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Post by Micaela on Aug 11, 2008 13:23:32 GMT -5
*It was today. The day that would rule on Rebecca's death; decide Maxim's fate, and subsequently that of herself and her children. Liam would go up to Edgecoombe to see the boats with his governess and Ellie would stay here with her nurse. Most of the staff had taken off to go to the inquest, and Micaela didn't blame him. Between those who had loved Rebecca and the scandalmongers, everyone wanted to solve the 'mystery' of her death.*
*That was until Frith informed her that Miss Ellen's nurse had come down with a cold. There was nobody else she trusted to take care of her infant... Ellie would just have to come with her.*
*So when Micaela pushed past everyone and took a seat in front, she had a chubby one-year-old on her lap, cheeks dimpled and dark baby-fine curls bouncing.*
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Post by Micaela on Aug 11, 2008 14:36:14 GMT -5
((Godmodding Maxim with permission from Renn))
*Of course Maxim had wanted her to stay in the car but she wasn't so good at following directions, so there she was. Some locals who'd seen Rebecca that day gave evidence, just basic things, when they saw her, if she was acting strangely, et cetera. Then Maxim was called up, and Ellie shifted. She pointed one finger in his direction and beamed.*
"Dada!" *She proclaimed, proud of herself.*
*The crowd let out a collective 'aww!' at the baby's antics. Even Horrige's stern face softened a little. Though she feigned some embarrassment and gently shushed the child, inwardly she was immensely proud, and not just because she'd talked. Entirely innocently, Ellie had brought nearly everyone to their side.*
*He gave his evidence without issue and came to sit back down, but then Tabb, the boatmaker who'd fitted out Je Reviens for that year, came up. There were holes in the bottom of the boat. The sea-cocks had been opened. Rebecca's boat had been scuttled.*
*Micaela looked very, very pale as Maxim was called back up. Even Ellie was still.*
"Mr de Winter," *Said Horrige,* "You heard the statement from James Tabb, who had the care of Mrs. de Winter's boat? Do you know anything of these holes driven in the planking?"
"Nothing whatever." *He responded.*
"Can you think of any reason why they should be there?"
"No, of course not."
"It's the first time you've heard them mentioned?"
"Yes."
"It's a shock to you, of course?"
((Cut godmodding))
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 11, 2008 14:45:32 GMT -5
"It was a shock enough to learn that I made a mistake in identification four years ago, and now I learn that my late wife not only drowned in the cabin of her boat but that holes were bored in the boat with the deliberate intend of letting the water in so that she boat should sink. Does it surprise you that I should be shocked?" *he asked curtly, trying for his sake, and the sake of his wife and children to keep his temper.*
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Post by Micaela on Aug 11, 2008 14:55:23 GMT -5
*No.... no, this was bad, this was extremely bad, he was going to put Horrige's back up and he was going to hang and... more bland questions, something about sea-cocks and trespassers being noticed, and suddenly there were only two options, suicide or murder and though nobody said it everyone knew. Just as Micaela hoped and prayed Horrige would stop, he made a face as if he smelled something sour (though that was what he always looked like anyway).*
"Mr. de Winter, painful as it may be, it is my duty to ask you a very personal question."
*The whole room held its breath, everyone for different reasons.*
"Were relations between you and the late Mrs. de Winter perfectly happy?"
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 11, 2008 15:22:41 GMT -5
"What the devil are you talking about?" *he snapped defensively.*
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Post by Micaela on Aug 11, 2008 15:30:17 GMT -5
*Micaela handed Ellie to the maid beside her quietly. Then, two things happened at once. Horrige narrowed his eyes and asked again:*
"Mr. de Winter, I require an answer. Were relations between you and the late Mrs. de Winter entirely happy?" *More forceful, more distrusting this time.*
*Simultaneously, Micaela went very pale and stood as if to object to Horrige's treatment of her husband. But she wobbled and swayed for an instant before swooning and falling to the floor in a dead faint.*
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 12, 2008 13:39:43 GMT -5
*He stood and went to her side.*
"I'm taking my wife outside for a moment," *he said, pulling her to her feet.*
*Odd, though. Micaela had never been prone to fainting.*
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Post by Micaela on Aug 12, 2008 13:49:11 GMT -5
*She put on a very good imitation of being out of it as he escorted her out, but as soon as they were in the waiting-room-thing outside, she straightened up and pushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear, sensible and lucid as could be.*
"Hope I wasn't too obvious; I'm a little rusty."
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 12, 2008 13:56:22 GMT -5
"I was handling it well enough on my own," *he grumbled, though he was grateful for her little manipulative trick.*
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Post by Micaela on Aug 12, 2008 13:59:14 GMT -5
"It was that or punch someone."
"Well they adjourned until noon, right?" *She'd heard as much on her way out.*
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 12, 2008 14:07:54 GMT -5
"They have, yes."
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Post by Micaela on Aug 12, 2008 14:12:37 GMT -5
"More time to think this through, or at least cool down. Going to go get Ellie; there's a basket lunch in the car."
*She did so, and returned with a grinning Ellie on her hip.*
"Dada!" *The baby exclaimed again.*
"Yes, sweetie, that's Dada. To the car, then?"
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 12, 2008 15:02:51 GMT -5
*Maxim reached for Ellie, wanting to hold her.*
"Yes, let's go, then."
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Post by Micaela on Aug 12, 2008 15:09:02 GMT -5
*Micaela smiled and handed him the baby, walking towards where Robert had pulled the car around. They had just sat down when Favell knocked on the window on Maxim's side. Micaela looked as if she'd smelled something gross.*
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Post by Maxim de Winter on Aug 12, 2008 15:34:08 GMT -5
*Maxim looked over and rolled down the window no more than an inch.*
"What do you want?"
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