CHAPTER 43 - Decision (Engagement)
Oscar stared at her own father, then looked at Andre. They stared at each other without a word for a moment, and then laughed as if on command. They laughed so hard that tears ran down their cheeks. The general leaned against his desk, folded his arms over his shoulders, and looked offended. It took a few minutes for him to speak.
- I would expect everything - he said in an injured tone - but that you would react like that, it never occurred to me.
- I am sorry, Father - Oscar tried unsuccessfully to hold back a laugh - I know it's rude of us, but your words sounded like a good joke. This is a joke, right?
Hearing what she said, Andre stopped laughing and grew serious.
- Please forgive my behavior, sir - he nodded politely - I'm sure you meant something completely different. We just had to get it wrong.
- What are you talking about, boy?! - the general was indignant - I meant exactly what I said.
Oscar stopped laughing as well. She looked at her father very carefully. After all, she knew him so well. How could she have thought he had joked about such an important matter?
- Do you really want us to do this, Father? - she asked suspiciously - For me to marry Andre?
- Yes, that's what I want - replied the general certainly
- But you know it's impossible! - Oscar puzzled over the topic - Andre is not a noble. And I am not allowed to marry a commoner!
- That's true - her father nodded
- So I don't understand .. - she said exasperatedly
- It will require a sacrifice, Oscar - the general began to explain - From you and me, but..
- Get to the point, Father - she said impatiently - I've had enough of these secrets!
- What you said is true. A noblewoman cannot marry a commoner, even with the consent of the king himself. The law is the law. However, if.. if this noblewoman was disinherited and kicked out of the family..
Oscar jumped up from her chair.
- You're not serious, are you?! - she shouted, indignant
Andre heard the general's words, and only now did everything fall into place for him. It wasn't a misunderstanding or a joke. The general's motives were sincere. Andre finally understood what the older man meant when he said that he would have to help him convince Oscar. It wasn't about leaving the Royal Guards, but about something much more serious.
He got up, walked over to her, and took her hand.
- Sit down, Oscar - he asked softly
She looked at him furiously, but he didn't release her hand. After a while, her eyes softened. She sighed and sat back down in her seat. Andre stood behind her chair and put his hands on her shoulders.
- Please continue, General - he said firmly
- Oscar.. - the elderly man began hesitantly - If you think that I want to hurt you, you are very wrong. I just want to do this to protect you. And I also believe that such a change will bring you happiness.
- We're talking about disinheritance, Father! - Oscar hissed - About depriving me of everything I have. Do you think it won't hurt me?!
- Since when do you care of these things, Oscar? - the general asked seriously - Since when do you care about your property or name?
The woman didn't answer. Her father was right, she never cared about that. So why now did his proposition hurt her so much.
- It's true, Father - she replied quietly - But I lived my whole life as your heir. As your son. Now, am I supposed to just give it all up?
- You were never a son, Oscar - the general sighed - It was all a lie, you know it best yourself. You have always been my daughter, the youngest and most beloved. My pride and my light. My heir. But I'm not an idiot, Oscar. Every now and then I wondered what this was all for. Will the bloodline end with me or you, what's the difference? So it would be easiest to make you to get married and give birth to a son who will extend our family. Would you like me to do that? That I would find you a husband among the nobles, like for your sisters? Then you would keep your name and fortune, but you would have to sacrifice something else.
Oscar felt Andre's hands tighten on her shoulders. She knew immediately what his opinion was. His choice was simple. Hers not necessarily.
- Oscar, I give you a freedom of choice - her father continued - Something your sisters didn't have and something you didn't have after you were born. I believe that the right to choose is something extremely important for every human being. I would like to give you a choice. You can stay in the Guards, then everything will remain as it is. However, you know what the danger is, we've already talked about it. You can also leave the Guards and marry a nobleman whom I will indicate you. I'm sure I'll find you someone as nice as de Vojer - the general joked, and Oscar smiled faintly - Count Girodelle would be a very good candidate, he is an honest and brave young man. Or Count Fersen - her father winked at her, and she made an insulted face - But you can also marry someone you love and live in a quiet place, lead a peaceful, happy life. The choice is yours.
- Oscar.. - Andre whispered pleadingly. How could she ever hesitate in such a situation?
- It's not that simple, Andre - the woman pouted - Some things still need to be clarified beforehand. How are you going to deal with this whole.. disinheritance, Father? - she asked with a little bit of resentment - Who will now have the privilege of becoming your heir? Josephine? Camille?
- At first I thought it should be one of your sisters - the general said - It would be the most logical. But unfortunately the law doesn't allow me to do that. The law states that it must be a male descendant. There are only two boys who have de Jarjayes blood in their veins. They are your sister Josephine's sons, Philippe and Theodore. Philippe is the elder of my grandchildren, but he is also his father's heir, and I think de Vojer would not agree to that. So there is Theodore.
- But is it even possible? Have you consulted this with someone? Have you spoken to Josephine and her husband yet? - Oscar asked
- I consulted it.. with the king personally - said the general
Oscar stared at him.
- Have you talked to the king about this? - she asked in amazement
- Yes, I thought this was the most suitable person. The King sees no obstacles in resolving the matter this way. Of course, he was deeply disappointed that you could leave them, but he understood my motives too. I've even got all the papers ready - Oscar's father pointed to the stack of sheets on the desk - I'm just waiting for your permission and that of de Vojer. But first, I wanted to talk to you. If you disagreed, any further steps would be completely useless.
Oscar thought deeply. At first she was very agitated. Her father's proposal undermined everything about who she was. Her work in Guards. The role of the father's heir. It wasn't easy to let go of that image of herself. After all, it was her whole life that she was so proud of. The vision of such a drastic change terrified her. On the other hand. Hadn't she just been worried about how to solve this whole case for the past few days? She was sure she wouldn't be able to give up Andre. For her, he was the most important thing in the world.
- And if I agreed to your request, Father - she said - What are we going to live on, Andre and I? Andre's job is completely dependent on breeding in Etretat. What if the new owner wants to throw us into the street one day? He will have such a right after all.
- I thought about that too - the general smiled and reached for some document - I cannot, unfortunately, give you the manor in Etretat. It has belonged to our family for generations and is an inseparable asset. But.. - he handed her a document - my grandfather started the breeding farm and nothing prevents me from donating it to you.
Oscar looked up at her father in astonishment. Then she scanned the document in her hands. The document was the transfer of ownership of the farm, the stewards' house and all adjacent buildings.
- Grandier - she said, looking at her father suspiciously - It says Oscar Grandier here.
- Well - the general spread his hands - I cannot transfer this property to the Oscar de Jarjayes, it is quite obvious.
Oscar huffed in exasperation. That father of hers thought of every detail. He even wrote Andre's name on the deed. She didn't know whether to be angry with him or hugged him out of gratitude. She felt Andre's hands tremble on her shoulders. She looked up to meet his eyes, very sparkling with emotions.
- But why are you doing this, General? - Andre said softly, as if he still didn't believe that all that was happening was reality.
- A bit because of remorse. Towards you. And Oscar - the older man replied sincerely - But mainly because of love - he came up to his daughter, took her hands in his and squeezed gently. Then he got up and put a hand on Andre's shoulder in a fatherly gesture - That's all I had to say to you, actually. Now talk for a moment, and in the evening I would like to know your decision - with that saying he left the room.
There was a deep silence, broken only by the ticking of the mantel clock. Oscar looked again at the document she still held in her hands.
- And what do you think? - she asked in an undertone
- From my perspective, Oscar - he moved his fingers to her hair and gently stroked her - your father's offer is like winning at cards. Big win - he laughed
Oscar turned abruptly and hit him on the shoulder.
- Stop joking, Andre! - she only feigned indignation, because the joke was really funny
- Ouch! - he hissed, laughing - This is my wound of honor, Oscar! I got it by saving my future wife from the fire!
- I see that you have already assumed what decision I will make - the woman scowled
Andre stopped laughing, knelt beside her, and took her hands.
- I don't know for sure - he said seriously - But I know one thing. I love you very much, Oscar, and I promise you that if you become my wife, I will do my best to make you happy. I will work hard to make sure you have whatever you need. If you want, you can also work. We have a city guard in Etretat, maybe you would like to become a commander there. Or a fencing teacher. Or to train horses. There are plenty of possibilities. You can also run the house, or we can ask grandma for it. I promise I will respect your will regarding children. If you don't want them, I'll agree. If you want to have a bunch, all the more - he smiled mischievously - I will do everything so that you will never regret this decision. But it is up to you to do it yourself. I will accept whatever you decide.
Oscar looked into his emerald eyes glistening with love. In his honest face, full of determination and pleading. She thought about what her life would be like without him. And what it might look like if she had accepted her father's proposition.
- I believe you, Andre - she said, smiling gently at him - I know you and I'm sure I'd be happy with you. However..
Andre grew serious. He was afraid of what Oscar might tell him now.
- However, you are forgetting one little thing - she continued - You don't have to ask me or convince me. I already agreed, silly, don't you remember? - she laughed seeing his expression
- Oscar! - he exclaimed indignantly, but then hugged her tightly - Don't scare me so much, please!
Oscar laughed happily. The decision that seemed so difficult at first glance turned out to be the simplest in the world. What does she need more than his arms hugging her?
- I'm so happy, Oscar - Andre said excitedly, squeezing and kissing her hands. Suddenly he twitched and muttered - How could I forget ..? - he reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out the ring. Oscar looked at him with an expression of utter amazement.
- I know it's a modest ring, cherie - he said, putting a small sapphire bound on her finger - But it has a great sentimental meaning to me. This is my mother's ring, which she received from my father at their engagement. Father bought it because the color of the ring eye which reminded him of the color of his beloved's eyes. My mother had the same eye color as you, Oscar. It must be destiny - he joked again, though his throat tightened with emotion
- Thank you.. - Oscar said softly, fighting the tears that had started to glaze her eyes - It is a very beautiful ring and I will wear it with the respect it deserves.
Andre nodded and placed a slow, tender kiss on her lips.
- Looks like now you'll be able to introduce this fiancé to your father after all - he laughed, still kissing her.
- I do, but what about you? - Oscar asked, also laughing - What are you going to do with your fiancée who even comes to her own wedding in pants?
- It doesn't matter, darling - Andre replied, kissing her harder - I'm in love with you the way you are. I don't want to change you.
- Andre.. - she sighed, feeling his hands on her back - Not here, you crazy! This is my father's study!
- So let's get out of here, girl! - he got up, took her hand and they ran out of the room together.