It's actually on time today!!! Thank you to all the people who reviewed, and who have been reading this story. Totally honestly, I would never have actually written and finished a story without you guys, but I promise I'll finish this one. I now have over 90 reviews!
Disclaimer: Not mine, etc. etc.
CHAPTER ELEVEN!!
"You know that when I was just eleven, my parents died and Armand, being eight years my senior, pledged to take care of me. I was the most spoiled girl in France; he gave me everything. Years ago, my dear Armand was in love with Angéle Saint-Cyr, but the marquis was full of arrogance and prejudices and refused him access to his love. One day, he sent a poem, ardent and passionate, to the object of his affections. The next night he was waylaid by the valets of the marquis de Saint-Cyr and thrashed like a dog. Later on, when I got older, his son decided that he wanted to marry me, and again, the marquis disapproved. He had me thrown into the Saint-Lazare prison! Do you know what Saint-Lazare is? Do you know the kinds of women who are sent there?"
Her voice shock, eyes looking straight at him in sadness but indignation. Sir Percy knew what Saint-Lazare was, or used to be; a holding place for people who had become a disgrace to their families, prostitutes, thieves, adulterers. No virtuous women could be found there. He felt a rush of pity for the woman he loved so deeply, at whose hands his pride had suffered so bitterly.
"I- I would have killed myself, but then..." She paused.
"What happened?"
She raised her head, to look him straight in the eye. "The Revolution. The ever glorious 14th of July. And I was free."
Percy strode forward a couple of steps, moving near enough that she could hear his breathing. His eyes burned intensely as he started at her. They stayed like that for a moment, eyes joined, gauging emotions. Finally he said, "Why this tardy explanation? I asked you whether you were at fault the day after their deaths and you said yes!"
"And you believed me so easily!" She shot back, "One day I happened to hear that the Saint-Cyr was plotting against the Tribunal to retain the privileges that put them above their fellow men. I was young and impulsive, still smarting at the insults the marquis had paid my family, and not calculating the consequences I told a friend. He denounced them. "
"And who was this friend?" Sir Percy asked, his face devoid of the usual lazy, easygoing smile. His eyes, normally covered by drooping lids, opened slightly to make him look perceptive and unyielding. "Was it Chauvelin?"
She looked down "...Yes."
"I see..." he turned away. Marguerite, in an agony of worry, grabbed his sleeve to stop him from leaving. The crisis she was going through shot through her mind, but now she thought it possible that this man, who she knew now still loved her, could help her share the burden. He turned and looked back at her with surprise, that mask of polite indifference back in place.
"Percy, I have to speak to you... because...because I am in trouble."
"In what way can I serve you, my lady?" He said, his voice slightly shaking, intoxicated by her beauty, the moonlight on her shoulders and the music of her voice.
"It is Armand, Percy. Chauvelin has a note of his, rash and impetuous, written to Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, and now Armand is hopelessly compromised. It means the guillotine for him if he is caught in France. I've tried to help him myseIf, but... Chauvelin promised to give me the note if I... I had to..." she faltered and stopped.
"He promised you your brother's life. What price did you pay for it?" He asked, staring at her once more. Receiving no answer, he repeated the question, louder and more insistent. "What price did you pay for it?"
"Oh Percy! I paid a horrible price! I betrayed a brave and noble man, but even so, I've no idea what will happen to Armand! Any day he could be arrested, and after that the guillotine..."
Unable to bear it any longer, Marguerite broke into tears which flowed silently down her beautiful face. Sir Percy seemed shaken and instinctively reached out for her. He would have cradled her in his arms, protected her from all harm, but pride got the better of him once again. His arms dropped as he watched her small frame wracked with sobs. Finally, after restraining himself with a great act of will, he asked in a slightly trembling voice:
"Will you not tell me how I may have the honour to serve you?"
Marguerite tried to control herself, and turned a tear stained face to him as she once more held out her hand to him. He took it and kissed it with the same punctilious gallantry, but this time Marguerite felt that his hands were hot and trembling, whereas his lips were cold as ice.
"Can you do nothing for Armand?" She asked, sweetly and prettily. "You have so much influence, so many friends. If you could... I- I'd love you till I died!"
"Well, that's incentive isn't it?" He said with a small bow, his voice once again the indifferent fool she had thought him to be, "My life exists to serve you, madame. As for Armand, have no fear. I pledge my word that he shall be safe."
0
Ren was astounded. After so many retakes, so many mistakes, Kyoko had suddenly managed to pull off such an amazing performance. Kyoko had been so beautiful; when she started crying it was all Ren could do not to pull her to him. He could thoroughly emphasis with Sir Percy at that moment. Her eyes had conveyed the love Marguerite had felt for her husband, and Ren was amazed at how she could do such a thing. He had to feel love before he could act it. How was Kyoko doing it? Each expression stirred his heart and all her lines were delivered perfectly. Evidently, somehow she had figured out the problem that she had had with this scene previously.
Now, he strode over to her to congratulate her, or rather, interrogate her, he realised he might have to wait a while. Seems like the Director and Yashiro also felt the need to express their relief at not having to redo the scene again. So Ren would have to bide his time. As he stood slightly off to the side, he smiled slightly as he watched Kyoko laughing with the other two men, faintly flushed. She looked up and gave him a shy smile, and Ren felt his heart skip a beat. She really was wonderful.
A minute or so later, Director Shinkai was called off to go fix one of the many problems that occur daily on a movie set. Some newbie had damaged one of the props. Yashiro gave Ren a discrete inclination of the head, not even a nod, and wandered away. Ren stepped up to talk to Kyoko. They ended up sitting down in companionable silence for some time, looking around at the busy room as the workers removed the lighting and props.
"So," Kyoko said, apparently bored of the silence, "If I were in trouble, would you come and save me?"
Ren smiled his gentlemanly smile at her, about to consent, when he noticed that although she was smiling politely it reminded him of his own mask; there was something just slightly off, and her eyes were staring into his. He immediately dropped the fake smile and grabbed her hand, kissed it and said:
"My life exists to serve you."
Kyoko blushed and smiled, smaller but more genuine, at his reply; a line from the earlier scene. Ren had meant every word, although he supposed she didn't realise that. He hoped he got his point across with a serious glance, though. Ren wondered about the cause of such a question, as there was apparently some reason Kyoko saw fit to ask him. Perhaps something to do with why she was acting so strangely. Why she was late last week? Why she suddenly couldn't look at him? Maybe she'd tell him what was up sometime soon. Ren resolved to sit in silence and wait for her to tell. He briefly considered not leaving her side until she did, but knew Yashiro would never shut up about it so he scrapped that plan.
The Director came over and told them that it would be a little while before they were needed, and they might as well go somewhere to sit down. Kyoko nodded and bowed, before turning to look up at Ren. Obviously she was going to follow where he went. It was getting quite late now, almost eight o'clock, but the shoot stopped at nine thirty. Ren thought it would be a good idea to eat something, so they walked over to a smaller dining area and took one of the bento boxes there each. It wasn't much, but it would certainly satiate them until the end of the filming. Ren didn't mind; he wasn't really a big eater.
0
Kyoko turned to Ren when they finished and said "I'm sorry, I really need to go and fix myself up."
Ren smiled and nodded, and they walked from the room along the corridor to her dressing room, passing random crew members as they went. Kyoko pulled the black wig from her hair and sighed contentedly. The wig was quite hot and heavy, and the temperature wasn't exactly cool at the moment. She was glad she could finally take it off; now that she'd done that scene, she could take a break. Kyoko had to really yell at herself for being so childish; it really didn't matter if Ren found out she liked him, he was in love with some other girl anyway. She tried not to admit that that fact hurt. They were passing the mansion's lobby when someone one called out to them.
"Hey, Mogami Kyoko? This is for you, someone left it here."
Kyoko took a large cardboard box from the man, bowing to thank him for delivering the package. It had her name written in bold, black marker, but other than that no distinguishable features. She took it with her as they walked into her dressing room, leaving the door open. She put Marguerite's wig on the stand on her table then put the box beside it. Ren politely stood a little off to the side, leaning against the wall and pretending to be immersed in the wood panelled floor. She smiled slightly, looking at him. Kyoko had to admit he was very good looking. She tore off the sticky tape and opened the box almost absentmindedly.
Meat. Blood. Stench. She gave a small yelp as she let go of the cardboard flaps, letting them fall to the side. Ren immediately rushed over and grabbed her as she collapsed, trying not to throw up at the smell of rotting meat, like an abandoned butchers shop. He took one glance at the package and picked her up in his arms, carrying her out into the hallway and down it until they came to a bench, where he sat and stroked her face, trying to calm her down. Once she had control of her stomach, she smiled slightly at him.
"I'm okay, Ren, it was just the smell..."
"Are you sure? Here, Kyoko, stay seated, I'm going to call Shinkai okay? You stay right there, don't go back into that room." He looked seriously at her before half running back to the main set. Kyoko stayed seat and took some deep breaths of the clean air. Luckily, now she could remember the delightful package someone had sent her, she was fortunate enough to have cooked for long enough to recognise a side of pork, among... others. A more hysterical person might have thought it was human. Obviously her mysterious pen pal had decided to give her a present to go with the notes.
0
Okay, I was going to continue but the chapter got longer than I wanted it to, and the next bit should come in a chunk. So yeah, another week guys! Sorry!
On Fanfiction, there are three R's; reading, (w)riting, and REVIEWING...! *wink wink nudge nudge*