June 1913, Monte Carlo
Between their heists, they enjoyed a quieter life. Marguerite grew close to Armand and Aurora, treating them like family. Gideon trained Armand to be the perfect gentleman, while Aurora focused on her studies. This dynamic brought a sense of normalcy to their lives, balancing their criminal activities with moments of genuine care and affection.
One sunny day, Marguerite and Aurora were walking along the beach, hand in hand.
Aurora looked up at her and asked, "Are we like sisters?"
Marguerite smiled and nodded. "Yes... yes, we are."
"And we'll be sisters forever, won't we?"
"Forever…" Marguerite promised, although she wasn't quite sure if she could keep that promise.
Gideon was seated under an umbrella, shielded from the sun, while Armand lay outside the shade on a wide mat. Now fifteen, Armand had grown into a fine young gentleman. He still harbored a crush on Marguerite but had learned to temper his affections so as not to be overbearing, and Marguerite had grown more patient and gentle with him.
As they joined him on the mat, Amrand held out his hand, revealing a beautiful seashell. "I know you prefer jewels, but I dived deep into the water and found this for you, Marguerite!"
Marguerite accepted it with a warm smile and kissed him on the cheek, which made him blush like a rose.
As the children dashed into the water, splashing and playing under the warm sun, Marguerite watched them with a tender gaze. Observing their joyful antics, she realized how blessed the three of them were to have each other — and to have Gideon as their guardian and mentor.
Not long after, a new man entered Marguerite's life. His name was Marcel Pinnet. He was a fellow con artist, suave, charismatic, and something of a playboy. Sometimes they were rivals and other times they were allies, depending on the stakes of their latest game. Their interactions were always sharp and playful, often blurring the lines between competition and romance. It was easy to fall in love with Marcel Pinnet.
After a successful operation in Italy, Marguerite and Marcel found themselves crossing paths in Monte Carlo.
Marguerite glanced at her watch. "I don't have much time. I'm meeting Gideon for lunch."
"My loss," Marcel responded with a slight shrug.
"So… what have you been up to since… Genova?" Marguerite asked.
"I've fallen for Monte Carlo. How about dinner afterwards?"
"I won't be hungry for dinner."
"Meet me anyway." Marcel insisted gently.
"Why would I go to dinner if I wasn't hungry?"
"To celebrate our success in Genova and to mark the beginning of what could be a wonderful partnership."
"You're incorrigible, Mr. Pinnet."
"And you are beautiful, Miss Montclaire."
During their lunch, Gideon offered a word of caution, "Be careful, my dear. While people like Mr. Pinnet make excellent partners in our line of work, I don't think they would prove to be good husbands."
Gideon Duval regularly took Marguerite and the children to the opera house, considering it an essential part of their education. He had his own box at the Salle Garnier, located on the second-level balcony.
As they waited for the performance to begin, Gideon typically engaged them with quiz questions.
"When was this opera house founded, Aurora?"
"1879."
"Excellent. And what is the name of the French architect who designed this entire complex, Armand?"
"Charles Garnier."
"Very good."
Just before the performance started, Marcel Pinnet entered their box.
"I didn't know you enjoyed opera, Mr. Pinnet," Marguerite remarked.
"I know Gideon thinks of me as unsuitable. I am improving myself until he changes his mind."
Armand, unable to hide his irritation, said, "Showing up at an opera house doesn't make you worthy of her, you know."
"It's a start, young man. Every journey begins with a single step, even the journey towards becoming a gentleman." As Marcel said this he kissed Marguerite's hand.
Armand retorted, "Yeah, well, maybe you should worry less about looking fancy and more about not being a phony."
Marguerite placed a calming hand on Armand's shoulder. "Enough, Armand. This is neither the time nor the place."
Just then, the lights in the opera house dimmed, signaling the start of the performance and the opening notes filled the air.
On a joint mission in Paris, Marguerite was surprised to find that Marcel had managed to secure adjoining rooms for them.
"How did you manage this?" She asked, both impressed and suspicious.
Marcel gave a wry smile, "I know the wife of the hotel owner. Well, I know what she likes."
"You continue to surprise me."
"Then allow me to surprise you even further," Marcel suggested, closing the distance between them and kissing her passionately.
Marguerite pulled away slightly, "Mr. Pinnet! You can't possibly think that..."
"I do think."
"You want us... here... to—" Marguerite began, her voice trailing off.
"Make love," Marcel finished confidently.
"I can't."
"If devotion is what you're seeking," Marcel said, his voice earnest, "know that no man on this earth cares for you more than I do."
He kissed her again and soon they were in bed.
In the aftermath, they lay together, wrapped in the contentment and warmth of their shared moment. As Marcel kissed her arm, he murmured between each kiss. "I want to do this for the rest of my life."
"Make love?"
"Be with you... Living the life we lead... Life of a thief suits me very well."
Marguerite paused, considering his words. "I'm not sure it suits me. It's thrilling, yes, but it's not something I want to do forever."
"If you want to settle down, get married, have six kids, we can do that too," Marcel offered with a broad smile.
Leaning in, Marguerite captured his lips with hers in a tender, affirming kiss, sealing their conversation with a promise of endless possibilities.
Marguerite and Marcel found a mischievous pleasure in provoking Edgard Perrault together. They concocted elaborate scenarios designed to tease and test Edgard's patience.
After another such mission, Marguerite and Marcel found themselves in a shadowy Parisian alley, laughing over their latest escapade and how they had once again outwitted Edgard.
"Did you see his face when he realized we'd given him the slip again?" Marcel asked.
"Yes! He looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon! I thought he was going to burst right there on the spot."
"And how about when you dropped that fake clue? He was so eager, rushing off to find the 'hidden treasure' we supposedly left behind."
"I loved the part where he ordered his team around like a general, only to lead them on a wild goose chase across town. He must be so frustrated!"
As their laughter faded, Marcel's expression became serious and he pulled Marguerite close, capturing her lips in a kiss. Suddenly, he pulled back slightly, his eyes locked on hers, and blurted out, "Marry me!"
"What?" Marguerite gasped, caught off guard.
From his pocket, Marcel produced a diamond ring, gleaming under the dim streetlight. He held it out to her and said again, "Marry me."
"Is that ring stolen?" She asked, half-amused and half-serious.
"Stolen with great love and dreams of our future."
Marguerite laughed, "You are crazy."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's not a no," she mused, "but realistically, how will we live? Our current life hardly offers any security."
"We'll find a way. Who better than you and me? Let me spend the rest of my life solely devoted to making you happy. I won't stop asking you until you say no."
"What If I say yes?"
"Then I'll stop."
The playful spark in his eyes told her he was serious, not just about the proposal but about embarking on a future together, whether it came with stolen jewels or stolen moments.
"Yes, Marcel Pinnet, I will marry you!"
Then one day, Marcel disappeared. Marguerite waited for him at home, thinking he was on another mission, but days turned into weeks with no sign of him. Her worry grew with each passing moment as she searched for any clue that might lead to him.
Two months later, Marguerite received a letter. Her hands trembled as she opened the envelope, her heart heavy with hope and dread. As she read the words on the paper, her world crumbled.
"My dearest Marguerite,
I know this letter will not bring you comfort, and I beg you to forgive me for the pain I am causing you. I must leave. Our love, as real as it is, is not enough to keep me here. There is something I must do, something I cannot share with you. Farewell, my beloved. I will always love you.
Marcel"
Marguerite's heart shattered. Tears streamed down her face as she stared at the letter, unable to believe that her beloved Marcel was gone. The pain of loss and betrayal pierced through her, leaving her in darkness. She noticed the postage stamp on the envelope. It was from Shanghai. Driven by a mix of love, anger, and the need for answers, Marguerite made a momentary decision to follow him. Their story was far from over, and she would find him, no matter where the journey led.
June 28 1914
Armand was furious.
"How can you let her go? Why don't you stop her?"
"I can't lock her in a room and keep her captive." Gideon replied.
"You could if it meant keeping her safe!"
"Ah, my dear Armand. You must learn that we cannot control the actions of others, even those we care about."
"I can't believe she's ready to throw her life away for such a scoundrel."
"Marguerite's in love. Love is the one thing in this world that doesn't need to be explained or justified."
"I know what love is. I love her truly. That neanderthal doesn't. He just wants to use her."
"There's nothing we can do about it."
"Does that mean everything we've done so far was in vain?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Your lessons, your training—it was all for nothing."
"How can it be for nothing when I have created a masterpiece?"
"Your masterpiece is leaving for Shanghai!"
"When you love someone, in order not to lose them, you must let them go." Giden explained.
Marguerite was packing her suitcases when Gideon knocked on her door.
"If you've come to scold me, don't bother. It won't work," Marguerite stated firmly, her resolve clear.
"My dear, I've come to give you my blessing. Though I believe your decision is profoundly misguided, I also hold that everyone is entitled to a piece of folly at least once in their lifetime. Your folly, it seems, is this journey from Monaco to Shanghai. Under ordinary circumstances, you would embark on this crazy adventure, and after a few months, you would return heartbroken. We would be here to welcome you back, to comfort you until you feel better. In time, all would be well again. But these are far from ordinary times. The world teeters on the brink of chaos, and who can say what the coming months will bring."
"I don't understand," Marguerite replied, genuinely puzzled.
"Ah, ma chérie, your heart is so enraptured that you've lost sight of the world around you. Just yesterday, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated."
"What a pity. What does that have to do with me?"
"It's still unclear how Austria will react, but trust me, they won't take this lightly. The heir to their throne has been killed. We can expect them to demand a severe reckoning from Serbia. Russia will inevitably step in to protect them, which Germany cannot allow as it would mean Russian expansion into the Balkans. The English will not want to allow Germany to dominate, and France will be expected to side with England. This could easily escalate into a global conflict."
Marguerite understood what it all meant. She swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat as she momentarily questioned whether she was making the right decision.
Gideon added, "If you leave now and war breaks out, you might not be able to come back. You could be stuck in Shanghai or elsewhere, possibly for years. Think carefully whether this man is worth that risk."
"I know you see things differently, Gideon, but believe me—he's worth every risk."
Gideon, with a resigned nod, offered a gentle smile. "Then, my dear, all that's left for me is to wish you good luck and to tell you how deeply you will be missed."
At that moment, Gideon reached into his pocket and carefully extracted a small, elegantly crafted box. He opened it to reveal a deltoid-shaped emerald-green diamond.
"This diamond is the only one that hasn't been stolen. It belonged to my wife, and now, I want you to have it."
Marguerite's breath caught in her throat. "Gideon... no, I can't accept this."
"Please," he urged softly, "I want you to have something by which to remember me."
"How could I ever forget you, Gideon? You've taught me everything I know."
"You were an excellent student. I enjoyed every moment of it. Every person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. You are an example of what can be achieved when talent meets opportunity."
After a moment's hesitation, Marguerite reached out and took the pendant, her fingers trembling. She held it close, feeling the weight of its history and the depth of Gideon's generosity.
Though neither spoke of it, Gideon felt a profound sense of finality in their parting. As he watched Marguerite pack her last belongings, he understood that their paths might never cross again, and he cherished this last shared moment, bittersweet as it was.
Gideon and the children gathered to see Marguerite off on the train. A train that would take her to Paris, then to Berlin, Vienna, and finally to Moscow. In Moscow she would board the Trans-Siberian Railway, all the way to Vladivostok. At Vladivostok, she would embark on a ship to Yokohama, Japan. In Japan, she would transfer to another vessel that would carry her to her final destination, Shanghai.
"Why are you leaving us? Don't you love us anymore?" Aurora asked.
"Oh, my dear Aurora, of course I still love you."
"But she loves the scoundrel more." Armand added sharply.
"I don't love him more, just differently." Looking deeply into Aurora's eyes, she added, "One day you will grow up, meet a man, and fall in love. You will understand then."
"If falling in love means leaving your family and traveling to the other part of the planet, then no, thank you. I will have no part in it."
Nonetheless, Marguerite pulled Aurora close, stroking her hair soothingly before planting a kiss on her cheek. She then turned to Armand, who was watching her with eyes filled with tears and anger.
"You will grow into a wonderful gentleman, Armand. And one day, you will make a young lady the happiest in the world."
Armand shook his head, the tears threatening to spill. "Never. I will love only you."
Marguerite smiled wistfully and embraced him tightly. As she released him, she carried with her the weight of their words, the love they shared, and the hope that her journey, though painful, would one day make sense to them all.