Sitting on the front steps, staring out into space. That was all Babette could do to ease the pain; she just wanted to be alone, close to home but not inside where it still felt as though Maman was alive. She did not believe it yet - everything had happened so fast, as though it were a dream instead of harsh reality.
Perhaps that was the difficult part: Babette knew she would not be waking up from this nightmare. Her mother had been not only that – a mother – but also her closest friend and companion, her caretaker and teacher. Even in the rough times, things would always turn out all right simply because Celie was at Babette's side. Nothing could ever take her away, except that sudden case of pneumonia in the past month.
Well, that…and him, Babette thought, grimacing angrily. When she was little, Adrien's visits were a good thing. What little girl would not be happy to receive a treat or trinket every time her papa returned after a long trip? What little girl would know better, unaware of why he really came back?
But as Babette matured into a young woman with each passing day, she learned more and more about life, about men and women, enough to understand exactly why Adrien insisted that he be alone with her mother. Babette never forgot the first time she had put together the mental puzzle. As Adrien had left that day, leaving her with a careless pat on the head, she heard Celie crying at the top of the stairs where Babette found her on the ground, clothes disheveled and hair mussed. Ever since then, she never trusted the man Celie claimed was her father.
But now, with her mother dead, Adrien was all Babette had left to call family, unless one counted Madame Maigny, who had visited daily for as long as Babette could remember. Everyone else within the small neighborhood was kind to Celie's face, but now and then, Babette would overhear a few whispers of gossip behind turned backs. Madame Maigny, however, out of the goodness of her heart, was different. She never whispered, never judged; she was undoubtedly kind, and best of all, shared the girl's immense distaste for Adrien.
Unfortunately, that was not enough to keep Babette in Maigny's care. Adrien still held the blood title of Father, and Celie had foolishly insisted that Babette be put in his care. Even on her deathbed, Celie still believed that deep down, Adrien truly cared about their daughter.
All of that had led to this day with Babette sitting outside, staring at nothing in particular as she waited for Adrien to come fetch her. Only Maigny's voice broke Babette's intense concentration.
"Now you did not forget to pack anything, did you?" the older woman asked, her voice trembling a bit with emotion despite trying to hide it.
Babette merely shook her head.
"You are sure? Absolutely sure?" Maigny persisted. "The way your father travels, I will not know where to send anything you forget."
Babette sighed, but smiled in spite of herself. "I have everything I need."
"Except Lisette, you mean," Maigny replied, handing her a makeshift doll that had seen better days. Celie had pieced it together from an old duster one Christmas when Babette was little and money was scarce.
Babette's smile grew a bit, after failing at attempted seriousness. "I am twelve now; I can not be seen with a doll," she said, though she gazed at the doll with childlike affection.
Maigny smirked, then grinned warmly. "I never said you have to play with her, but both of us know that she only belongs at your side. She will help you remember all the good times here."
Babette nodded, biting her lip to calm her oncoming tears as she tucked Lisette into her small bag. Maigny hugged her tightly around the shoulders in comfort.
"Now, now, you cry as much as you want, petite," she murmured softly while Babette willingly obeyed, hiding her face in Maigny's shoulder. "There, that a girl."
Putting the child out at arms' length after a few moments, Maigny added, "You know that you must come see me when Papa brings you back here, promise?"
Babette wiped her eyes. "I promise."
"And wherever you go, whatever you do, you do it well and make Maman and I proud, oui?"
"Oui."
Maigny gave her a tearful smile. "Bon, now give me a hug before I cry us a river."
Babette once again did as she was told, the pair staying close until they heard horses' hooves pounding the street as a rider approached. Startled, they looked up to see Adrien pull his horse to a halt, looking at them expectantly as he jumped off the animal's back.
"Well?" he asked, not one sign of sympathy, concern, or caring in his voice. "Come on, I do not have all day!"
Maigny glared at him as she walked Babette to Adrien's side. "If you tried learning patience, perhaps the scowl will leave that thing you call a face and make you look somewhat decent."
Adrien blatantly ignored her, inspecting Babette. "Turn around," he ordered abruptly, and she did. With a frustrated sigh, Adrien looked at Maigny. "I told you to make her presentable; why are those sleeves and skirt so long?"
Maigny stared at him blankly. "There is a chill in the air; I will not have her catching a cold."
Adrien shook his head. The stupid woman, she never could do anything he told her to do correctly. "Wonderful," he muttered, taking Babette roughly by the hand as he dragged her into the house. "We are late as it is."
With Maigny following, Adrien shoved Babette up the stairs to Celie's room, locking the door so the old bat could not get in. Pulling open small dresser drawers, he searched through them adamantly, nodding victoriously as he found what he was looking for.
"Try these on," he demanded, tossing a sleeveless bodice and short skirt to the girl, snarling as she hesitated. "Do as I said, hurry now!"
Babette glared at him. "Turn around, please."
Adrien heaved a mighty sigh of irritation, but turned around nonetheless if it meant she would get a move on. Babette on the other hand changed quickly.
When everything was in place, she asked, her voice shaking, "Is this better?"
Adrien faced her again, standing there in stunned silence. He had told D'Araignée that the child was following in her mother's footsteps to keep her interested, but he had not realized how correct he was. Admittedly, it took him a few seconds to remember that this was his daughter, not Celie back from the dead.
Babette only stared at the mirror, barely hearing him tell her to take her hair down. When she did, she hastily pulled the flowing locks over her bared shoulders. He expected her to go out like this? She was hardly dressed!
Adrien stepped forward, pulling her hair back and gazing at what he had turned her into. His hands slipped to her shoulders, rubbing them tenderly. If only…if only she was not Celie's daughter, his daughter, what he could have done with her!
Babette, uncomfortable with his glances and his touch, fought him away before she grabbed her cloak and bag, racing to the door with Adrien close behind. When she reached the hallway, Maigny immediately took her into her arms as the girl ran to her.
Glaring at Adrien, Maigny shouted, "What have you done to her? Where are you taking her?"
Adrien merely pried an emotional Babette from her grasp, dragging her outside kicking and screaming. "That is really none of your business, is it?" he answered brusquely. Not wasting any time, he lifted his daughter onto the horse and climbed on behind her.
"You are out of your mind!" Maigny cried, chasing after them. By the time she had caught up, the poor woman broke down pleading. "Adrien, please, let the child stay here! You know she will be cared for!"
Adrien only shoved her away with a kick. "I am her father; she belongs to me! Now leave us alone, hag!" he shouted before kicking the horse into a run, leaving Maigny on the ground in tears and riding off as fast as the horse could run.
ooo
Which road they took, Babette would never remember. After the encounter with Adrien in Celie's room, she was warily focused only on what he was doing, afraid to close her eyes even though sleep was beckoning. By the time the horse stopped, she was exhausted, but it was better to be safe and tired than asleep and hurt. Sleep could wait.
As they dismounted the animal, Adrien led her roughly towards their destination, and all feelings of attempted bravery disappeared into thin air. It was cozy little shack of a building on the outside, but inside, it was as though someone was throwing a party that had no intention of ending until next year. Music, cheers, a crash now and then. Babette was ready to make a run for the door again just from having walked through the long, looming front hallway.
When Adrien opened the door to go inside, Babette took one sweeping glance over the room, immediately averting her eyes to the floor before daring to look around. She saw men at tables watching women the same way Adrien had looked at her before, and the women not caring whatsoever apparently. They seemed to encourage it even, giggling, teasing, and moving in ways that seemed inhumanly possible! What muscles existed that allowed them to move like that?
After a moment's time, Adrien must have found who he was looking for, and they started walking again. Babette blamed her imagination, but she was certain that all eyes had fallen on them, filling her with dread. The women, she could not tell if her being there was a good or bad thing to them. Some seemed curious; others appeared to find her presence funny. A select few even eyed her with frowns and grimaces. The men, on the other hand, merely looked at her the same way Adrien had before, and Babette quickly folded her arms across her chest when she realized exactly where they were looking.
"You are late, Adrien!" a voice called. "Madame's been waiting for you two in the back room forever!"
Adrien smiled suggestively as they approached the female messenger, a young, tall redheaded beauty. "Only fashionably late. Besides, she can wait a little longer, especially if you are…available."
The girl smirked with an air of sarcasm as she replied, "Go to hell." That being said, she winked at Babette with a smile and walked off. Babette barely had time to return it before Adrien dragged her towards the back room.
The girl, one of the self-titled "Fleurettes", shook her head as she joined another, a strong-looking blonde.
"What is he doing back here?" the blond growled. "I thought Madame kicked him out last time."
"Easy, you know how she is with tabs; he owes her too much," the redhead replied before she pointed at Babette as father and daughter entered the back room. "That right there is his payment, from what I heard."
The blonde raised an eyebrow. "You mean he is going to…?" The redhead nodded before the blonde continued. "Knowing Adrien, I guess I should have expected something so low. His daughter I'm guessing?"
"I think so," the redhead said. "Just another idiot who can not take on responsibility; what else is new?"
The blonde shook her head, and then smiled. "Ah well, if he wants to deny her existence, maybe we will be lucky and he will never come back!"
The redhead laughed. "Here's hoping!"
ooo
If not for a dimly lit kerosene lamp, the back room would have been pitch black. Babette swallowed nervously as Adrien sat in front of a desk in the center of the room; behind the desk sat an aging woman, completely skin and bones with graying hair. Slowly, cautiously, Babette moved forward to sit down, but Adrien gripped her arm, holding her up.
"Stand up straight," he ordered, and she obeyed. Looking at the old woman, he asked, "Let's get to the point, D'Araignée; what do you think? Will she do?"
"Do?" Babette asked, looking at him confused.
D'Araignée rose from her seat to walk around the desk, scratching her head as she inspected the girl.
"Hmm, let's see." She reached out a wrinkled hand, gripping Babette by the chin to raise her face. "Not beautiful, but not ugly; of course, she is still young. That will hopefully change soon." She then combed her fingers through the child's hair. "Soft, men like soft hair; this will do." Abruptly, D'Araignée moved around to Babette's back, patting her backside roughly before she returned to face her. "And firm in the right place; the men like that too."
Giving her a final once-over, D'Araignée looked thoughtful. "The rest should completely fill out in another year. She is not performance material just yet, but there is hope for her." She looked at Adrien. "I'll take her…plus ten francs."
Adrien jumped from his chair. "What? We agreed that you would just take her in and call it even!"
"Take me in?" Babette cried. The adults ignored her.
D'Araignée held out her familiar bony hand, a con artist's smirk about her lips. "Caregiver fees, Adrien; the money, please, or no deal."
Adrien mumbled a curse under his breath before reaching into his pockets. "If only I was not desperate, you old witch," he growled before turning over everything he could find, and still coming up shorthanded. "This is all I have; I can get the rest when the ship docks here again."
D'Araignée grinned maliciously as she counted the money in her hands. "A pleasure doing business with you, monsieur; say your goodbyes and get out."
Babette looked at Adrien disbelievingly; this was not a game! He was actually going to leave her here! As much as she hated him, she had come to terms with the thought of being forced to live with him, and now this! It was too much!
Racing after him as he stormed through the dance hall, Babette gripped his arm when she caught up to him outside.
"Papa, please!" she cried breathlessly, tears openly flowing. "Papa, I will do whatever you want me to, but do not leave me here! Please, please, take me with you! Tell me what I have to do, and I will do it, but let me come with you!"
Adrien gritted his teeth before he turned to look down at her heartlessly; the brat was just like her mother, a whiny little pest.
Wrenching his arm away, he snarled, "You live here now; stay put."
Babette shook her head, starting to follow him when D'Araignée held her back firmly. Fighting against her, Babette shouted, "Papa! Please!"
"Papa?" Adrien screamed, taking one last look at her. "You worthless little whelp, you do not have a father! You never did!"
Babette stopped fighting at his words, truly stunned and her sobs only coming harder. She felt numb, cold; how she went from outside to a small room, she could not tell if anyone asked.
"Welcome to your new home, ma chérie," D'Araignée said venomously behind her. "This is your family now."
Babette looked up at her callously. "My entire family is dead, and nothing is taking their place."
D'Araignée laughed haughtily. "A quick tongue, we will have to do something about that and soon. The men will not take kindly to it."
"Leave me alone," Babette answered frostily.
D'Araignée's face hardened, all mockery and sarcasm absent from her tone. How dare the girl attempt to talk back to her! "Now you listen to me, wretch; I will make myself perfectly clear," she threatened. "I am not happy about this arrangement either; all you are to me is another mouth to feed and another toy for my customers. I repeat, we are your family now. I am your 'mother', and the last thing you want to do around this place is disobey your mother. Learn that, and learn it well." She walked to the door. "If you want to eat before you start working, be downstairs no later than ten. Late risers fend for themselves."
After D'Araignée was gone, Babette clumsily rummaged through her bag, searching for Lisette. Gripping the small doll close, she curled up under the thin blanket, feeling utterly alone as she cried herself to sleep.
