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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 22:55:20 GMT -5
Percy's eyes narrowed, and he reached out and took her hands gently.
"What's wrong with them? Tell me," he said, and his eyes grew fierce.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 22:59:10 GMT -5
"Only splinters--just--don't touch them. It stings, is all," *she said sharply.* "I thought I'd gotten them all out. Don't--" *she tugged weakly at her hands, but hesitated for fear of her palms or fingers coming in contact with anything and driving the splinters deeper into her skin.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:02:14 GMT -5
Calmly Percy took up his spyglass, unscrewed the end of it, and slid a small pair of tweezers out. Gently, he guided Vianne to a bench, knelt beside her, and took one of her hands in his.
Tenderly, he began to pull the first splinter out.
"How did you come to get these?" he asked softly.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:05:57 GMT -5
*Vianne gritted her teeth for a moment and did not make a sound as the first of the splinters came out.* "In the--in prison. I tore a rotting plank from the cot."
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:09:09 GMT -5
Percy looked up at her, and his blue eyes turned molten with unspoken rage.
"The dog!" he hissed, and there was a tone in his voice so terrible he wondered if he had frightened his beloved.
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:14:43 GMT -5
"You will please control yourself," *she chided him gently, coolly covering her confusion and sudden horror at the effect such a small revelation had on the man. God forbid here was another man exactly like Gerard.* "I'd already told you I'd spent some time in prison--and now, it seems, the accusations had some ring of truth to them." *she reached over and plucked the tweezers from his hand.* "Let me do it, I can feel them." *she bent over her hand and began to remove her own splinters with nary a grimace.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:17:54 GMT -5
Percy knelt watching her.
"Forgive me," he said. "It was not you my anger was directed at."
Gently tilting her head up, he added, "You need never fear that I will strike at you in any way. I swear it on the crest of my family."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:20:30 GMT -5
"I trust that I would not have married you in the first place if I believed you capable of it," *she said bluntly.* "I never make the same mistake twice, Monsieur." *She looked up from her hand after a moment.* "It seems wrong that I should call you Monsieur as if we have only just met. What am I to call you?"
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:25:06 GMT -5
Percy's eyes softened. "I am Percy, and you are Vianne," he said gently.
He looked up at her.
"There is something else I should tell you, something I should have told you in the beginning, and I beg your forgiveness for not being thoroughly honest."
"I was previously married."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:28:20 GMT -5
"I know who I am!" *she snapped rather irritably, moving on to her right hand and fumbling with the tweezers in her left.* "And I was previously married...what of it? Evidently I have married a third time whilst you are yet living. The fault appears to be on my side."
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:31:57 GMT -5
Percy shook his head.
"No, love, the fault is mine. My previous marriage is what caused sorrow and anger between us." He took the tweezers from her, and gently began to extract them from her palm.
"My wife died after our son was born," he said, keeping his eyes on her hand. "She had caught the birthing sickness, and in that sickness, killed herself and our child. But that was not the reason you left."
He slowly lifted his head and looked at her.
"Marguerite looks nearly identical to you, Vianne. And I pray that this time, you will listen when I tell you I did not fall in love with you for your resembelence to a long-dead wife."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:38:17 GMT -5
"I see," *said Vianne slowly.* "I am sorry--I am sorry for your loss." *As the last of the splinters left her palm, she drew her hand back and flexed her fingers, her skin tingling slightly.* "Thank you," *she said shortly.* "And we are merely husband and wife--there is no call for you or I to love one another." *Her brows drew together slightly.* "Although what on earth I brought to the match by way of assets I cannot imagine." *She squinted at her hands, satisfied that they were free of any remaining splinters.*
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 12, 2007 23:45:25 GMT -5
Percy stared at her.
"Vianne," he said, "I did not marry you for convenience, or sorrow, or some half-named longing. I married you for your love and friendship, and the kindness you have shown me."
"As for your assets, they are both plentiful and exquisite, and I assure you, your courage and beauty and determination are all held in the highest regard by me, as is your intelligence and your soul."
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Post by Vianne Giry on Jan 12, 2007 23:52:07 GMT -5
*Vianne outright stared at him for a moment, then stood, brushing her hands across her skirt as through there were dust on it.* "I am much obliged to you, I am sure," *she said, turning back towards the house.* "Will you come inside? I am certain Phillipe would wish to know of this, and perhaps he will be able to shed more light on the situation."
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Post by Sir Percy on Jan 13, 2007 0:01:28 GMT -5
Percy nodded quietly and rose to follow her.
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