Chapter Seven: How Do I Loathe Thee, Let Me Count The Ways...
Christine stormed down the back steps in a raging temper, carrying buckets of feed for the chickens.
"Yet again, he asks me to marry him!" the redhead burst out furiously, blue eyes flashing with rage.
"Me, the wife of that rude, arrogant, self-absorbed, spoilt little brat..." she sneered, scattering feed everywhere.
"And this time he has the gall to try to take liberties with me, as if I'm some common strumpet that he could buy for two francs a night? Of all the nerve!" she fumed.
"La Vicomtesse, can't you just see it?" Christine put on a false simpering tone, batting her eyes dramatically.
"La Vicomtesse, Raoul's little wife...ugh!" she slammed the feed buckets down a bit harder than she probably should have, sending squawking chickens scattering everywhere.
"I'd rather die!" she hissed, practically seething.
Suddenly, there was a loud whinnying call and Christine looked up in surprise to see a dappled gray mare galloping toward her at top speed.
"Étoile?" she gasped in disbelief, quickly rushing to soothe the distressed animal and immediately noticing the absence of a rider.
"What happened? Where's Alexandré? Where's Papa?"
However the panicked mare resisted the redhead's efforts to calm her, frantically tossing her head uneasily toward the outskirts of the village and pacing back and forth in agitation.
Quickly getting the message, Christine heaved herself astride.
"Come, Étoile, we have to find them! You have to take me to them!"
A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Eight...