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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 10:55:20 GMT -5
*Andrew Blakeney had arrived that evening to attend the opera, impeccably dressed, of course, and with an attractive, if unknown young lady upon his arm. Within the course of several minutes, the others in attendance were buzzing with what little they knew--she was Valerie Lambert, and she was the young man's kept mistress. Some showed their distaste at the couple's open intimacy, as Andrew and Valerie were whispering and smiling together quite shamelessly; but in truth it was hardly a shocking or novel sight amongst those classes of luxury who paid Christian morality more lip service than anything else.*
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Post by Valerie on Nov 18, 2008 10:57:18 GMT -5
*Valerie took a glass of champagne which Andrew handed her, and they continued their conversation, breaking for the occasional introduction and brief social banter with those of Andrew's acquaintance, as everyone waited to be ushered in to their boxes.*
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 13:01:04 GMT -5
She'd been very, very good, Scarlett thought. She'd left Andrew to his own devices, for the most part--allowing him to take his own rooms, responding cordially at breakfast and becoming better and better at displaying her temper in private. She'd also learned to speak French and Italian quite well, though with a soft accent that wasn't terribly displeasing. Not that he would have noticed. And tonight, when she surprised him at the opera, it would be in a stunning blue gown she'd had a hand in designing herself and was quite proud of. It displayed her figure to advantage, but while it was not at all matronly it was not indecent, either. Though it did display a hinting amount of decolletage.
She'd overheard Andrew's plans, and wondered at him going by himself. Well, she would go, too--she could like opera as well as anything, she decided, and if it came to it they could enjoy it in silence, but together.
So it was that slightly late, though before curtain, Scarlett swept into the Blakeney box. And stopped short. It took her a moment to recognize the girl, but she did.
The one from the bookshop, tarted up (tastefully enough) and on her husband's arm.
Spots of color appeared on her cheeks and her green eyes glittered dangerously but Scarlett clamped down tight on her first reaction--first several, actually--and forced a smile onto her face.
"Why, Mr. Blakeney," she said. "I didn't know you had company."
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Post by Valmont on Nov 18, 2008 13:20:05 GMT -5
Valmont, with a nose for this sort of thing despite being somewhat across the auditorium, raised the opera glasses of whatever his companion of the evening was and smiled to himself. Andrew Blakeney and the new mistress--confronting the new wife. Or confronted by; the little thing looked like something of a spitfire, and Valmont looked forward to fireworks. Though it was astonishing that a drab creature like Blakeney could monopolize the attentions of two dynamic and beautiful women. It spook poorly for the judgment of the fairer sex, but then, Valmont had little cause to speak well of it.
And he strongly suspected Andrew was not the sort to appreciate either of the ladies' charms.
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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 14:14:36 GMT -5
*Andrew stood, executing a flawless bow to his wife.*
"Indeed, madame...that seems to be the case," *he said, some part of his gut squirming at the awkwardness and feeling keenly the distress the girl must be feeling, even as he more firmly felt the resolve of having to do what he must to keep up appearances when he could not trust his wife with the truth.*
"May I present Mademoiselle Lambert?"
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Post by Valerie on Nov 18, 2008 14:16:49 GMT -5
*Valerie stood as well, making her own bow to Andrew's wife--she vaguely recognized her from somewhere, but could not recall exactly the location or time.*
"Enchantee," *she said mildly, slipping her gloved hand into the crook of Andrew's elbow, more to silently support him rather than meaning anything predatory or possessive in it. Her friend did not flinch, nor his voice tremor, but his lips were set in a grim line, and his arm trembled faintly under her touch.*
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 15:26:42 GMT -5
If Andrew Blakeney had been worried about keeping up appearances, he might have looked further into Scarlett's character before marrying her. She was not one for appearances, despite her best intentions; her temper always got in the way, even if she was capable of putting up a front if she cared enough to. His better avenue might have been to confront her privately, and let her have her tantrum before deciding how to fight her war. As it was, she felt her temperature rising, the familiar stirrings of a cornered wildcat who was of no humor to back down easily, audience or no.
Her eyes passed several times between Valerie's face and Andrew's, and saw only solidarity and smugness. An army of two arrayed against her, a life falling apart that she had had no chance to make her own. A woman, similar to her in age and coloring (and pretty, but not as pretty as she) who shared what she had begged her husband to share with her.
"How dare you?" she demanded of them both, her voice approaching a hiss--so far she was conscious enough of her surroundings not to shout. "Coming here openly, to... to humiliate me! What have I done to you, Andrew, to deserve this? Were you going to tell me at all, or just let me be laughed at behind my back wherever I went?"
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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 16:47:40 GMT -5
"I regret very much, madame, that the present circumstances cause you such distress. I was not aware that you had planned to attend the opera this evening. It was never my intention to expose you to anything," *said Andrew as collectedly as he could.*
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 17:01:10 GMT -5
"Well my not knowing doesn't make everyone else blind!" she flared. "What do you think they're going to say? What are they already saying? How could you do this to me, to your family?" There were tears in her eyes but venom on her tongue. "What is she to you that I can't be?"
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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 17:03:50 GMT -5
*Andrew looked at Scarlett not unkindly, something vaguely glimmering in his dark brown eyes.*
"...my love..." *he said softly to his wife.*
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 17:10:14 GMT -5
Scarlett flinched visibly, eyes narrowing.
"You don't love me," she said. "I thought you could, but you'd rather have this... this... waif you've picked up to hang on your arm and be your perfect little mistress! Who won't complain and won't say anything because you're paying her just as you've been trying to pay me."
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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 17:15:43 GMT -5
"Love was never a part of the promise I made you," *Andrew pointed out.* "Valerie complains if she must, and I listen to her, because I want to."
*He lowered his voice so only she could hear and stepped closer.*
"And I need not remind you that for all I have given you--I have taken nothing in return."
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 17:28:37 GMT -5
His words seemed calculated to hurt her, when perhaps his utter unsuitability for her was the completely opposite of calculation. Either way, they fell like blows to her ego. She was closer to tears now, her fury exhausting and impotent.
"Why her?" she demanded, her eyes shining as they searched his face. "I wanted to give you everything. You never give me anything I really want..."
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Post by Andrew on Nov 18, 2008 17:33:32 GMT -5
"...she understands me," *said Andrew.* "You...never could. It is not your fault, Scarlett. We made a mistake--I never knew what I wanted until I met Valerie...and I never knew what you truly wanted, either. I thought my wealth might satisfy you. I thought it was what pleased you most."
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Post by Scarlett O'Hara on Nov 18, 2008 19:18:04 GMT -5
"But I could!" Scarlett insisted, just on the verge of stamping her foot. "I could, you've never let me! You've never asked me..." Her eyes drifted over to Valerie again, meek and silent in the background, and she hated her with an undying passion. "I suppose your wealth is nothing at all to her. I know where she came from! She's a shopgirl, that's all! I've never been so insulted in all my life, and I won't allow it! I won't, do you hear?"
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