There were so many things she didn�t know about him, an entirely different person that she had met in brief encounters � intimidate moments when the lack of witnesses or the lowering of inhibitions exposed this other side. Yet, now, he was asking for her hand in marriage � it seemed foolish and yet she had not refused him. Perhaps it was the fact that it was not an outright refusal that kept the glimmer in those eyes.

What would Armand say to the idea? Would he chide Marguerite for even considering marrying such a fool? After all Armand couldn�t possibly see what lay beneath Percy�s fa�ade, nor might he care to look when Sir Percy represented everything that the revolution opposed. Marguerite paced the apartment, occasionally stealing a glance out of the windows in the hopes of detecting Suzanne�s arrival. She had asked Suzanne to come that she might gain an outsider�s perspective that was not clouded by the contempt of wealth or title. Would Suzanne approve? They had joked of Marguerite becoming Percy�s mistress, but that was ages ago, but they had met but that once and his lack of a better grasp of their language had left a greater impression on Suzanne than he had.

He loved her, pledged her his heart, and though she did not return that love, she could reciprocate by tender words and gestures so that he might believe she shared his feelings. There was also the physical attraction � how easily he could bring her blood to a boil! Those tender kisses and embraces, those afternoons spent in her boudoir, in each others arms. What was more was that she felt safe, at peace, when he was present, and thought longingly of him in his absence. What�s more was that he had saved Armand, a debt that she would owe him until her dying day. Were these sufficient argument for marriage? Others had married for less.

Where was Suzanne? It was already past one and she had told Percy she would give him an answer that evening.

Marguerite laughed merrily to set Suzanne at ease as the girl released her from her crushing embrace and held her at arms length. Had her note come off so desperate? She took Suzanne by the arm and made the girl sit beside her on the settle. �Calm yourself, dearest!� Marguerite said soothingly. Brave words. Her own pulse was racing, her cheeks flushed.

�Armand is alright. All save his pride has recovered� and it seems they don�t deem it necessary to return and finish what they started.� For the first time since Percy asked for her hand, did Marguerite�s thoughts turn from the excitement of that proposal. She had nearly forgotten the cruel assault on her brother, which even now filled her with bitter bile. How she wished that Saint-Cyr could feel the pain and humiliation he inflicted upon poor, dear Armand! If it hadn�t been for Percy�

She met Suzanne�s eyes. Fear. Concern. She was needlessly terrifying the child. �I seek your help on my own behalf� I hope to rely on your good brains, where my own reason seems to be clouded� How to begin� how to begin conveying the excitement, the doubt, the sea of emotions that seemed impossible to pick apart� �Sir Percy has returned to Paris. He came to see me after last night�s performance and told me he wished me to return to England with him� as his wife.� An abrupt gasp, Suzanne seemed to have the same reaction she had the night before.

"So soon?! I'm surprised he waited this long!" Marguerite replied, shocked that Suzanne was so opposed to the idea. Something in her friend's tone made her falter. "I didn't say no... and I didn't say yes..." she added quickly as Suzanne tensed in preparation to respond. "I told him I would have to think on the matter, and asked him to give me a day to reflect... I daresay his look wounded me when I told him to wait..." She had nearly said yes in response to that look, so certain of rejection. How he must be suffering even now! For her the hours were flying away, for him they likely spanned eternity. "That is why I asked you to come. I am filled with such doubts, that just when I am on the point of making my decision, a thought comes to undo it."

"Margot... I know you have a certain affection for Sir Percy, but are you in love with him?" Marguerite laughed at the question, though it once seemed logical enough to her, how strange was it for Suzanne to ask. The aristocracy did not marry for love! Wealth, yes. Power, yes. Status, even more so. Name, assuredly. But love? A shocking thought. One was considered fortunate if they came to love their spouse over time.

�Love? No one in their right sense marries for love,� Marguerite riposted. �It�s a tragedy waiting to happen!� Her laughter stopped at the sight of Suzanne�s flushed cheeks, she had not meant to embarrass the child.

"Is it foolish, for me to think you should love him if you are to marry?� Suzanne plunged on trying to regain her composure, using the arsenal that Marguerite had given her over the years � and even then Marguerite felt that the girl was holding back. She was good, remembering Marguerite�s confidences and hopefully dreaming. She called to point many of the same arguments that Marguerite languished over. The question as always was, was Sir Percy worth everything she would have to give up?

�My dearest Suzanne, I think I�ve grown a bit since I met Sir Percy. The world has changed so much one has to grow... The kind of love I aspired to when I was younger was the stuff of faery tales or tragedies � I�ve finally come to realize that.� Marguerite stood up abruptly, prompting Suzanne to release her hands in surprise, and began to pace the room. �I admit that I nearly rejected Percy from the start, but then the idea did not seem entirely ridiculous... I thought to myself, �I know, Marguerite, you�ve been with the theatre for over four years, that�s a fairly lengthy run.� Most actresses retire to their little nests before so long� and though I am still young, eventually my beauty will fade and I might regret this chance. Percy adores the very ground I walk upon! He seems to worship me with a curious intensity of concentrated passion, which has gone straight to my heart � that along with some small degree of pity. I wish you could feel what it is like to be absolutely adored, my sweet Suzanne! Worshipped! To know that there is someone who wakes every morning with the hope of seeing your face, who�s soul shines a the slightest favour! I know that he loves me, would move the world if I asked him to... and when I�m in his arms... it feels as though there is no safer place to be. It is a safety, I haven�t felt since I was a child. His kisses take my breath away, and when he laughs it is as though the world joins in his good humour. And more importantly, I am certain he would never do anything to hurt me...� It was better than love. Safer. �... and I could return his love... perhaps not with love, but I could give him infinite tenderness in return�� He wouldn�t have to know his love is unrequited.

The smile that had had appeared on her face as she spoke of Percy faded. �Plenty of reasons,� Marguerite confided. �We are so different, despite what Percy seems to think� not just languages and classes... our very ideals seem at odds. Percy seems to think that money and title are more important than the measure of a man� seems to think that the only way to my heart is through gifts. He represents so many qualities of the aristocracy that I oppose... and yet I know there is something more there. I sense it when he is near, then it fades like vapor in the sunlight when he leaves so that I cannot say for certain what it is that makes me think so. He seems so wrapped up in frivolity and triviality... And he doesn�t open up to me so that I feel like I am in all to my ankles and look out to see an ocean before me�� It was so difficult to put all her concerns into words� and then there was Armand, who would not so quickly abandon their country, even if it meant being so far from her. Possibly a victim to the madness around them. �And if I go, Armand will not be going with me... I have not told him yet, but I know he�ll wish to stay in Paris .�

"I have tried all this time to pierce the facade that Sir Percy has put up with little avail. I fear I have fooled myself into believing one exists. If only I knew with any certainty!" Marguerite slumped onto the settle. "How much easier it would be... So many things make me inclined to say no, but when I ask myself 'would I be willing never to see him again... never to hear his voice or feel his arms around me?' The answer is no. Perhaps it is the result of missing him so terribly when he was gone. Why did he have to propose? Why did he have to change everything?" Why not? The world was certainly changing.

Marguerite felt Suzanne's hand on her shoulder, and placed her own over it. She would have to live with this decision, whatever it would be. She remembered once again, the night Percy brought Armand home. He was there to comfort her in her sorrow. She remembered that in a moment of heightened emotion, she had told him she loved him. Perhaps the words were strong... but she remembered looking into his eyes and seeing that more elusive personality. He was there... had to be.

"I'm going to tell him yes."