Settling Matters

[Soleil Belfours]

Slowly I rose from my bed. It had been a few weeks since the coronation fete, and it had only become more apparent: I was pregnant. Yesterday I had penned a letter and sent it off to Valerian:

To Christophe no Valerian:

Please come to House Belfours tomorrow at 10:00 am to discuss settling matters of your contract.

Regards,

Soleil Belfours, Marquise

It was harder to get out of bed these days. I spent most hours of the morning retching into a basin, and the afternoons napping fitfully. I had been told that it would get easier after the first three months, but I was having trouble believing it. Still, I managed to bathe and dress in a gown of burgundy silk, one without a corset. Walking slowly downstairs, I sat in my chair, sipping a glass of water, and waiting.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I had seen the letter, sitting innocently on the table in the front hall, and tried to stop my heart from leaping from my chest. But I calmed myself and said nothing to Malabelle. It wouldn't do to have us both worried. So I had slipped out of the house, leaving her asleep and the letter where I had been to explain my absence.

I had decided to walk, no need to bother the servants, and arrived dressed as well as our first night together. I knocked, and was shown into the sitting room. "My lady." I bowed with a smile. "It's good to see you again."

[Soleil Belfours]

When he entered, I felt something unfamiliar, like my heart was melting. I wondered if this is what tenderness was, to feel warm at someone's presence. I rose slowly from my chair. "Hello, Christophe," I said. "How are you?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I am well, very well." I said with another smile. I had gone to her as she stood, and had taken her hand to kiss the back of it in a gallant fashion.

[Soleil Belfours]

I smiled as he kissed my hand, feeling that unfamiliar warm sensation again. "I am glad to hear that," I said. "I am also well, though I do not feel it at the moment." I struggled to find words. "The time has come, Christophe, for matters to be settled between us. Come winter, you will be a father."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I smiled so wide I was almost afraid I was about to slit my face in half. Even though I knew it might make some difficulties at home, I couldn't help myself. "Oh Soleil, that is marvelous." In my joy I kissed her quickly, needing to express it.

[Soleil Belfours]

I kissed him back, but the kiss was so short that it ended almost immediately as it had begun. "I am glad you are pleased," I said, a little breathlessly. "Have you thought of a name for her?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I nodded, still grinning. "Synnove. It means sun gift. I thought it was fitting between your name, and my title for the year. It is also dear to my heart as it was my grandmother's name. Do you like it?"

[Soleil Belfours]

I nodded, testing the name on my tongue. "Synnove Belfours." It had a good ring, and a sweet taste to say. "I like it very much."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I grinned wider, though later I wouldn't be sure how I did it. I had done my research, and had a few other names ready, but none of them had the same significance as the name of my mother's mother. "Thank you Soleil." I told her sincerely.

[Soleil Belfours]

"You're welcome," I said. I should be thanking you. "It's a perfect name, fitting and elegant. Where did it come from?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I'm not sure. It's a northern name, I've only heard it in Camlach. We are D'Angeline, but there is a lot of cross over from Skaldia and the Flatlands in the area." I smiled. "I'll look into it if you'd like, try to find the story behind it." And there was bound to be one. All names were famous, for one reason or another.

[Soleil Belfours]

"You don't have to, I was merely curious," I said.

I was feeling lightheaded, so I sank back into my chair, bringing my hand to my forehead. Once the spell passed, I looked at him again. "Please sit. Can I get you something? It has been a long time since we have spoken."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I watched her, concerned and not really knowing what to do. I settled on what I knew, and followed her lead. If she was going to ignore it, I could too. I shook my head with a polite response. "No thank you. It has been a long time... Much has happened."

I was going to have to tell her sometime. I really didn't want her finding out from a third party. She deserved more than that.

[Soleil Belfours]

I sat up a little straighter, rubbing the bridge of my nose with one hand before setting it in my lap and making eye contact with him. "What has happened, Christophe? Is something wrong?"

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"No no, nothing's wrong." Several things were very right. But I never knew when someone would take news the wrong way. "I've... I've left Valerian. I'm engaged."

[Soleil Belfours]

I blinked twice. I laced and unlaced my fingers. "Congratulations," I said, with as much dignity as I could muster. "Who is the lucky woman?" I did not know for sure, but I had a needling, nagging guess. All he had to do was confirm it.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

I was suspicious of her calm. Does anyone really blame me?

"Malabelle Shahrizai."

[Soleil Belfours]

The viper. Coldly, I said, "And how does your fiancee feel about children?" It didn't really matter, I wasn't about to let my daughter within a hundred feet of that snake.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

There was ice in her voice. Only moments before, she had been warm, smiling. Damn it.

"Mala has nothing against children." I chose my words carefully. I really didn't need to dig myself any deeper in this one. "Though I don't believe she wants any herself."

[Soleil Belfours]

"Have you discussed your child, our child, with her at all?" I asked. If Christophe wanted to be involved in Synnove's life, I needed to know that his wife would approve, or else things could get very difficult for all of us.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"Yes." She wasn't going to get much more from me. I didn't need to give either of them ammunition against the other. They would come up with that all on their own.

[Soleil Belfours]

"And...what?" I asked. "Will you still be involved in our child's life? Will Malabelle welcome your daughter into her home, your home?" All my emotions were welling up inside of me; it was frightening and unfamiliar. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat. "What do you plan to do in the next nine months, and when she is born?" I asked more steadily.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"I plan to do exactly what I said I would Soleil." I told her, voice level and calm. "Synnove will be our child. Mala understands."

[Soleil Belfours]

I inhaled deeply, returning to the state of calm I had been in before. "All right," I said. "I am sorry. If you are happy, then I am happy for you."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

Really? Cause she sure didn't look happy.

"I am happy Soleil." I said it almost gently. "And your news only increases that. Is there anything you need, that I could help you with?"

[Soleil Belfours]

I shook my head. "Only your company and caring," I said. "Your presence is soothing." I wanted my neck rubbed, in truth, but I didn't think I could ask him for that now.

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"You're not feeling well, are you?" It was mostly a question, my face filling with the concern of earlier.

[Soleil Belfours]

I shook my head again. "No," I said, "I'm not." I rubbed the bridge of my nose again. "They say it gets easier after the first few months."

[Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai]

"At the risk of coddling, can I make you more comfortable?" She had said I was soothing, and I wasn't sure how to do that consciously.