A Gentleman's Prerogative (Unedited Version)

Chapter 6

Chen Li followed the debutante as she made her way towards the veranda, alone. It would provide the perfect opportunity under the cover of darkness to kill the chit, and return to the ballroom without notice. However, just before she stepped through the doors, an older woman of similar features halted her progress, and took her aside. Chen Li sumised her to be the younger ladies mother. They were both strikingly beautiful women, with their dark Auburn hair and alabaster complexions. The only difference being their age. Although, Chen Li had to admit, the elder of the two still cut a fine figure. Even in her advanced age she still managed to retain her youthful visage.
The two woman spoke briefly, before the younger one was escorted in the opposite direction by a liveried footman. The Count, began to follow the pair, keeping several paces behind. Interesting, thought Chen Li. It looks as if I am not the only one spying this eve.
Grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing servant, Li watched and waited to see how the evenings events would play out. The night was proving to be quite interesting, even for one whose life was surrounded by intrigue and danger.

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Count Durand trailed behind Marioselle and the footman as they left the ballroom. They were headed to the parlour. A room he was quite familiar with as Marioselle and her mother had entertained him there on several occasions.
The footman stood outside the door so he wasn't able to get close enough to hear what was going on inside.
He decided to go around to the outside doors. There he would be able to hear better without being seen.
He had noticed earlier, that O'Brien was missing from amongst the guests. He had hoped the man had taken his leave once he informed him of their impending engagement.
Clearly, O'Brien hadn't understood his meaning, as he was still in attendance and meeting his bride to be in secret.
Why the nerve of the scoundral, he fumed. Of course, what could one expect? The man was Irish. He was bourgeoisie as well. Men of O'Brien's calibur lacked a certain je ne sais quois.
He couldn't for the life of him understand how someone of Marioselles breeding could want such a man.
She was the daughter of a Viscount, and granddaughter of one of the wealthiest men in France. Of course, Jacques Lafitte was of common stock as well. However, he was at least French and quite powerful.
An alliance in marriage would benefit him greatly, financially and socially. He could not allow her to spurn him now. Especially not in favor of the Irish whelp. He would not stand for it. She was promised to him, and he always got what he wanted, and he not only wanted Marioselle, he needed her. Or quite frankly, he needed her money.
After losing all but his family estate, he was bankrupt. He had sold everything that wasn't nailed down or entailed. It had cost him all he had left to put on this little charade for her grandfather's benefit. It had worked, and he had gained the old man's approval, but now O'Brien was about to ruin everything.
He couldn't allow the that to happen. It had been no easy feat to convince the most prominent man in banking that he was a man of good standing. If he didn't marry her soon, it would all be for naught. He was not only running out of time, he was running out of funds. He wouldn't have the resources to start over with another heiress, and once his markers came due, everyone would know he was broke. Her grandfather would never allow him to marry his granddaughter after that. His only option would be to marry a wealthy merchants daughter in exchange for a title. He refused to delute his bloodline with such a commoner.
There was only one choice left. He would have to force her hand. He had tried to do things the correct way, however desperation made one do terrible things. There would be a scandal for certainment', but it couldn't be avoided. Propriety be damned, he cursed, as he walked back to the ballroom looking for a certain lady of the demimonde. The bitch owed him a favor, and it was time to collect on it.