to be here this long. Relationships developed...I am not going to sit back and watch him lie to her. I don't care what Marguerite may have done in the past. This is unspeakable!'
Veronica rubbed his shoulders. 'I agree. He should tell her the truth. But he is the one that is going to have to do it.' She sighed.
'What? he asked.
'It's just that it took a long time for Marguerite to finally open up her heart to Roxton. I can't imagine how she will react when she learns of this deception.'
Ned looked up at the treehouse. 'I can't imagine either.'
****
Roxton had tucked Marguerite in, despite her protests. He then sat on the edge of the bed holding her hand.
'Alright, Lord Roxton. What is this all about?'
Roxton cleared his throat. 'It is about what you learned about your family. I'm worried about how this is affecting you.'
Marguerite raised a brow. 'You mean the fact that I'm an heiress to a fortune that I may never be able to claim? Finn asked me the same thing a few minutes before you returned. I'm fine with it.'
Roxton's eyes widened. He felt her forehead.
'What are you doing?' she asked.
He smiled at her. 'Checking for a fever.'
She reached up and removed his hand. But she did not let go of it.
'If we do get off of this plateau, of course I'll want to claim my birthright. But for now, I just want to worry about the here and now. Though I can't say I'm sorry the Countess is dead. I don't understand why she even bothered to come here. Everyone probably thinks we're dead anyhow.'
Roxton rubbed her hand. Marguerite peered at him.
'Tell me what happened with her? Why is Malone angry with you?'
Roxton let go of her hand and stood up. His back was to her. He had to tell her the truth, and it scared him. Because Roxton's greatest fear was that he would lose what he had now with Marguerite. That he would have to deal with the cold, non trusting woman he had first met when they came on to this plateau. He didn't want to lose what had taken three years to build. Not now. Not with prospect of happiness with their son or daughter. Not now.
Marguerite got out of bed. He was scaring her, though she wasn't about to show it. She walked up to him and touched his shoulder. He turned around to face her.
'What is it? You can tell me.'
Roxton grasped both of her hands and took a deep breath.
'I know you've probably already guessed as to why you were never raised with your family?'
Marguerite nodded. 'I remember the rumors about the dead or missing Von Bubrick baby. I pretty much figured out that I'm her.'
'Marguerite, I do believe that it was the Countess that killed your real mother...and Ian Royce.'
Marguerite grasped his hands tighter. 'Oh. Well, it's over now. There's nothing to be done until we can find a way to get out of here. The Countess got her just desserts, I guess. I can see this whole thing upsets you more than me. It's over.'
Roxton couldn't believe Marguerite was being so calm about the circumstances surrounding her birth. He realized she truly had made peace with their circumstances. He realized she was ready to give the possibility of a life with him and their child, a real chance.
'Marguerite....'
Marguerite smiled up at him. 'John.'
'The Countess was going to have you sign a piece of paper. One that would've made you renounce your claim to your birthright.'
Marguerite burst out laughing! 'Well, we both know that never would've happened! She just would've went home empty handed. You know, I feel badly for George. Maybe I should go out there and see how he is and...'
'Marguerite please! There's something you need to know!'
Roxton had grabbed her arm when she spoke of going to Challenger. She felt her temper rise, not out of anger with John, but out of fear of what he was going to tell her.
'John, whatever it is, just say it!'
Roxton slowly released her arm.
'The Countess planned on making you sign that document by revealing a secret she knew.'
Marguerite swallowed. God! Roxton had discovered another secret from her past! That was why he looked so devastated. She steeled herself to explain whatever he threw out at her.
'A secret?' she asked.
Roxton looked into her eyes. 'A secret of mine.'
Marguerite didn't think she had heard him correctly? 'Excuse me?'
Roxton grasped her hands and pulled her down on to the bed to sit.
'A secret of mine, yes.'
Marguerite burst out laughing again! 'What secrets could you possibly have, Lord John Roxton?'
'Before I left on this expedition, I took a wife.'
Marguerite just stared at him, unblinking. She then spoke.
'Did this 'wife' die?'
'No.'
'Did you divorce her or something?'
'No, I...'
Marguerite jumped up, tearing her hands from his!
'This is a joke, right?! Tell me this is some kind of sick joke?!'
Roxton stood up as well.
'Marguerite it was an arranged marriage, never consummated! I never expected to meet you, to be stranded here with you...to love you....'
Marguerite reached up and slapped him across the face! She then backed away and pointed a finger at him.
'You know what's ironic about this whole thing? I was actually thinking that maybe we could get married in some sort of tribal ceremony or something! Not the real thing, but at least we'd be married in our hearts. But you already have a wife! Never said a word! But you just loved rubbing my past in my face!'
'That is not true!'
Marguerite tilted her head. 'At least I'm not married. Get out!'
'Marguerite please listen...'
'GET OUT I SAID!!!'
Roxton was worried to death that she would over exert herself and cause harm to the baby. He held up his hands.
'I'm leaving, alright. Just calm down, please.'
Marguerite suddenly became quiet. She looked away from him. Roxton left her room.
****
Malone, Finn, Veronica and Challenger, stared up at the ceiling, open-mouthed. Finn looked at the other three.
'Roxton is married? Did you all know this the whole time?'
Malone closed his eyes and shook his head. Veronica stared at him worriedly. Challenger spoke.
'We all just found out today.'
Roxton suddenly came tearing down the stairs, his hat on and his gun and pack assembled.
'I'll be gone for the rest of the day.' he said shortly.
He didn't look at anyone. He just got on to the elevator and lowered himself down. Challenger stood up and looked at the group.
'I'm going with him. Just to make sure he's alright.'
'He's not.' Veronica said. 'How could he be?'
Malone said nothing. Finn watched as Challenger quickly got his gun, hat and pack, then got onto the elevator as well. He was soon gone.
Veronica looked at Ned and Finn.
'I'm going to check on Marguerite.'
Finn nodded, then glanced at Malone. He had walked on to the balcony. Finn looked away. Things were getting really bad around here, she thought.
****
Veronica walked gingerly into Marguerite's bedroom. If Marguerite heard her, she did not acknowledge it. She sat with her back to Veronica.
'Ned and Challenger overheard the Countess blackmailing Roxton about his marriage. They are just as angry with Roxton as you are.'
Marguerite didn't answer or turn around.
Veronica sat on the end of the bed and stared at Marguerite's back.
'I know this seems really, really terrible. But Marguerite, Roxton loves you. He loved you before he knew what to do with himself, much less tell you he was married to some woman he could care less about.'
Marguerite didn't answer.
'Just take care of yourself and the baby. This thing will work itself out. It has to. And you are not alone. This baby won't be alone. He or she is going to have all of us...and its father. You just need to time to adjust. Hell, Marguerite, I need to time to adjust to it. None of us knew.'
Marguerite still didn't answer. Veronica got up off of the bed. She looked as if she wanted to say something more, but thought better of it. She left Marguerite alone with her thoughts.
An angry Malone isn't interested in keeping Roxton's secret. Roxton is forced to tell Marguerite the truth.
Finn watched out on the balcony for some sign of the men's return. She turned when she heard Marguerite approach, dressed in a robe.
'Marguerite? I thought you were out of it?'
Marguerite smiled at her cute phrase.
'If you mean indisposed, surprisingly, I feel like a new woman.'
Finn smiled at her and walked off of the balcony.
'That's good to know. The guys are off trying to keep the Countess from escaping.'
Marguerite shrugged and sat down. Finn stared at her wide eyed.
'You don't care?'
Marguerite shrugged.
'I very much doubt she's going to get anywhere in a hot air balloon. We only try it once a year and fail. And even if she does manage to get airborne, I'm sure she'll land somewhere else on this plateau.'
'Wow! If that woman had screwed me out of my birthright like she did you, I'd be looking for blood!'
Marguerite stood up.
'I don't know what is wrong with me. Maybe it was something the medicine woman gave me or something. But I had the oddest dream. I had given birth to a girl and Roxton and I were here, content and happy. I awoke feeling content and happy! So, if we leave, then yes, I want my birthright, but if we don't, I'll live happily ever after.'
Finn's mouth dropped open.
'I wish I had a tape recorder!'
'A tape recorder? What is that? I'm sure Challenger would be fascinated!'
The sound of the elevator coming up gave them a start. Finn walked over and greeted Challenger, Malone and Roxton. All three were stunned to see Marguerite out of bed. Roxton rushed over to her.
'You shouldn't be out of bed!' he admonished.
Marguerite smiled up at him. She playfully slapped his hands away, when he tried to steer her back up the stairs.
'I'm fine! Actually I've never felt better I...'
She stopped suddenly and looked past Roxton. Challenger and Malone were wearing the strangest expressions.
'George? Ned? What's happened?'
She then looked at Roxton. 'Where is the Countess?'
'Dead.' Malone said in a flat voice. Finn peered at him.
Marguerite moved past Roxton and over to them.
'Dead? What happened?'
'So she did fall in the quicksand?' Finn asked. Marguerite looked at her.
'Quicksand? Will someone please tell me what is going on?' Marguerite demanded.
'Because if she did die in the quicksand,' Finn continued, 'then we can just use her balloon.'
Challenger spoke up. 'No, she did not perish by quicksand.'
'We caught her trying to escape in the balloon, rather, Roxton did. He let her get away.' Malone said snidely.
Roxton gave Malone a dirty look, something that was not missed by all. Marguerite, sensing something amiss, moved to be near Roxton.
'I don't understand.' she said, looking around at everyone. 'Will someone just please tell me what happened? Where is the Countess?'
'Raptors got to her just as she became airborne.' Challenger said.
Finn sensed something else had happened, something worse than the Countess's death. But so far no one seemed to be talking.
Marguerite looked at Malone. 'Then why would you blame John for letting her get away?'
Roxton reached out and turned Marguerite so she was facing him.
'Never mind that now. Let's get you back to bed.'
'I don't want to lie down, John. That's all I've been doing.'
Roxton lowered his voice. 'We need to discuss a few things.'
Marguerite looked over at Finn, who shrugged. She then looked at Challenger and Malone. Challenger was avoiding her eyes. Malone just looked angry. What the hell was going on here?
She looked up at Roxton. 'Alright. Maybe we'd better.'
Malone watched as Roxton helped Marguerite up the stairs. Roxton looked over and gave him a pointed look. Malone turned and stepped on to the elevator.
'Where are you going?' Challenger asked,
'I need some air!' Malone snapped.
Challenger watched as Ned descended the tree house. Finn walked up to him.
'What's going on?' she asked.
Challenger took a deep breath.
'It's nothing I can get in to right now.'
Finn gave him a pointed look. 'I understand secrets. But this treehouse is too small for everyone to be mad at each other. I hope whatever this is gets solved pretty quick. Otherwise Ned and Roxton are going to come to blows.'
Challenger didn't answer. He watched as Finn disappeared upstairs as well. He then got on to the elevator and went down to find Ned.
****
Veronica was just returning from the Zanga Village, when she came upon Ned angrily gesturing with Challenger, in the yard. She sped up her steps. When they saw her, both stopped talking. She folded her arms.
'Don't even try it! I know an argument when I see one. What's going on?'
Ned looked at her. 'The Countess is dead.'
Veronica's eyes widened. 'How?'
Ned looked at Challenger. He said nothing and looked away.
'She was trying to escape by balloon when she was attacked by raptors by air. Royce is dead too. He stepped into some quicksand.'
There was a silence. Veronica didn't know what to make of it.
'Well, I'm sorry Challenger. Whatever we thought of her, I know she was someone special to you.'
Challenger straightened his hat. 'I don't know what she was anymore.'
Veronica looked from Challenger to Ned. She then looked at Challenger.
'Could you excuse us?' she asked Challenger.
Challenger looked at Ned. Ned glared back.
'I won't lie for him!'
'No one is saying that you should. Just wait until Marguerite learns the news first.'
Ned turned his back. Veronica watched as Challenger headed towards the elevator and pulled himself up. She then walked in front of Ned, so that he was facing her.
'I have never seen you like this! What happened today?'
Ned cast a wary eye up towards the tree house, then spoke in a low tone.
'Finn and I found out from Royce that Marguerite is indeed the missing Von Bubrik baby. We were on our way back when we got separated from Royce. All we found of him was his hat in a pile of quicksand.'
'Oh.' was all Veronica said.
'Anyway, Finn and I rush back here, to tell the Countess of his death. Only she isn't here. Roxton gets the idea that she is probably at the balloon and trying to leave without us. Roxton, Challenger and I run after her. But Roxton gets a big head start. We didn't know if he was going to throttle her or what. But by the time Challenger and I caught up with Roxton, he was in the balloon with the Countess, trying to keep her from leaving.'
'Okay. Is that when the raptors came?' Veronica asked.
Ned put his hands on her shoulders. 'The raptors are the least of it. The balloon would've never been airborne, if Roxton hadn't climbed out and let her go.'
Veronica was really confused now. 'Why would he do that?'
Ned slowly let go of her. His tone became malicious. 'Because when Challenger and I finally reached the balloon, the Countess was threatening Roxton. She was threatening to come back here and tell Marguerite that Roxton was already married!'
The words didn't hit Veronica's brain right away.
'What did you say?' she asked.
Ned nodded. 'You can't believe you heard me right, can you? The Countess said that Roxton was in some arranged marriage that took place shortly before he went on this expedition. She even said his wife's name is Emma.'
Veronica's mouth dropped open! 'Ned! You heard her wrong, or she was lying. That woman never told the truth not one hour that she was here! Roxton is not married. He would never do that to Marguerite.'
'Not intentionally, no. Think about it, Veronica. None of us expected to be here this long. Relationships developed...I am not going to sit back and watch him lie to her. I don't care what Marguerite may have done in the past. This is unspeakable!'
Veronica rubbed his shoulders. 'I agree. He should tell her the truth. But he is the one that is going to have to do it.' She sighed.
'What? he asked.
'It's just that it took a long time for Marguerite to finally open up her heart to Roxton. I can't imagine how she will react when she learns of this deception.'
Ned looked up at the treehouse. 'I can't imagine either.'
****
Roxton had tucked Marguerite in, despite her protests. He then sat on the edge of the bed holding her hand.
'Alright, Lord Roxton. What is this all about?'
Roxton cleared his throat. 'It is about what you learned about your family. I'm worried about how this is affecting you.'
Marguerite raised a brow. 'You mean the fact that I'm an heiress to a fortune that I may never be able to claim? Finn asked me the same thing a few minutes before you returned. I'm fine with it.'
Roxton's eyes widened. He felt her forehead.
'What are you doing?' she asked.
He smiled at her. 'Checking for a fever.'
She reached up and removed his hand. But she did not let go of it.
'If we do get off of this plateau, of course I'll want to claim my birthright. But for now, I just want to worry about the here and now. Though I can't say I'm sorry the Countess is dead. I don't understand why she even bothered to come here. Everyone probably thinks we're dead anyhow.'
Roxton rubbed her hand. Marguerite peered at him.
'Tell me what happened with her? Why is Malone angry with you?'
Roxton let go of her hand and stood up. His back was to her. He had to tell her the truth, and it scared him. Because Roxton's greatest fear was that he would lose what he had now with Marguerite. That he would have to deal with the cold, non trusting woman he had first met when they came on to this plateau. He didn't want to lose what had taken three years to build. Not now. Not with prospect of happiness with their son or daughter. Not now.
Marguerite got out of bed. He was scaring her, though she wasn't about to show it. She walked up to him and touched his shoulder. He turned around to face her.
'What is it? You can tell me.'
Roxton grasped both of her hands and took a deep breath.
'I know you've probably already guessed as to why you were never raised with your family?'
Marguerite nodded. 'I remember the rumors about the dead or missing Von Bubrick baby. I pretty much figured out that I'm her.'
'Marguerite, I do believe that it was the Countess that killed your real mother...and Ian Royce.'
Marguerite grasped his hands tighter. 'Oh. Well, it's over now. There's nothing to be done until we can find a way to get out of here. The Countess got her just desserts, I guess. I can see this whole thing upsets you more than me. It's over.'
Roxton couldn't believe Marguerite was being so calm about the circumstances surrounding her birth. He realized she truly had made peace with their circumstances. He realized she was ready to give the possibility of a life with him and their child, a real chance.
'Marguerite....'
Marguerite smiled up at him. 'John.'
'The Countess was going to have you sign a piece of paper. One that would've made you renounce your claim to your birthright.'
Marguerite burst out laughing! 'Well, we both know that never would've happened! She just would've went home empty handed. You know, I feel badly for George. Maybe I should go out there and see how he is and...'
'Marguerite please! There's something you need to know!'
Roxton had grabbed her arm when she spoke of going to Challenger. She felt her temper rise, not out of anger with John, but out of fear of what he was going to tell her.
'John, whatever it is, just say it!'
Roxton slowly released her arm.
'The Countess planned on making you sign that document by revealing a secret she knew.'
Marguerite swallowed. God! Roxton had discovered another secret from her past! That was why he looked so devastated. She steeled herself to explain whatever he threw out at her.
'A secret?' she asked.
Roxton looked into her eyes. 'A secret of mine.'
Marguerite didn't think she had heard him correctly? 'Excuse me?'
Roxton grasped her hands and pulled her down on to the bed to sit.
'A secret of mine, yes.'
Marguerite burst out laughing again! 'What secrets could you possibly have, Lord John Roxton?'
'Before I left on this expedition, I took a wife.'
Marguerite just stared at him, unblinking. She then spoke.
'Did this 'wife' die?'
'No.'
'Did you divorce her or something?'
'No, I...'
Marguerite jumped up, tearing her hands from his!
'This is a joke, right?! Tell me this is some kind of sick joke?!'
Roxton stood up as well.
'Marguerite it was an arranged marriage, never consummated! I never expected to meet you, to be stranded here with you...to love you....'
Marguerite reached up and slapped him across the face! She then backed away and pointed a finger at him.
'You know what's ironic about this whole thing? I was actually thinking that maybe we could get married in some sort of tribal ceremony or something! Not the real thing, but at least we'd be married in our hearts. But you already have a wife! Never said a word! But you just loved rubbing my past in my face!'
'That is not true!'
Marguerite tilted her head. 'At least I'm not married. Get out!'
'Marguerite please listen...'
'GET OUT I SAID!!!'
Roxton was worried to death that she would over exert herself and cause harm to the baby. He held up his hands.
'I'm leaving, alright. Just calm down, please.'
Marguerite suddenly became quiet. She looked away from him. Roxton left her room.
****
Malone, Finn, Veronica and Challenger, stared up at the ceiling, open-mouthed. Finn looked at the other three.
'Roxton is married? Did you all know this the whole time?'
Malone closed his eyes and shook his head. Veronica stared at him worriedly. Challenger spoke.
'We all just found out today.'
Roxton suddenly came tearing down the stairs, his hat on and his gun and pack assembled.
'I'll be gone for the rest of the day.' he said shortly.
He didn't look at anyone. He just got on to the elevator and lowered himself down. Challenger stood up and looked at the group.
'I'm going with him. Just to make sure he's alright.'
'He's not.' Veronica said. 'How could he be?'
Malone said nothing. Finn watched as Challenger quickly got his gun, hat and pack, then got onto the elevator as well. He was soon gone.
Veronica looked at Ned and Finn.
'I'm going to check on Marguerite.'
Finn nodded, then glanced at Malone. He had walked on to the balcony. Finn looked away. Things were getting really bad around here, she thought.
****
Veronica walked gingerly into Marguerite's bedroom. If Marguerite heard her, she did not acknowledge it. She sat with her back to Veronica.
'Ned and Challenger overheard the Countess blackmailing Roxton about his marriage. They are just as angry with Roxton as you are.'
Marguerite didn't answer or turn around.
Veronica sat on the end of the bed and stared at Marguerite's back.
'I know this seems really, really terrible. But Marguerite, Roxton loves you. He loved you before he knew what to do with himself, much less tell you he was married to some woman he could care less about.'
Marguerite didn't answer.
'Just take care of yourself and the baby. This thing will work itself out. It has to. And you are not alone. This baby won't be alone. He or she is going to have all of us...and its father. You just need to time to adjust. Hell, Marguerite, I need to time to adjust to it. None of us knew.'
Marguerite still didn't answer. Veronica got up off of the bed. She looked as if she wanted to say something more, but thought better of it. She left Marguerite alone with her thoughts.