Post by Denis de Rouille on Jun 26, 2009 23:25:02 GMT -5
It was with a heavy heart that we laid Lukas to rest that cold autumn morning. Graveside was standing room only, though I daresay many attended simply to make certain that he was dead. For myself, I might have shed some tears if I could have afforded the weakness. Instead, I left that to my wife.
Rosalyn sobbed as if she were still a child herself, not a woman seven years my senior, and perhaps if I loved her that might have affected me. Rosalyn was a competent woman, a passable lover, a decent enough wife, but she was not the woman I might have chosen, had I chosen for myself. No, I had allowed Lukas to press her on me, for my own ambition, and for the love of a man who had been like a father to me.
Also crying was my daughter. The babe wailed insistently, but Rosalyn took no notice. I took the child from her, holding her against my chest and rocking her slightly. She was comforted, and held her peace as Lukas' wife spoke of what a fine man he had been. I could hardly keep a straight face, knowing that Lukas beat her almost daily, and had several lovers that he was quite indiscreet about.
Finally, the funeral was over, and as we piled into the carriage that would take us to Lukas' home, which was now mine, I wondered how my wife was going to take the news I was about to present her with. Unlike Lukas, I had never raised a hand to Rosalyn, though I daresay I might if provoked.
"Rosalyn," I began, as the carriage pulled away from the cemetary. It had begun to rain, and I had to raise my voice over the drumming of the raindrops on the carriage roof. "I have come to a decision regarding our future."
She stopped sniveling then, reaching forward and taking Rochelle from my arms. Her eyes had narrowed, and I could see her taking stock of my resolve. Well, she knew me about as well as anyone did, and so should know that I would not be dissuaded on any course I set. "And what might that be, Denis?"
"In two weeks time, we shall be moving to the City of Elua, where I plan to continue my business in a much larger market." After all, there was only so much one could do in such a small town as we occupied.
Rosalyn's face took on a pained expression, and I saw her begin to prepare arguments. To forestall such, I raised one hand and said coldly, "I will hear nothing on the matter, Rosalyn. As I said, I have decided, and that is final."
She looked at me, tears still sliding down her cheeks. "Will you take everything from me, then? My father is dead, and now you want me to leave the only home I've ever known?"
I rolled my eyes in irritation. "Do not be so melodramatic. The City is hardly so far that you cannot come back and visit. Besides, it is a better environment for Rochelle."
"And what of my mother? You just want me to leave her alone here?"
"Bring her, I care not." Truthfully, I disliked the woman, but if it would shut Rosalyn up, I would put up with her.
It appeared to work, as she said nothing further during the short ride home.
"Rosalyn," I said, as I exited the carriage after her. "Trust me, this is best."
She said nothing, taking Rochelle into the house and leaving me standing in the rain. I shook my head as I headed into the house and into my office, where I could finalize preparations for the move. I could feel in my bones that the City of Elua was going to be the place that I made my fortune ... and besides, things here were closing in on me, and I knew that it was time to move on.
Rosalyn sobbed as if she were still a child herself, not a woman seven years my senior, and perhaps if I loved her that might have affected me. Rosalyn was a competent woman, a passable lover, a decent enough wife, but she was not the woman I might have chosen, had I chosen for myself. No, I had allowed Lukas to press her on me, for my own ambition, and for the love of a man who had been like a father to me.
Also crying was my daughter. The babe wailed insistently, but Rosalyn took no notice. I took the child from her, holding her against my chest and rocking her slightly. She was comforted, and held her peace as Lukas' wife spoke of what a fine man he had been. I could hardly keep a straight face, knowing that Lukas beat her almost daily, and had several lovers that he was quite indiscreet about.
Finally, the funeral was over, and as we piled into the carriage that would take us to Lukas' home, which was now mine, I wondered how my wife was going to take the news I was about to present her with. Unlike Lukas, I had never raised a hand to Rosalyn, though I daresay I might if provoked.
"Rosalyn," I began, as the carriage pulled away from the cemetary. It had begun to rain, and I had to raise my voice over the drumming of the raindrops on the carriage roof. "I have come to a decision regarding our future."
She stopped sniveling then, reaching forward and taking Rochelle from my arms. Her eyes had narrowed, and I could see her taking stock of my resolve. Well, she knew me about as well as anyone did, and so should know that I would not be dissuaded on any course I set. "And what might that be, Denis?"
"In two weeks time, we shall be moving to the City of Elua, where I plan to continue my business in a much larger market." After all, there was only so much one could do in such a small town as we occupied.
Rosalyn's face took on a pained expression, and I saw her begin to prepare arguments. To forestall such, I raised one hand and said coldly, "I will hear nothing on the matter, Rosalyn. As I said, I have decided, and that is final."
She looked at me, tears still sliding down her cheeks. "Will you take everything from me, then? My father is dead, and now you want me to leave the only home I've ever known?"
I rolled my eyes in irritation. "Do not be so melodramatic. The City is hardly so far that you cannot come back and visit. Besides, it is a better environment for Rochelle."
"And what of my mother? You just want me to leave her alone here?"
"Bring her, I care not." Truthfully, I disliked the woman, but if it would shut Rosalyn up, I would put up with her.
It appeared to work, as she said nothing further during the short ride home.
"Rosalyn," I said, as I exited the carriage after her. "Trust me, this is best."
She said nothing, taking Rochelle into the house and leaving me standing in the rain. I shook my head as I headed into the house and into my office, where I could finalize preparations for the move. I could feel in my bones that the City of Elua was going to be the place that I made my fortune ... and besides, things here were closing in on me, and I knew that it was time to move on.