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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 17:31:20 GMT -5
*Madame Giry awoke as they arrived back at the de Chagny mansion, and stepped down from the carriage. A maid assisted her to her room, where she was at last able to bathe, eat a little decent food, and fall into an exhausted slumber.* *Hours later, she rose and put on a clean dress and wandered out onto the terrace, rubbing at her aching neck, sore from several nights spent trying to sleep on the bench in the prison.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 17:54:14 GMT -5
Percy looked up as Vianne went onto the terrace. He had been watching silently for hours. Tony had told him something was amiss, but the rescue of the Dauphain had demanded his immediate attention.
Secretly, he was grateful to the Comte de Chagny for protecting Vianne. But he needed to discover what was wrong with his wife.
He stepped into the light and looked up at her.
"Vianne," he said gently.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 17:57:22 GMT -5
*Vianne froze for a moment, a frown crossing her face as she scanned the garden below for the source of the voice which had spoken her name.* "Who...?" *she said nothing as she recognized the stranger who had spoken with Phillipe days earlier. The man who'd somehow had her put in prison. She turned to the door that led back inside, to call for a servant, anyone.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 18:03:31 GMT -5
"Madame Giry," Percy said gently, recognizing his mistake immediately. "I beg your forgiveness for any embarassment I may have caused you. But madame, I also beg your indulgence."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 18:07:02 GMT -5
*Vianne whirled back to face the man and strode to the edge of the terrace and glared down at him, outraged at his audacity.* "Embarassment? As though simple embarassment were the over-riding humiliation out of the range of horrors you have subjected me to? I am in no humour and have no reason to give you any portion of my time!"
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 18:45:11 GMT -5
Percy frowned.
"I see that your ladyship is not in a mood conducive to listening to the truth."
His blue eyes studied her intently.
"If your ladyship would be so good as to explain her anger, I will do my best to fix things."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 18:53:29 GMT -5
*Vianne's face hardened.* "I think you've done quite enough, Monsieur," *she said scathingly.* "You cannot erase the false charges laid against me, nor the unjust punishment I suffered because of whatever mad, malicious scheme you took into your head!" *She shook her head slowly.* "I cannot imagine why you would have such cause to do me wrong," *she said quietly, stepping back from the railing and drawing her shawl about her shoulders in mute defense against the confusion that had clouded her mind since the day she had been arrested.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 18:56:24 GMT -5
Percy's eyes narrowed.
"False charges, madame?" he said sharply. "Who has dared lay false charges against you? By God, my lady, I would sooner put myself in the Temple than see you there!"
Blue eyes glowed so intently with passion that there seemed to be an aura round his golden head.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 19:02:08 GMT -5
"You deny that it was even partially your doing?" *she asked with evident disbelief.* "That you aligned yourself with Etienne Reinard to accuse me of bigamy and see me imprisoned on that falsehood unless fifty thousand pounds were given to Monsieur Reinard--undoubtedly hoping for a share in the profits of the blackmail?" *She scoffed at the idea.* "Even if I had stooped so low as to give him the money he asked for, my brother has never been one to share anything with anyone."
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 19:07:04 GMT -5
Percy was quiet for several long moments.
"My lady," he said gently, "I have never even heard of this man whom you speak of with such vehemence. However, I trust from your ladyship's description that he is a scoundrel indeed, and I am thus grieved to find that your ladyship believes that I would, for the smallest instant, play part in such a scheme."
"Money, madame," he continued, still speaking very gently, "is of absolutely no consequence to me, and not for any sum in the world would I have sent you to prison, and certainly not on the charges your ladyship has accused me of."
"I would beg your ladyship to hear me out. I had nothing to do with your ladyship's imprisonment, and indeed, was out of the country when such happenstance occured. You may confirm that with any number of your trusted confidantes at the Opera, if you do not trust a gentleman's word."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 19:10:42 GMT -5
*Vianne gripped the railing tightly for a moment.* "You are unaware, then," *she said in a low voice,* "that your name was on the documents forged in order to incriminate me?"
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 19:14:35 GMT -5
Percy stared at her.
"I do not doubt your ladyship's word in this," he said softly. "I have many enemies, but I cannot discern why a man I have never met would so maliciously use you to reach me. For the pain it must have caused you, I am deeply sorry, and beg my lady's forgiveness."
He bowed to her, his keen brain already working. Vianne had a brother, but how on earth had he discovered that they were married?
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 19:22:35 GMT -5
"Etienne I know well enough. I can assure you, if you had no part in this, you were not his goal. Money is his goal, and he cares not who he harms in his mission to please himself and refresh whatever funds he needs to gamble." *She rubbed her aching brow for a moment and closed her eyes.* "He has harmed many alongside me, I fear," *she sighed.* "I must apologize for selfishly assuming that I was the only one hurt by this."
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 19:35:05 GMT -5
"I pray your ladyship to dismiss it from her mind. The only anguish that has been laid at my feet is that I was not here to help you."
He looked up at her for a moment.
"I assume the Comte de Changy told you of my discussion with him?"
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 19:38:28 GMT -5
*Vianne hesitated, recalling the whirl of conversation following her rescue from prison.* "A part of it, yes, I think so," *she said.* "I am certain there were things he did not wish to fully disclose, and I did not press him."
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