Visiting Blakeney Manor
Session Start (AbleNet:#dfblakeney): Sat Dec 10 21:56:43 2005
Margot: *is up in her sitting room with Jack*
Armand: *brings Chris in through the front door without knocking* It's a big house. *smiles at Chris* What do you think? *wish I could describe it*
Chris: It's... it's lovely. *taking everything in*
Armand: *keeps quiet because he is a little afraid of the servants* *leads Chris up the stairs* My sister's rooms are up here. She's the lady of the manor, so to speak. And baby Jack is just a few weeks old. *yes babbling but quietly*
Chris: I see. Have you gotten to see him?
Margot: *has super-sensitive new-mother hearing* Armand? Is that you out there?
Armand: *nods* Oh yes. Apparently he looks just like me. I find it rather embarrassing, but he is my godson as well. *at top of stairs now* Oh yes! Margot! I have a visitor. Is it alright for him to come in?
Margot: Of course ma cher! *scoops the baby into her lap*
Chris: *so nervous*
Armand: *grins at Chris and trots down the hall to her sitting room* *pokes head in* Bonjour, petite maman. You look radiant.
Chris: *smiles at Margot*
Margot: *laughs* Hardly; I must be a mess. Come and sit down, both of you.
Armand: *finds a chair and beams reassuringly at Chris with more confidence than he feels* You look fine. And so does Jack.
Chris: *sits as well* You both look lovely.
Armand: You remember M. Wren, don't you, Margot?
Margot: I believe so. A pleasure to see you again, M. Wren.
Chris: Lovely to see you as well, Mrs. Blakeney
Armand: *nervously* I have some news, Margot.
Chris: *fidgets a bit*
Armand: *reaches out to take Chris's hand comfortingly*
Margot: Is something wrong, ma cher? *rocks a suddenly fussy Jack, and notices the touch*
Chris: *smiles shakily at Armand*
Armand: I had to break off my engagement with Mlle. Lange. *quietly* *keeps a firm grip on Chris's hand*
Chris: *squeezes Armand's hand*
Margot: Oh...Oh, ma petit, I'm so sorry. I know how much you two wanted--*stops and watches them* Armand?
Armand: I did, but... there are some things she just couldn't accept, so I had to let her go. *bites lip*
Armand: Yes? *a little too loudly*
Margot: *stands to rock the baby but looks straight at him* Armand, is there something else?
Chris: *going to let Armand tell this, yeah*
Armand: Yes. You see, Margot, I've fallen in love with Chris here. And Jeanne couldn't accept it--I don't blame her. But now... I'm with him. *blushes as this is still terribly hard to do*
Chris: *not looking at either of them*
Margot: *slowly sinks back into her chair*
Armand: *whispers* Margot, I'm sorry.
Margot: *snaps out of it and getas up to walk around the room with Jack* I...I have to say, I wasn't expecting this.
Armand: Of course you weren't. I wasn't either. Chris was just a friend, but he's... he's been here for me in a way no one else has. And I know he loves me.
Chris: I do, I love him dearly.
Margot: *quietly* Are you sure it's what you both want?
Chris: I... I know it's what I want.
Armand: *almost inaudibly* With Chris I'm not afraid.
Margot: *paces back and forth for a while, thinking*
Armand: Is there something wrong?
Margot: It's...it's just a lot to take in.
Armand: Yes, and I am sorry for that. It hasn't been easy to get out here, and I wanted to tell you in person.
Chris: *... feels rotten*
Armand: I am hoping that Jeanne will be able to forgive me someday though I don't deserve it. I am far too lucky that this man loves me.
Margot: *suddenly turns to Chris and holds out the baby* Would you mind holding him for a moment?
Chris: Er, no, of course not. *gently takes Jack in his arms*
Margot: *crosses the room and starts rummaging through a chest of drawers*
Armand: *a little nervous but smiles at Chris holding baby Jack*
Margot: Jack: *stops fussing and stares at Chris*
Chris: Hello little one. *strokes his cheek gently, smiling down at him*
Armand: He's a lovely baby. I hope he's as handsome and clever as his parents and doesn't take too much after his wayward uncle. *yeah yeah I know but he can hope*
Jack: *yawns and settles in Chris' arms to sleep*
Armand: *whispers to Chris* You look right with a child in your arms.
Margot: *comes back over to them* I think he likes you.
Chris: Such a sweet little thing. *beams at Armand, at that comment*
Armand: *smiles nervously at Margot* What were you looking for?
Margot: This. *hands Armand a key*
Armand: *blinks and looks at the key* What is it for?
Margot: This is the key to our old flat in Paris. Percy and I decided it would be worth keeping, for the League's use, but now I think you should have it. You can move back there, or sell it, whatever you two want. Call it a...good luck gift.
Armand: *eyes wide* You still own it... Margot... I-- *takes her hand and kisses it* I've missed it so much. I thought it lost to us.
Chris: *smiles at the two of them*
Margot: I married for love...the fact Percy was rich was merely an additional blessing.
Armand: I wish I could express my gratitude. We may very well have need of it, if Paris itself becomes hospitable enough.
Chris: *softly* Thank you, Mrs. Blakeney.
Margot: *kisses her brother's forehead* I just want you to be happy. *to Chris* However, since my son has taken such a liking to you, I will expect you both to visit often.
Armand: We will. We're going to get married next summer.
Chris: */glows/ at the mention of the marriage*
Margot: *smiles* Have you told anyone else?
Chris: Ah -- I've told Sweeney...
Armand: You're the best sister... yes, not everyone but some. The elf-family. Alistair. I was trying to tell you and Percy before word got about in general..
Margot: Good. I dread what you-know-who will make of this.
(... why would Voldemort know?)
[*laughs*]
Armand: He'll find out eventually, but I think he's already going to be annoyed enough with me for another reason. You and Percy are going to get some very informative Christmas presents this year.
Armand: Chris, do you remember what I told you the other night?
Chris: Yes I do.
Armand: When I finish going through them and burning the worst of it, I'm giving the rest to Margot and Percy. *small smile*
Chris: Inventive.
Armand: *grimly* He deserves it.
Chris: I don't doubt it.
Armand: *looks at the key in amazement* This flat... it's where we lived together for so long in Paris.
Margot: What are you talking about Armand? An informative Christmas present?
Armand: Citizen Chauvelin was robbed recently. I undersand he's missing some documents that are dear to him He's even offering a reward for their return. *small smile*
Margot: I was aware he had--how did you know it was documents that were missing?
Armand: I know where they are.
Margot: Armand St. Just! You didn't...you did?
Armand: *blushes* I did.
Margot: *tries to be angry, but fails miserably and laughs instead*
Armand: So after I've burned the most dangerous things, I was going to give the rest to you two.
Margot: *still laughing* You beat him at his own game. what are you going to do if he realizes it's you?
Armand: I don't think he can prove it was me. Did you know-- *bites tongue to keep at least one surprise* I had to do something.
Margot: *kisses his forehead again* Just promise you'll tell me if he causes you any trouble, all right? And now, I think I'd best put your godson to bed before Chris is stuck here all night.
Chris: *smiles* I don't mind holding him. He's a good child.
Armand: *quickly kisses her cheek* Thank you for everything, Margot. Will you tell Percy or should I try to catch him? It's been hard.
Margot: *scooping up Jack* I'll try to get word to him; you've got plenty of other things on your mind. Good night, both of you.
Armand: Goodnight, Margot. *stands and reaches for Chris's hand* We should get back.
Session Close (#dfblakeney): Sun Dec 11 00:09:32 2005