Vanity Blair

Disclaimer: Gossip Girl and quotes belong to Cecily von Ziegesar and the CW.

Chapter VI: Bass and Prejudice

SPOTTED: S, arm in arm with both N and the newcomer J... is little queen B to be replaced so quickly?

Lady Waldorf had been sat decorously on a sofa in the corner, the flickering shadows from the fire suddenly making her look very aged. She had looked up as her daughter entered, an expression of bewilderment on her face.

Blair had never been the type to rush across a room and grasp anyone's knees in anxiety, but she approached with some speed and sat down close to her mother. "Mother? Is something the matter?"

Eleanor turned to look at her daughter, a tear spilling out across her unwrinkled skin. "We are ruined, Blair."

"What?"

Eleanor smiled bitterly. "Ruined. Your father has ruined us. His passion for gambling has gone too far."

"But – what can we do?"

Eleanor straightened her back. "We will lose everything if I do not act quickly. There is only one solution. We must declare that your father is dead."

"Dead? Mother, that is illegal! I f someone should find out-"

"They won't," snapped Eleanor. "Only you and I will know, Blair, and you will not speak of this to a soul. Think of what the scandal would do to your reputation. The charming Archibald boy."

Blair took a deep breath and then nodded.

Blair stared at Chuck in disbelief as he, insensitive creature, polished off the scotch.

"That is slander," she said flatly.

"And yet you don't seem too eager to deny it, or demand why I made such an accusation, Miss Waldorf," replied Bass. The atmosphere in the room had changed since Bass clearly felt he had the upper hand, whether his courage was Dutch or not. Actually the alcohol seemed to have steadied his nerves.

"You are speechless, in fact," continued Bass. He allowed a small smirk to come to his lips. "Yet I know for a certainty that the gentleman formerly known as Sir Harold Waldorf currently resides in a small house in Montpellier, under the name of Henri Chevalier. Due to his supposed death, his entailed estates go to an estranged cousin and Miss Blair Waldorf, his only daughter, is left with only a very small fortune."

Somehow Blair found her voice again. "Very astute, Bass. What is your point?"

"No point, Miss Waldorf. I just wished to ensure that you were aware of this information."

Blair swallowed. "Are you threatening me?"

Bass focused on his glass, setting it down on his desk with a calculated precision. "I would never do that, Blair."

Blair let out a cold, sarcastic laugh. "I think you would, Bass. I have some modicum of intelligence. But for the moment, let us pretend that you aren't threatening me. Why then would you inform me of your knowledge?"

Bass lifted one long finger, topped with a single gold signet ring, and ran it lightly around the rim of his drinking vessel. "I have no wish to threaten you, Blair," he repeated, drawing out the syllables in a way which made Blair want to shiver. "I simply have a proposition which I feel may be mutually beneficial to the both of us."

Blair kept her mouth firmly closed.

Bass withdrew his finger and continued, "I will be frank with you, Blair. Despite your liking to deny and ignore it, we have in fact known each other far longer than anyone else. Since we were both mere infants. There is no one who knows more than you, I am sure, of all my weaknesses and excesses."

"Spare me the catalogue of your gambling and womanising, Bass."

"If you insist. In short, the decadence of my lifestyle has finally attracted the attention of my father. He has grown weary of my debts and so-called reputation, decided that it might damage his business interests and offered me an ultimatum. Either I leave for the continent at once and take my leave of him and this country forever –"

"That sounds perfect," cut in Blair.

"Unfortunately I have already sampled my share of foreign delights and grown tired of leaves me to consider the second option: settle down with a wife and become a respectable pillar of society."

"That sounds most unlike you, Bass. Besides, what kind of fool would consent to become your wife?"

"That is exactly why I turn to you, my fair lady."

"You wish me to find you a suitable wife? Allow me to inform you that none of my acquaintance would suit your tastes, nor would I wish upon them such a curse. I-" Suddenly realisation dawned. "Me? You wish to marry me? Is this your twisted kind of blackmail?"

"Not blackmail, I assure you, Blair." He reached out one hand across the desk and traced one finger down her cheek. "I myself am of the opinion that we would deal extremely well together."

She slapped his hand away. "I told you not to touch me, Bass. And I assure you that we would not."

He leaned back in his chair, watching her with a languid smile. "Think of it, Blair. I come from the richest family in England. All the money you could wish for. Clothes and jewels and holidays. A house to yourself, if you wished it, with a score of servants to tend your every whim."

"Is that all you think I care for, Bass? Then you know nothing about me. And allow me to remind you that I am already engaged to someone else." She stood, extending her left hand and allowing the flawless diamond to shine beneath his eyes. "To your best friend, in fact."

Bass decided to ignore her words and looked at the jewel beneath his nose. "A little vulgar, a rock of that size, is it not? Not what I would have chosen for you."

Blair folded her arms. "Fortunately you shall never have that honour," she spat."You nauseate me."

"All this talk about how you must marry Nate or the world will end..." Bass mocked."Face it. He doesn't love you."

Blair remained stony faced. "Who says I love him? And now that you have insulted me beyond belief, I shall take my leave."

She turned towards the door. Bass called after her, "What makes you so sure I won't spill your little secret? Lady Mischief would have a field day."

Blair paused in the doorway. "Your dubious honour as a gentleman, sir, and the fact that I have something to hold over your head also."

Blair awoke the next day to see Dorota enter her bedroom as usual, bearing a silver tray balancing a cup of hot chocolate. She placed the tray on a side table, opened the curtains and served Blair her drink.

What was not usual was the finely wrapped package also on the tray.

"What's that?" asked Blair, raising herself on her elbow and taking the cup offered by Dorota.

Dorota beamed. "It came very early this morning by a footman. Perhaps it is from Mr Nate?"

"I hope so, Dorota," said Blair happily. She had not seen Nate for a while, but a present from him would make everything alright. She picked up the package, expecting to see a note attached, but there was nothing. Still, Nate wasn't much of a writer, so she opened the package anyway.

Inside was a folded note and a delicate filigree box of gold scrolling in the shape of a miniature chest. She flicked open the tiny latch. Inside, on a bed of silvery satin, was a pear shaped ruby, flanked by round diamonds on a golden chain. She dangled the necklace from her fingers, admiring the exquisite cut, then unfolded the letter.

Her heart sank.

Rubies suit you so much more than diamonds. CB

Furious, Blair called out "Fetch me some paper, Dorota! And a pen! Quickly!"

She crawled out of bed, put on a dressing gown and settled at her desk. Dorota hurriedly produced the paper, but when faced with a blank paper and a pen slowly dripping ink into puddles on the surface, she could think of nothing to write, much to her annoyance.

Eventually she gave up and handed the gift to Dorota, with the words, "Seal this up, Dorota, and send it straight back to Chuck Bass."

Dorota frowned in confusion. "Mr Chuck? What about Mr Nate?"

"It wasn't from Mr Nate, Dorota. It was from Mr Chuck." Ignoring Dorota's gasp, for it was beyond impropriety for an unmarried female to receive such a valuable present from an unmarried male, not to mention Chuck's reputation, she went on, "Don't tell my mother, Dorota. Don't tell anyone."