Chapter Three

"What did you just say?" Lumière asked. "I must still be half asleep because I thought I heard you say something that could completely ruin you."

Lucien did not know whether to panic or laugh with amusement, but in the end, he chose laughter as the better option. "I am in love with the most remarkable woman in France, no the world!"

Lumière closed his eyes and shook his head. The fear that had haunted him all night had been put to rest seeing Lucien ride up the drive; he was able to breathe, content to know that the lies could end at last. Now all he wanted to do was curl up in hiding with a few glasses of wine to relax his nerves.

"This is not happening," he said, following Lucien quietly inside. "I really wish you had not said anything whatsoever."

Lucien treaded softly upstairs to his rooms and instantly moved to freshen up as Lumière laid out a new set of clothes.

"Would you rather have found out after I was married?" he asked.

The valet helped him to change into a new day's attire before gathering the discarded clothing to prepare them for laundry collection.

"I personally prefer to be without that extra bit of information; my neck would be less at risk if I didn't know it," Lumière said, checking Lucien's ensemble a final time before they made their way to the dining room. "Besides, do you truly think you would still be engaged if anyone finds out?"

"Even if I shouted it from the mountains, who could do anything about it?" Lucien scoffed.

"For one thing, Nicolette could call everything off, and your father would kill you for ruining everything, for another," Lumière explained. "Trust me, it is not a good idea to be an engaged man in love with a girl who isn't your fiancée."

"Says he who changes women as often as his clothes," Lucien muttered sarcastically.

Lumière remained persistent. "Having a multitude of women is not the issue. Having a multitude of women at the same time is, and take it from one who has learned that the hard way, namely yours truly. No matter how pleasurable it sounds, it is not a good practice."

"I completely agree," Lucien said, a little too calm for Lumière's particular liking. "That is why I have decided to call off the marriage to Nicolette."

Lumière stepped in front of him. "Wait just a moment; that is not what I meant and you know that."

Lucien nodded. "You are right, I do know, but I am the one who has to make the decision, and I have."

"Do you hear yourself?" Lumière persisted. "Love is known for making fools of people, but this is beyond foolishness; it's madness."

Lucien kept his calm demeanor, but it slowly took on a more instinctive authority. "The choice is mine to make, and I have done so. Now let me pass."

Lumière kept his eyes raised, silently pleading one last time to change his mind, but it was in vain. Lucien's mind was set, and all Lumière could do was nod and step aside.

Upon entering the dining room, the stern faces of their fathers, the Comte and Chanlet, the de Bontecou's maitre d', met the two young men. After a still, hesitant pause, the pair continued forward into the room.

Lucien spoke first. "Father, you are awake rather early; are you unwell? Could not sleep?"

The Comte's expression was alarmingly set, like ominous clouds hovering about the sky before a storm.

"Chanlet?" he said, narrowing his gaze on Lucien before turning to his servant. "Leave us. As your apprentice, your son should be training for the rescheduled dinner next week. I expect no less than his utmost finest work from him."

"Bien sûr, monseigneur," Chanlet answered with a respectful bow. "Lumière, come."

Lumière glanced at Lucien uneasily. Everyone in the château, noble or servant, knew that nothing good came from the Comte when he used that hard, somber tone. He could not help but feel both nervous for his friend and relieved that he did not have to stay to hear more. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he followed Chanlet to the kitchen, leaving their masters alone.

Lucien frowned at his father. "What is the matter with you this morning? That was rather uncalled for, if you ask me."

"We will not waste time with worthless questions," the Comte retaliated. "Where were you last night?"

"Did Lumière not tell you? I ordered him to inform everyone that I was not feeling well," Lucien said.

"Then I am sending for the finest doctors; this sickness of yours must be deadly if it has gone for this long without getting any better," the Comte continued. "This is the third time that we have had to reschedule this dinner to discuss marriage arrangements."

"Third time charmer; must be a bad omen," Lucien drawled sarcastically.

"On the contrary," the Comte disagreed. "It means that this will be the night we officially plan the wedding."

Lucien bit his lip. "Father, there is not going to be a dinner…nor is there going to be a wedding."

"What are you talking about? Of course there is," the Comte said dismissively.

"No," Lucien replied sharply. "There isn't. I am not getting married, and that is final."

The Comte scowled at him. "I suppose we really should send for a doctor; clearly there is something wrong with your mind. You are betrothed to Nicolette de Solange, as you have been since you were a child, and you will marry her once you return from the Grand Tour in two years. No questions about it."

Lucien stood his ground. "You are wrong."

"Am I?" the Comte countered. "Tell me, what has you suddenly so adamant about calling off the engagement? I would love to hear the beautiful excuse that I am certain you have concocted as of late."

"I do not love her," Lucien replied, trying with all his might to remain calm.

The Comte sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "That is not what I see every time she visits; you seem to show quite an affection for her then."

"I am fond of her, Father," Lucien explained. "Nicolette is a very charming woman, very kind and pleasant to be with, and I most assuredly care about her. If something awful were to happen to her, I would be there in less than a heart beat. She is a dear friend to me, but my feelings for her go no farther than that. I am not in love with her as I feel I should be."

"How would you know?" the Comte persisted. "You do not even know what love is."

Lucien's patience was wearing very thin. "Is that what you think? If so, you could not be more wrong. I am in love, deeply in love, with a woman I have had nothing but delight in knowing. One that is more important to me than any haughty little bitty that you have set before me in the past."

"Who, pray tell, is this woman?" the Comte asked.

Lucien was about to reply when he realized what he was about to say. His passion for anyone or anything he cared about constantly managed to get the best of him, and his mouth would run faster than his common sense. But the question had been asked, and he had no choice but to answer it.

"Her name is Babette," he said slowly. "She works at…Le Fleur Noir."

The Comte stared at his son, appalled. "The dance hall? This true love of yours is a money hungry strumpet?"

"She is not like that!"

The Comte merely shook his head. "No, absolutely not."

"That is not your decision to make!" Lucien argued. "I am a grown man, Father, and…"

"And should have a lot more common sense than that!" the Comte interrupted. "That is not love, it is an infatuation! A girl like that will wait until you confess your love to her, convince you to take her for a wife, and then ruin you!"

"Do you think I have not thought of that!" Lucien shouted, his teetering patience at last failing him. "I know the risks! I know what she could do to me, but I do not care! My mind has made its point. She could very well be after our fortune, I know that, but my heart…my heart says otherwise." He paused to take a deep breath. "Father, please."

The Comte sighed. As a father, he had always done everything he could to see his son, his only child, happy. He had given him anything that he desired, and saw to it that he was grateful for everything he had, from materialistic things to his very life. But with important matters at hand, that was just not possible this time.

"Very well," he began. "You have made your point very clear…but now I must make mine. You have had your fun, Lucien, but this engagement is not a game where you can pick and choose your lady. It is a matter of duty. You are not in love with Nicolette, I understand, but that can change over time. You are honor bound to marry her, and you most certainly will. Our family, our very name comes before anything else, and I will not have it destroyed by a disgraceful fascination with some common showgirl. The engagement stands, and you will go through with it."

"But Father…"

"Do I make myself clear?"

When those very same words are said to a child, it simply means that he must accept the decision at the present moment, and try harder to change his parents' mind. When they are heard as an adult, there was no hidden promise of change; the words they followed were law and set in stone. Heartbroken, Lucien closed his eyes in realization of that fact.

"Yes, sir," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "You have my word; Nicolette de Solange will be my wife."


As Lucien neared the kitchen, he could not help overhearing the sounds Lumière's testing as Chanlet rattled off as many questions he could possibly think of.

"The duties of your staff during the meal are…?"

"Minor details such as offering oil and vinegar and bread as well as refilling wine glasses. To disturb the place settings while the master's guests are dining is very poor judgment. The staff is a reflection of your orders, and therefore, they must be well organized, taught, and prepared."

Lucien suppressed a grin at his friend's monotonous and mechanical response, and upon entering the room, he offered a jesting, "At ease, men!" After he noticed Lumière turning his eyes to the heavens to mouth a 'Dieu Merci!' Lucien turned to Chanlet.

"Pardon the intrusion on the lessons, but I insist you relinquish your son from his questioning."

Chanlet smirked with amusement, clearly revealing where Lumière inherited the expression. "Of course, as you command, monsieur."

As Lucien nodded and headed into the hall, Lumière quickly followed.

"I take it that wedding bells are still on the agenda?" he asked quietly, sensing the hurt radiating from Lucien's being.

"They are, and that is why you are coming with me tonight," the young noble said.

Lumière looked at him confused. "Going with you where?"

"Le Fleur Noir."

Lumière's eyes lit up with anticipation. "Tonight? We can not go right this moment instead?" One look from Lucien ended the continuation of that particular set of questions. "Why do we have to go there?" he asked instead.

"I can not cancel another dinner."

Lumière stepped in front of him, forcing a standstill. "Wait a minute. That is where you have been going all this time?"

"Oui."

"That is where your lady love is from?"

"Oui."

"And you never brought me with you, why?" Once again, the silencing look forced Lumière into a different question chain. "Then the entire purpose of tonight is to bid her farewell?"

Lucien nodded, clearly in disappointment, and for the first time, Lumière truly understood why. Those women were eternal heaven—or with any good luck, eternal sin—on earth! To release one of them from your heart had to be a living nightmare!

"Yes," Lucien confirmed. "But you must keep quiet. My father demanded the affair be dissolved tonight if possible, but to tell no one else about any of this. If both of us go, no one will think twice. What say you?"

Lumière looked thoughtful for a moment. "Only one thing to say."

Lucien waited a pause. "Well?"

Lumière smirked as he pulled his friend into a tight hug. "Bless you, mon ami!"


Review Acknowledgements Time!

TrudiRose: LOL I seriously want to go back now and count how many variations of the Patience Virtue line I have done in my work. Glad to know you're still loving it; you know that this is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you for everything.

Dutch FF-Lover: How will I let the story end...hmm...guess we'll just have to see! Thanks for all the support!

Fairly Odd: Phantom inspired, perhaps in the opening chapter, but nothing later here, I'm afraid. :-) And don't worry! This fic took forever just to get up off the ground! They all come in time, and you know you always have me to help out! ((hugs!))

Lyndsi05: Aww thank you so much! I'm honored to be one of your first B&B posts! Hope you enjoyed the new chapter; I aim to please:-)

Valerie: LOL I hope this new chapter satisfies Lucien's first official fan girl! He's definitely one of my fave new characters to work with, although I gotta get Lumiere back in the spotlight as well. Glad you're loving it; thanks so much!