Knight captures Queen's Pawn
Léandre Marquis du Chaumontre waited for Christine. He'd heard her conversation with Raoul a few nights before. If there was nothing between her and Raoul he had a chance. She had been open and willing to spend time with him since he had arrived. Even that 'Erik' they referred to was now gone. Léandre was five years Raoul's senior. He did not consider himself as handsome as his cousin but his family was certainly richer and more powerful. He did not have living parents that could oppose a liaison with a chorus girl. Both his parents were long dead and he was free to make any and all choices without need of counsel. For years now he had made good use of his freedom. He had seduced women in all stations from chamber maids to the King's first cousin. Regardless of his personal freedom he was well aware of the social conventions of his peers. Christine would have her place as his latest distraction but nothing more. Léandre couldn't imagine how his handsome cousin had failed to win Christine's heart. The girl was beautiful and headstrong but she was not impossible. Raoul was his favorite cousin even though he was too serious. From their early days he knew he could tell Raoul anything no matter how horrendous and he would keep the secret. Raoul was a living journal to his many misdeeds. An orphan and having no natural siblings, this was as close as Léandre came to having a close relative.
This visit to his cousin had been most fortuitous and he would make sure it continued that way. The joy of the hunt lured him and smell of a sure kill filled him. If Raoul couldn't then he would bring Christine down.
"Raoul, will you be having tea?" Christine called from the stairway.
"Sure Christine, I'll be right down"
Léandre saw her descend the stairs looking like an angel in a simple white gown. It was perfect on her anything too fancy would have spoilt her natural beauty. If he were in his home in the castle, he would take her right where she stood. His servants knew of his sudden impulses and had learned to disappear at a moment's notice. In Raoul's home they played a different tune so he had to keep a rein on himself. Trying to keep his step casual, he hurried into the parlor ahead of Raoul.
"Good afternoon Mademoiselle Christine" he said with a full bow.
She took in how magnificent Léandre looked in his fancy outfit and answered with a small curtsy and a giggle. Christine felt a little tug at her heart when she remembered how somber Erik always looked. So elegant in his dark colors, so refined.
Erik waited patiently behind a bush as he saw her cutting flowers. He was dressed all in black blending perfectly with the shadows. When she was close enough he jumped out of the shadows.
"Come Christine, you belong with me" Erik grabbed her by the elbow and began to lead her away. He had startled her but Christine had been expecting something like this.
"Belong with you? What claim do you have on me Sir?" She wiggled out of his hold.
"Don't play games Christine"
"Why would I play games with a stranger?"
He hung his head and with a deep sigh whispered "I have come to apologize and take you back with me". He looked up into her eyes pleading.
"I accept no apology from a man whom I no longer know" Christine turned from him and began to walk away. Erik caught her arm again. He had not expected this reaction from her. Why is she making it so difficult? Could she have come to care for the new dandy?
"Why were you having tea with that man?" He scowled looking at her through narrowed eyes.
"Why should I answer your question? You are nothing to me Sir"
"Watch it Christine you are threading on dangerous ground!" Erik brought himself up to his full height hoping to intimidate her.
"What will you do kill me? Kill him?" She was enjoying his discomfort. It served him right.
"Then he is something to you?" Erik was becoming agitated at this unexpected turn of events and held her firmly in an iron like grip.
"How dare you question me? I am…"
"Enough of your games!" He bent his legs and scooped her up on to his shoulder. "Erik let me go! Let me go now!" Christine thought of calling out for help but if she did Raoul, Léandre and half a dozen servants would surely come to her aid. Erik would have to fight both men, perhaps more. The outcome was unimaginable and someone would be hurt, perhaps killed. As good as he might be the odds this time were against Erik. There was no other choice than to submit and chastise him later on. She decided to beat on his back as hard as she could. Even if it didn't really hurt him she had to show that she wasn't ready to go back to him so easily.
Erik smiled at her futile attempts to liberate herself. He easily carried her to the horse and unceremoniously he dumped her on it. He untied the animal and climbed up himself. "No more games Christine. I have had enough". Quietly he steered the horse away from the manor to find that Léandre blocked their path.
"Let her loose you, scoundrel!"
"Out of my way! I have no quarrel with you" His voice took on a grave timber.
"I'll have quarrel with you, if you don't leave her behind"
Why was this man defending Christine as if she belonged to him? Erik's stomach tightened afraid to ask and get an unwanted response.
"Léandre, please, he won't hurt me, go back into the house" pleaded Christine.
"Christine, I would never abandon you to this villain"
Erik saw the same unbridled desire toward Christine that he had seen in the man's eyes while they had tea earlier. "What is she to you then that you would defend her with your life?"
She whispered in his ear "Erik, please, let us leave now. I am going with you is that not enough?" Christine was shaking thinking of the possible result from this confrontation.
"Let the man speak Christine!" He commanded, irritated by this impudent fellow.
"I see, so you are that 'Erik' that abandoned her?" asked Léandre
"Do not judge me so quickly Sir, and answer my question. What is she to you?"
"Whatever she is, she is dear to me and I will not let her be absconded from this house"
"Move now!" Erik snarled. He unsheathed his sword and lunged at Léandre.
The Marquis moved back and unsheathed his own sword. The exchange was brief and as Erik moved past Léandre, he sliced through the man's cheek. Léandre lunged forward and sliced Erik's calf.
In the time that the Marquis put his hand up to his face and readied himself to attack again, Erik was gone with Christine.
Léandre was quickly surrounded by servants. "Tell my cousin to come now, Mademoiselle has been kidnapped and we are giving chase". Holding a handkerchief to his bleeding cheek he headed to the stables. Raoul met Léandre in the stables and both men stared openmouthed at the empty stalls. The tied up stable hands lay unconscious. A note was left attached to a post.
Dear Vicomte,
Your horses are in good hands. They are a day's walk in the Souvigne stables.
You were correct; your horse is the best.
O.G.
"How did that Bastard manage to do this? All those horses?" cried Léandre.
It was not the right time but a smile stole to Raoul's lips. "She is safe with him"
"How can you say that?" he was more annoyed by Raoul's calm than by the incident itself. The wound to his face wasn't deep but it was a personal affront.
"I may hate him for my own personal reasons but I know she could not be in safer hands. He would kill or die before he would allow harm to come to Christine" With a resigned look Raoul walked away.
"Who the hell is O.G.? His accomplice?" Raoul heard the question but chose not to answer. It was water under the bridge and he had a headache. Tomorrow he would have to send a few servants to bring back his horses from the Souvigne stables.
Léandre looked at Raoul's back in disgust. It became apparent why he had lost Christine; the masked scoundrel had more gumption than his cousin did. He, Léandre was not Raoul, and Erik, would be taught that lesson in time.
