Author's Notes: I just watched Brothers In Arms last Sunday, and… *sniff, sniff* that David Orth could surely act! I loved the scene where he was talking to Major Roxton, and he was saying that he wasn't worth dying for… *wipes tear* I swear, I've rediscovered the reason why I hated that he left the show!!!

One more week of hell to go, then I'm free as a bird! Well, that one week consists of several tests (two for statistics, one for debate, one for psychology, one for management styles and trends) and a presentation (for responsible voting!) So, yeah. One more week of hell to go!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to The Lost World. No infringement is intended.

Dedication: This chapter is for Steffi, who's sweet enough to always leave me two reviews, one in this site and the other at the board. I always smile when I get a review from you. Thank you very much! And also, this is for AerinBrown. I know what you're talking about. I also have a tendency to love odd couples (not to mention ramble! J). But wait… I can't answer your question… you would have to see it for yourself! :)

Behold the Façade

Four

"Marguerite, are you happy?"

The question was asked with such tenderness and caring that she had to stare at him in surprise. "Of course I am, love. What made you think I'm not?"

William shook his head, then grinned like a mischievous boy. "Nothing. It's just that—" he tightened his hold on her waist, "It's just that I had to think of something to say to make you look at me. You seemed preoccupied this whole night. Care to share your thoughts?"

She chuckled at his perceptiveness. "I'm not preoccupied," she said to him as she linked her hands at the back of his neck. "I'm just… thinking."

"Of what?" he pressed.  

Of why a certain man is staring at me in the shadows. "Of how our lives will change if we were to marry," Marguerite covered. She'll be damned to say what was on her mind then, that her thoughts were filled with questions about the mysterious man she met earlier. Though I never really did get to know his name, when it was obvious that he knew mine… She mentally shook herself to clear her thoughts and to focus on her immediate surroundings, meaning, her husband-to-be.

William smiled at her. "Change for the better, I hope." He said. He then gave her a kiss on her cheek. "At this very same hour tomorrow night, you'll be mine, love. I can't wait."

"Yes." Marguerite said. She smiled beautifully, her façade of happiness covering her uneasiness inside. "Tomorrow."

The waltz that they were dancing to ended, and the couple soon stepped out of the dance floor.

*

No sooner than they had left the dance floor was Lord William Roxton forced to abandon Marguerite yet again when another circle of men dragged him and forced him to be included in their conversations about the impending war.

He could clearly see now the reason why Jerome is always doing his best to avoid conversations like this, why he was always doing his best to excuse himself whenever the discussions tend to be too serious or too grave.

It was too damn boring.

Not that he didn't care about his native land. Far from that, in fact. But he could only take so much. It was his engagement party, for crying out loud. Can't this wait?

"Lord Roxton, what do you think?" he was promptly asked.

William Roxton straightened himself, flashed a charming grin and said, "I think that we all should try to forget this war, even only for tonight, and have some fun for ourselves. Who knows, this party might be our last." And with that, he turned around, never minding the fact that he left scandalized men in his wake.

He had to thank his lovely Marguerite, because he knew that her overconfidence and her nerve must be infectious.

How he loved that woman! He would do anything to have her as his wife, as mother to his children and as his half for always.

He loved her, and that was why jealousy readily clouded his thoughts when he caught another man talking to her.

Wasting not one ore breath, Lord William Roxton marched to where Marguerite was.

*

"Wine?" he offered.

Marguerite shook her head. "I've had two already," she said. She watched his lips thinned to almost a straight line as he deposited the glass at one side of the table.

"You seem to be declining everything that I have to offer you," He said roughly.

"Not really," she told him. "You've only offered me the wine."

"And the dance?"

"Oh, that." She chuckled. "Well… yes. It seemed as though I did decline everything you offered me."

"May I know the reason why you're doing so?"

Marguerite inclined her head, her eyes feasting on the ragged masculinity that was this man before her. There was something in him, something that told her instincts that she should back off. Normally she would listen to her instincts, but tonight…

Well, tonight was really a different story.

"No." She answered his question. "But one thing I won't decline from you, Monsieur, is if you offered me your name."

He looked surprised, and not for the first time that night.

*

John was about to answer her when another voice interrupted their conversation.

"Marguerite," came his brother's voice from behind him. John closed his eyes, cursing himself for letting his guard down for too long. He shouldn't have risked it, but seeing this woman alone again was… too tempting to ignore. Before he approached her, he made sure that William was too entangled in the discussion on the other side of the room before he made his move. He thought that it would buy him some time so that he could proceed with his second test.

What he wasn't counting on was this… he had planned to show himself to his brother, but not this early….

John opened his eyes. There was no way out.

"William!" Marguerite said. John caught her glance at him before she looked at his brother. "I was just talking to—"

"I noticed." William walked to her, and then took her hand in his. Finally, he raised his eyes to him, his face almost twisted in rage and jealousy… and then the young lord noticeably blanched. "J-John?" he whispered.

John smiled at him. "Hello, William."

Marguerite blinked. "You two know each other?"

John turned to her. "Yes." He said. "You asked for my name, didn't you? It's Lord John Roxton, older brother to this William Roxton." He smiled at her, his eyes filled with something almost akin to humor. "Hello, Marguerite. I'm looking forward to having you in the family."

To be continued…