Author's Notes: Eek! Have you guys watched either 'The Mummy' or 'The Mummy Returns' with Brendan Fraser? Seriously, guys… I feel a calling from the Ardeth Bay and Evelyn Carnahan fic-dom!!!! This is totally taboo since most people are into Rick/Evy fics. I'm totally addicted to reading A/E fics… and, I… um… just realized that this is NOT a TM part so… okay… *nervous giggle*

Anyways, yes, finally this is THE day, Ladies and Gentlemen. Get ready to par-tay! Woohoo!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the show.

Dedication: Again, I offer this chapter to fab, because I really love the way you think! But I cannot answer your speculations… although you may have given me an idea or two. Like you, I also like to hear what my readers think the story will be heading to… it just won't be fun to make it one-sided all the way, right? :) Thanks :)

And mags968… I'm flattered that you're printing this story. I promise to make it worth your paper and ink!

Behold the Façade

Eight

He stood by her bed, watching her, drinking in her sight, her smell, her beauty. She lay on her bed, her curls forming a wild mane around her head, her face peaceful yet troubled at the same time. He smiled at the thought; only she can pull off an expression that completely contrasted, completely contradicted. And yet, aren't these words an apt description for the woman who could charm and annoy the wits out of the devil himself? Aren't these words the proper way to describe the woman that had completely captured and captivated his heart?

She was a contradiction, yes… bold yet timid, secretive yet open. Seductive and pure, innocent and tainted. She had the power to enslave all men, yet only chose one to become her mate. And he felt incredibly blessed to be that man.

Lord Roxton stepped towards her, intending to touch her cheek before he went out. He placed one hand on her face, his fingers gently caressing the smooth skin underneath his fingers. She never flinched at his touch, never turned her head away, and he wisely thought that she was too involved in her dreams to even feel it. Regretfully, he took his hand off of her and walked out of her bedroom.

It wasn't yet the dawn of the sun, yet William was already awake. It was almost surprising, really, judging from the fact that he spent less than an hour for sleep to claim him. They had arrived from his party at Jerome's house at around three, and it was barely four-thirty. He went to his bed to let himself rest before the grand day ahead, yet he couldn't close his eyes longer than he could count to thirty. Exasperated, tired beyond his patience to will himself to sleep, William stood up from his bed and carefully went into Marguerite's room. He had no idea how long he had stayed there, how long he had watched her, but clearly when it comes to her, time was of no importance to him.

He walked alone along the hall outside of the rooms, his thoughts wandering. Truly, the circumstances amuse him to no end. How could one woman completely enchant him so? She was only Marguerite.

And yet wasn't that the answer to his query? She was Marguerite. That alone should be enough.

"William?"

Lord Roxton glanced at the source of the voice, surprised to find that he wasn't the only one awake in the very early hours of the morning, and also amazed that he didn't hear the door of his brother's room open at his side. His lips quirked up in a welcoming smile. "John!" He said. "Why are you still up?"

"I could ask you the same thing, William old boy." His older brother said to him, his own lips twisted into a smile as well. Quietly, John closed the door behind him and fell into step with his brother. Together, they made their way to the den.

"Couldn't sleep." William answered him. He went straight towards the bar, found his little bottle of vodka and turned to his brother. "Do you want some?"

John shook his head, his smile widening to a grin. "My, my, Wills – drinking so early, much more at the very day of your wedding? What would mother think of that?"

The younger Roxton poured himself a shot of the alcohol and quickly consumed it, already accustomed to the bitter aftertaste. "She doesn't have to know, unless of course you insist on barging into her room and telling her yourself of this nasty habit of mine."

"I might, you know." The older one said. "But you are forgiven, just this once. It is your wedding day."

"Glad to hear that." And they both flashed twin images of smiles to each other.

Silence befell the two men, who, after a lengthy time of separation had seen each other again. There was a bit of apprehension on both sides – so much had happened with the two Lord Roxtons apart – but over all, it is their brotherly love, a bond tightly woven over time, that had served to bridge the gap between the two.

John stared at his brother. "I suppose there wouldn't be any other time to know more about my sister-to-be, so I might as well ask the groom himself." He paused momentarily. "How did you two meet?"

William laughed. "I suppose that that question nagged at you all night."

"I did try to ask her myself while we were dancing, you know." John straightened himself before he took a seat. "Turned out you'd be marrying quite a fish, slippery and all that. Not that she is a fish and all, just—" he shrugged, "—slippery."

"If that came from any other man, I would've considered it an insult to her, but coming from you, John," William shook his head, "I don't know what to make of it. But anyway, to answer your question—" He took a seat beside John, intend to give every detail of the story, "—Jerome and I, we were touring the countryside in our horses  some while back, maybe three or four months at the most. Then Jerome came up with this magnificent idea. We rode to that isolated place where the 'Standing Stones' stood. He told me he wanted to introduce me to someone." William glanced at his brother, glad to not find him dozing off in his own fairy tale. "I told him to forget about it, because honestly I do not want to meet someone there, of all places, but Jerome insisted. So, we went down of our horses and walked towards the one stone at the side, and lo and behold – there stood the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes upon in my entire life."

"Marguerite." John said, somewhat lightly, if not dryly.

William smiled. If it was considered manly to gush, he would. "And everything started from there."

John leaned forward in his chair. "Where is she from?"

"She was born in London, though her family seemed to move quite a lot from place to place. She had been to a lot of cities, John – Shanghai, Cairo, New York – even to Vienna, I think. And Paris. She is very fond of traveling, that woman of mine. That's why I'm planning on taking her around the world for our honeymoon."

"Marguerite Krux… is that her full name?" John scratched his chin. "I don't think I've ever heard of that name before…"

"That's because her family only settled here a short time before and after she was born. Marguerite told me her parents took her out of London when she was barely two months old."

"And her parents? Where are they now?"

"They're already gone. She's the only one left."

"No sibling?"

"None. She was the only child." William began to look troubled at the incessant questions.

John then gestured with his hands to clear his intentions. "Do not think that I am asking these questions out of nowhere, William, that… that I am merely pulling these out of a hat. On the contrary, I am simply trying to make a mental imagery of who Marguerite is before she is married to you. I mean, after all, I have no idea of who she is or what she's like—" He shook his head, "—and I still don't think I do, even after what little information you have told me."

"Have I not done the same to your Liezl, John?" William asked him, somewhat boyishly.

John had to suppress the urge to groan. "That was different. She was as flat as a board, that woman – simply no character. But your Marguerite—" He pinned William a stare, "she seems to be a complex creature. Too complex, if you ask me, but—"

"John." William told him. "I appreciate this, truly. Now I know why I've missed you after all the time you spent away from us. Yes, Marguerite is a complex woman. She's more cunning and more devious than anyone I know, me and you included. But she loves me, and I her. It's just as simple as that."

"She makes you happy." John finally said.

William nodded. "She does indeed."

"Then I wish you a long and fruitful life together, brother." The older Roxton reached out to pat his brother's back, his way of giving his blessing.

"Thank you, John."

And outside their home, the sun was slow to rise from its bed, yet when it did it brought with him the most beautiful of mornings. As it's warm rays brightened the land, the brothers both knew of the time that had come to them both.

It was time to prepare for the wedding.

To be continued…