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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 10:29:30 GMT -5
*When she returned, she was welcomed back into the fold of the house as if she'd never left. It was assumed she'd been staying with a respectable woman, so no suspicion arose. She was fitted out for mourning clothes for her father's death, but nobody in the house was truly devastated--their Princess, their Angel, she was back.* *Yet she couldn't bring herself to be happy. The house was hers, the money was hers, and she had gone from country heiress to the most sought-after wife in the country, but rumors circulated that she'd gone a little mad with grief over her father's death--which didn't stop the fortune-hunters from calling every afternoon.*
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 11:11:06 GMT -5
**NEW DAY**
*A few weeks later, she sat in her drawing room, out of deep mourning and into just regular mourning--allowing her a dove-grey morning dress that complimented her pale complexion. Her arm had healed and the cut on her cheek had indeed left a scar, but it was a negligible one. Otherwise, she looked the very picture of a young maiden receiving callers.*
*Most of the local bachelors had called at least once in the last week, and each she'd received with a distant, quiet melancholy, until one. Marc Desmarais was the catch of the county: handsome, charming, and extremely rich. But he caught Marianne's attention because he didn't look at her with that look that all the other bachelors had had: pity. He'd conversed and joked and talked with her as if she were any other young maiden, not the richest one in this part of the country or the one everyone said was going mad. He'd even made her smile and laugh a few times, which had astonished the servants so much that one had gone up and thanked him as he left.*
*She didn't love him, nor did she feel herself drawn to him, and she knew it. But after a few meetings, she wondered if it would be so bad to spend the rest of her life with him. He was kind, he was intelligent, and he wasn't unattractive in any way with his dark hair and eyes and handsome features. With Marc she'd have at least a chance at normalcy, maybe children.*
*Marc, on the other hand, soon became besotted. He visited once or more per day; he brought gifts; he took her for drives through the countryside, and though propriety prevented she felt sure he'd have kissed her had he gotten the chance.*
*It was announced in all the papers two months later: "Marianne de Carrouges to become Madame Marc Desmarais" in black, bold lettering.*
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 11:41:23 GMT -5
*The ceremony was small and quiet, with few guests and not too much fanfare. Marianne looked, as always, exquisite, and her groom couldn't have been happier to have her. He grinned like a fool all night long.*
*The wedding night, as much as she had stressed about it, went smoothly if unremarkably. She assumed they'd get better with time. They spent their days receiving visitors, reading, talking, eating... life was calm, and normal, and it was more perfect than Marianne could have ever imagined. She was as happy as she knew how to be, and her husband was kind to her and attentive to her needs. It continued for a few months like this, happy and idyllic and wonderful.*
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Post by Daniel on Sept 21, 2008 12:35:24 GMT -5
*Daniel, of course, didn't have to search forever. The newspaper article had pointed him in the right direction, but rather than heading straight for the chateau, he'd instead let time pass a bit. Let her have her little fun with playing house and making a go of a "normal" existence. After all, even he hadn't always been the way he was.
After several months, though, he got tired of waiting and headed to the chateau...discreetly, of course. It wouldn't do for anyone to know he was there and alert her to his presence too soon. He watched the house, waiting.*
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 13:20:49 GMT -5
*Marc and Marianne were in the drawing room, reading, when Marianne began to feel a little ill. She informed him and went to lie down in her bedroom for a spell, hoping the rest would get rid of her headache.*
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Post by Daniel on Sept 21, 2008 14:43:25 GMT -5
*Daniel was in the house, now that the sun had set. He was admittedly impressed with the structure, and wouldn't have minded exploring it a bit more...if he'd had the time. He wasn't here to sight-see, however. He found Marc alone. It was easy to figure out who the younger man was from reading his mind--Marianne's husband. Surprisingly, this particular noble wasn't repulsive or too old as he was used to seeing...young, and not so bad looking. He observed the young man for a few minutes* “Lovely home.” *Marc jumped to his feet, turning to face the stranger that appeared seemingly out of nowhere.* “Who are you, Monsieur? *Daniel shrugged* “No one in particular.” He eyed Marc thoughtfully. “But you…you’re something else entirely…Marianne’s husband.” *Marc merely stared at Daniel. The news wasn’t new, and it would have reached most in Paris by now.* “I would insist, monsieur, that you tell me who you are and what you are doing in my house.” *Daniel slowly moved into the room, circling around Marc, not getting closer but now not so far away* “I’m not going anywhere. You see, you have something that I used to have that I want back.” *Marc’s arms were crossed now, his demeanor on the defensive as he turned in place to keep Daniel in sight* “I’ve taken nothing that is not my own.” He stated matter-of-factly. *Daniel paused in his circling* “Oh yes you have. Her name is Marianne.” *Marc’s eyebrows went up at the stranger’s use of his wife’s name* “What would you know about her?” *Daniel grinned* “So much that you’d be surprised to learn. You should ask her about me sometime. Watch her reaction.” *Marc sighed, getting rather tired of this game. He was very close to forcing his man out* “All well and good, except that you keep ignoring my requests that you give me your name.” “Daniel. Trust me, that’s all you need to know.” *The vampire started to back out of the room.* “And, I think I’ve learned all I needed to for now.” *Marc moved forward to stop him* “Wait one moment, you can’t just barge in and expect to be let out just as easily—” “Oh yes I can.” *And he was gone. Marc stared at where—Daniel?—had been standing, and then began searching about the room, the hall outside, and the rooms beyond. Nothing, nowhere, no one. It was as if the man had simply vanished. Unnerved, Marc set out to alert the grounds security. Once done, he sought out Marianne. She had to be warned about this man… *
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 14:52:04 GMT -5
*As the tea she'd asked her maid to bring her had only succeeded in making her throw up--even just the smell of it, which she normally enjoyed--she was now lying down, attempting to sleep it off.*
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Post by Marc Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 15:37:53 GMT -5
*Marc quietly entered the room, still thinking over the strange event just passed*
"Marianne?" He called softly, not wanting to wake her if she was asleep.
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 15:42:20 GMT -5
*She slowly sat up.*
"Yes, Marc?" *She tucked a stray hair out of her face.*
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Post by Marc Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 15:49:17 GMT -5
*He sat down at the edge of the bed*
"I don't want to alarm you, but there's been a disturbance in the house."
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 15:51:28 GMT -5
"Oh?" *She asked, genuinely curious.*
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Post by Marc Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 16:02:30 GMT -5
*He heaved a sigh, still rather exasperated*
"A strange man decided to show up and harass me. He started talking like he knew you."
*His tone indicated that he didn't believe that*
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 16:03:02 GMT -5
*She tensed suddenly, every cell in her body on alert.*
"What... sort of strange man?"
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Post by Marc Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 16:04:17 GMT -5
"I can't quite pinpoint what made him strange, aside from his intrusion. Odd eyes and manner. He said his name was Daniel."
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Post by Marianne Desmarais on Sept 21, 2008 16:10:26 GMT -5
*She swallowed.*
"I... I do know him."
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