Chap 7
Erik leaned to the side and looked out of the window to see who Nate was referring to. Out of the carriage climbed a man dressed in dark finery. He stood up tall and looked around him, an unpleasant smirk on his face. His features were similar in coloring and shape as those seen on the Baroness, betraying the fact that they were related, but that is where similarities ended.
His eyes were large and blue, but appeared cold and menacing. His black hair was pulled back and was shiny; set against his light skin, it gave him the appearance of a vampire. The beautiful facial features seen on the Baroness appeared sharp and devious on this man, a permanent scowl leaving wrinkles on his face. He walked around his flirtatious sister with arrogance and exuded anger. He affected everyone around him as well, but in an entirely different manner.
Erik's brows furrowed instinctively as he looked outside. Behind him, Nate spoke.
"That man, Erik, is the Marquis of The Ardennes, Prince Montague. He is the brother of the Baroness. Half-brother, actually. His poor mother was the Queen of the Netherlands, their father is the King. It killed her to give birth to that putrid spawn." Nate said, glaring at Montague.
"Angelique's mother was a gypsy of high ranking, a Drabenhgi, who had left her people after falling in love with the King of the Netherlands, several years after his Queen had died. Her mother became the King's beloved consort for many years, much to the dismay of his court. Angelique is the King's obvious favorite, albeit illegitimate, child. It is strange, very strange for the Prince to be here. It can only be in reference to business of the state. He is not well liked here. Forgive my rambling, Erik, I bore you with the details."
"No, no, please go on. I do not mind hearing about it. I don't get out much as you can see." Said Erik, keeping his eyes on the two guests outside. Nate guffawed at Erik's reference to his confinement.
"We can change that, Erik. Tomorrow I will bring you out on a carriage ride to view the estate. Beautiful it is, Capellen manor. Our own little piece of heaven…" Nate continued. By then, Erik only was only half listening.
Erik saw when Elaine reached her friend Angelique. The women embraced with squeals of glee, like schoolgirls reunited. He smiled to himself at seeing Elaine so full of joy. A second later, her demeanor changed as she turned to the Prince; she greeted him with a false smile and a stiff curtsy. He reached out for her hand which she reluctantly gave him. She practically winced when he kissed it, retracting it a little too swiftly.
Elaine stood at the base of the stairs, facing Monty. Their last meeting was not as civil.
Two years ago, they were both guests in Colmar-Berg, for a gala at the Dukes castle. The festivities were pleasant enough, but Elaine was pursued mercilessly by Monty. He was well known for indulging in drink and making himself a nuisance with the womenfolk. He had much to drink that night. Monty cornered Elaine in a dark hallway and tried to force himself on her. She refused his advances with force after diplomacy was exhausted.
In response to her knee in his groin, he cursed her as a harlot and called her son a bastard. Leaving the party in haste, she had since kept her distance from the molesting Prince. She had attributed his actions that night to the spirits he had taken in, but inside she knew better. Montague had been chasing after her since they were children, and he did not seem to accept that she just did not want to have anything to do with him. Despite his devilish good looks, Montague was a nasty and impatient man. He did not take no as answer. Any refusal she gave only inticed him more.
Back on the steps of Capellen manor, Angelique had quite enough of the tense discourse and walked between Monty and Elaine.
"Come now Elaine, we have much catching up to do…" Angelique said, artfully whisking Elaine away, walking ahead of her now fuming brother.
"Take me to the Earl. Now." Monty snarled at the nearest servant, glaring at his sister.
The women walked up to the second story and rushed into a sitting room, the one next to Erik's quarters. Elaine closed the door with a relieved sigh.
"A thousand thanks, Angelique. Look, I know he is your brother, but he really makes my skin crawl…" said Elaine.
"Don't mention it, honey. I think of you as a sister more than I think of him as a brother. Monty, I know very well, is a cad. I am ashamed of him mostly, and usually just try to ignore the fact that he exists." Angelique said, standing up in front of her, gently holding both of Elaine's hands. "Let us forget about him, please?" She said.
"Gladly, Angelique." Elaine said.
"Do you remember it, Lioness?" Angelique said, a twinkle in her eye.
"Of course, Tigress." Elaine smiled, nodding knowingly. They began to speak in unison:
"Long live the women of the Den of Sands. Intelligence, beauty, and freedom will conquer. Honesty begets trust, begets loyalty, begets sisterhood, begets fortitude. We will prevail in any and all matters." They giggled after the chant.
"I can't believe I still remember that!" said Elaine.
"You best remember it! At the last count, there were 100 more sisters inducted this year in the Universities in Germany and France alone. Our little club has become quite big, my dear." Said Angelique, taking off her coat and hat.
What had started out as a secret girls club in boarding schools throughout Europe, a tribute to the French Poet Madame George Sands, had grown up with the girls who had been a part of it. The Den of Sands became a Sisterhood for learned women all over Europe. The women communicated via mail privately and publicly via cryptic newspaper and magazine advertisements. The women of the organization assisted each other eagerly in all things academic, political, social, and private. Each university with women had a chapter, and many powerful women in society were secretly members of the Den of Sands.
The women at from their school practiced a special brand of freedom: social freedom. The girls at their boarding school were absolute terrors in the sense that they were constantly sneaking off, living life to the fullest, with song, dance, wine, and men. Many men. They referred to each other by playful nicknames such as the Tigress (Angelique), the Lioness (Elaine), the Vixen, and so on. Their exploits were well known, much to the chagrin of their parents. Dr. Dyson was none too proud of Elaine's exploits with Angelique.
Angelique was particularly adept at manipulating members of the male persuasion. She had the knack of knowing how to get around any obstacle thrown her way, and was able to get whatever she desired from any man unfortunate enough to cross her path. Her hunger for sex seemed insatiable, but inside, she was as unreachable and cold as the stars. She swore no love to any man, even those who pledged their love to her. She did not deem any man worthy as anything more than instruments of her pleasure. She broke hearts often, and was particularly devastating to any man who tried to win her heart. She was particularly fond of corrupting virgins.
Elaine, on the other hand, was the sweet one, whom men would fall for hopelessly with a look and a touch, but she was not as unreachable as Angelique. She did break hearts, but she also had her own heart broken in return several times. Being burned too many times, Elaine stopped her exploits when she left the school, only continuing in that vein when she was out with Angelique in society.
"I have a bone to pick with you, Angelique." Said Elaine, with a more serious tone, curling up comfortably on the couch.
"Oh, what have I done now?" Angelique said, dropping back into an overstuffed armchair chair, after she poured herself a drink of something strong from the liquor cabinet. She handed Elaine a glass that was just as full.
"You never invited me to your wedding, Angelique! I thought we were the closest of friends!" She said, genuinely hurt.
"Oh, that contrivance. I would no sooner have invited you to my wedding to the Baron than I would have invited you to see me get my hair done. That was some time ago, wasn't it?" Angelique said, matter of factly.
"I don't understand." Elaine shook her head, quite confused.
"Darling, that was a marriage of convenience to the highest degree. He is an older, infirm gentleman who just happens to be a prominent professor of mathematics in France. We met and I wooed him academically with my latest work on theorems. We published it you know, under my pen name. Anyway, I was the perfect affront for him. You see, my dear Elaine, the Baron and I, well, we shared a common lust …Men!" Elaine's mouth dropped and both Angelique and Elaine squealed with laughter. Angelique continued to explain.
"With me on his arm, and my reputation, the stories of him lying with men all but vanished. Then there were the stories of him being a cuckolded husband, since I chose not to keep my 'habits' out of view. That, he felt he could handle. It has been one of the best relationships I have ever had!" Angelique laughed. She sighed and looked wistfully at the drink. "I will miss him though. He is quite ill, the poor soul, and will probably not be alive by the time I return home." Elaine was shocked; Angelique showed no more sadness than if she was talking about someone else's husband.
"Did you not care for him?" said Elaine.
"Oh yes, very much, as the friend and teacher that he was. Do not despair for him, Elaine, his lover is with him. I would just be in the way." Angelique said.
"All the same, I am sorry, my dear." Elaine said, rubbing her friend's arm.
"Thank you, Elaine. One must move on though."
"Angelique… I don't know how you can maintain your emotional distance like that."
Elaine said, crossing her arms.
"You were always the compassionate one, Elaine. But your quest for love has only gotten you in trouble." Angelique warned.
"I know, I know." She sighed. "You are referring to what happened when I was at the medical college…" Elaine said, suddenly becoming quiet and withdrawn. Angelique got up and sat next to Elaine, holding her around the shoulder.
"I am sorry, my dear. I did not mean to dredge up bad memories. Let us talk of more pleasant things, shall we? Running the risk of sounding like I am prying; what man now makes your cheeks flushed? I hope he is worthy of you, or he will have to contend with me." Angelique said, with a sheepish grin. Elaine looked questioningly at Angelique.
"I am afraid I don't know what you mean, Angelique." Elaine said.
Ah! She does not even realize she is falling for a man. How so like Elaine. Thought Angelique, shaking her head.
"Oh, never mind, Elaine, maybe I am reading into your expressions too much. Tell me, what has been happening in your cute little country..." Angelique began to say. They were startled by a noise in the next room. They then heard Nate's angered voice through the walls…
"Damn him!"