Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2010 21:45:49 GMT -5
“And I love her,” I said, smiling and leaning in to kiss her again. She giggled and wriggled in my arms, making me laugh.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jul 10, 2010 23:51:01 GMT -5
I hadn't seen Marie so happy since she had tumbled out of the carriage at the gates of the City. "You're grinning like a little girl in a sweet shop," I teased with a smile of my own. "I want to hear all about him. Though I left Mala in charge down there, and I'm not sure how that's going. Maybe we can go out again for lunch soon?"
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Post by Marie Legard on Jul 11, 2010 0:00:24 GMT -5
“I’d like that very much,” I said, still grinning. Stretching up, I kissed him on the cheek.
“I am so happy for you, Chris,” I said. “I love you so much and you deserve all the happiness you can grab.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2010 0:06:31 GMT -5
"Thank you minette," I told her with a tender smile. "I'm a very lucky man." I fished out a handkerchief from my pocket and offered it to her.
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Post by Marie Legard on Jul 11, 2010 0:10:48 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said, smiling fondly now as I took the handkerchief. “Go back to your wife and I will be down in just a moment, I promise.”
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2010 1:34:56 GMT -5
I smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "I'll see you in a few," I confirmed, then left her to clean up. I headed downstairs back to the party. It was a quieter affair than one might expect, it seemed that many of our guests had only attended the ceremony. I couldn't blame them, most of my friends were adepts and though they would never turn down a good fete, they were often kept very busy with their duties.
I entered the front room to find Mala with Synnove in her arms once more. I paused in the door, just soaking up the scene before the women noticed me.
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Post by Marie Legard on Jul 11, 2010 1:52:05 GMT -5
Once he left, I closed the door again, but didn't lock it. Then I went to wash my face and clean up again.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 11, 2010 1:55:13 GMT -5
Synnove was still giggling but suddenly her focus was over my shoulder, and she reaached for something behind me. Without having to look, I knew who was there.
"Is that your papa?" I asked her with a grin, then I turned to see him too.
"I think she missed you, love,' I told him with a chuckle.
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Post by Soleil Belfours on Jul 12, 2010 11:56:11 GMT -5
I didn't even hear Christophe come back until Synnove's attention shifted and I turned to see him in the doorway, but with no siblings. I tried not to frown, but was it possible that they reviled him for having a baby with me? "Is everything all right?" I asked Christophe.
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2010 18:21:48 GMT -5
"Everything's fine," I assured Soleil with a smile, crossing the floor to join them. "I'm not sure where my brothers are, but Marie will be down in just a minute." I went behind Mala and raised my hand to stroke over her shoulder and upper arm. "Seems she's a little magnet for attention," I jested, referring to Synnove.
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Malabelle Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Christophe Legard no' Shahrizai
Posts: 2,756
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Post by Malabelle Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2010 18:26:03 GMT -5
“I think you’re right,” I said with a laugh. I was glad to hear that at least Marie would be down soon, I knew Christophe wanted his siblings to meet his daughter. “But then again, I’ve been monopolizing her.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2010 18:40:06 GMT -5
It seemed that once more everyone was focused on the baby, so I took the opportunity make the rounds. There was one woman here in particular that I wished to speak with, and I knew that I wasn't needed here. "If you'll excuse me, I'll let you all enjoy little Synnove," I said with a smile, rising.
I first found myself a glass of wine, then I approached a lone figure. "Hello Douleur. May I join you?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2010 18:59:18 GMT -5
It would have been bad enough to have been part of a party where I was standing against a wall, but it was obvious that this had become a family event and I was an outsider. Ah merciful Kushiel, and I could have been a part of this very family. If I had accepted Dominic’s proposal, I would have been Malabelle’s sister-in-law. I doubt we would have been here for her wedding, Dominic would have still been a fugitive, but this family would have been mine. I could have had what I had been so jealous of Christophe for. The grief of Dominic’s death rose fresh inside me and I looked down to wipe tears from my eyes.
I was trying to decide on the route out of here that would cause the least attention when I heard my name.
“Duchesse,” I said, glancing at her and then down again. “Of course.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 12, 2010 23:40:19 GMT -5
She looked up at me, her eyes wet from tears, and it made my heart ache. I sat down beside a woman who had been forced to endure what no one should. "You may call me Ana if you wish my dear," I said, then let the moment settle before I continued. "How have you been?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 13, 2010 1:08:36 GMT -5
Would that she had asked me that at another time. I would have been able to word some happy answer. Now though, I was too filled with grief and pain.
“Lonely,” I answered her softly, wiping at my eyes again. “And lost.”
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 14, 2010 12:42:34 GMT -5
"I'm very sorry to hear that," I replied, my low voice compassionate. I fished out my handkerchief and offered it to her. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 14, 2010 15:52:40 GMT -5
Her kindness brought fresh tears to my eyes. "Thank you," I murmured as I acceptted the square of lovely linen. I wiped my eyes and drew a slow, deep breath.
"No, my la... Ana," I said, catching myself. It would be beyond rude not to accept the honor of addressing her by name. "It just hit me hard today." I looked up at the group on the other side of the room. 'They all look so very happy. I am happy for Chris, I really am... it's just...."
My voice faltered and I drew another shaky breath, looking down again. "I know it likely sounds mad, but I miss Dominic," I admitted in a whisper.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 15, 2010 13:20:00 GMT -5
"You loved him, didn't you. That's why you asked he be spared execution." They both should have been questions, but her pain was too sharp. I swirled my wine in my glass for just a moment, thinking. "I cannot say I understand why you loved my cousin. But I do know what it's like to love someone who you can never be with, and to watch those around you find happiness. It's far to easy to become bitter and angry."
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Pierre Legard (D)
Deceased
Member of the Queen's Guard
Son of Phillipe and Henrietta Legard. Brother of Christophe, Marie and Henri Legard
Posts: 318
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Post by Pierre Legard (D) on Jul 15, 2010 13:39:13 GMT -5
I sighed and dropped my head into her lap, trying to decide what to before looking back up at her. "Don't leave," I said softly, my brows furrowed. "At least don't leave without me, please." I begged, my voice soft. I needed her right now, she may not have been entirely happy with me but I would take that over the hate that my siblings bore for me. "I'll go talk to Marie and then we'll leave together, I don't think Christophe really wants me here in the first place so if I leave he won't be too upset." I leaned my head down, collecting up her hands and looked up at her again. "I'll do anything you wish, just don't leave me."
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 15, 2010 14:00:38 GMT -5
“He asked me to marry him,” I told her softly. I wasn’t sure why I was confessing to her, except that I needed to tell someone and her words made me think she might understand. “After he escaped…I was with him several times. He apologized to me. He begged me to run away with him, to marry him.” I glanced at Christophe and his wife again. “He offered me this, but I was too afraid, too selfish. I wanted to stay and make my marque.” My eyes welled with tears again. “If I had said yes, he’d still be alive.”
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Post by Karina Mikhailova nó Valerian on Jul 16, 2010 0:03:10 GMT -5
I nearly sighed, but stopped myself, running my fingers through the hair around his face instead. "I'll stay," I promised, seeing how much it meant to him. I did not want to be in the middle of this, did not want people thinking that Pierre was using me to get back at his family. But I could see in his eyes that such a thing wasn't his intent.
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2010 1:02:47 GMT -5
My eyebrows lifted, and I took a deep drink. There were many things I could have said to her then - the foremost was calling her a silly child - but I had been sixteen once. And the gods knew that I hadn't made the most intelligent choices myself at times.
"Perhaps, or perhaps he would have died anyway," I told her, my voice gentle. "If you could go back, would you do it differently? Would you have married him, and given up the rest of your life, your family and friends? I don't think you were selfish. I don't even think the gods would judge you. Love as thou wilt doesn't apply to just our lovers, but everything and everyone we love." I shook my head. "I refused to give into a love that would cause division in my family. Dominic was asking far more of you than that."
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Pierre Legard (D)
Deceased
Member of the Queen's Guard
Son of Phillipe and Henrietta Legard. Brother of Christophe, Marie and Henri Legard
Posts: 318
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Post by Pierre Legard (D) on Jul 16, 2010 1:13:29 GMT -5
I exhaled a breath that I had been holding and nodded as I looked at her. "Thank you, so much. I'll talk to Marie and then we can leave together." I rose to my feet and pressed my lips to her, kissing her firmly, but quickly and pulled back. "Thank you." I said again then turned and headed outward, making my way from the library and up stairs.
When I reached the room of Marie I knock three times and waited for a reply, unsure as to what to say, and prepared to hear an ear full.
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Post by Douleur nó Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2010 12:09:23 GMT -5
“If I had agreed, I would at least have someone though,” I said, twisting her handkerchief absently. “Now, though my family still loves me, they don’t know how to be around me and I’ve given up going to see them because it is just too hard. I don’t feel a part of Valerian any more; I’ve no real patrons and no friends.” My eyes swept closed and I fought against the urge to cry again. “I just wish I knew what to do, how to make things better. I am willing to give up what little I do still have if I only knew it was the right thing. The only thing I’ve wanted since I was a little girl was to be an adept of Valerian House and serve with honor. I have failed miserably and hurt those who love me. If I am not selfish, then what is it?”
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Post by Marie Legard on Jul 16, 2010 12:35:06 GMT -5
I felt better after I had washed my face and had a drink of water. Ready to go meet my niece, I was just reaching for the doorknob when there were three knocks.
Laughing, I said, “I told you I’d be right down, Chris” as I opened the door. My laughter vanished as I saw it was Pierre and not Chris who stood there.
I felt my jaw clench and my spine stiffen. “Go away, Pierre,” I said. “I have nothing to say to you nor do I want to hear anything you would say to try and explain things. I don’t care. You have stolen something from me I will never get back and if I never see you again for the rest of my life, I will call it a blessing.”
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Pierre Legard (D)
Deceased
Member of the Queen's Guard
Son of Phillipe and Henrietta Legard. Brother of Christophe, Marie and Henri Legard
Posts: 318
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Post by Pierre Legard (D) on Jul 16, 2010 12:57:27 GMT -5
I sighed. "Well I'm not leaving till you let me in. And if you don't let me in then I'll just go down stairs and say what I have to say to everyone here. One way or another you'll hear me out. I don't care what you do with the information I give you after that, but I promised Karina I'd do this and if you ever want me to make amends so that you can move on with your life, then you should probably listen to what I have to say."
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Post by Marie Legard on Jul 16, 2010 13:11:48 GMT -5
I laughed, the sound harsh and bitter. “Ah yes, well since you made a promise to Karina of course I should let you in and have to listen to whatever you want to say. Gods know that it is far more important to keep a promise to some woman you’ve known what a week? a month? than it is to care about your sister or brothers. As for moving on with my life, hearing what you have to say has no impact on that at all. Believe it or not Pierre, you don’t control what happens in my life. While you’ve been gone, neglecting the one promise you made to Papa to watch over us, I have made a life for myself here. I have a job, I have friends. I am never going back to Camlach, never going to be there to wait on you like a servant. Go back to your Karina, Pierre. I hope you’ve paid her enough to have to be around you this long.”
I shut the door, resting my head against it and trying hard to get control of myself again.
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Pierre Legard (D)
Deceased
Member of the Queen's Guard
Son of Phillipe and Henrietta Legard. Brother of Christophe, Marie and Henri Legard
Posts: 318
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Post by Pierre Legard (D) on Jul 16, 2010 13:24:38 GMT -5
I sighed, anger growing in me, but I knew I had to stay and tell Marie what I had said to Karina. "I'm not paying her, she's with me because... I don't know why she's with me actually, shes a better person then I'll ever be." I said through the door, hoping I was loud enough for her to hear. "And I'm glad your not going back, I'm not sure I want to go back either." I sighed again. "I'm happy for you Marie, I really am, its not fair for you to have to live like a servant and I want you to know I never saw you like that, I truly didn't. I was just... ignorant. I've changed a lot too Marie, being in the city has changed me, meeting Karina changed me. She's shown me so much about how I was so wrong, about how our parents were so wrong. I'm in love with her Marie and I've never even been with her... not like that... in that way." I leaned forward and thumped my head against the door.
"I need you to know sister, when Christophe was sent away I was so hurt. He was more then just a brother to me, he was my friend, and when he left and mother and father began to tell me things, I just... believed them. It seemed so easy for a young boy to just believe his parents and what they said. I mean I had no reason to doubt them, they were our parents, I trusted them to tell me the truth and thats all I thought it was." I took another breath and knocked gently.
"I left this house because of you and Henri, for you and Henri. You don't me watching over you, and besides, you have Christophe to watch you. I knew he'd take care of you, I knew that you and Henri would be happier without me lurking around. Thats why I left. I'm really very sorry Marie, for everything I've done. I never meant to hurt you, I never meant to do anything to stiffle your world, and I have always cared about you. Thats why I did the things I did... I thought... stupidly... that I was helping. I know now that I wasn't, that I didn't, and I'm not sure if anything I will say can make up for it. But at least now you know and if you choose to never speak to me... well I wouldn't blame you."
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Post by Anacrasia Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2010 22:05:07 GMT -5
"Practical. Intelligent. Law-abiding," I told her. "Douleur, whoever told you life was easy was an idiot. Every choice has consequences. You found yourself in a no-win situation, and did the best that you could. Dominic wasn't going to offer you this," I continued, waving at the lovely family scene in front of us.
I stopped myself from saying more on that particular subject. Douleur had to forgive herself, it wasn't something I could convince her of. Instead I switched tacks. "As for Valerian... If you wish, I will buy your marque. I will need a secretary once the children start arriving, and it would be up to you if you continued your Service. You would have your own rooms, and I pay and train my staff very well. Your marque could well be paid off before it would at Valerian, and you would have more than just the training of Naamah if you wished to find employment elsewhere after our contract was finished. Though obviously I know many potential patrons if that was what you choose," I said, my mouth quirking up in a smile.
"Don't answer me right now. But think on it. If Valerian is where your heart lies, I would not take you from it. Just know that the option is available, should you wish."
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Post by Christophe Legard nó Shahrizai on Jul 16, 2010 23:46:52 GMT -5
"As long as I can monopolize you later," I told her with a little grin, teasing.
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