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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 13, 2011 0:50:51 GMT -5
I stepped out of the carriage and gathered Emilia in my arms before heading up to the door. A servant let me in and showed me to a sitting room while Juliette was told I had arrived. I didn’t know if Juliette had spoken with or seen Elliot yet, I didn’t care in truth. I needed to see her, to be able to talk to someone about what had happened and what might come in the future.
Emilia laughed and pulled at the ribbons on her bonnet, making me smile.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 13, 2011 22:20:06 GMT -5
Caraf had written, briefly sketching her split with Elliot and requesting a visit. Of course I had agreed, she had become a good friend. I came down from my study quickly, smiling softly when I entered the room. "Hello Caraf. How are you?"
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 13, 2011 22:42:45 GMT -5
“Juliette, hello,” I said, rising and holding Emilia in my arms. “I’m…. not sure how I am to be honest. How are you?”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 14, 2011 19:10:47 GMT -5
"I'm quite well," I replied, the words honest for once. I glanced down at the bundle in her arms and I kissed her cheek. "Oh Caraf, she's beautiful."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 15, 2011 0:46:20 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said, smiling with happy pride as I did every time I looked at, thought about, or talked about Emilia. She was the light of my life.
“Emilia, say hello to your Aunt Juliette,” I said, chuckling as she raised a little fist and grasped at the air as if she had understood me.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 15, 2011 18:34:58 GMT -5
"Hello little cousin," I said with a smile, holding my finger out so that Emilia could grab me. "It's very nice to meet you. Yes, very nice." I looked up to Caraf and smiled more. "Aunt Juliette? I rather like it."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 15, 2011 22:08:36 GMT -5
“I’m glad,” I said, smiling happily that she had accepted the title. “Would you like to hold her?”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 16, 2011 0:38:03 GMT -5
My face lit up. "I'd love too," I said, gathering up the baby from Caraf's arms. "Please sit. Tea will be arriving in a few minutes, if you'd like." I settled on a chair, Emilia burbling happily in my arms. I looked up at Caraf though, my concern for her.
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 16, 2011 0:53:58 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said as I took my seat again. “And thank you for let me come over. I know it was rather sudden… I just…needed someone to talk to. Everyone else around is Elliot’s, his family, his friends, his staff. I needed someone I thought of as my friend. I hope that’s alright.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 16, 2011 0:58:36 GMT -5
"Of course that's alright," I was quick to assure her. "I'm definitely yours," I added with a smile. "I'm here to listen."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 16, 2011 1:03:32 GMT -5
Her words touched something inside me and I found suddenly that there were tears in my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” I said, wiping them away. “I guess I’m not surprised that it happened, it still hurts though sometimes.” I looked at my daughter. “And I hate to think Emilia is going to grow up without her father, but I couldn’t leave her.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 16, 2011 15:51:55 GMT -5
"But her mother's going to do such an amazing job," I said with a comforting smile. "I'm not overly worried for her."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 16, 2011 23:33:37 GMT -5
“Thank you,” I said, her faith in me helping more than she likely had any idea it did. I adored Juliette for her honesty and the realness of her; it was something that was quite lacking in most of the people I had met through Elliot.
“So, for now we are living at an inn until I figure out where we should settle. I know we could go to my family’s farm, but I don’t know if that’s the life I want her to grow with. She still has the right to her title should she choose it, I don’t want to keep her isolated.” I stopped and chuckled, shaking my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be pouring this all out in a rush, it seems I can’t stop once I’ve started.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 17, 2011 22:01:57 GMT -5
"Would you like to stay here until you get things sorted out? Or more permanently?" I offered without hesitating.
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 17, 2011 22:11:28 GMT -5
"Oh no, I didn't mean," I said, surprised and touched by her offer. "I couldn't impose." The thought of staying her was very appealing, having Juliette around would be such a comfort and I knew it would be good for Emilia, but it really would be an imposition on her.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 17, 2011 23:02:29 GMT -5
"Yes you could. But I won't force you," I said with a little smile. I rocked Emilia in my arms a little, causing her to wave her fists again. It was the cutest sight.
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 17, 2011 23:25:09 GMT -5
"Oh no, it's not that I wouldn't like to.." I stopped myself, shaking my head a little and then smiling at her. "I, we will gratefully accept your offer. As long as you promise to tell me if we get in the way."
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 21, 2011 21:42:28 GMT -5
"I promise to let you know if your imposing becomes too imposing," I said with a teasing smile, glad that she had accepted. "Truly though, we have lots of space. Though I should probably warn you, you might want to knock before entering the library," I added, blushing a little.
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 22, 2011 13:17:51 GMT -5
My eyebrows went up and I grinned. “Oh now, you can’t say something like that and not expect me to pester you for the story behind it,” I said.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 22, 2011 19:31:23 GMT -5
"Well, Reese and I are... I suppose seeing each other is the easiest way to describe it. And well, Mathieu has nearly walked in on us. More than once," I said, my cheeks flaming now. It was easy to blush, thinking about how often Reese made me forget myself when we were spending time in the library. Or really anywhere.
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 24, 2011 0:17:18 GMT -5
“Well, I promise to knock on any closed doors before walking in, library or not,” I said, grinning. “Oh Juliette, I am so happy for you.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 24, 2011 0:25:16 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said with a smile, my blush slowly disappearing. "To be honest, I've never been so happy for so long. I always thought that Gratien was my white knight but Reese... well, he's my black knight. But we're not worrying about courting, or the future. We're just being." I sighed happily. "I think that I'm in the most peaceful place I've ever been."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 24, 2011 1:38:02 GMT -5
“Then I am more than happy for you,” I said, reaching out and squeezing her arm gently. Emilia giggled and waved at me. I smiled and tickled her foot. “If there is anything you need me to do, any doors you want guarded, all you have to do is say the word.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 24, 2011 2:10:11 GMT -5
Emilia giggled in my arms, and it made my smile widen even more. "Thank you Caraf. I'll be sure to let you know if I need my brother held at bay."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 24, 2011 2:22:54 GMT -5
“Excellent, I’ll need to earn my keep,” I said, smiling still as I leaned back once more. I felt so much more at ease knowing that Juliette had welcomed her into her home. Emilia would be safe and happy here, and I knew I would be able to figure out what I was going to do with my life now.
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 24, 2011 23:16:27 GMT -5
"Maybe I'll introduce you to Reese," I said to the babe in my arms. "You can help me suss out how he feels about children. What do you think about that Emilia? Shall we test Uncle Reese?"
I looked up to Caraf and laughed. "Listen to me. Ten minutes of holding her and already I'm speaking baby."
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 25, 2011 16:45:28 GMT -5
“She has that effect on most people,” I said with a chuckle. “Maybe I’m biased or weak, but I find it hard to resist her smile and laugh.”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 25, 2011 22:02:51 GMT -5
Her words made me grin. "You're allowed, you are her mother after all," I replied. "Now, would you like some tea, or something else to drink?"
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Post by Caraf Tewar on Jan 26, 2011 1:00:06 GMT -5
“Tea would be lovely,” I said. “Thank you. Would you like me to take her back for now?”
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Post by Juliette L'Envers de Montegue on Jan 27, 2011 11:50:52 GMT -5
"Oh, I can hold onto her if you want to drink your tea in peace," I said with a smile. Emilia was secure in my arms as I stood and pulled a cord cleverly attached to the wall. "There. I don't normally use the bell, but I warned Claire what it would mean," I explained as I sat back down. I didn't launch straight into another topic, giving her time, a chance to talk if that was what she needed.
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