18. Carriage chattering
A maid opened the door of the Lenoir household and led Adrien to their warm company room. Mister Lenoir was sitting by the fire drinking whiskey and reading some old book.
"Adrien, dear boy, you are a bit earlier I see?"
He greeted him with his head and a polite smile.
"I apologize. I was rather excited."
"Oh, I imagine. I do wish I could tell you that my granddaughter was as well, but to be perfectly honest as our holy book demands, she has been arranging her gown and hair and whatever else all afternoon."
"I do not think it necessary for such a lovely girl as your granddaughter is, sir."
"Nor do I, but what do we know about women and their tricks. Back in our courtship days, my Marianne was the least embellished of all ladies and yet the most beautiful of them all."
Adrien smiled before his words.
"I can imagine, sir. She has aged beautifully."
Fu laughed.
"I shall not bore you with the corny tales of a sensible old man."
"Not at all, Mister Lenoir. I find love marriages the rarest of them all, even more so if they survive the time. If I may, you and Madame Lenoir are very fortunate."
"Certainly and that is all I want for Marinette: a man who respects her and provides for her, not only sumptuous dresses and jewels, but true happiness and, above all, freedom."
Adrien couldn't decide whether Mister Lenoir was setting an ultimatum or giving him his blessing to court his granddaughter. Was he telling him that he had to meet all those requirements to do so, or that he already had them?
"I… I do hope that she may find a husband that allows her to be free."
Fu hummed a little sneer.
"I am most sure that you do."
Marinette came down the stairs followed by Marianne. She was wearing a beautiful bright red gown, her black hair revolved around her face and shoulders in ringlets.
"Good evening, Mister Agreste," she greeted with an open smile. "I apologize for your waiting."
Marianne stood next to her husband openly glaring at Adrien.
"Not at all, miss. Shall we?"
He bid farewell to Mister and Mistress Lenoir and led Marinette to his carriage. Once inside, she relaxed and let her body fall tired on the seat; a very unlady-like posture, but Adrien found it funny.
"May I ask, Miss Lenoir…?"
"Oh, please," she grinned. "I did believe that we were over mister and miss."
He narrowed his green eyes on her, trying to figure out what it was that she could possibly mean with her sudden changes of behavior.
"I am… confused, at the very least."
The slight note of anger in his otherwise kind voice prompted her to sit properly and adopt a much more serious countenance.
"I apologize if I have offended you. This morning at the park, I was very upset with my grandfather and I suppose that I charged you with his debts. Forgive me, Mister Agreste."
His eyes remained narrowed, but mostly out of curiosity than out of discontent.
"May I know why?"
She laughed, a rare laugh: her narrow shoulders and long pale neck followed the wave of joy of her lips and head. He had never seen a lady laugh so authentically, yet so graciously.
"Oh, you must! He has gotten into his head that you may be interested in taking me for a wife and I would believe that he plans on playing the part of matchmaker. That is why he asked you to take me to this event."
Adrien blinked twice and gaped his mouth looking for words. His earlier conversation with Mister Lenoir made better sense now.
"Are you speechless, mister Agreste? From what I have heard, setting you up with ladies is quite common around this town."
He chuckled.
"Perhaps it is, but you see, no one tells me anything about it. I am not really gifted in discerning between a lady's friendliness and courting."
Marinette grinned.
"Clearly, dear sir. You just witnessed my most resulting technique and let it fly away."
"What? Did I?"
"Well, yes, I just told you that you are a very desirable bachelor and you missed the chance to assure me that you are not interested in them or to ask me if I am interested in you."
Adrien laughed openly at his own naivety. Marinette smiled at his blushing cheeks.
"God, I am so stupid. I am sorry, is it too late to go on with that?"
"Of course not, how do you wish to proceed?"
"I would say that I am not interested in them."
"I would answer that I may catch your eye."
He widened his eyes. Were women so straightforward where she came from? He had certainly never encountered one that would say such a thing.
"Would you?"
She giggled.
"Of course not! You really do not know anything!"
"Well, can you blame me? The only women I grew up with are perfectly refined ladies."
"Unlike me, you mean?"
She wasn't offended, her smile was even bigger than before and her eyes glinted with amusement.
"I did not, but yes, sort of."
They chuckled together.
"Please, go back to call me Marinette. I should've never behaved like that with you."
"It's alright. I thank you for your lesson on courting."