Perhaps she had dosed off or it was one of those moments where time flies when you desperately want it to slow, for it seemed only a moment passed before Marguerite heard a rap at her door. It could only mean Chauvelin had arrived. Marguerite sat up. �Enter,� she called as she began to smooth the creases in her shirts and rose to her feet. Mrs. Davis slowly cracked the door open her head appearing before anything else.

�Mr. Chevelon is here to see you,� Davis reported, a look of disapproval on her face which made Marguerite wonder if the mispronunciation was deliberate. Davis came closer to help repair Marguerite�s hair and attire, following Marguerite as far as the sitting room when she was finished. The path to the parlour never seemed longer, Marguerite�s stomach churned with every step, her heart raced, she felt faint but fought for consciousness. She paused outside the parlour door � no turning back now � and cast a glance at Aitkins who had followed her down, he bore an expression of concern and no doubt would had relished the opportunity to show the little French man the door. �My visitor will not be here long. Make sure that his coach is ready for him to leave.�

Marguerite straightened her shoulders and held her head high as she entered. �Monsieur Chauvelin,� she acknowledged him with the slightest incline of her head.

�What else could my answer be?� Marguerite whispered so that Aitkins couldn�t hear for beside the room, moving close to Chauvelin so that no one could listen in. �You�ve given me little choice. But you must swear that Armand will stay safe if I help you and that you will have him released if your plans are brought to fruition.�

Marguerite could not suppress the tremour that passed through her as Chauvelin laid his hand upon her, under any other circumstances she would have called on Aitkins to physically remove the impudent little man, but too much was at stake to anger him. Already he was armed with his commands knowing she have no other alternative but to accept his demands. She eyed the paper Chauvelin offered warily, the moment she accepted it she was committing herself to treason. She was setting not only herself up, but Percy as well. Poor dear Percy, despite his cruelty he did not deserve to pay for her crimes.

�I am to trust you?� Marguerite asked. �Just as I trusted you when you said Saint-Cyr�s family would come to no harm?� Chauvelin�s eyes became icy and Marguerite used the opportunity to pull away from his grip. She turned away from him, taking a few steps to the nearest chair, which she sank into.

�Only once since that horrible guillotine was erected have I gone to the Place de la Greve�� Marguerite said reflectively ��the day that sentence was to be carried out upon the Marquis and his family. It was only right that their killer be there to witness the results of her actions. Were you there? Did you watch that horrible procession? The Marquis, the Marquise, their young children, the helpless babe that the Marquise held in her arms� I fainted dead away the moment I saw the first of their children ascend the platform.� She blinked rapidly to prevent the tears that weld up in her eyes from being shed. �How do I know Armand�s head won�t be the next Samson hold aloft before the crowds?�

There was the entire dilemma � Chauvelin demanded that which was quite against her nature to do. He demanded she trust him despite their history, he demanded her help in destroying a man who represented all that was best and brightest in the world. He could because he held one she loved more than herself � Armand. Her resistance was angering him, which she could afford. She would have to choke down her pride and Chauvelin�s lies � smiling all the while as though she were savoring chocolate bon bons.

Trying to appear as casual as she could, Marguerite accepted the paper, settling back in her seat as she unfolded the page and trying to ignore how Chauvelin hovered over her. The first thing she noted was that the list was written in Chauvelin�s own hand and the list consisted of Baronets. Some of the names she recognized, and yet one stood out among the others. Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, Bart.

Marguerite looked to Chauvelin in shock. �There must be some mistake.�

�You give me far more credit than is warranted, messier,� Marguerite said looking down at the name again. To be true if any of Percy�s friends were the type Andrew would be at the top of the list� still it was unconceivable! Besides how was she to do anything, Percy left without changing his orders, she was still a virtual prisoner. �What do you propose I do? Listen at key holes? Stand beneath window sills? If the Scarlet Pimpernel hasn�t revealed himself to the ton, why would he do so for a French woman with revolutionary ties?�

How could she forget what was a stake when he took every opportunity to remind her? His insinuations about Armand caused her no end of anxiety, his insinuation about her riled her temper. Did he really intend for her to degrade herself? Biting her tongue she looked down at the list again, surely he was mistaken. �I will do what I can, but I can promise nothing�� she said without looking at him. �Every contact I have with you insures that these men will trust me less and less� I fear contact any of the rescued �migr� will also be fruitless, most are aware of my cousin�s political views even if they are not so aware of Armand�s or my own. But I will see what can be done. You ask for no simple task�� Hopefully that when be enough to prompt him to go.

�Suzanne is here?� Marguerite was visibly moved at the mention of Suzanne�s arrival in England and despite herself breathed an audible sigh of relief. With Suzanne here that meant that two of the three people she loved most in this world were far removed from the dangers in France � only Armand was still at risk. But the fact that his life was weighted against the man who saved Suzanne was not lost on Marguerite, in fact it made the prospect of his betrayal all the worse.

�The trouble lies in the Marquise rather than her daughter, Monsieur Chauvelin,� Marguerite recovered herself. �I was never a favorite of the Marquise, that feeling only intensified when I became an actress and more so after the death of Saint-Cyr.� The last part was almost an accusation.

Suzanne�s presence in England certainly was a sign. Her dear friend was just the help she was waiting for to escape and go help Armand herself � that would keep Percy out of danger and it would mean that she would not have to seek out and betray the Scarlet Pimpernel. �However, you are right. I will endeavor to meet with Suzanne du Tournai.�

�No, there is no need for a reminder,� Marguerite replied, biting back the comments that came so readily to mind. �It is also wiser you limit your visits, Monsieur Chauvelin. My husband will evolve himself if you persist in presenting yourself in his home.� She rose as signal for him to leave, Chauvelin rose with her. �Perhaps you should go before he returns. I will contact you after I have spoken with Suzanne.� She kept her hands resolutely at her sides, lest Chauvelin attempt to take hold of one.

�I will send word to Armand that there is hope� goodbye�� Chauvelin mumbled as he left, so low that Marguerite could scare trust her ears. By the time she could process the statement Chauvelin was gone. She had thought to ask him to send a message for her, but it may be just as well. There was the chance that she might let slip her plan and if Chauvelin discovered it she would be undone. She went to the window to watch Chauvelin leave. She hadn�t bought too much time.