Asking Permission

[Avive de Rocaille]

The Rocaille carriage rolled to a stop outside my home, and I looked to Justin. "Are you ready?" I asked, squeezing his hand.

[Justin de Rocaille]

I was nervous for certain, but I was perpared for this and I nodded to Avive.
"I think I should wait here." I nodded a little. "Don't you think." I raised my brows to her.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Yes," I said. "I'll come get you when...I judge it is a good time." I leaned over to kiss his cheek softly. "I'm sure it will be all right." In fact, I wasn't sure at all, but he had to wait out here, so I needed to reassure him.

[Justin de Rocaille]

I smiled and nodded.
"Be on your way then," I said smiling. "For the sooner you go, the sooner this is over." I teased.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I nodded. "Be of good cheer," I said. "Everything will be all right."

With that, I let the footman help me out of the carriage. I walked up to the house and entered quietly, with little fuss. I was wearing yesterday's gown, so I quickly went upstairs, washed my face and hands in the basin, and put on a simple dress of pale blue linen, with a high waist. My hair was tidy, and when I felt sure I was presentable, I walked back downstairs and knocked on the door of Alain's study.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I’d finished my meeting after Jess left and I was in the middle of trying to rearrange my schedule before I left to make sure I had time to see Jess again, when there was a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I called, not looking up as I shuffled through papers.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I came in and curtsied. "Good day, my lord," I said.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

My eyebrows shot up at her formality.

“Good day,” I said, setting my papers aside and sitting up straighter in my chair.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I wet my lips nervously, hands clasped behind my back. I stood straight. "My lord," I began, "dear cousin, there is something I must ask you."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Ask away, Avive,” I said. “You know you can ask me anything.”

[Avive de Rocaille]

I laughed a little, his kindness making me feel more at ease. "My father has recently been in correspondence with the Comte de Rocaille," I began. "The comte was looking for a good Siovalese match for his son, the future comte." I paused. "My father has approved of the match, and so the comte's son, Justin, wrote to me, asking to meet me at the Beltane fete. I accepted, and we found that we like each other very much, and are compatible and complimentary in many ways to each other. He is very kind, well-mannered, intelligent, attentive, and steadfast."

I paused again. "Please, with your permission, cousin, I would accept his proposal, and live happily as the wife of a wonderful man, and the future Comtesse de Rocaille."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Well, it sounds as if I missed quite a fete,” I said. “It must have been something if you could have learned all those things about him in one night.”

[Avive de Rocaille]

I blushed. "We spent...a lot of time together," I said. "He was eager to discover the kind of person I was, and to show me the kind of person he is. We talked much of the future, and it seems I can look forward to a happy marriage and kind, supportive in-laws."

I stood straighter, feeling more confident. "He is very sincere in his proposal, and he is also sincere about meeting with your approval."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

My gaze flicked to the window, and then back to her.

“Is he waiting?”

[Avive de Rocaille]

I nodded. "He was very earnest in wanting to come and meet you, and ask you himself." Hurriedly, I added, "That is, only if you wish to meet him."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“I do wish to meet him…alone,” I said, giving her a significant look. “Where is he?”

[Avive de Rocaille]

"Waiting in his carriage," I said, shrinking under his meaningful look. "Shall I go fetch him?"

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“No, send a servant to fetch him. Have them bring him in here. I’ll send for you when we’re done,” I answered.

[Avive de Rocaille]

I nodded. "Yes, cousin." Curtsying, I stepped outside the office, where there was a maid doing some dusting. "Please," I said to her, "there is a carriage waiting outside. Go and tell its occupant, a young man, to come inside, and that the Duc wishes to speak to him, alone."

The maid bobbed a curtsy and went out, and I took a seat outside Alain's study. I clasped my hands in my lap nervously. All I could do now was wait.

[Justin de Rocaille]

It wasn't too long before a servant arrived at the carriage and bade me to come into the house. I nodded and followed silently so that I was no infront of the Duc's study.

"Avive." I said smiling as I saw her. I went to her and kissed her cheek gently. "Is he mad, happy?" I asked curiously.

[Avive de Rocaille]

"I cannot tell," I said honestly, very glad to see Justin. "He seemed very serious, even though I told him how our fathers arranged the match, and how wonderful you are. I think it would be best to be honest with him." I looked towards the study door. "He's waiting for you inside. I'll be out here."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I heard voices outside my study, one of them Avive’s and went to the door, pulling it open and seeing her with a boy who was apparently Justin.

“I told you I wanted to see him alone,” I told her. “And that you would be sent for afterward. Was I unclear?”

[Avive de Rocaille]

I jumped out of my seat when Alain opened the door. "Forgive me, cousin," I said, "I sent a servant to fetch my lord de Rocaille, but was unclear about where to wait while you spoke with him."

[Justin de Rocaille]

I bit my inner cheek and tried not to become angry at the way he spoke to her, I took a deep breath and schooled my features. I had firmly made up my mind that no matter what the Duc said I was going to marry Avive. Turning I held Avive's hand and gave her a half smile then turned back to the Duc and released her hand. I bowed to him.

"Lord Duc de Mauvais, I am Justine de Rocaille at your service. It was I that interupted her from leaving too."

[Avive de Rocaille]

Justin's smile and hand-holding, though it was brief, reassured me, and I felt very proud of my respectful, controlled fiance-to-be. I stood next to him, waiting for Alain to speak.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Avive, don’t take me for a fool. You and I both know it was clear that I wished to speak with him directly and you were not to interfere. I indulge our whims to a point, but this my house and I will not be treated like a clueless idiot.” Not once since I opened the door had my voice risen or wavered from an even tone. She thought me a fool for thinking I didn’t know why she’d hung around and it infuriated me, but that never changed my tone. “You are here under my care and you will do as I say.”

[Avive de Rocaille]

I gritted my teeth. He hadn't been clear, and to assume that I could read his mind was terribly unfair. I hadn't interfered with anything, and I never even implied that he was an idiot. "My apologies," I whispered. If he had yelled, that might have been better. "Excuse me, please, gentlemen." Curtsying to Alain, I walked down the hall and up the stairs to my room, to wait in agony and tears.

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

I finally looked at the boy. “Do not presume to interfere with me under my own roof,” I told him evenly.

Turning, I went into my study, leaving the door open and waiting for him to follow.

[Justin de Rocaille]

I was enraged now and followed him into the study.

"You needn't talk to her like that." I said angerily. "She made a simple mistake and you punished her for no reason." I inhaled and shook my head.
"Avive said you were a fair and kind man, but I think she was deeply mistaken. I've been in your home for a matter of minutes and you've already shown me how unjust you are."

[Alain de Mauvais (D)]

“Exactly how was I unjust?” I asked, turning to look at him. “Were you here to hear what she and I said?”