IEHBD – GLADIATORS

CHAPTER 4 - Final


Tommy liked everybody in the Treehouse. Of course, Veronica and Malone were his favorite ones. However, inexplicably he adored Marguerite who, although denying it, also liked to secretly play with him.

Marguerite didn't allow Roxton to see the puppets that she had sewn.

Then she privately began to sabotage the schedules when Roxton was supposed to be with the child, distracting the kid's attention. Without the hunter noticing, she put the boy's puppet in her finger and made him see it. Hallucinated, Tommy ran for her and Roxton began to be intrigued. She looked at the heiress trying to unmask the mystery. Even so, she always found a way of hiding the toy from the hunter.

Marguerite also saw in the boy the possibility to reduce the tedium that bothered her. Tommy liked sounds in general. However, the words always were magic to him. He adored when somebody spoke or sang. That woman made so many sounds and in different tones, especially when she argued with her friend Roxton. And it was that, among other things, that seemed to attract him to the heiress. Another thing that he liked a lot was the stones that she always had around her. They were so fascinating and colored and when she beat one to the other it sounded such a pleasant pop. And despite her severe glance or her harsh tone, he was not intimidated by her. No, nah, nope, never!

Marguerite, in her shift as Tommy's 'teacher', was different from the hunter. She caught the boy and she shut them up somewhere, without letting Roxton follow her.



The policemen followed closer the smart girl that knew all the streets of the city. She could hide easily whenever she wanted, until the day she was caught and dragged by the arm across the streets, still trying to resist. She made the mistake of wanting to walk among the rich and wealthy people of London, and someone so off-standard as she was could never ever be welcome by them. "Aristocracy, go to hell!" she thought, hiding in an alley, at the same time observing a refined party across the block. "Someday I will be one of them... I swear by my parents..." She stopped "If I ever had parents. Well, Marguerite... You got it... You are surrounded by jewels so bright that could make a blind man come back to sight, my God! I'm among them, but I don't feel like one of them... Even wearing this expensive dress, this wonderful hat, these bright jewels, I'm not and I shall never be one of them... I don't want to be..." (IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN DIFFERENT – Chapter 3)

The woman entered in the ball-room and all the eyes were turned to her.

This recall pursued her wherever she went, mainly tormenting her dreams, in the images of what she could become someday to get same money. She seemed to fear this Marguerite Krux, hidden in her own thoughts. No, she believed she did not have a heart.

The old gentleman went to meet her, greeting her. Marguerite smiled. After all, she used a lent dress and lent jewels, and that was very difficulty to get, as well as the invitation for the party. She had to take advantage of the occasion in the best possible way.

He politely offered her his arm and guided her under surprised glances. As they walked to the center of the dancing floor, a corridor opened up among the guests.

They stopped and he signaled for the orchestra that began to play a Strauss' waltz and they seemed to fly at that place despite of the audience, on that moment they seemed to be alone there.

Lord Fortville was one of the most important and wealthy man of the English court. Since the first time Marguerite had impressed him. He was a man that liked good food, good wine and good women. But his fascination for the brunette was immediate. None was as enchanting as she was.

And since the first time Marguerite treated him very well. She always was respectful and honesty with him, making herself clear about her objectives, not exposing herself too much, as many women did around there only to satisfy their own desires.

But she had something different: she preferred quality to quantity.

She was interested in changing her suffering life, that was plain obvious. And she did not love him, he knew that very well. But, being able to drive that gorgeous woman through the nobles of the court made his ego fly and it was not a surprise when he asked her to marry him.

It was a party with all the pomp and all glamour that the occasion deserved. With skeptics guests who, although turning up their noses for Marguerite, at the same time didn't want to lose a chance of having Fortville as a lucrative business' partner. And, of course, knowing that the main subject of all conversations in the next Sunday's morning would be that wedding party, it was necessary to be one of the invitees from the famous lord.

"Bunch of fools." - she thought - "They judge me as if my intentions were different from theirs."

And it was a very good time for both of them. All Marguerite's desires were satisfied as soon as possible.

They traveled around Europe, always in luxurious. They attended regularly at the most famous restaurants. They navigated through the Mediterranean. Together they left Gare of Strasbourg in Paris, among the select passengers that would make the long journey of 2.900 kilometers in 56 hours until Constantinople in the sumptuous Orient Express.

In the first day of their trip, Marguerite did not enjoy the train swing, and was feeling a little bit sick, preferring to remain on her cabin. But she insisted that Fortville went to the restaurant-wagon to have his lunch. There he shared a table with some other men who were on the same trip, William Roxton among them. Lord Roxton would leave in Munich to solve some pendent businesses before leaving on a vacation safari with his brother and father.

On those few years, Marguerite got fortune, received a lot of affection, rewarded Fortville treating him with delicacy, sincerity, and respect, which with only a real lady could offer him.

When he died, for the first time in her life the heiress felt the pain of losing a friend. More than a friend, he was her protector. He had never been her "money-box", as she had heard when passing through a group of nobles as soon as they had came back to London.


By the base of the Treehouse, something outside of the fence attracted Tommy's attention and he got up curious, coming near to it.

"NO!" - Roxton screamed while he almost flew, getting Tommy by the arm.

The boy seemed surprised and annoyed with the attitude of that big man and got up angry, facing John. Marguerite could feel her heart bumping and almost leaving her chest.

"Did you want me to let you lean on the electric fence, Tommy?" - Roxton asked with harshness, but the boy sat tight.

He caught some small branches and tried to do something. With the little hand, he held the man's chin, turning Roxton's face until the hunter saw a porcupine, very well hidden and camouflaged among the trees. John delayed a little to visualize the animal, but as soon as he got it, he was surprised about the child's visual sense.

He smiled and looked to Marguerite, who seemed concerned about the boy's attitude. John blinked to him and she almost fumed in irritation.

He got up, puffed up his chest, and arranging the brown waistcoat caught the boy, putting him by his broad shoulders, and agitated his tuft of hair, smiling.

"Very good, young man, that's it, just as I've taught you" - He insisted on emphasized the word 'I'.

Marguerite shook her head, looking to them over the book she was reading. She had to recognize that, although in a clumsy way, Tommy tried to do what John had taught him. And her internal despair increased, until then she still didn't know what to teach to the child.

"It's time for him to sleep, let's go up." - She closed the book and got up, walking until the elevator.

"Hey… Just now when he'll show something more? Marguerite, you said that we won't follow this routine exactly like Veronica said to..."

"Change of plans. Let's go."

The heiress entered in the elevator, and impatient she waited for them. Roxton didn't move.

"I don't want to go now, and I won't." - He challenged.

Marguerite steadied herself for not giving him a harsh answer. She couldn't fight with him again.

"Alright. But don't take too long." - She entered in the elevator and the two boys observed the elevator slowly arise.

"What about you teaching one more of your vision tricks, Tommy?"

They stayed there for sometime, and each minute bring more hunger to them. Marguerite knew they wouldn't resist for much time, that's why from the balcony she smiled, watching them gather the trinkets and walk for the elevator.



CHANGE OF DIAPERS

"It's your turn to change his diapers, Roxton."

"Why? We made a deal, remember? The last time it was me, now it's you."

"The diaper you changed was almost clean, and considering the smell this one is very disgusting." - she answered, making a disgusted face to him.

"It's his fault anyway" - She gave a fast look to the kid who, once again, followed the arguing between the couple shaking his head back and forth.

The clean diaper was already in the heiress's hand, when Roxton gave up and caught it. Taken by surprise, Marguerite let the diaper fall to the floor. They grew impatient, rolling their eyes, looking to different directions. Tommy giggled.

They both ducked to pick up the diaper, being with their heads very close. Immediately, Tommy made an odd noise, like a pop with his tongue, and then united their heads in a kiss.

Tommy ran around them shrieking and smiling, while they two seemed to be very at ease.

"Lord Roxton! Is it that what you have been teaching to the little brat?" – Suddenly, Marguerite stood back while they still recovered their breath.

"You taught that to him, Marguerite, don't deny it."

"You are simply rude." – An irritated Marguerite got up quickly and went away from the boys.

"What did I do now?" - Roxton said, following the heiress.

Tommy stopped and covering his mouth with one hand, pointed to the hunter's mouth, smiling shamelessly.

"Shut up, little rascal!" - the hunter whispered, in a false serious tone, coming after the heiress, and already hearing from where he was all the noise of pots beating at the kitchen.



AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON...

Marguerite looked bothered to a Tommy entirely concentrated in what he was doing.

"Make him stop putting his finger on his nose, Roxton."

"Me? Why me?"

The heiress grimaced in disgust when Tommy stretched out the finger showing what he had removed from within.

"Ew" - She said, turning away.

The boy seemed to notice the adults' boredom and without averting his eyes from the two of them, he began to take his little finger slowly to his own mouth.

"No, little rascal. You're not gonna do it." – Roxton adverted.

"Hold him, Roxton!" - The heiress screamed.

Both ran for Tommy at the same time, but he was faster and 'gulp' putting the finger in his own mouth.

"I'm going to throw up..." - Marguerite went out running towards the balcony.


It rained torrentially in the plateau. The storm began at the dawn of the third day of their dispute and it didn't stop, so they couldn't use the mirrors to signal.

Marguerite and Roxton centered their last efforts in whatever they were teaching the boy.

In the morning Marguerite was locked with him in her room and when Roxton tried to spy gluing his ear to the door, he barely could hear a sound.

In the afternoon the situation reversed, with John hiding himself with the child while Marguerite tried to find out what they were doing. But, like her, Roxton also knew how to be mysterious when he wanted to.

Malone and Veronica should have returned at dusk, but they didn't, probably waiting for the weather to stabilize under some shelter. That rain was making it practically impossible to walk through the plateau.

And at night Tommy's longing seemed to have gone too far, and he didn't sleep. He didn't cry also, but he looked uneasy waiting for Veronica's return. Roxton and Marguerite were exhausted. Taking care of him without being used to it was already tiring, but spending a sleepless night playing with him was a torture.



4 AM...

"Margueriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite!"

Startled the heiress almost threw the coffee-pot she had just done to shoo away her sleep. Furiously she went to the balcony. The hunter and the boy were seating in the mattress, surrounded by toys.

"Damn it, Roxton! You look crazy screaming like this. What is it now?"

He didn't answer. He just caught Tommy's arm and lifted it, showing the small can with the small hand stuck into it.

"I don't believe it" - she joined them, discouraged, seating by the floor.

"Let's pull it." - She held the child's small body back, while the man pulled the can with no success. Tommy gave a rough look to Roxton, who released him. Then, with the hand by his chin, the hunter reflected.

"Marguerite. Did you already notice that every time some problem happens he thinks that I'm the bad guy?"

"It's because you are. You threw him of swing, left him hungry, almost drowned him, and now this. How will we take it out?"

"Raptor's lard. Get some raptor's lard in the kitchen."

Tommy sat tight. He seemed to think that while they both were arguing the best thing to do was to play alone, then he beat the can with his hand stuck into it in the floor, enjoying the noise.

Half an hour later...

"Roxton!" - the heiress called for the distracted man, soiling in the tenth grease the kid's arm. - "Roxton... Roxton!"

"What?" - He looked suddenly back to her, visibly tired. He answered with certain harsh, but Marguerite seemed to be very nervous.

"Stop that!" - She took the cloth already filthy and removed one more solution from the boy's arm, who was also tired. Tommy was very calm leaning in a cushion, beside the woman's legs who held the pot.

"Nothing seems to help…" - She said with certain discouragement.

"I'm going to the kitchen to see what can free us from this embarrassment..." - Marguerite rose slowly while he spoke.

"Veronica would kill us if..."

"Hey..."

Roxton stopped - "What?"

"I heard something…" - She wrinkled while John already sought for his weapon.

"No..." - she tranquilized him - "it seems to be..."

At the same time they faced each other visibly alarmed. It was the elevator, certainty bringing Malone and Veronica.

With stared eyes, they needed to manage the situation, and quickly. Or at least...

"I hide him" - Roxton spoke, pointing to himself and catching the child - "You distract them."

Marguerite didn't even give an answer and John also didn't wait to hear some. Each one ran for opposite sides, while Tommy laughed heartily with the desperate race for one of the bedrooms.

Marguerite tried to look natural, but everything that the jumpiness did was to make her sit at the table with her legs crossed in a visibly unusual manner.

As soon as the elevator arrived, she confirmed what they had supposed. There were Veronica and Malone.

"Gosh! Where were you? " - She looked to the couple, who were covered in mud - "Was this some party or celebration? Or maybe was it only a pleasant dive in mud?" - the heiress continued, trying to be the most natural as possible, while they entered little by little in the house.

"In the run we fell in a huge mud hole" - Ned explained - "But it doesn't matter now."

"Yes, where I..."

"Tommy?" - She interrupted with a nervous smile, but regretting having remembered him.

"Yes, I'm dying of..."

"Ah… I'm sorry to tell you, but Roxton is teaching him something, and he didn't let me stay close, it seems to be some secret."

The silence was deafening and for three seconds they exchanged confused glances. - "Secret?"

"Roxton will understand, he will not give a damn..."

"Oh, no!" - She jumped of the table and stayed in front them. "I'm sorry."

Confused, Malone and Veronica faced each other and exchanged one more glance, and the blond put her hands by her waist - "What's happening?"

"Happening? Is something happening? No, it's not! Is it? Of course not, you're wrong!..."

"Marguerite..." - Malone started, approximating furtively from her - "Listen" - the couple covered with mud walked, while Veronica talked to a cornered Marguerite.

"We were out for a good time, and we are missing our boy too much. We want to see him now. Tell Roxton to continue in the morning."

"But he's busy with the kid!" - She protested, but it seemed all and any attempt of distracting the other two was in vain.

"At..." - Malone seemed to think about something - "At 4 am?"

Marguerite became angry and didn't answer, obstructing their way - "Did you already look at yourself in the mirror?" - She tried a new tactic.

"What noise was that!"

"Answer me! Did you already look at yourself in the mirror?"

"What's wrong?" - Ned asked pretending they looked normal - "What's the problem with us?"

"You are... filthy! I won't let you to come close to him like this. He could get scared not recognizing you."

"What nonsense, Marguerite, we already played with him many times in the mud in that hole, nearby. You are trying to..."

"... Besides you are drenched, filthy, stinking, disgusting... And on the top of it all you are soiling the whole treehouse!" - She answered without paying any attention to the explanation trial of the blond.

"I heard it again..."

"Yeah, me too."

"I didn't hear anything, you're nuts, it should only be the rain!"

Marguerite tried to calm down, lowering the tone of her voice.

"Let's make a deal. The rain was generous and supplied the treehouse with a lot of water. You deserve to finish your 'honeymoon' in style. Then you will fill up the bathtub, take a delightful bath and then, as clean as a whistle, you can see the little brat."

"Marguerite." - Veronica was more annoyed - "I'll clean the house later. I want to see Tommy now. You get out of my way or I go through you."

The heiress puffed up her chest, staying in front of the blond and said, closing her eyes afterwards.

"Then come through me!"

Veronica laughed heartily when seeing the heiress in that unusual posture. Then, she adopted a different strategy.

"TOMMY!" - the young woman called - "COME ON, SWEETIE."

"WE HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU!" - Ned also called out.

Marguerite felt her heart skipping a beat when she saw Tommy, still with the can in his hand, shrieking of happiness running into Veronica, followed for a desperate hunter trying to catch him.

Neither the heiress nor Roxton seemed to believe when in the exact instant that Veronica turned for the boy the can, formerly stuck, came unfastened from the little hand rolling down of the chair, making them sigh diminished.

The blond and the kid hugged each other very strongly and she covered him of kisses, while Tommy rewarded flying high. Suddenly, after many laughs, Ned took a huge wood spoon craft made by Zanga's, with the boy's name perfectly carved in the handle. Tommy was burst with joy.

"See?" - Marguerite censured - "Now you three are filthy. Get out of here to the bathtub now."

While Tommy, Ned and Veronica was getting along to the bathroom, Roxton caught the can and gave it an intrigued look.

"What luck, John!" - The heiress sighed.

"Marguerite" - the hunter continued to examine the object - "I have something to tell you".

"What?"

"Do you have any idea why we didn't get to take out that can of his hand?

"Was it stuck!"

"No." - Roxton got mad - "That little rascal held the can with his hand."

"TTTOOOMMMYYYY!"


That was a very important occasion. Seating in the common room, once again there they were, the "gladiators" Roxton and Marguerite, jurors Summerlee, Challenger, Malone and Veronica, and the patient observer of that challenge, Tommy.

"So, let's begin." – Challenger said - "I will throw the coin. The winner chooses if he or she wants to begin or if he or she prefers the other to show first. Marguerite."

"Heads."

Challenger threw the coin - "Tails. Roxton. You choose." - Roxton stood up puffing up his chest.

"I begin. I believe that you all want to come back to your tasks, so let's finish this as soon as possible. First I would like to thank you all, especially you, Veronica, for having trusted us" - He smiled - "Second I want to say that the challenge was refreshing."

"Go on, Roxton" – Malone claimed.

"Third and most important." – He gave a sarcastic smile to Marguerite. - "Please, don't wake me up tomorrow to ask about my tasks, Marguerite, I will let an updated list of all my obligations in front of my room."

"Blah...blah...blah…" - the heiress mumbled - "Speak less and show what you had taught to him."

"All right. Please, my friends, I also ..."

"Roxton!" - Veronica was impatient.

"Ok." - He looked to the child who, seating on the floor, played absentmindedly - "Tommy, come over here, boy." - Immediately he ran for the hunter.

Roxton put on several drawings made by Veronica and Summerlee besides some pictures inside Challenger's books in the floor.

"Where is the raptor, boy?" - The proud hunter asked. Tommy hesitated, but finally pointed to the right drawing. Roxton smiled from ear to ear and continued. -"T-rex" - and Tommy pointed again the right one.

"Flower... tree... apple..." - His friends were astonished, while Veronica smiled delighted. Marguerite yawned in a blasé attitude.

"It's very good, boy!" - Roxton gave him a big hug and the child paid back. -"So, Marguerite. Don't forget that I like my coffee with only little sugar."

"And I like it very strong" – she said quickly, while he seemed to give more importance to what he was saying, and of course, ignoring the astonished glances of the others. It was more than obvious that the hunter really had had an unbeatable idea.

"However…" - Marguerite said - "... I agree, Roxton. You really got to teach many interesting things to the little brat." - Roxton swelled with the heiress's praise, without noticing her debauched tone.

"It was impressive, John." - Summerlee agreed.

"Thank you, Roxton"- Veronica smiled truly grateful - "I loved it."

"Your turn, Marguerite." - Malone announced.

The heiress slowly accommodated herself in the armchair, always with a bored look. Then she called.

"Tommy" - the boy, again seating in the floor beside the blond, looked at the heiress with a smile. As always, Marguerite was serious and signaled for him who, in one instant, was in front of her. The brunette got closer, whispering by his ear.

"I'm depending on you, little brat." - Marguerite took of Tommy's puppet from her pocket, fitting it in her little finger and showing it to the boy. Everybody looked curious to the scene.

"Who is this?" -The kid laughed and pointed to his own chest.

Roxton laughed heartily.

"Is that all you taught to him, Miss Krux?"

"Quiet, John." – Challenger censured him. -"Go on, Marguerite."

"Thank you, George."

Again she got the child's attention, who looked at her concentrated. Then she removed from her pocket a second puppet that she put into her other finger. She raised the hand so that he saw his own puppet, now with another one besides it, for which the heiress pointed to.

"Who is she?" -The boy opened a radiant smile and turned indicating Veronica.

"Mama" – He said with a sweet smile.

Challenger, Summerlee, Malone and Roxton were motionless looking skeptics at the boy, while a very touched Veronica extended her arms for him, who ran for her without stop repeating.

"Mama...mama...mama..."

The young woman gave him a slow and tight hug, then she directed a touched look to Marguerite.

"Thank you."

The heiress returned her smile, raising the cup of tea in a toast. Then she got up.

"Roxton…" - she calmly called - "I'll let the sewing basket obligations in front of my room. There're stockings waiting to be sewed. I want a very fresh coffee when I wake up." - The hunter looked at her without reaction. Marguerite came close to him - "Ahm, Roxton... close your mouth".– She concluded, taking his chin that insisted to remain opened.

The only noise that everyone heard was Malone laughing uncontrollably in his chair. Only then Roxton spoke stunned.

"Wait. The jurors cast a vote." - Summerlee put the hand by his shoulder.

"John, keep your strength for your doubled duties."

That was really an unforgettable night, when the boy said his first word.

After dinner, Summerlee helped Veronica to wash the dishes while Ned wrote his diaries and Challenger asked proudlt, so that the boy repeated the word all the time, for Veronica's happiness.

Happy, Marguerite observed from the balcony the beautiful night in the plateau when she heard steps.

"Toommyy..." - A firm but in low tone voice came from the kitchen. It was Veronica who only from looking Roxton going to the balcony already knew why the child was so quiet.

The hunter turned looking down and ran out after the black hair tuft.

"Come here, you meddler little rascal!"

Screaming, Tommy ran to cling to Veronica's legs. Roxton laughed heartily retaking his way.

"Did you come to get the list of your tasks, Lord Roxton?" – The heiress asked in a good mood.

The man smiled - "Actually, I came to congratulate the winner."

When she least expected he pulled Marguerite by the waist, gluing his body to hers and kissing her passionately.

Then, always looking straight into her eyes for a long time, he daintily loosened her.

"Good night, milady…" - He whispered.

The woman sighed while he was leaving. She put her hand by her lips, smiling.

"Good night, milord."

THE END…For Now.

This fic will continue in IEHBD - A New Apprentice (To be published in English soon)

For you all, our sincere THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Lady F., TowandaBR