The Marquis Brings New Meaning to Home Renovations!

The construction of Chamberlain Manor took Laurence's mind off of his expulsion from the Royal Physicians College, two weeks passed since he was asked to leave, Johana was still none the wiser, and Laurence had no intention of letting her in on his deception.

Laurence's Chamberlain's Manor was far more vibrant than the Captain's, his father. His manor was two stories larger and had half as many rooms. The front foyer was the first to be completed, the staircase, with its ivory top coat and intricate iron, railings winded upward to the second story corridor. The foyer itself was tiled in blue and white, swirled marble. Johana decided on the design herself, and Laurence pleased her by having the designers' lay down the pattern through all of the corridors on the entire first floor. Yet to be finished was the kitchen, there was brickwork, which still needed to be installed, this was the last of the projects. Laurence looked forward to the completion, the brick layers had only the sides of the walls constructed, this wall was to go behind the coal burning stove.

Arriving home three hours late, Laurence snuck quietly into the parlor, he found his wife seated in the high-backed chair in front of the fireplace, he had no idea the argument which was about to erupt. Laurence stood behind the chair and extended his arms across the back of the chair, and rested his hands on Johana's shoulders. "Good evening, my Enchantress." Laurence gushed as he leaned down to nibble her neck. Johana moved sharply as she slapped away his hands. His wife sprang up from the chair, and she flailed her arms in the air. "Laurence, how dare you lie to me?" She screamed. Astonished, Laurence double backed his step. "What are you talking about, Johana?" Laurence looked on dubiously.

"You are my husband, Laurence, you are supposed to be honest with me, and do not lie to me!" Johana scolded him. "Slow down, My Darling, if you wish for me to explain, I must at least know what it is I have done?" Laurence replied through clenched teeth. Slowly Laurence moved nearer to his wife. "I cannot believe you, pretending to be this perfect husband, yet you did not have the nerve to tell me you were expelled from college!" Johana screeched. Laurence had his wife cornered between the wall of the fireplace and himself. "Ivan told you what happened didn't he?" Laurence stepped closer, he allowed his hand to caress her chin with his forefinger. "What does Ivan have to do with this?" Johana questioned. "I suppose he told you about that half naked woman and how I attempted to cut her up, it was all a lie, Johana, I never would have attempted to do such a thing!" Laurence hollered.

Johana began slowly backing away from him. She shook her head in bewilderment, "I do not know what you speak of, Laurence!" Johana shivered. "How else could you have found out, Ivan is always talking when he shouldn't be!" Laurence took another step closer to Johana.

Johana threw a torn piece of correspondence at him. "The school told me, not Ivan, and how dare you drag his reputation threw the mire which, you have created for your self!" Johana charged. "We were only there to have a little fun, Johana! They expelled me because they were jealous of my superb surgical skills!"

"What did you do to that poor girl, Laurence, they would not have expelled you for a harmless prank!" Johana cried. "I told you it was just some harmless fun, which apparently was misinterpreted," Laurence put his hand to his wife's neck and rubbed it up and down. Johana pulled her body away from his. "No, you are not the man I married, and I refuse to stay your wife any longer!" Johana attempted to run from him, but Laurence caught her by the arm. "One thing you must learn about me, Johana, you do not run from me! Remember it is my child which grows inside of you, and I refuse to let you leave me!" Laurence grabbed her by her shoulders and began shaking her violently, repeatedly he threw her against the wall until rendering her unconscious. Johana's body collapsed into Laurence's arms, her head fell forwards against his chest. Laurence snatched her by her hair, and proceeded to pull her through the corridor, which she so thoughtfully designed, now he dragged her motionless body across the marble foyer.

Laurence stopped in the kitchen, he came upon a perfect spot for Johana's final resting place, he knew she loved the manor, there was no better place to bury her than right here in the place she loved with the man she loved. He dragged Johana to the open hole in the wall. Laurence shoved her body inside, and started sealing it up.

Brick after brick, Laurence built up the wall, but just as he was about to place the final two bricks, Johana awakened from her stupor. Through the hole in the wall, she saw her husband, she was surrounded, the bricks were built up all around her, her breaths were becoming short, and her heart pounded through her chest. "Laurence, please don't do this, what about our child! You cannot just leave me here to die!" She struggled to scream. Laurence paused, the final brick rested in his hand. "Dear, Johana, do not worry for me, I will marry again." He sinisterly whispered as he placed the last brick in the wall.