by Jenna Brandt
A gloomy look took over Margaret’s face. “I understand your loss, probably more than most. I, too, lost a sibling, a twin brother, when we were ten. Not a day goes by that I do not miss him immensely.”
“I am sorry to hear about your brother, Lady Margaret. It seems you have had a great deal of loss for someone so young.”
“I have, but I choose not to dwell on it. I would rather focus on the future.”
He waited several moments before asking, “Would you care to join me for dinner tomorrow evening at my home?”
“It would be my pleasure to have dinner with you.”
“I will send my carriage to pick you up tomorrow night at seven o’clock.”
Margaret was hopeful that the marquis planned to propose to her the following night. Inviting her to his home was an intimate act and the sign she had been waiting for that a proposal was forthcoming.
Chapter 12
The carriage pulled up to the marquis’s home, which was grand beyond all measure. A stack of four marble pillars stood on each side of the massive French doors that were made out of pure mahogany. The garden areas surrounding the home were precisely manicured and rich in tropical vegetation. It was rumored that he was the wealthiest of all the noblemen in Paris. At times, she thought people were exaggerating for her benefit, but as she marveled at the vastness of his estate, she realized that he was substantially more wealthy than she had even imagined.
Margaret gave her hand to the footman who helped her out of the carriage. As she stood, she tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her dress. She was wearing a sea-green gown that was translucent. The bodice was accented with rows of iridescent pearls and had matching cap sleeves which draped elegantly over her shoulders. It was one of Worth’s creations, the most notable dressmaker in all of Europe, and she had saved it the whole time she had been in France for a special occasion. She hoped tonight would be the night the marquis was going to finally ask her to be his wife.
She ascended the steps to the marquis’s home and breathed deeply before she knocked. Margaret prayed. God, please make clear to me whether or not I am supposed to be with Michel. I want to be in your will and do what is right. Help me make the right decision.
Within moments, the doors opened and a short, stout butler with thinning grey hair stood on the other side.
“Please enter, Countess. The marquis will be down shortly.”
The entryway was every bit as stately as she expected. There was an enormous crystal chandelier hanging from the center, and several pieces of stunning antique furnishings were placed considerately around the room. Breathtaking paintings hung on the walls, which accented the furniture flawlessly. Margaret could tell from being in the room that it had been decorated by a woman. She wondered who.
“Good evening, Lady Margaret,” the marquis said as he came down the stairs to greet her.
“Good evening, my lord. Thank you for your invitation.”
“I am glad that you are here. I have wanted to show you my home for some time now.”
If that were true, why had he waited so long to invite her? She understood protocol and why waiting a respectable amount of time to make their relationship official was important, but he had been moving at a glacial pace. This whole time, she thought he had invited her to dinner to propose, but perhaps it was just the opposite. Had he found out about her past and decided to deal with her in private to avoid a scene?
She needed to take her mind off all the swirling questions in her mind. “My lord, the furnishings in your home are exquisite. I cannot imagine you having the time to acquire all of them. Who managed to procure such lovely pieces?”
The marquis took her by the hand and led her past the dining room towards the back hall of his home.
“I have something to share with you. It is of a private nature, and only my trusted staff and brother are aware of the situation.”
Where could he be taking her? This was not at all what she expected to happen tonight. She thought they would have a lovely dinner, delightful conversation, and then he would ask her to marry him. Instead, he was leading her down a dark hallway to show her something that sounded as if it would irrevocably change the dynamic of their relationship.
What could it be? Did he have some peculiar tendencies? Was he wanting to share with her his unusual bedroom requisites before making a commitment to her? If that was the case, she needed to stop him now before this went any further.
“My lord, if you plan to show me your private necessities, I am sorry to say, I cannot accommodate you.”
He stopped for a moment and looked at her, furrowing his brows together in bafflement. As he realized what she was suggesting, he shook his head in denial and said, “I think you misunderstand what I am trying to tell you. It is my fault, as I am not being clear. I thought I would be calm when doing this, but instead, I feel anxious. This could change everything between us.”
They stood outside a door, and nervously, the marquis opened it. Inside, the room was barely lit by a few candles and a fire inside the hearth. As they stepped into the room, Margaret noticed a young woman lying in bed. She appeared to be asleep.
“This is my sister, Marie. She has been here with me since her accident three years ago. To protect the family’s name, we informed everyone that she had passed away. It was simpler than explaining the truth.”
Margaret stared at the women who looked no older than her. She was beautiful with long brown hair and olive-colored skin. Something was not right though, because even though the marquis had been talking, the young woman did not stir.
“What happened to her?”
“She was riding one of our horses and was thrown from it. She hit her head on a tree and lost consciousness. The doctors tried everything they could but little function returned. They say it is permanent and she will live the rest of her life in this state.”
“I am so sorry, my lord. This must be so difficult.”
“I have adjusted to the situation. The servants take excellent care of her, but if we are to move forward, I felt you needed to know.”
This explained so much of the marquis’s behavior. Why he seemed preoccupied so often, why he had never invited her to his home before, why he never spoke of family. Then she realized it also explained why he had left the other night the way he did.
“This is the situation you had to attend to the other night?”
“Yes, Marie had a convulsion spell and the doctor thought we might lose her. She had them earlier in the day, but he had thought he had calmed her. I would not have left her had I thought otherwise.”
Margaret gently touched the marquis’s cheek with her gloved hand. “Of course, you would not have left her. You always think of others first.”
He shrugged. “It is in my nature to take care of others. I have a deep desire to protect the ones I love.”
The more she got to know the marquis, the more she admired him. He was a such a kind and sincere man, and his loyalty was without measure.
“I am perplexed by something you said. Why did your family’s name need protection? Why did you pretend she was dead?”
“She was not alone when the incident happened. She had run away to be with one of the stable boys because she was with child. She lost the baby through the accident. The scandal would have ruined my family.”
“You made the best choice you could under the circumstances. Thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me.”
“I will understand if this makes you think differently about allowing me to court you. She comes as part of the compendium with choosing to be with me. It is a significant burden to ask anyone else to accept. It is one of the reasons I wanted to assess your character fully before even broaching the subject. But when I saw you engage with your son yesterday, I knew you were capable of deep compassion.”
“In regards to how I feel after finding this out, I do not want to end our courtship. It is just the opposite. I hope it will continue to completion. Your de
dication to your sister only proves to me that you are a committed and faithful gentleman. It renews my trust in you.”
“I am glad you feel as such. Dinner will be ready, and I suspect you are famished, as am I. I think we should make our way back to my dining hall.”
“Of course, my lord.”
“I think, after all that has been revealed this evening, it is time that you start addressing me as Michel.”
“Thank you, and please call me Margaret.”
“I can honestly say you know all of my secrets now. We can move forward with nothing between us.”
Margaret wanted to tell the marquis about her past, but the idea of telling him and having him no longer care for her made her blood run cold. She had grown to care for him, and she did not want him to look at her as if she were tainted. She felt it about herself, and if she did, she had no doubt he would feel the same.
“I wish to move forward with our courtship as well.”
A strange expression of uncertainty seemed to float across Michel’s face, but as quickly as it appeared, it was gone. Margaret wondered what he was thinking to cause such a manifestation. Did he know about the details of her past? He had told her once that he had asked about her past and knew she was widowed, but had he found out the particulars surrounding how it happened?
“Is something bothering you?”
“Is there anything you would like to share with me, Margaret?”
“You know everything there is to know about me that is of merit.”
“I hope you know you can trust me as well, Margaret. I want you to feel safe with me.”
“I do feel safe with you, Michel. From the first moment I met you and you rescued me from the mugger, I knew you would keep me from harm.”
“I am glad to hear it. I find myself having the deepest desire to keep you protected at all costs.”
“Thank you, Michel. It means the world to me.” She wanted to tell him the whole story about her past, but she could not take the chance that he would end their relationship over it. She needed him more than the risk was worth.
Chapter 13
Margaret had been in France just shy of a year, and she was now part of the most elite circles, being invited to all the grandest social functions. She barely had time to breathe.
That evening, Michel had gotten them invitations to the prestigious ball at Tuileries Palace in honor of Spanish Queen Isabella II’s visit to France. The host and hostess were Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, and only the most select nobility and members of French society were going to be guests. Margaret had never attended a ball at a palace before or attended a function with royalty and heads of state. Secretly, she was nervous she might make a mistake when being introduced and embarrass herself, or worse, Michel.
After picking up her gloves, beaded clutch, and shawl, Margaret headed towards the front of her new residence. Pierre had made sure that when she moved out she had one of the finest estates in the city. He paid a full year for the upkeep and staff. She had protested, but he explained that it was already done. Realizing her finances were dismal to say the least, she grudgingly accepted his offer. If she was careful, the money she had brought with her from England would last her until she married the marquis.
She took one last look at her fitted corset and crinoline dress in the entry hallway mirror, making sure that all the gold tassels and fringe layers along the bottom layers of the dark burgundy dress were in place. She adjusted her gold and opal jewelry that adorned her ears, throat, and wrist, gifts from the marquis.
“You look exceptional tonight.”
Margaret saw Michel’s reflection in the mirror and smiled.
“Thank you, Michel. I did not hear you come inside.”
“I wanted to watch you come down the stairs. It seems I was too late.”
Ever since the night he opened up to her about his sister, she had seen a tenderness and romantic side emerge from the marquis. Michel was surprising her more and more, and she realized that he was a brilliant counterpart. He provided security and companionship for her, and he would be a good father to Henry.
She still missed her late husband every day and wished he could have known his son and raised him, but life did not work out that way. Michel would do right by both of them, and she needed to live for the future, not in the past.
The only thing that could spoil the evening was if Pierre decided to make an appearance at her side. Even though she did not encourage it, he continued to make it clear that he was still interested in her.
It had been hard seeing Pierre after leaving his home the way she had. Every time, he seemed to be doing worse with her rejection. It hurt her that she had caused him pain, but it was far better for her to do it now than down the road.
She hated hurting Pierre, but she had decided what would be best for her as well as her son. The marquis was a Christian and he could protect Henry, which seemed to be the most pressing concern. In the back of her mind, she was always secretly worried that Catherine would find her and everything she had built for herself in France would be destroyed. The only way to protect her family was to marry someone who could keep them safe and not allow anyone to get close enough to harm them.
“Monte and Jackie are waiting for us in the carriage.” Michel reached out his hand to her and Margaret placed hers in it.
“Are you as ecstatic as Jackie to attend the emperor’s ball? She has talked about nothing else since we picked her up.”
Margaret tightened her lips together in worry. “To be truthful, I am more nervous than excited.”
“You, nervous? Whatever for?”
“What if I make a fool of myself? What if I make a fool of you?”
“Margaret, do not be ridiculous. You are anything but a fool.”
“But I could trip while I curtsey or stumble my words when I speak to the emperor and empress.”
“You were born to be amongst these people. I have never seen anyone take so well to French society.”
He always had such a way of making her feel secure. His calming nature was her favorite attribute.
As they climbed into the carriage, Jackie said, “Margaret, can you believe in just a few moments you will be meeting the emperor and empress? I mean, I have met them before on several occasions, but this is your first time meeting the imperial family.”
What had started out as nervousness in the pit of her stomach was now turning into downright queasiness. She had not felt like this since her first ball on her sixteenth birthday.
“Are you all right, Margaret?”
She nodded with her eyes closed. Keeping them open made it worse, especially when she felt every bump as they rode along the cobblestone road to the palace.
“Do we need to pull over so you can get out and rest a moment?”
“No, I am satisfactory. I am trying to remain composed.”
Margaret laid her head on Michel’s shoulder and rode the rest of the way with her eyes shut. She absentmindedly heard the conversation going on around her.
Trying to ignore them, Margaret prayed quietly to herself. Lord, give me peace right now and be with me this evening. I really do not want to make an idiot of myself or humiliate Michel. Help me to make a good first impression and keep anything bad from happening this evening.
She opened her eyes just as their carriage came to a stop in front of the palace. She heard Jackie exclaim, “Breathtaking! I never get used to coming here, not even after all these years of attending the emperor’s balls.”
The prominent building had a massive squared dome in the center with ornate curved architectural features. Light illuminated from the many windows that lined the front of the impressive citadel. The palace’s footmen opened the carriage doors and helped the women out, the men following behind. Margaret looked around at the other carriages filled with nobles, famous actors and actresses, artists, and bankers. All the guests displayed their most ostentatious attire and were drenched in their finest jewels, wanting to m
ake the grandest impression on the imperial family.
As they ascended the stairs, Margaret made herself slowly take in deep breaths to steady her nerves. She did not want to pass out. She had heard that it did happen on occasion, and she did not want to be known as one of those women.
They entered the lavishly decorated Grande Galerie of the palace, and Margaret drew in a deep breath, holding it. It was magnificent. She could not believe her eyes with all the gold inlayed furnishings with opulent upholstery and exquisite details. Elaborate tapestries hung on the walls and windows, and the crystal chandeliers glistened, as did the marble floors.
“Are you ready for this, Margaret?” Michel asked.
“As I will ever be.”
As they moved forward in the processional line, she heard different names and titles called out. The closer they reached, the more details she could make out. The empress was of petite size and was quite striking in looks with an oval face, kind brown eyes, and heart-shaped lips. Her dark brown hair was pulled back and parted down the center with a delicate gold and sapphire crown on top. She wore a soft blue crinoline dress with a gold sash that lay across her chest. The emperor seemed more reserved than the empress and had a firm look on his face. His dark brown hair was parted on the right side and curled slightly on the edges near his ears. His famous beard and mustache were groomed perfectly and extended down and out in both directions. He wore the uniform of the general-in-chief with all its ribbons, sashes, and spectacle.
Margaret heard the announcement of Comtesse de Castiglione. She remembered that Jackie had mentioned to her the Comtesse was one of Empress Eugenie’s closest friends, and on occasion, they would secretly attend masquerades in disguise. They wanted to attend innocuously and be able to engage with the attendees without being recognized. Many trysts occurred amongst the nobilities during the events, and there were rumors even the imperial family engaged in such activities.
“Lord Monte Robineau and Lady Jacquelyn Seandra Allantes, the Vicomtesse of Durante.” Margaret watched as Jackie curtsied and Monte bowed to the emperor and empress. After a polite exchange of greetings, they moved forward towards the central Pavillion de L’Horloge, where the ball was being held.