Chapter Six: The Christmas Eve Ball

"The Duc de Bovez and family!"

The girls tensed fretfully as they waited on the grand staircase leading to the prince's ballroom. Although feeling somewhat fortunate to have made it this far, their nerves had not settled as well as they thought.

They had barely returned to Le Fleur Noir in time, and D'Araignée had angrily sent them up to bed, mumbling about how selfish and unappreciative they were for taking advantage of her generosity. They, in turn, did as they were told without argument, waiting with bated breath in their rooms as they listened for D'Araignée's door to shut tight for the night. When that was done, and they saw the light under the door go out, they made a quiet dash for the front door to find a carriage. Doing so did not take long, and soon enough, they had arrived at the château where they were presently waiting and thinking fast.

"Damn it, Aubrey, what do you suggest we do now?" Odette asked under her breath as the line of people grew shorter.

"How should I know?" Aubrey hissed. "Do what we did at the door: pay the man and make up a name!"

Babette sighed, comfortingly patting a frightened Brielle's hand as the girl clutched to her arm. If everything went as planned, it certainly would be a Christmas miracle.

"Names?"

The girls glanced at one another before Babette stepped forward.

"The…la Fleur sisters, monsieur," she said, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

The majordomo looked them over suspiciously. "I do not believe his highness invited anyone by that name."

"We are…guests of the Comte de Bontecou," she added quickly, using the only important name she knew. "We were told it would be all right to come with his family."

The majordomo shook his head as he began to usher the girls aside. "A likely story that you obviously did not plan well enough, mademoiselle. Now I suggest the lot of you be on your way."

"Edmond! The lady is telling the truth; it is all right!"

The servant turned immediately, bowing in respect to the man calling him. To the girls' relief and delight, it was Lucien de Bontecou.

"Monsieur le Vicomte!" Edmond cried. "Are you certain that these…young ladies are attending with your family?"

"Indeed, with his highness' permission, I assure you," Lucien replied without missing a beat. "Mademoiselle…"

"Babette," the lady herself coughed discreetly in assistance.

"Babette and her sisters are distant cousins of ours, visiting for the holiday."

Reassured by the gentleman's word, Edmond nodded. "In that case, their names again please? For proper announcement?"

Lucien waved his hand dismissively. "No need for that. I will introduce them to everyone myself; by all means, carry on."

The girls stifled their laughter as Edmond bowed once again and allowed them passage. When Lucien led them inside, they could not help but be stunned by how incredibly beautiful and massive the ballroom was. All of Le Fleur Noir could fit inside of it!

"How honored I am that such kind ladies chose to risk everything to follow a fool like me to a grand party," the young vicomte said, breaking their moment of awe.

"Some of us more than others, Monsieur le Vicomte," Aubrey said, giving Babette a playful smirk, and earning a nudge from Babette in return.

Lucien smiled as he looked at Babette. "Make that truly honored then."

Babette averted her gaze at the risk of blushing profusely. Fleurettes did not blush in front of any man; they held onto control and did not give in by showing weakness in such actions. Her companions merely smirked teasingly at her apparently being smitten over the gentleman.

"If Monsieur will excuse us, these sisters can keep themselves entertained," Odette said, ignoring the look Babette shot at her.

Lucien's smile grew as he offered his arm to Babette. "I completely understand; I was about to ask if Mademoiselle would accept my invitation to the dance floor anyway."

Babette felt a momentary surge of uncertainty. On a normal night at Le Fleur Noir, a man offering his arm or hand meant a trip up the stairs, but unlike Lucien, those men did not have the promise of kindness and courtesy in their eyes.

Slowly, keeping her gaze locked with his, seeing how sincere his intentions were, she accepted. "How could I refuse?"

As he walked her to the floor, she visibly crossed her fingers behind her back in hope and confidence, and the girls giggled at the action to themselves before moving on to enjoy the evening.

Across the room, the court musicians began to play a melodious tune, and Babette surprisingly startled a bit as Lucien placed his one hand at her waist and took up one of her own with the other. When the dance officially began, she nearly panicked as she found herself completely unfamiliar with the steps. Babette could not understand it; she made a living by flirting and dancing at home! Yet at the palace, she felt so awkward about things that should have been very familiar!

"I take it that you do not know this one?" Lucien asked, obviously trying not to laugh.

Babette pouted adorably. "I can honestly say that this is not what I am used to."

"Well here, let me show you; it is not difficult once you get used to it."

Lucien led her towards the outskirts of the floor, patiently letting her grow accustomed to the steps and correcting those she did wrong. In hardly any time at all, they were moving gracefully along with the other couples.

"There, perfect!" Lucien commented with approval. "You are doing splendidly!"

Babette smiled, reveling in the compliments. "I am a fast learner."

"Very impressively so," Lucien agreed. With a playful smirk, he added, "You could almost pass for a noble now."

Babette reflected his expression. "Who says that I am not?"

"Mademoiselle, forgive me, but it is beyond obvious that you are not," he laughed.

"In that case, I suppose I could try to convince you," Babette challenged, as she paused thoughtfully. Straightening her posture, stiff as a rod, she continued haughtily, "Monsieur, how dare you doubt me! I demand an apology this minute!" As Lucien chuckled heartily, she asked, "How was that?"

"Admittedly decent," he replied, bordering on the brink of hysterics.

Babette gasped mockingly hurt. "The man has nothing against wounding a complete stranger?"

Lucien smiled pleasantly, one of his most attractive features, Babette noted. "A very pleasant stranger, and if the lady must know, it is a good thing that you are not one of us."

"Really? Why is that?"

"Call it…a breath of fresh air, if you will," he said. "You delightfully stand out from the crowd, and in the very short time that we have been acquainted, I find myself very much wanting to remain in your company. You have very much intrigued me, if you will permit my saying so."

"Believe me, monsieur; there is little a man can say that would truly shock me."

Lucien looked at her curiously. "I suppose it is my turn to ask: really?"

Babette nodded, purposely keeping silent as the dance drew to a close. As the couples left the floor, Lucien led her to an intimate corner, the best one could do on a cold night like this when the weather made it uncomfortable to be outside.

"These dances always tire me," he said, taking a deep breath.

Babette choked back a laugh, attempting to hide it, but failed miserably.

"What is so funny?" Lucien asked, puzzled.

"A simple dance like that tires you?" she asked in return, now clearly amused.

"Considering that I do not dance often, it does, oui."

Babette shook her head with a smirk. "Monsieur le Vicomte, I assure you, you have no idea what exhausting dancing is."

Lucien raised that handsome eyebrow of his. "Pray, explain."

Babette shrugged with a coy smile. "Let us say that between the two of us, I know more about that kind of dancing than you do."

"Oh?"

Babette nodded, giggling as she confirmed, "Oh."

When she gave no further answer, Lucien simply gazed at her, captivated. Girls he had met in the past would never stop talking about all the wonderful things about them, trying to gain favor from him when it came time for him to choose a bride, he thought bitterly. As if he did not know everything about everyone! There was nothing they could not tell him that he had not already heard! It was always the same.

Until now, that is. Throughout the night, Babette had teased him, flirted with him, but mysteriously eluding direct explanation. Propriety, he knew, would deem him a fool; his parents had raised him to learn as much about a girl's breeding and upbringing before any thoughts of courtship could be made. He had not even known this girl for more than an hour, and after tonight, the chances of seeing her again were highly unlikely. Yet the only place he wanted to be was here, with her, hanging on her every word, fascinated, and determined to learn more about her.

"I suppose that is all you are going to tell me then," he murmured. "But please, I insist you tell me what a man has to do to learn more about you."

Something about the look in his eyes both attracted Babette to him but at the same time made her feel…rather embarrassed as he spoke. There was no longer a playful game, but strong sincerity and desire to be with her. This was serious.

She could not tell him the truth now, of that she was certain. If she told him that they had only followed him to lure him to Le Fleur Noir for no better reason than favor, he would despise her. More than that, she could not even tell him what she was! He was a noble! The truth would only bring either disgust or lust. No, she could not tell him the truth.

"Perhaps someday I will tell you, but not today, monsieur," she answered.

"Please, no more of the formalities," he said adamantly. "It is not monsieur, but Lucien."

Babette swallowed nervously. "Lucien," she repeated. It felt so right to call him that, even though she knew that it should not. "If you insist, but then you must return the favor to me."

"Of course…Babette, oui?"

This had to stop, and it had to stop now. Flashing her brilliant smirk, she replied, "Hmm, handsome, charming, and a very good memory as well. I am impressed."

There, that was how she should be talking to him; that was how she must. That was how it had to be.

ooo

As the hours passed, the girls kept a close watch on Babette and her gentleman. Everything seemed to be in her favor, they noticed, seeing how close the pair was growing as they chatted away the evening. But before they knew it, it was time to go home.

"Pardon the interruption," Odette said respectfully when she approached them. "But we really must be leaving; it is getting late and Mother will be very displeased if we stay here any longer."

Babette looked at her pleadingly, begging through her gaze for a few more minutes like a child wishing to stay up past bedtime, but Odette remained steadfast, not moving a muscle.

Babette frowned. "Very well, I will be right there, I promise."

"One minute, no more."

"The faster I say goodbye, the faster I can meet you," Babette countered.

Odette sighed but nodded before she left them alone again. Babette turned her disappointed eyes on Lucien.

"This is really goodbye then?" he asked, attempting a smile.

Babette laughed as she rose to leave, Lucien in tow. "There is still so much more you need to find out about me, you said so yourself; how could it be goodbye if that is true?"

"Then how am I to find you?" he asked persistently.

Babette looked at him for a long moment, both thinking of how to tell him and wanting to remember his every beautiful feature.

"La Rue de Grenoble, where the Black Flower grows," she said, speaking the words that every Fleurette was taught to remember their way home. "I promise, you can always find me there."

Before Lucien could ask anymore, Odette began calling for Babette again.

"I have to go," Babette said, sadly. "Merci, Lucien, for making this Christmas Eve ever so…enjoyable."

And with those final words, she was gone.

ooo

That night, just when Babette had tucked herself comfortably into bed, there was a knock on her door.

"What?" she called, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Odette entered, closing the door behind her excitedly, all practical manners and uptight appearances vanished.

"I wanted to hear how everything went before you went to sleep," she said, jumping for the bed and bouncing on it like a bubbly child.

"Easy!" Babette cried, sitting up tiredly. "There is a person who can feel pain in this bed you know!"

"Oh don't be such a whiny baby!" Odette hissed as both girls moved into a gossip position. "So tell me! How long is D'Araignée going to kiss your feet after tonight?"

Babette shrugged. "I do not know."

"What do you mean?" Odette asked. "You and the vicomte seemed to be pretty cozy tonight; why would he not come see you? Didn't you tell him where you were from?"

"Sort of."

"Sort of? Babette, chérie, I am just as tired as you are; you need to be a bit more clear."

"I…only told him what you used to tell me when I was a child," Babette answered. "I could not tell him the truth."

"Why not?"

Babette looked distantly out the window, as if searching the heavens for him. "He would hate me."

Odette said nothing for a moment, only sighing as she saw the look in her friend's eyes: that of romantic longing, the death sentence to any Fleurette.

"You were ashamed," she said. "You…love him, don't you?"

Babette shook her head, but kept her eyes averted. "No, not really. Just…like him a lot, that is all."

"Chérie, do not play the virtuous woman now," Odette scolded gently. "Perhaps it is for the better that you did not tell him."

"What do you mean?"

"Learn this, and learn it now," Odette warned. "Love is not worth it in this life. You really think a man like that would love one of us?"

"I never said I loved him! I just met him!" Babette argued indignantly.

"Babette," Odette said knowingly. "You can't fool me; you never could. I can see it in your eyes. Maybe you do not realize it yet, but you are on a dangerous path. Stop following it now before it is too late; the last thing I want is to see you get hurt. No man will ever want love in an emotional sense from us, remember that."

Babette sighed, merely nodding submissively. For once, Odette did not know what she was talking about. Even if this was love, Odette had not seen the true way Lucien had treated her; this man would be different if they ever met again. After her friend left her alone for the night, Babette closed her eyes, all the while seeing Lucien's handsome smile in her dreams. She felt in her heart that her life was about to change.