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Date Posted: 09:14:45 06/16/08 Mon
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: port181.dialup.bfree.on.ca / 66.207.116.181
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 152
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods" on 18:45:27 04/19/08 Sat

“Veronique….” A stern voiced Michael began warningly.

“Veronique! Ma fille!” Maurice Dansereau interrupted sharply after pushing his way through the crowd to be closer to his swearing daughter. “How dare you speak to Michel and his wife this way! You’re shaming your mother and me!”

“Papa… how can you say that! He ran out on me two years ago and then comes back with *her* as a wife! I’m insulted!” Veronique exclaimed, finally letting her true feelings out. “*I* should have been his wife, not her! Doesn’t that matter to you?”

“Non.” Maurice replied with a disapproving frown. “You knew when he left that your affair was over; you’ve told me that. Besides, if you’re honest, you’ll admit you’ve hardly been a nun since he left.”

Michael smirked, not at all surprised to hear this information. He was, however, surprised that Maurice was imparting this news so publicly.

“Papa!” Veronique proclaimed, shocked that her own father would be this forthcoming in front of everyone.

“Don’t pretend you’re so innocent, ma fille. We both know you’re not. It’s obvious that Michel adores his wife and I wish him every happiness. What’s bothering me is your foul mouth and your childish behaviour.”

“Papa!” Veronique whimpered in disbelief. “Don’t you care about my happiness?”

“Of course.” Maurice replied, “but that’s not the issue here. Michel is entitled to his happiness too. He’s just decided it isn’t going to be with you… and all his money isn’t going to be at your disposal. That’s what your real problem is, isn’t it?”

“Papa!” Veronique replied, shocked that he would speak to her in that way in public.

“Michel is a good man Veronique.” Maurice said quietly. “In fact, to be honest… he’s a better man than you deserve. Go home. I thought your mother and I had taught you how to behave in public better than this.”

A stunned Veronique didn’t reply but stood gaping at her parent in shock.

Turning to Nikita then, Maurice broke into English and began to speak.

“Good evening Madame Samuelle. I’m Maurice Dansereau and this ‘high-spirited’ creature is my daughter. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance and I do hope you’ll be gracious enough to forgive my daughter’s manners.”

Nikita smiled slightly and replied, “I’m pleased to meet you sir.”

‘Excuse his *high-spirited* daughter’s manners?’ she thought in amusement. She’d been watching this man’s interactions with the brunette in front of her, and even though she didn’t know the language, their body language told her the man had been trying to silence the gold clad woman. ‘I can’t believe Michael dated this spoiled brat! She’s high spirited alright all right… but does she *have* any manners? Bad ones maybe. Unbelievable! Adam’s more polite than she is!’

“Don’t you dare make excuses for me to this English whore!” Veronique snapped in a fit of pique after she finally regained the use of her tongue.

Maurice’s eyes widened in horror! ‘What in the world is she doing? This is embarrassing! Michel’s my boss and she’s standing right in front of him insulting his wife!’

‘Oh my!’ Nikita thought in dismay. ‘I wonder what she’s saying now? Judging by the looks everyone’s giving her, she’s obviously saying some really nasty things!’

“Veronique!” Maurice exclaimed softly in horror.

“Veronique!” Michael echoed harshly. “That’s enough!”

“Veronique” a hovering Claire cut in arrogantly; she was also speaking in French and looking down her nose in mistaken superiority, “don’t waste your breath. The little English whore doesn’t understand a word you’re saying. She’s beneath both of us.”

“Claire…” a now furious Michael ground out in that same language, “I’ll thank you and Veronique not to speak of my wife that way. I won’t tolerate it! Now, both of you apologize immediately or my security people will escort you off the premises.”

“Why bother?” Claire snorted, and then smirked before continuing. “She doesn’t know what we’re saying!”

“No, but I do.” Michael replied stonily; narrowing his eyes predatorily as his fury built. “And everyone else who’s heard you tonight has as well. I demand the two of you apologize at once!”

Claire didn’t reply, she just smirked again and rolled her eyes, while Veronique snorted and turned away.

‘Poor Maurice!’ Nikita thought as she watched the proceedings before her. ‘He seems like a nice person! This must be so embarrassing for him! I wish she would apologize, but until she’s truly sorry, saying I forgive her would be a waste of time!’

“Michel mon ami, je suis très désolé. (Michel, my friend, I’m very sorry.) I do hope you can overlook this unpleasantness.…” Maurice hurriedly interjected; trying to smooth things over with his boss in regard to his daughter’s insolence.

“Non Maurice.” Michael shot back just as quickly. “I can’t.”

“I’m sorry that Veronique…” Maurice tried again.

“Maurice… arrêt. I’m sorry, but I’m not going to accept you interceding on Veronique’s behalf anymore. You’ve done it as long as I’ve known you, and it stops here! If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit I’m right. I’m sorry if I sound harsh mon ami, but Veronique’s a grown woman and she’s being rude.”

“What do you mean?” Maurice queried in an attempt to stall for a few more minutes in the hope that his daughter would calm down and repent.

“Maurice… don’t. You heard what she said about my wife. Don’t pretend you didn’t.” Michael stated clearly.

“What would you find appropriate Michel?” Maurice inquired formally.

“Maurice…” Michael said after sadly shaking his head at having to state the obvious. “Veronique needs to apologize to Nikita. If she refuses, then I have no choice but to have her removed from the party. There is no other acceptable outcome to this.”

“I’m sure she didn’t mean to offend your wife Michel.” Maurice said amicably.

“And I’m sure she did.” Michael stated concisely. “You don’t know your daughter as well as you think you do.”

“What do you mean by that?” Maurice inquired.

“Maurice… “ Michael thought as he mentally shored up his ire. “I specifically warned her about doing something like this well before this evening. I’m sorry mon ami. I don’t mean offend you, but it’s about time Veronique faced the consequences of her own actions!”

Maurice’s brow rose, but he said nothing. Michel had a valid point, and he knew it. He also knew that everything Michael had been saying about Veronique was totally accurate.

“I’m sorry to take this approach Maurice,” Michael continued, “but she’s left me no choice. It’s nothing against you personally, you understand. You’re a good friend, and I’m happy to see you this evening… but Nikita is my wife.”

“Oui Michel.” Maurice replied softly. “I do understand and I’m sorry about this mon ami.”

“So am I Maurice.” Michael replied sadly. “More than you know.”

Michael caught Willie’s attention then and motioned him to order the interior team to close in.

“How could you marry her Michel? I thought you were proud to be French?” Claire demanded in French as she turned again, determined to continue her verbal assault. “Mon Dieu… you’d never know it by looking at *who* you’ve married! Unbelievable! I never thought in a million years that *you* of all people would marry a little English whore! Why she’s nothing but a *child*… carrying a child. Or is that the attraction? And is it even yours?”

There was a gasp as those closest heard this information and Maurice’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘Madame Samuelle is expecting?’ he thought in surprise as he glanced at the beautiful blonde’s face and took in her trim form. ‘She can’t be *that* pregnant….she’s very thin!’

At that moment, Maurice was glad for Madame Samuelle’s sake that she didn’t speak French. He’d noticed how shy she seemed and he was certain that she’d be embarrassed with her condition being talked about in public in this way.

‘How does Claire know about the baby?’ Michael thought in amazement. ‘The only time that subject has been mentioned in public was in court by Madeleine. She couldn’t have been there… so someone who *was* there told her. But who? Better yet, why? And what does she think she’ll gain by exposing this knowledge?’

“Claire…ferme la bush!” a furious Michael spat out as he glared at the redhead in front of him. Then he paused to take a deep breath to fortify himself.

‘Now there’s a phrase, that I do understand.’ Nikita thought. Her eyes widened, amazed that Michael was say something like that to a guest. ‘What’s going on here?’ she thought in astonishment. ‘Oh my … I shouldn’t have said anything to Veronique! And who is this redhead? What did she say? It must have been awful! Michael looks furious!’

Suddenly Claire felt her composure wavering and she shrank back as Michael glared intensely into her blue eyes.

‘Perhaps Veronique was right.’ Claire thought in shock as she scrutinized the fierce animal that she’d unwittingly unleashed. ‘Michel’s changed! He’s furious! I’ve never heard him speak that way to anyone before and I’ve certainly never seen him this emotional either!’

“But..” Claire whispered, unable to control her tongue.

“Non. Who I’ve married is none of your business, Claire… so you see… I neither need your approval nor your blessing! If you’re smart, you won’t intrude any further into something that does not concern you.” Michael warned.

“But Michel, chérie… Claire’s right… this Anglais…*any* Anglais… is beneath you.” Veronique stuttered out in fear. She couldn’t seem to help herself. She knew she should shut up too, but her volatile nature took hold of her tongue and she continued to babble. “Not only that… but how well can you know her?”

“Well enough. I know the two of you quite well too.” Michael replied softly as he glared in disgust at both women.

“Then you know what Claire is saying is the truth.” Veronique retorted, convinced that her arguments were producing a positive effect.

“No. The truth I’ve always known about the two of you is that both of you are beneath Nikita.” Michael said concisely. “My wife is a lady… unlike the two of you. I don’t expect you to accept that, because I know it’s beyond your understanding.”

“You can’t be serious!” Claire gasped at the unexpected insult. “Our families are among the finest in all of Quebec!”

“I’m very serious.” Michael replied sharply. “And this has nothing to do with genealogy.”

“But… but she’s not worthy of you.” Veronique whined in backup to Claire’s opinion.

“And I suppose you two are? Merde! You two have the most inflated egos I have ever encountered! Yes, my wife is English and no, she’s not ‘high born’. God save me from the lot of you!” Michael exploded in a fit of pique.

“But she’s an Anglais Michel!” Claire repeated in a whining voice. “You can’t seriously care about her!”

“I do. More than I ever did about anyone else! I don’t give a damn what you or anyone else thinks about that either.” Michael said decisively, as he glared contemptuously at both women.

“Oh please… you can’t be serious!” Claire said derisively.

“And why do you assume I’m not serious Claire?” Michael inquired disdainfully.

“Simply because she’s beneath you Michel.” Claire insisted heatedly. “You’re one of us… we’re upper class.”

Michael briefly shut his eyes and shook his head, momentarily speechless.

“Upper class?” He asked incredulously after a few moments of stunned silence. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing! You really believe that nonsense don’t you?”

“Of course.” Claire replied. “And it’s not nonsense…it’s a fact. Why do you think anything else?”

Michael sighed and shook his head once again in disbelief. “Simply because your behaviour tonight shows that neither of you have the slightest indication of what class of any sort means! If you did, you’d realize that it’s personification is standing in front of you!”

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