The Comte and the Peasant: Chapter Sixteen
Hi everyone! As always, a big THANKS to all those who have read and reviewed the last chapter. I was hoping to get this chapter out much sooner, but unfortunately, I'm having some trouble deciding where I wanted to go with the story. So after many adjustments, here it is. I hope you all like what I came up with, and as always, emails and reviews are appreciated! Until next time!
HYD is property of Yoko Kamio, Viz comics, Margaret Comics, etc etc. It does not belong to me (as if anyone would ever think it did…)
Tiernan Doumet shifted restlessly in his seat and stared out the carriage window. He watched absently as the small, two story buildings of the city raced by in a blur of dull browns and grays. It had been nearly a month since he last came to Troyes and each passing day had been filled with thoughts of Thadea Marcoux. A small part of him had hoped that the time away would have dimmed his desire for her and given him back some measure of logic and objectivity. Unfortunately, the time in Paris had done just the opposite, and now he missed her more than ever.
"It's true what they say," He murmured absently, "absence does make the heart grow fonder." Tiernan reached into his jacket pocket and fingered the small package that he had tucked away there. The feel of the soft velvety wrapping only served to increase his apprehension.
His heart hammered nervously in his chest as the carriage approached the Hainault estate. Tiernan pulled away from the window and leaned back in his chair. He took a deep breath to calm himself just before the carriage pulled to a stop.
His footman hurried to open the door for him, and Tiernan stepped out into the noonday sun, wincing slightly from the bright glare of the marble stairs. Through squinted eyes, he could make out a dark figure hurrying down the steps.
"Young Lord Doumet! What a pleasant surprise!" The heard servant of the house came running towards him in greeting. "The young master has not yet returned from Paris, but we should be expecting him soon…"
"I am not here to see Ruiz," Tiernan said curtly. "I am here to see Thadea Marcoux."
"I beg your pardon milord, but who…?" The head servant looked confused.
Tiernan frowned in annoyance. Hadn't they already been through this before? "One of your servant girls. I have asked you for her before!"
Sensing young Lord Doumet's growing irritation, the old man was quick to pacify him. "I will ask Mistress Rosalind to call her. Please, do come inside."
Tiernan suppressed the urge to punch the old man in the head. His patience was already worn thin from the long journey from Paris, and he was in no mood to put up with the old servant's foolishness.
The man led Tiernan upstairs into the morning room and pulled out a chair for him, which he refused. "Just get the girl for me," Tiernan said. As the head servant hurried away, Tiernan began to pace back and forth uneasily. He pulled out the small package from his jacket pocket and held it in his hands, feeling the velvety softness of the cloth wrapping.
The door opened, and Tiernan glanced up expectantly, quickly hiding the package behind his back. Unfortunately, it was not Thadea who stood in the doorway. The old head servant looked nervous as he entered the room.
"What the hell are you doing back here!" Tieran demanded, his nervousness quickly replaced by irritation.
"I…I'm sorry to tell you this milord…but…but the girl you are looking for no longer works here."
"What!" Tiernan stared at the old man incredulously, "What do you mean? Where did she go?"
"I'm not sure milord," the old man replied, looking thoroughly frightened by Tiernan's demeanor. "She quit nearly a month ago. I assume she may have returned to the countryside, or perhaps she's working for another house…"
"Get me Mistress Rosalind NOW!" Tiernan commanded through gritted teeth. He couldn't believe that the stupid old man had wasted so much of his time with his incompetence.
As the old servant rushed off, Tiernan clenched his fist and placed the small package back inside his jacket. This was not turning out to be a good day.
Meanwhile, in the countryside…
Thadea hummed softly as she washed the dishes from their noonday meal. She was adjusting well to life back in the country, and it almost seemed as though she had never left.
Sumner was now back on his feet, thanks be to God, ending Thadea's short and unsuccessful venture in the milling trade. She was glad that things were returning to normal, but a part of her was disappointed for not having the opportunity to continue working in the mill.
"I think if I had more practice, I might be better at it," she had told her father, but he seemed little interested in letting her continue with her 'apprenticeship.' Seeing that there would be no further discussion in the matter, Thadea had returned to helping her mother with the cooking, cleaning, and gardening. She spent most of her days boiling, hoeing, picking, and washing, something which she was both grateful and unhappy with.
Since returning home, life for Thadea had become a monotonous routine. Although her days were dull, Thadea felt it was an improvement over the emotional anxiety that had plagued her during her time in the city. Still, on occasion, she would think of the times she had spent in the comte's house, and a dull ache would appear in her heart.
"Thadea? Are you home?" A deep voice called out from the doorway.
Figuring she knew who it was, Thadea turned around, only to be surprised by Yves standing in the doorway.
"What's with that expression?" he asked her as he strode into the house. "Were you expecting someone else?"
Thadea laughed. "Sorry, no, but I thought you were Jean Luc."
"Jean Luc? You mean that burgher's son?"
"Yes, you remember."
"Why would you be expecting him?" Yves asked. His tone was light, but Thadea thought she sensed something more in the question.
"Well, I'm not really expecting him. It's just that he's been coming around here… a lot…ever since the accident."
"Ah, I see." Yves looked like he wanted to say more, but didn't. Thadea frowned slightly, but kept her mouth shut. She had not mentioned to Yves the fact that she had gone to dinner at Jean Luc's house the day after the riding accident, which was why she imagined he would be confused about the situation.
Thadea had thought that she would not see Jean Luc again after the dinner at his house. She believed that it had been Jean Luc's way of thanking her for helping him, but apparently that was not the case. Instead, Jean Luc had maintained a constant presence in her life, making trips almost everyday to the mill to see her.
At first, it had been flattering to receive small gifts from him. They were never elaborate presents, but she had assumed it would stop after the first few times. Afterall, even gratitude had an expiration date. Unfortunately, however, it had been quite some time since their chance encounter, and his visits had not ceased in the slightest.
Her mother, who was at first happy by all the attention, was now apprehensive about Jean Luc's daily visits. Thadea, too, was becoming uneasy. Not that she disliked Jean Luc, but she was nervous about where all this was leading.
Yves frowned at the faraway look on Thadea's face. He had not realized that she had maintained contact with Jean Luc Odin, a young man whom he did not hold any particular fondness for. Although they had only met briefly, there was something about the boy that Yves didn't trust. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but Jean Luc made him uneasy. Of course, it was not his place to speak ill to Thadea about any of her friends…if Jean Luc was even that.
"So I was wondering when you were going to get around to supper at my house," Yves stated with mock seriousness. "My mother and sisters have been asking about you for quite some time, and I keep assuring them that you would visit."
"Oh no! I completely forgot about that," Thadea cried looking embarrassed. "It's just that my family's been through so much lately that it slipped my mind…"
"Well I'm here to extend you an official invitation," Yves said. "The chicken has already been killed, plucked, and put in the pot, so I will not accept 'no' for an answer."
Thadea laughed. Yves always was able to put her in a good mood. "Alright, well if that's the case, I'll go ask my mother. I'll be back." She wiped her wet hands on her apron, and hurried out the door.
Yves watched her leave, smiling to himself as her slim form disappeared around the doorway.
That evening…
"So Thadea, it's so good to finally see you again! It's been so long, we thought you had disappeared!"
Thadea smiled at Yves's youngest sister Anne. At ten, she was a regular little chatterbox. Twirling a strand of dark, curly hair around her small fingers and leaning forward in her seat, she gave a very good imitation of an eager teen gossip.
"So where have you been all this time?" Brigitte, the middle daughter, questioned. She was the shyest of the three sisters, and often kept her eyes down when she spoke. When they were younger, Thadea had often played with the three Gies girls, and Brigitte had always been her favorite.
"I'm surprised Yves didn't tell you," Thadea said. "I've been working in the city for the Comte."
"Really?" Anne's dark eyes lit up at the thought of the Comte de Troyes. "That's so exciting! Tell us all about it!"
"Well…there really isn't that much to tell…" Thadea replied hesitantly. She certainly wasn't going to go into what really happened to her in the past few months in Troyes.
"Oh, you know that's not true!" Anne exclaimed. "Don't be mean Thadea. Tell me everything about the Comte's house! What did it look like inside? Are the floors really made of gold?"
"Stop badgering Thadea with your silly questions," Mamile, the oldest daughter, interjected. She placed the last dish of steaming food on the table, before taking a seat next to Thadea. Yves and his father had not yet returned from the field and Mrs. Gies was still at the hearth cleaning up.
"They're not silly," Anne retorted. She gave Thadea a knowing smile. "I heard the future Comte of Troyes is very handsome! Is it true?"
Thadea smiled at Anne's eagerness. Although it still hurt her to think of Ruiz, she was slowly starting to put the past behind her. "He is," she agreed, and proceeded to describe Ruiz Hainault for Anne's benefit. It pleased her to see the sisters so entertained, and she tried as best she could to describe the Comte's fabulous house in every detail.
"We're home!" Yves called as he and his father entered the house. He smiled as he saw Thadea sitting at the dinner table with his sisters. "So you made it," he said happily as he headed over and sat down between Anne and Brigitte.
Mr. Gies gave Thadea a friendly smile and wave in greeting, before heading over to give his wife a kiss. Thadea smiled as she glanced over at the couple. The Gies really were a wonderful family.
"Thadea was just telling us about the Comte's house," Anne told Yves. She hit him lightly on the arm. "I can't believe you didn't mention any of that to us!"
"It slipped my mind," Yves said, rubbing his arm in mock pain. He smiled at Thadea. "Can you believe the abuse that I have to put up with?"
"It's hard to be outnumbered by so many women isn't it?" Thadea asked. Mamile and Brigitte both laughed, while Anne looked on with much seriousness. "He deserves the abuse for always forgetting the important things!"
Yves raised his eyebrows at his youngest sister. "We really must get your priorities straight Anne. I worry about you sometimes."
Anne was about to hit her brother again, when her mother and father came to the table. "Alright children, settle down," Mr. Gies said as he seated himself at the head of the table. "Anne, behave yourself. We have company."
Anne rolled her eyes, but kept her mouth shut as her father put his hands together to say grace. After the prayer, the food was quickly passed around, and the meal began.
"So how is your family Thadea? I heard that your brother is recovering quite well," Mrs. Gies said.
"Yes ma'am," Thadea replied politely, "Sumner's actually back working at the mill with my father now."
"That's wonderful! And how is your mother doing?"
"Oh she's fine, same as always. Since the mill has been doing better with my brother's help, she's been in a much better mood than usual."
Mrs. Gies laughed. "Money always did make Cherie happy."
"Mom!" Yves exclaimed, sensing that that was not the most appropriate thing to say about Thadea's mother. He glanced over at Thadea apologetically. "Sorry about…"
"Oh that's alright," Thadea said with a laugh, "There's nothing wrong with being honest. It's no secret how my mother feels about money."
"Yeah Yves, lighten up," Anne said, giving Thadea a sly grin. "My brother is always so touchy when it comes to you…"
"Oh shut up Anne," Yves retorted, glaring at his sister. Thadea was surprised to see a blush creeping into his cheeks.
"Stop embarrassing your brother," Mrs. Gies told Anne. She glanced over at Thadea and sighed, "It's not easy having a daughter like her."
"Hey!" Anne was annoyed by her mother's comment. "If it wasn't for me, things would be dull, dull, dull around here."
"You mean peaceful," Mamile corrected. Brigitte giggled at her older sister's comment.
"I can't believe you all are ganging up on me!" Anne cried, outraged. She looked over at her father for help, "Papa! Make them stop!"
"Leave me out of this," Mr. Gies stated smiling. "You women are too much for me to handle." Anne pouted, and turned to glare at her sisters. "You know, if you all are going to point out my shortcomings, I have a thing or two to say about each of you!" As the three sisters began to argue, Thadea turned over to Yves and Mrs. Gies.
"Is it always like this at your house?"
Mrs. Gies laughed. "That's what happens when you have three daughters! Oh lord, what did I ever do to deserve this?" She looked over at Yves fondly. "At least I have a son who doesn't give me any trouble."
Yves smiled at his mother's adoration. "Aw, cut it out mom. You're embarrassing me."
Mrs. Gies turned to Thadea and gave a warm smile. "You know Thadea, I've always thought of you as one of my own. You're just like another daughter to me."
Thadea blushed at the comment. "Why thank you Mrs. Gies, that's very kind of you to say."
"You're always such a pleasant and industrious girl," Mrs. Gies continued, "You'd make a fine wife someday."
Thadea frowned slightly at these last words. Where was Mrs. Gies going with this?
"How old are you now Thadea?" Mrs. Gies asked.
Thadea hesitated. "Sixteen…"
"Really? How the time flies! I still remember when you were just a tiny little thing in your mother's arms. And now, wow, sixteen. You should be married soon I should think."
Thadea blinked, unsure of what to say. The conversation was definitely headed in the wrong direction. She glanced over at Yves for help, but found that he was looking down, concentrating a little too hard on his food.
"Um…the issue of marriage has not really come up yet," Thadea said slowly, trying to find the best way to move away from the topic. "I know there are a lot of girls my age who are already mothers, but…but…since my father's mill has been doing poorly till now, there hasn't been any plans for my marrying, especially when it concerns a dowry price."
"Oh I see. Well that's a small matter," Mrs. Gies replied, seemingly unfazed by Thadea's inadvertent hint at the fact that her family had no money to provide a decent dowry. "Money shouldn't be an issue when the family would be getting such a wonderful daughter-in-law."
Thadea smiled appreciatively at Mrs. Gies's praise, but said nothing more. Suddenly, she hadlost her desire for conversation as well as her appetite.
After supper, Thadea bid the Gies family goodnight as she headed out the door and towards her house. Yves offered to walk her home, which she accepted, reluctantly.
Although Yves had not brought up the topic of marriage, he had not done anything to stop his mother from doing so. This fact unnerved Thadea, and made her uneasy around him.
They walked together in silence back to her house. Yves finally spoke as they reached the front door.
"Look, Thadea, about what my mom said tonight…I'm sorry…she didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Thadea nodded, not looking up at him. "It's okay Yves…it didn't necessarily make me uncomfortable…it's just…I wasn't expecting it, that's all." She sighed, "But you know, she's right. I've been so preoccupied with everything that's happened lately, I haven't given much thought to things like marriage, which maybe I should."
"I didn't mean to pressure you…"
"You didn't do anything," Thadea said. She looked up at Yves whose face was hidden by the darkness, "I just wish that you would have said something when your mother started on the subject."
"Well…yeah…you're right," Yves replied hesitantly. Thadea frowned at the tone in his voice.
"Yves?" She questioned, unnerved by his demeanor. What was happening here?
Yves looked down at her and Thadea was startled by the emotion that was shining in his dark eyes. "Listen, Thadea, I'm almost eighteen, and my family has been pressuring me for quite some time to settle down and start a family. I…I…" His voice faltered, as he searched for the right words. "I guess what I'm trying to say is…"
"Who the hell are you!" An angry voice demanded from behind them. Thadea and Yves both swerved around just in time to see a tall figure dismount from a horse and stalk over to them.
"Jean Luc? Is that you?" Thadea questioned. The words barely left her mouth before the rider came and punched Yves squarely in the jaw. Yves staggered back, startled, as the dark figure grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"Leave him alone!" Thadea screamed, running over and pounding the rider's back. "Get away from him!"
The stranger seemed startled by her reaction, and pulled away. Thadea interjected herself between Yves and the unknown assailant, glaring up at the man in contempt.
"What do you want you freak?" she cried angrily, "Who are you?" She had realized quickly that this man was not Jean Luc, and was scared to death by the man's violence.
The tall figure remained silent, standing in the shadows. Thadea narrowed her eyes warily. Certainly this person couldn't be a robber or some type of crazed criminal. Afterall, he had stopped when she had told him to…
"Do I know you?" Thadea asked uncertainly, squinting at the figure through the darkness. The only sources of light came from the stars and the narrow sliver of moon that shown in the night sky. It was difficult to make out the man's features…
"It's me," the dark figure replied softly. He stepped forward, and through the darkness, Thadea could finally make out the broad shoulders, chiseled face, and dark curly hair.
"Tiernan Doumet," Thadea whispered. She was shocked to say the least. "Wh…what are you doing here?"
"I…I just found out that you had left Ruiz's house. It took me a while to find your house, but I needed to see you…"
"Stay away from Thadea!" Yves cried. He had recovered from the initial shock of the assault, and now stood in front of Thadea, blocking her from Tiernan.
Tiernan glared at him in annoyance. "Get out of my way you stupid peasant! This is none of your business!"
Yves' jaw tightened, but he didn't move.
Tiernan clenched his fist and took a step forward. "Don't make me do something I'll regret."
Yves stood his ground, refusing to be intimidated. "Leave Thadea alone," he stated again.
Tiernan growled and rushed forward, ready to throttle the man. Suddenly, Thadea was in front of Yves, protecting him.
"Stop it, just stop it!" she screamed at him, the anger in her voice cutting into Tiernan's heart. "Get out of here NOW! I never want to see you again! JUST LEAVE!"
Tiernan took a step back in shock, staring at her in hurt confusion. "But…"
"LEAVE NOW!" Thadea screamed, tears starting to flow down her cheeks.
Tiernan hesistated, but looking at her flushed, angry face, he reluctantly turned away and walked back to his horse. As he mounted and rode away, the memory of Thadea's words rang repeatedly in his ears.
Two days later…
Ruiz Hainault walked up the long, marble stairs of his estate and was greeted by his servants, who had gathered in the entranceway to welcome him home.
The head servant, Joseph, walked forward and held out his hands to take Ruiz's dusty jacket. Ruiz had ridden from Paris on horseback, and was now thoroughly exhausted from the trip. He was covered in dirt, and was eager to clean himself off.
"I will draw you a bath milord," one of the head maids told him when she saw the state he was in. He nodded to her appreciatively as he headed upstairs to his quarters to shed the rest of his dirty clothes.
"May I inquire if his Lord and Ladyship will be returning soon as well?" Joseph asked, as he followed Ruiz up the stairs.
Ruiz shook his head. "Father and Mother have decided to remain in Paris. Tensions are high now, and it would be foolish to be away from court. I only returned because there is no longer a need for me there. If his majesty or my father should require my presence, they will send a summons."
Joseph nodded. "I should tell you that Young Lord Doumet was here two days ago…"
Ruiz glanced back at Joseph in alarm. "Really? What did he want?"
"He wished to see one of your servant girls. The same one whom he has asked for before."
"You mean Thadea Marcoux?"
"Yes."
Ruiz hesitated. "And did he see her?"
"No sir," Joseph looked uneasy, "He was quite upset actually…to find that the girl no longer works here."
"What?" Ruiz was taken aback by this news. "What do you mean?"
"Well, she quit milord, about a month ago…so I was told. I'm not too clear on the details, but I think you should speak with Mistress Rosalind if you want to know exactly what happened."
"Yes," Ruiz said slowly, turning away. "I certainly should. Please call Mistress Rosalind to my quarters immediately."
Ruiz Hainault rode at a hurried pace down the long dirt, wooded path which lead to the Doumet estate on the outskirts of the city. His heart and mind raced frantically as he sped along the dusty trail.
Pulling his horse to a stop in front of the gates, he nodded to one of the guards on duty who quickly rushed to open the doors for him.
"Shall I announce you to his lordship?" the guard questioned, but Ruiz brushed past him without responding. Dismounting quickly, he tossed the reins to a young stable hand that had emerged by his side.
One of the headman came forward from the front entrance of the house, and rushed down the steps to greet him. "Lord Hainault! Is the young master expecting you?"
"No, he's not. Where is he?" Ruiz asked, walking past the servant and into the foyer.
"The young master is in the library I believe. Shall I announce you?"
"No need," Ruiz replied as he headed upstairs. His boots thudded dully on the thick carpet as he walked quickly down the hallway. He didn't stop to knock as he stopped and pulled open the heavy wooden doors.
The doors creaked open, and the bright early morning light made him squint. He could make out Tiernan's tall, dark form, seated in an armchair next to the window.
Tiernan Doumet looked up in surprised as the doors to the library were suddenly pulled open. "I specifically commanded that I did not want to be disturbed! What do you want?"
"Tiernan?" Ruiz's voice floated across the room as his tall, lanky figure glided in. The doors were shut behind him as he entered, walking slowly towards where Tiernan sat.
Tiernan sighed wearily and slumped back into his chair. He should have known that Ruiz would pay him a visit sooner or later. No doubt his servants would have told him about his visit two days earlier.
"I suppose you came to check up on me?" Tiernan asked wearily, gesturing for Ruiz to sit down on a nearby couch.
Ruiz hesitated, but then took the offered seat. "I heard you came to my estate."
"Yes."
"Did you find Thadea?"
"…"
Ruiz frowned, staring intently at Tiernan's expression. After talking with Mistress Rosalind, he knew that Tiernan had gone out to the Marcoux's mill to look for her. What he didn't know was what Tiernan did when he got there.
After a long period of silence, Tiernan finally spoke. "I found her alright…"
"Well? How was she?"
"Fine I suppose."
"Would you stop being so cryptic?" Ruiz was surprised by his growing annoyance. "What did she say to you when she saw you? That's what I want to know!"
"What does it matter to you what she said?" Tiernan demanded quickly, his eyes narrowing. After all this time, he still didn't trust Ruiz's intentions towards Thadea.
Ruiz ignored the question. "Is she here now?" he asked, looking Tiernan straight in the eye. He could see a flicker of something (perhaps guilt?) pass through Tiernan's dark eyes.
There was a brief pause, before Tiernan shook his head. "No, she's not here."
Ruiz could feel some weight being lifted off his shoulders. At least he didn't have to worry about Tiernan holding the girl hostage…not that he really believed his best friend was capable of doing something like that. Still, Tiernan Doumet was…different…whenever he was around Thadea, and love has certainly been known to make people do crazy things.
Staring at Tiernan's dark expression, a realization suddenly dawned on Ruiz. "Did she tell you to leave her alone?" Ruiz asked softly, his gray eyes wide.
Tiernan looked away, and Ruiz had his answer. He sighed and shook his head. "I hope that puts an end to all of this. You know how she feels now, so it's probably best just to just let her be."
"It was a misunderstanding," Tiernan replied, not looking at him.
Ruiz frowned at his response. "What? What was a misunderstanding?"
Tiernan shook his head, not wishing to elaborate further.
Ruiz's frown deepened. There was something that Tiernan wasn't telling him. "I hope you're not going to go back to see Thadea again," Ruiz said slowly, making sure that every word got across. "She obviously wants to be left alone, and you should respect her wishes."
Tiernan remained silent, and continued to stare out the window. Ruiz let out another sigh of frustration, then stood and headed towards the door.
"You're making the situation worse for yourself Tiernan," Ruiz stated, as he stood in the open doorway. "Don't do anything that we'll all regret."
As he rode home, Ruiz debated whether he should pay Thadea a visit out in the countryside. He had a good idea of where the Marcoux's mill was, and it wouldn't take long for him to ride out, especially since it was not yet noon.
"I could go out and just check to see if she's alright," he thought to himself as he slowed his horse. He was approaching the city gates, and glanced over at the broad, dirt paths which lead to the fields of the peasant workers. The idea seemed good to him, but then he remembered that she had chosen to leave…and not return.
He had learned from one of the serving girls that Thadea's brother had been ill, which was why she had left. But that had been weeks ago, and she had not returned to the estate, which obviously meant that she was not returning at all.
Ruiz hated to admit it, but he was more than a bit hurt that she had not stayed to say goodbye to him. Afterall, he liked to think that they had been friends. He certainly shared more with her than he had with anyone else, noble or common.
Unfortunately, the knowledge that she had went away and stayed away weighed heavily on his mind, and in the end, Ruiz convinced himself that it was best just to return home. As he headed towards the gates of the city, he glanced back one last time at the peasant fields before they were blocked out by the high, stone walls of Troyes.
That night, Ruiz tossed restlessly in his bed, unable to get to sleep. As he lay there, his mind wandered to Thadea Marcoux, and how she might be doing back in the countryside.
"I give up," he finally cried in exasperation as he sat up and flung off the covers. Getting to his feet, he fumbled in the darkness for the door to his quarters.
Ruiz didn't bother to light a candle as he made his way out into the hallway and down the stairs. He had made many trips down to the kitchen late at night, and didn't need light to guide him through the now familiar path.
As he pushed open the kitchen doors, the warm glow of the fire greeted him. He wearily made his way to the table and seated himself on a rough wooden chair. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to stare at the fire that was roaring brightly in the large, stone hearth.
A dull ache emerged in his heart as his gaze slowly traveled around the room, resting on the kitchen doors. He half expected that at any moment, Thadea Marcoux's slim form would come creeping silently into the room. He smiled as he remembered the time she had come in looking for food. She had surprised him when she entered, and he had kept silent, wanting to know what she was up to. It had been great fun to watch the startled expression her face when she turned around and saw him watching her. Now, he realized, he would never have those moments again…
An image King John's infuriated face suddenly flashed through Ruiz's mind, pushing away the fond memory. It was clear that war with England was now inevitable. The question was how soon would it be? Ruiz shuddered involuntarily, knowing the long years of bloodshed that was to come. And would he survive the slaughter? That was the most important question of all.
"I don't want to leave without seeing Thadea again," he realized, picturing her smiling face in his mind. At that moment, he decided that he would make a trip out to the Marcoux mill in the morning.
That same day…
Thadea walked down the dirt path which led to the Gies' house. It had been two days since the incident with Tiernan Doumet and she still felt extremely guilty over what had happened to Yves.
She had avoided seeing him the day after, worried that he would be angry with her. Yves had left without saying much after Tiernan had ridden away, and Thadea wasn't sure if he blamed her.
Despite her nervousness, Thadea knew that she couldn't (no, shouldn't) avoid him, especially when she felt partly responsible for what had happened. She couldn't bear the thought of Yves resenting her. He had always been there, ever since she could remember, and she wouldn't lose his friendship over Tiernan Doumet!
As she approached the Gies' house, Thadea saw Mamile standing at the front entrance, sweeping the porch. Anne was standing to the side, watching her older sister work. She glanced up for a second, and saw Thadea approaching. She waved at her and said something to Mamile, who looked up and smiled.
"Hey Thadea!" Anne cried as Thadea got closer, "What a nice surprise!"
Thadea smiled with relief at Anne's warm greeting. Mamile was wiping some sweat from her forehead, but she was smiling too. Thadea took this as a good sign, since it looked like Yves' sisters didn't seem to be upset with her.
"Is your brother here?" Thadea questioned.
Mamile shook her head in response. "No, sorry! Yves went fishing this morning. Father didn't need him in the field today and he took Brigitte with him." She glanced at Thadea curiously, "Is everything alright between the two of you?"
"Um…," Thadea hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
Anne raised her eyebrows. "Oh Thadea, you have to tell us! Yves, the big jerk, wouldn't say anything. He came back that night with a bruised jaw and wouldn't tell us what happened. Mom thought that maybe he had done something to offend you and you had hit him. She was so angry!" Anne's eyes glistened with interest, "What did he do Thadea? You can tell us! I'm sure he deserved what he got!"
Thadea shook her head. "You shouldn't talk about your brother like that Anne. Yves didn't do anything wrong. I didn't hit him…"
Anne looked puzzled by this revelation. "If you didn't hit him, then who did? How did he get the bruise…"
"It's a long story," Thadea replied shortly. "I'm going to find Yves. I'll see you girls later." Not waiting for a response from either Anne or Mamile, Thadea turned and hurried away.
Anne frowned, visibly annoyed by Thadea's brush off. "I wonder what's going on between those two," she muttered as she turned back to look at Mamile.
Mamile simply shrugged her shoulders. "Mind your own business Anne," she said, as she turned back to sweeping the porch.
The Vienne river sparkled and glistened in the afternoon sun. Thadea strolled along the grassy bank watching the blue gray water ripple and flow gently past her.
Watching the river, she wished wistfully that she could become a part of the flowing water, following its path to faraway places, and moving with no particular destination. It would be nice not to be tied down to one single place, to always experience something new.
"No Brigitte! Quit putting water in the bucket! It's going to overflow and all those fish are going to flip themselves right out onto the bank!" Yves' exasperated voice floated along the bank snapping Thadea out of her reverie. She looked out into the distance, and saw his tall, dark form standing along the edge of the riverbank.
"Yves!" She called out to him, waving, as she headed over to where he and his sister stood. She watched him turn, and pause, before waving back to her. Brigitte, however, turned away as soon as she saw Thadea approach. Thadea frowned at her reaction. What had Yves said to her?
Getting closer, she noticed with a wince that Yves' jaw had turned an ugly shade of purple. He gave her a small smile as she neared, but didn't look her in the eye. Thadea felt a small pang in her heart.
"Can I talk to you?" Thadea asked. She glanced back and forth between Brigitte and Yves. Brigitte still refused to look at her or even acknowledge her presence.
Yves glanced at Thadea out of the corner of his eye, and then turned to his sister. "Brigitte, would you mind leaving us alone please?" he asked softly.
Brigitte looked up at her brother, her expression grim, but turned and headed off wordlessly along the bank.
"She's angry with me," Thadea remarked, staring after Brigitte's retreating form.
"Yeah, sorry about that," Yves replied, looking down at his feet. He still refused to meet Thadea's gaze, which made Thadea nervous. "I didn't tell her anything Thadea, but I guess she drew her own conclusions…"
"And I suppose she feels I've done something wrong…" Thadea said softly, feeling her heart sink.
Yves looked up at her sharply. "You didn't do anything wrong Thadea. I don't want you to think that I blame you…"
Thadea stared into his dark eyes. It was difficult for her to discern what he was thinking. "Are you angry with me?" she asked slowly.
"No! Of course not!" Yves' eyes widened in surprise, "What would make you think that?"
Thadea sighed in relief. "I don't know, I guess I felt partly responsible for what happened, and after seeing the way Brigitte was acting…well…nevermind. I'm just glad that you're not upset with me."
Yves nodded and looked away again. There was an awkward pause. Thadea frowned, puzzled by the way he was acting. Something wasn't right.
"Who was that guy Thadea?" Yves asked finally. He didn't look at her, but instead fidgeted with his fishing pole. Thadea stared at the back of his dark head, unsure of how to respond.
"It's not what you think," she said slowly, trying to find the best way to explain her unusual situation. "That was Tiernan Doumet, the future Comte of Champagne…"
Yves turned around, looking at her incredulously. "He's what?"
"Yeah…it's a long story," Thadea said. "I really don't want to get into it…"
Yves frowned, taking a step closer to her. "This could be serious Thadea. It's dangerous to get involved with the nobility…"
"It's not like that!" Thadea protested. She sighed and turned away from Yves' worried gaze. "It's hard for me to explain, especially since I'm not sure what's happening myself. You don't need to worry though. I don't think I'll see him again."
"Why would a man like Tiernan Doumet want to see you?" Yves pressed, refusing to drop the issue. He was visibly disturbed to learn the identity of his attacker, especially when the man had been so angry at seeing him and Thadea together.
"There's nothing going on between us…" Thadea replied, "…at least, not for me." She looked up at Yves pleadingly. "I really don't want to talk about it. Please, can't we just forget about it?"
Yves sighed wearily. It was obvious that he wanted to find out more about her and Tiernan Doumet, but looking at Thadea's expression, he knew that he shouldn't pressure her any further. Another long silence ensued before he finally turned back to his fishing pole.
"Brigitte and I brought some biscuits out here to snack on since we were planning to stay out until dark. You can have some if you want," Yves said, his back now turned to Thadea.
Thadea smiled gratefully. "Thanks. I think I will." Walking over to the small cloth sack, she pulled out a biscuit and headed over to stand next to Yves. She nibbled on it as she looked out over the wide, shining river.
"So are you interested in anyone at the moment?" Yves asked. He continued to stare out at the glistening water as he talked. "If not Tiernan Doumet, then is there someone else?"
A familiar face flashed through Thadea's mind, but she pushed it away quickly. "No," she lied, "There's no one right now."
Yves was silent for a moment. "What about Marc?" he finally asked. "I remember you two were pretty close when we were younger."
Thadea laughed. "Marc? What would make you think of him? I haven't seen Marc in nearly three years, ever since he got that apprenticeship with a blacksmith in the city." She sighed. "Marc was never like you…or me…he was never interested in settling in the country. He always wanted something more exciting out of life."
"I remember you wanted that as well Thadea," Yves said, "What changed?"
Thadea shrugged. "I guess after actually experiencing the city, I realized that I fit in better here." She glanced up at Yves, and was surprised to find him staring at her. There was an odd, almost wistful look on his face.
"Thadea, what do you think of me?" Yves asked suddenly, the question catching her by surprise. Thadea blinked, taken aback by this odd question.
"I…" Thadea hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I…you've always been a good friend Yves, you know that."
Yves grinned at her response and slowly turned back to face the river. Although he was smiling, Thadea felt that there was something in his eyes that told her he wasn't exactly pleased by her response.
Later…
Thadea sat outside on her front stoop, shelling peas. She looked up as she felt a shadow in front of her and saw Mirielle Enaud standing there.
"Mirielle!" she cried, standing up quickly and giving her friend a big hug. "I haven't seen you in so long! How are you?"
Mirielle smiled happily. "I've been well Thadea! I've missed you so much since you've been gone! I only found out a few days ago that you came back! I can't believe I didn't know about it, otherwise I would have come to see you much sooner…"
"Oh don't worry about that!" Thadea said happily, seating herself back down on the front steps and pulling Mirielle down to sit next to her. "I've been busy helping my mother anyways…"
"Right, because your brother was ill." Mirielle looked at her worriedly, "Is Sumner alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine. He's been back on his feet for the past two weeks and he seems to have his strength back."
"Thank God," Mirielle replied with relief. "I'm so glad for you. Your family must be so happy."
"Yes, we're all grateful," Thadea said honestly. She turned back to shelling the peas.
"Can I help you with that?" Mirielle asked as she gestured towards the small green pile that sat at Thadea's feet.
Thadea smiled gratefully. "Of course!"
As the two girls began to work in silence, Mirielle glanced up at Thadea curiously. "Thadea, is something bothering you? You don't seem yourself today."
Thadea looked up in surprise. "Really? Is it that obvious?"
Mirielle laughed, "Well, I've known you since we were kids. I'd like to think I can tell when something's wrong."
Thadea sighed, looking down at her hands. "I don't know, things are just getting a bit complicated lately. Aside from a bunch of stuff that I don't want to get into, Yves' been acting very strange lately."
Mirielle blinked in surprise. "Yves? Wow, I haven't seen him in forever!"
"Yeah, well he hasn't really been himself these past few days and I can't figure out why." Thadea clenched her fists in frustration. "I don't understand why boys have to be so difficult!"
Mirielle laughed. "They're not that difficult Thadea if you know how to read them."
Thadea shook her head. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Look, I don't know what's happened between you and Yves recently, but I do know the two of you." Mirielle replied, giving Thadea a knowing smile. She paused for a moment, before saying, "I'm not going to put any ideas in your head, but I just want to point out a little fact that you seem to have failed to notice. Yves has always paid more attention to you than to any other girl around here. Ever since we were little, he's always visited you and played with you."
"So? What's that got to do with anything?" Thadea asked, not understanding what Mirielle was getting at.
Mirielle stared at Thadea in exasperation. "All I'm saying is, take a good look at Yves Gies. He's handsome, strong, kind, and hardworking. Why is it, do you think, that he still isn't married yet?"
Thadea shrugged, still not following. "Maybe he just hasn't found the right girl yet."
"Or maybe he has, and he's just waiting for her to give him a sign."
Thadea frowned, feeling a cold shiver run down her spine. She didn't like how Mirielle said that last sentence.
The next day…
Jean Luc Odin rode along the dirt path and spotted the Marcoux residence off in the distance. He hurried his horse along, anxious to see Thadea. Unfortunately, he had been occupied with some matters of his father's business these past few days, and had been unable to continue his daily visits. Now, however, the affairs were settled, and he was eager to resume his growing relationship with Thadea Marcoux.
"Whoa!" he cried, as he pulled his horse to a stop in front of the Marcoux house. He swung himself easily off the saddle, grateful that his leg was finally healed. He walked quickly up the front stairs and knocked loudly on the wooden door.
"Thadea! It's me!" he called loudly when there was no answer. He knocked again, but still no one came to the door.
"Hmm…I guess she's not home," he muttered, disappointed. Turning away, he wondered briefly if he could find someone who would know where Thadea was.
As he remounted his horse, he noticed a tall, slim figure walking slowly off in the distance. "Hey you! May I speak with you?" He called out to the man as he rode over to him.
Yves Gies looked up in surprise as a voice called out to him. His heart quickened when he saw it was a young man on horseback. As the rider approached, however, he was relieved to see that it was not the person he had initially thought. Unfortunately, it was yet another wealthy fellow whom he disliked.
"You there, I remember you. You're a friend of Thadea's right? Do you know where she's gone?" Jean Luc looked down at the dark haired young man and was shocked to see the bruise on his face.
Yves shrugged, "I don't know. She should be home…it's anyone's guess where she might be."
"Oh my god, what happened to your face?" Jean Luc questioned, still staring at Yves' bruise.
"I got punched," Yves replied, not wishing to elaborate. "It's not really a big deal."
"Tell me whoever did this and I shall see to it that he's appropriately punished," Jean Luc said. He scowled angrily, "I'm not going to let someone who hurt Thadea's friend get off that easily."
"Well, I don't think you can really do much for me, especially against this guy," Yves stated sourly.
"Oh really? Who is this guy?" Jean Luc replied in amusement. He doubted he would be unable to have some stupid peasant punished.
"It's Tiernan Doumet, our future Comte de Champagne," Yves replied, watching Jean Luc's face for his reaction. No doubt it would wipe the arrogant look off that pompous jerk. Jean Luc was expectedly shocked to learn the identity of Yves' assailant, but quickly, his expression darkened. Yves was disturbed by this sudden change in Jean Luc's demeanor.
"Why would he attack you?" Jean Luc asked coldly, staring at Yves in a way that frightened him.
"I'm not sure, but it has something to do with Thadea," Yves replied, unsure of whether or not he should be telling anything to Jean Luc. "She wouldn't tell me anything, and I wouldn't recommend asking her about it. It upsets her."
"I see," Jean Luc replied, turning away from Yves. He paused for a moment, seeming to think about something, before he turned his horse around and galloped off.
Yves stood staring after him, an uneasiness growing inside his chest.
Thadea stood at the bank of the Vienne watching the sparkling expanse absently. She had come here after dropping off some lunch to her father and brother at the mill. The river gave her a sense of peace and tranquility, something which she very much needed lately.
Thadea thought about what Mirielle had said to her the other day about Yves. She had never really noticed before, but it was strange that Yves was still unmarried. In fact, she had never known him to court a girl, something which he should have done by now if his parents were pressuring him to settle down. But then again, what did she know of Yves' personal life? Thadea didn't keep up with the local gossip, so perhaps he did have someone in mind that she just didn't know about.
"So what was he doing inviting you to his house for supper?" The question suddenly popped into her mind, causing other memories to surface. She remembered the times, shortly before her fateful trip to Troyes, when Yves had visited her. He had often brought her vegetables from his mother's garden, stating that his mother had insisted. And there was also that one incident when he had given her a crochet cap that his sisters had made. At the time, these visits had meant little to her, but now, after her talk with Mirielle, Thadea was beginning to see things in a new light.
The idea that Yves Gies might be interested in her romantically was a strange concept to Thadea, one that she wasn't particularly comfortable with. Afterall, Yves had always been the boy next door to her, and she often thought of him along the same lines as Sumner. The idea that he would want to marry her put a lump in the pit of her stomach.
"But if not Yves, then who?" Thadea wondered, as she continued to look out at the flowing river. She was already sixteen, and it was obvious to everyone that it was time for her to marry. Many girls her age and younger were already wives and mothers, and unless she wanted to become a spinster for the rest of her life, she needed to start thinking about finding a husband.
"Growing up is hard," she realized, sighing inwardly. If only she could go back in time to when things were simpler…
The clacking of hooves brought Thadea out of her reverie. She glanced over in surprise, wondering who it could be.
A tall figure emerged from the woods leading a sleek white mare behind him. Thadea squinted her eyes, trying to get a better look at the man. He seemed familiar for some reason, and Thadea wondered briefly if she knew him.
Almost as if sensing that he was being watched, the figure turned in her direction…and froze.
Sensing that he might have recognized her, Thadea waved. "Hello there! Do I know you?"
The figure paused for a moment before walking towards her, leaving his horse behind to continue drinking. The bright glare of the sun kept the man in the shadows, but as he approached, an all too familiar voice addressed her. "Has it really been that long Thadea Marcoux? Have you forgotten me already?"
Thadea's heart quickened instantly as she recognized the voice. It had been nearly a month, but she could never forget…
"Ruiz Hainault!" she cried, gaping at him in disbelief. "I can't believe it!"
Ruiz came forward, his hand held up to his eyes to ward off the bright glare of the sun. "This is certainly a surprise…" he stated with a grin as he stood before her.
"I should say the same thing," Thadea replied, still trying to process the fact that Ruiz Hainault was actually there. "What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way to see you actually," Ruiz replied, "but I stopped here so that my horse could rest and get a drink. Imagine my surprise to find you! It's a strange coincidence don't you think?" His hair was disheveled from the horse ride, and he ran a hand through his silky, red-bronze hair to brush it out of his face.
"Yeah…" Thadea agreed. She was both pleased and confused that Ruiz Hainault had come all this way to see her. "Why…why did you want to see me?"
Ruiz paused. He seemed to consider her question carefully before answering. "Well, you left without saying goodbye, so I thought I'd come and see how you were doing. Is your brother alright? Does he need a doctor?"
Thadea was touched by his concern, but was surprised that Ruiz knew about her family's circumstances. "You know about that?"
"Yes, Mistress Rosalind told me why you left." Ruiz seemed to hesitate, "Is your brother…"
"No! He made a wonderful recovery," Thadea said quickly. She smiled, "Sumner's a tough boy."
"I'm glad," Ruiz told her kindly. He seemed to hesitate again, and Thadea frowned.
"Is anything the matter?" she asked. There seemed to be something else on his mind.
"Well…," Ruiz paused, unsure if he should continue. "I also know that Tiernan came to see you. I went to see him when I found out that you had left, and he didn't want to talk to me about what happened. I was worried about what he might have done…"
"I don't want to talk about it," Thadea said stiffly, her pleasure quickly dissipating. She wished Ruiz had not brought up Tiernan Doumet. After the incident, all she wanted to do was forget what happened that night.
Ruiz nodded. There was another pause before he finally spoke. "I know Tiernan's got a temper on him, but he's a good guy. No matter what he's done, I'm sure he didn't mean it."
Thadea stared at him. Did Ruiz somehow guess what had happened between the two of them? "No," she thought, "He couldn't possibly know what Tiernan Doumet did. If he knew what really happened, he wouldn't be saying this."
"I appreciate you wanting to help, but you don't need to defend him to me," she said softly. "Even if he were a saint, I still don't want to see Tiernan Doumet ever again." Thadea sighed, closing her eyes. "I just want to be left alone, to lead a quiet life in the countryside. I wish he would respect that." She glanced over at Ruiz sadly, trying to make him understand.
Ruiz frowned, studying her. "And me? Do you wish that I respected that as well?"
Thadea looked away quickly, unsure of how to respond. She knew that it was best to stay away from Ruiz Hainault, but the thought of never seeing him again brought a sharp pain to her heart. Ruiz, however, took her reaction as an affirmation.
"I didn't mean to intrude on your life Thadea," Ruiz said. He smiled at her sadly, "I just wanted to make sure that you were alright." To Thadea's surprise, he bent down and gave her a low bow. "I wish you all the best. Please don't be afraid to call on me if you should ever need my help."
Thadea stared at him as he walked away, her eyes brimming with tears. Ruiz Hainault made his way back to where his horse patiently waited and mounted it in one fluid motion. Not turning to look at her again, he rode away, leaving Thadea alone on the riverbank.
Tiernan Doumet looked up as Ruiz Hainault approached. He stood up from the marble bench he had been sitting on and waited as Ruiz made his way across the wide expanse of carefully manicured lawn that lay between the gardens and the main house.
Tiernan frowned at the peculiar look on Ruiz's face, which did not disappear even as he stood in front of him.
"What are you doing here Ruiz?" Tiernan asked suspiciously.
"I want to speak with you about Thadea," Ruiz stated, getting right to the point. Tiernan frowned at this uncharacteristic bluntness.
"I thought we had finished all that the last time you were here," Tiernan replied. He was in no mood to argue or be lectured at today.
"I saw her today," Ruiz said softly, studying Tiernan's expression. Tiernan's eyes widened and then quickly narrowed as he processed this news.
"Why?" he demanded angrily, glaring at Ruiz.
"I went out to check up on her, to make sure she was alright. I know you did something to her, but she wouldn't talk about it with me." Ruiz frowned, "I'm not stupid Tiernan. I can tell when something's wrong."
"Why can't you just mind your own business?" Tiernan demanded. Then he paused, realizing the irony of the situation. "I never thought that I would ever have to tell Ruiz Hainault to stay out of my business." He looked at his best friend with sad amusement, "Have you really changed that much?"
Ruiz smiled slightly. "We all change Tiernan. You've changed quite a bit yourself these last few months." He paused, then said seriously, "Thadea told me again that she wanted to be left alone. She seems…happy, to be back in her old life. I want you to respect her decision, and to please leave her alone from now on."
Tiernan hesitated, unsure of how to respond. A host of conflicting emotions raged inside him.
"Yo! Tiernan!" A deep voice shouted out from across the estate grounds. Both Ruiz and Tiernan turned in surprise as Stefan Nicaise and Aleron Mimeax came walking up to them.
"Oh hey Ruiz," Stefan cried, "Didn't expect to find you here!"
Ruiz nodded his greeting to his two friends. Tiernan frowned, glancing back and forth between Stefan and Aleron. "Does no one tell me they're going to visit anymore?" he asked sourly.
Stefan and Aleron ignored his comment. "We're glad we caught the two of you together," Aleron said, "It saves us an extra trip."
"Were you going to go see me too?" Ruiz asked.
Stefan and Aleron gave him a look. "Of course."
"Why are you guys here?" Tiernan asked, "I don't recall inviting either of you…"
Stefan and Aleron stared at him in shock. "What? I can't believe you've forgotten!" Stefan cried.
"Forgotten what?" Tiernan demanded impatiently.
Ruiz looked puzzled, but then his eyes suddenly widened with realization. "Oh no…the Hot Fairs! I completely forgot about them!"
Stefan and Aleron looked back and forth between Tiernan and Ruiz like they had both gone insane. "What the hell have you two been doing since you got back from Paris? I can't believe you could let something like this slip your minds!" Stefan cried in shocked indignation.
"This is worrisome," Aleron agreed, turning to Ruiz. "You do realize that the fairs start tomorrow right? Didn't you notice all the people crowded out on the streets? What did you think was happening?"
Ruiz shook his head, "I don't know…I believe Tiernan has finally succeeded in driving me insane." He turned to Stefan and Aleron. "I'm sorry, but obviously I must return home. There is much I need to take care of…"
"I'll say," Stefan remarked sarcastically, "I can't believe you forgot! I would never forget the May Fairs in Provins."
Ruiz sighed, looking embarrassed. He turned to leave, but not before saying some final words to Tiernan. "Don't forget what I said."
Tiernan didn't respond, and Aleron and Stefan exchanged glances as Ruiz hurried away. The looked over at Tiernan, but the dark look on his face made them keep silent.
The next day…
"I'm coming! I'm coming!" Thadea cried as she wiped her damp hands on her apron. The knocking persisted, and she opened the door with an angry jerk. "What is it?"
Jean Luc stood at the doorway, surprised by the less than pleasant greeting. Thadea was quickly apologetic. "Sorry Jean Luc! I didn't know it was you!"
Jean Luc smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I'm sorry I haven't come to see in a while. I had some business that I needed to take care of for my father."
"That's alright," Thadea replied. "This is a pleasant surprise. Would you like to come in?" She held the door open for him to enter, but Jean Luc didn't move.
"Actually, I was wondering if you would like to come with me to the city," he said, giving her one of his charming smiles.
Thadea frowned. "The city? Why?"
"Well, the Hot Fairs begin today. I was hoping that you'd accompany me." Jean Luc looked a bit surprised. "Didn't you know that they were starting today?"
Thadea flushed, "Actually, I had forgotten about them. Things have been a bit…hectic…around her lately…"
A dark look passed across Jean Luc's eyes, but when Thadea blinked, it was gone. She wondered briefly if she had imagined it.
Jean Luc smiled cheerfully at her. "Come Thadea, my horse is waiting."
Thadea hesitated. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go into the city, especially when there was a chance that she might run into Tiernan Doumet. But then again, her chores were pretty much done, and there wasn't much for her to do until supper.
"I…I suppose I could, for a little while," she agreed finally. "Let me just tell mama. I'll be right back."
As Thadea headed off, Jean Luc watched her leave with a grim look on his face.
End of Chapter 16
So? What did you guys think? Please email me with your comments or leave me a review! And stay tuned for Chapter 17, when Thadea, Jean Luc, Tiernan, and Ruiz all meet up at the Hot Fairs!