Chapitre 15
The many weeks of solitude in the Count's manor ticked away, until at last the day came. The day that the Count said that we were to meet with Albert and his friends so that my love could make a proper entrance into Parisian society, May 22nd. With much anticipation I carefully selected one of my loveliest dresses for meeting Albert and Franz again as well as their friends. It was a halter neck and hugged my curves. The colour of ripe plums and I added golden bangles on my wrists and let my hair fall out. Twirling in front of the mirror Mina fixed my hem as I looked over it, I had never worn it before as I was a conservative being until I met the man of my dreams.
"What do you think Mina? Is it too much?" I asked, she shrugged.
"You look lovely Miss Cutter. Will that be all?" She asked, I blinked at her. Her face was blank and not her lively self, she wasn't quite right ever since we came back from Luna.
"Is everything alright Mina? You've been acting odd as of late." I said, she got off the floor and smiled a little.
"I'm quite fine Miss Cutter; I just need to remember where my place is. If you'll excuse me..." She curtsied and left the room. There was a little cry of surprise outside my bedroom door and the Count stepped inside, I saw Mina just outside. Her face was ever so white.
"Oh my dear..." He said, making his way over to me. I twirled a little, showing off my petite frame.
"What do you think?" I asked him, looking at my reflection. Suddenly I was spun around and my back met the cold glass of the mirror, I gasped in surprise. He had me pinned against the mirror, that wickedly seductive smirk on his face.
"I think it should be a sin to look as delicious as you do my dove." Suddenly his lips met my exposed shoulder. His arm wrapped against my waist, crushing my body to his. I cupped his face; his lips met mine in a hungry kiss. Nibbling down on my lip as he tried to contain his longing.
"C-Count. The viscount is expecting us." I murmured against his lips. He stopped and groaned, his other hand cupping my chin.
"You're really fond of that boy aren't you?" He said, while trying to hide a smirk.
"He's a sweetheart and besides... I think he's been counting down the minutes until this day." I said, he released my waist and I regained my balance. I checked my appearance for the hundredth time, adjusting my dress. I felt him place a beautiful silk shawl around my shoulders, his lips against my ear.
"You don't need to try so hard, you look wonderful in anything." I squeaked and turned scarlet as his finger curled around the ribbon of the halter neck. "Even your skin is lovely on its own." I pulled the shawl tighter around my shoulders and smiled as I left the room. The Count following close behind me, I saw Haydee looking at us from behind a golden pillar. I smiled at her but she didn't return the gesture. Shaking this off I got to the carriage and sat opposite the Count, with a crack of the reigns the horses took off into the pouring rain. He sat there quietly opposite me, his eyes closed deep in thought.
"Is something wrong your Excellency?" I asked, he glanced at me.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself about my dear. In fact, everything is going just fine." He said, the most peculiar smile on his face. As though he was remembering a joke an old friend told him. *THUMP* I lifted my hand to my forehead, this was happening far too often. The headaches, the voice.
'Mon amie ont dit à moi à , il y a rien tellement variable que une être humain coeur. (My friend said to me, there is nothing so inconstant as a human heart)' The voice faded and I regained my composure, just as the carriage stopped at the Morcerf mansion.
We went inside; the Count led the way as usual. One of the servants took my shawl but he went on ahead, still in his cloak and hat. Suddenly the room was thrown into darkness; the icy wind blew through the hall and into all open doors. I let out a cry as dead leaves came flying in, but the Count kept moving as though pulled my unseen forces. I stayed behind and watched him as one of the Morcerf servants announced his entry. The lights came on once again as I followed behind him, to a room where young voices were coming. Carefully I opened the door and looked inside; the Count was placing his hat and coat on a discarded chair.
"Albert? Franz?" I whispered, all eyes moved to me. Albert smiled warmly at me as well as Franz.
"Ah, there you are my dear. Gentlemen, may I introduce my companion the lovely Mademoiselle Estelle Cutter." The Count said, taking my hand and moving me to sit beside him. I looked around at the strangers, a young man with red hair and flashy clothes, another who looked like a journalist and a third dressed as a soldier.
"It's an honour to see you two again." Albert said as he sat down.
"The honour is all mine, Viscount Morcerf." The Count muttered, I nodded in agreement.
"Please call me Albert. Surely you and I are on familiar terms by now, Count." He said, I smiled at him.
"Of course Albert." I said.
"Now as promised, allow me to introduce you both to my friends." Albert said. "You already know Franz. This is Lucien Debray; he is a shrewd civil servant who already holds a key position in the Interior Ministry. This is Beauchamp, a newspaper reporter who can tell you anything you might want to know about Paris."
"It's more of a third-rate gossip sheet than a newspaper." Beauchamp said.
"Most fascinating." The Count said.
"Even small papers can make all the difference in a civilized world." I agreed.
"This is Cavalry Captain Maximilien Morrel, hero of the Eridanus campaign." Albert continued.
"Nice to meet you." He said to the both of us.
"Ah, the very paragon of a faithful, brave soldier I see." The Count said.
"You know the Captain?" Albert asked, I look at the Count with interest.
"Not at all." He said, I rested back against the couch.
"We've heard that you've come to us from somewhere far away..." Beauchamp said.
"You're trying to interview him already? Don't be rude to our guest." Albert said to Beauchamp.
"I'm just trying to do my job." He said, raising his camera. I flinched as the bright light stung my eyes, the Count tensed up.
"On many worlds, photographs are seen as an abominable custom. I must ask you to abstain." The Count said.
"Please Beauchamp; I'm not at all fond of publicity." I said, he lowered his camera.
"Sorry, sorry..." He said, though I could tell he really wasn't.
"In the course of visiting many foreign lands as a sailor I've become thoroughly tainted by the customs of other worlds. I must seem quite the savage to the people of Paris." The Count said, I brushed my hand against his.
"Not to me though." I said, he smiled and rested his hand on mine.
"What sorts of places have you been to?" Beauchamp asked.
"I have travelled to many places. To Easter Space, to Northern Space. Even to the core of a galaxy."
"Even the Imperium?"
"Of course. To a sailor, there are no such things as borders." The Count said.
"Could that not be considered treason against the state?" Lucien asked, I glanced at him. He flashed a private wink at me, I rolled my eyes.
"I see no reason to swear loyalty to people who do nothing to protect me. Do you not agree?"
"I see you possess rather bold opinions." Lucien said.
"True enough." Beauchamp agreed.
"I suggest that you experience being cast out into the vast universe all alone. I expect that you will soon understand that the only person one can count upon is yourself." The Count said. There was the twinkling of a bell and Albert asked the table be set for tea.
"But anyone with eyes can see that you're not alone." Lucien said, glancing at me. "Your family is French isn't it Mademoiselle?" He asked.
"That's right." I said.
"Estelle and I met a few months ago. It's funny how a sheltered rose cannot bloom without the sun." The Count said, I blushed.
"It is also funny how that same sun can melt a heart of ice." I whispered, the Count smirked at me. *THUMP*
'Les soleil brûlures à être en effervescence haºr. Tellement fait mon amie pour thanksggiving de toute beauté âme. (The sun burns with seething hate. So does my friend for that beautiful soul)' The voice said, I shook it off and we all went to the dining room where tea and cakes were laid out for us. The questions kept coming down like hailstones, most of them from Beauchamp and Lucien. Slowly the night progressed; I found myself liking Maximilien the most out of my new acquaintances. Beauchamp was very pushy towards the Count and Lucien seemed not only suspicious of the Count but also appeared interested in having an affair with me. After a few hours the other guests left and the Count and I wandered around Albert's home. My arm entwined with his, we moved into what appeared to Albert's bedroom.
"Oh." I sighed, looking up at a huge portrait. Carefully I moved towards it, the Count was perfectly still. "She's lovely! Don't you think so?" I turned and looked at the Count, my eyes widening. His eyes burned as he looked at the woman's face, then he looked at me.
"Indeed." He muttered, not really paying attention. I looked up at her, such beautiful skin and deep eyes. I felt eyes on me, glancing over my shoulder the Count was looking at me.
"Is something wrong your Excellency?" I asked, he said nothing. 'Something is troubling him. Why can't he tell me?' I thought, wringing my hands together. Footsteps... I turned around to see Albert.
"She is very beautiful..." The Count muttered.
"Th-That's my mother." Albert stuttered. I smiled.
"Nice to see where you get your looks from..." I mused, Albert blushed.
"She is quite young. Is this a scene from Marseille?"
"She likes that place. I don't know why she chose it."
"Ah, it is wonderful."
"However, my father dislikes this painting. He wanted to burn it, so I decided to put it in my room after I calmed him down." Albert said.
"It's a lovely portrait." I said, glancing up at the Count. He was looking odd... as though he was looking at Albert's mother the way he looked at me.
"Was there something about this picture that interested you?"
"Ah, no. We should be taking our leave soon." The Count said, taking my hand.
"Please don't say that! Please have dinner with us. My mother and father are looking forward to meeting you two. If you are interested in paintings, there are other works in my parent's collection." Albert said, the Count nodded to accept the invitation for the both of us. We looked at the Morcerf art collection in the hallways, from stirring battles to tranquil gardens.
"Ah, is this where our guests were?" A sweet, mature voice said. His arm froze, I looked around and my eyes widened. Albert's parents! General Morcerf and Lady Morcerf in all their radiance, they descended the stairs.
"Count, if it's all right with you, I would like you and Estelle to join us for dinner after I have introduced my parents." Albert said, breaking the ice. He said nothing; I squeezed his arm in encouragement. "Count?"
"If it's not too much trouble." The Count said, bowing slightly, I curtsied.
"We'd be delighted." I said, my nerves relaxing.
"I must insist! You saved our son's life." Madame Morcerf said. General Morcerf came closer to us.
"Welcome, Count of Monte Cristo." He said, extending his hand. I watched closely, the Count's face turned hard like stone before shaking his hand.
"It is an honor to be in your home General." The Count said, General Morcerf moved to me.
"Mademoiselle Estelle Cutter, General. It's pleasure to meet you." I extended my hand, which the General kissed softly.
"Come, please sit." Albert said, directing us to the dining room. Over dinner, the men discussed military history while we ladies sat in silence. Until Madame Morcerf asked the Count why he wasn't eating, he revealed the special medicine he took. He also said that he seldom sleeps nowadays... even I didn't know about that. My heart was heavy with confusion and worry, I knew the Count's lifestyle was a little odd but everyone slept. At least once in awhile. Dinner concluded and everyone seemed to drift their separate ways, Albert led me to one of the rooms that he wanted to show me.
"Your home is so big Albert! I'm glad I have you or I may get lost." I said, Albert laughed.
"Glad to hear that I'm being helpful." He said, leading me to what appeared to be a library. There were hundreds of books as well as a large piano and some smaller objects covered in velvet cloth.
"Wow, your family has a fantastic book collection." I said, running my hand over the soft first-editions.
"Thank you Mademoiselle, feel free to borrow something if you want." He said, I moved over to the piano.
"Do you play Albert?" I asked, he quickly shook his head.
"His fiancé plays." A man said, I turned around to see General Morcerf enter the room. "She's very talented at the piano." He said, I smiled and looked at the objects hidden under velvet cloth. Instantly recognizing one and carefully removing the cloth, a beautiful black violin.
"May I?" I asked, General Morcerf nodded and sat down on a large couch. Albert sat by his father, watching as I carefully tuned the violin.
"You play Estelle?" Albert asked, I nodded and picked up the bow.
"Any requests?" I smiled, Albert looked a little stumped.
"Bach." General Morcerf said, I nodded gracefully and put the bow to strings. Slowly I started to play, imagining the piano in the background to keep timing correct. I watched as Albert relaxed against the seat and his father waved the tune with his finger, eventually I finished and curtsied. General Morcerf and Albert clapped, just as Lady Morcerf and the Count entered.
'Where were they?' I though suspiciously, but smiling anyway as the Count took a seat by himself and Madame Morcerf sat next to her husband.
"I thought I heard you my dear. Come, play something for us." The Count said, think for a moment. "Play Mozart. Violin concert in G." He said, I nodded and did as he requested. Watching carefully as the music cast a spell on all in the room, General Morcerf's arm wrapped around his wife and the Count was watching me carefully. Soon it was time to go home; the Count placed the shawl back around my shoulders.
"Thank you for coming your Excellency! Thank you for the music Estelle!" Albert shouted, as two carriages pulled up. I looked at the second one in confusion as Ali opened the door and beckoned me inside. The Count finished giving his invitation to Albert and then he looked at me.
"I- You're not coming with me?" I asked the Count, glancing to the other carriage where Haydee was sitting.
"I have some business to take care of. I will be back soon but don't wait up for me." He said, nodding towards me before getting inside the first carriage with Haydee. Before I could speak, it had already started to move. I dropped my gaze and got into the second one, there was the cracking of the reigns and the carriage sped off.
'Haydee has been spending a lot of time with the Count lately... she is very beautiful... could he-' I mentally slapped myself, I was just tired. 'He would never cheat on me! However... he is a very handsome man and she's a very close friend. I'm just overacting...' I went to bed very troubled that night.