Blood Is Thicker...
By
Christine
Part One
Chapter 4
Madeleine finished her shift in relative calmness. She saw Pik, as she now thought of him, speaking with Mrs. Lees and was worried about what he might be saying to her. She feigned some menial task nearby and listened in. Pik was saying, “I will be leaving town this afternoon, indefinately. But Mr. Fouchon will be here on his own during this time. Please keep this in mind when you take care of the grocery order next week, and remember to tell Cook.”
“Yes, Mr. Van Cleaf, “ Mrs. Lees replied. “Have a safe trip.” Madeleine’s heart leapt. Tonight! Van Cleaf would be leaving soon and Fouchon would be alone.
Two vans always brought the cleaning staff to and from the mansion, and this afternoon Madeleine waited until the driver put the van into gear before shouting, “Wait! I’m so sorry, I left my jacket!” She encouraged the driver to go on, she would catch the other van, which was still loading. The rest of the staff rolled their eyes. Madeleine constantly forgot something or another, and was always running back inside and catching the other van. Madeleine was pleased, her purposeful “ditziness” finally paying off as she stole into the mansion. No one at the agency would notice she was missing, each driver thinking she was in the other van.
She quietly made her way up the back stairs and into the guest room which held her clothes. She waited until the house was quiet for an hour, actually sitting in the closet, before she changed her clothes. The light was growing dim, and she didn’t want to have to apply her make-up or touch up her hair in the dark, worried about turning on the lamp.
She changed into a simple black cotton dress with a square collar and buttons down the front. It went down to her mid-calf, and detesting pantyhose, wore thigh-high black stockings and donned some practical flat-healed black shoes. She hadn’t really wanted to wear all black, but reasoned a lighter color clothing might have been noticed in the darkness of the closet. She let her hair down, and brushed out its fullness. She applied modest make-up to her cheeks, lips, and eyes. She was ready.
She had seen Fouchon drive off, or rather heard him gun the Jaguar. She was certain she would hear it soon when he returned, but her wait turned into hours and the room grew dark. She was weary from her up-and-down emotions of the day, and thought to rest just a bit. In the darkness, she removed her shoes and curled up at the end of the bed. She drifted off to sleep, listening for the roar of the Jaguar.
***
Pik had smirked when he watched Madeleine’s little ruse with the vans. He had seen her do it several times before. So clever! She had gone back inside, and he knew she wouldn’t be coming back out this time. He decided to let her wait, and had just as stealthily crept into his rooms, which were only a few doors down from where she was. He had found her little pile of clothes the evening he had caught her sneaking out of the guest room. She didn’t realize she was up against a professional, with no chance of getting very much by him.
He wanted to make her wait much longer, just to be mischievous, but found he was growing impatient himself. Silently entering the room, he saw her form on the bed outlined by the moonlight. He flipped on the switch and she sat up suddenly, groggily. Her eyes widened when she saw him, and she scampered backwards across the bed as he approached her. He caught her ankles and dragged her kicking back toward him, the skirt of her dress riding up. He looked away from the sight of this, not wanting to be distracted. He grabbed both wrists in one hand and pulled her close against him and grabbed her face with his other hand, forcing her to face him.
“Madeleine, Madeleine, Madeleine. You have gone much too far this time.”
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