Soooo, here's my next chapter! Not as much insanity on my part for this one, which Enjy and Dani will be thankful for. :) I realized that I wrote very little French, whether in conversations or otherwise, and so stopped and did my best this chapter.
Chapter 7
Danielle approached her brother the next day with her proposition. She served tea and brought his slippers to him. All for the sake of being a proper lady. She sat on a stool at his feet, the way she used to before she was sent to England. Raul didn't comply to the proposal at first, but it was Danielles' future at stake, so she fought. They eventually settled on half a year for her to aptly prove herself, and that Lady Baybridge would come to be a proper judge of her behavior. At the very least, it meant Danielle could see Eponine and Sabine sooner. As long as she could find a man to marry that would not care if she associated with beggars. But she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.
Although she wasn't sure what kind of effect Christine was having on Raul, Danielle knew that he never would have agreed to this weeks ago. Whatever change had taken place in him, Danielle was expressly grateful for. He did seem uncharacteristically absent minded, though. Perhaps it was just a symptom of that disease called love. There had been rumors circulating, which led Danielle to believe that Raul's absent mindedness was partly because of the mystery of the Opera. Christine seemed to be a very sweet, kind girl, but Danielle couldn't help but feel that there was something not quite right about her. But, she said nothing of her worries to Raul. She didn't want him choosing who she'd marry, so she wouldn't harp about his lady love.
Danielle sent a note to Enjolras explaining the details of the arrangement. She received no reply. It only served to convince her that it was a blessing that she would not be marrying the revolutionary.
It was the morning of Lady Baybridges' arrival, exactly a fortnight after the Masquerade. Danielle had been on perfect behavior since then, and even took extra care in her appearance. She pulled on a conservative deep blue day dress with pressed, white cuffs and collar. She pinned her mothers amethyst brooch to her neck while Annette styled her hair into a simple braided chignon.
It was all too difficult. She didn't want to do this. Looking at her reflection in the gold framed mirror, Danielle grimaced at herself in distaste. It was only six months. She could do it. Perhaps she could become a nun, instead.
Raul walked her outside as Lady Baybridges' carriage rolled to a stop. They waited in the garden as she stepped out with the help of a footman.
"Ah, Raul, I see you've found quite a lovely home here! I do hope that Paris has been kept abreast of all the recent scientific breakthroughs of sanitation. It would be a shame to have another Cholera outbreak." Lady Baybridge spoke in flawless French dialect. Doubtless from the dozens of governesses and instructors she'd had as a young woman, all clamoring to teach her every possible thing she'd need to know to be a proper English Lady.
If there was one thing to be said about Lady Baybridge, it was that she was beautiful, and that beauty was just about as deep as a puddle. She had a youthful face, a lovely figure, and hair that hadn't greyed so much as turned blonde. Her dress had been perfectly pressed and tailored to fit her like a glove, as any proper ladies fashion would. Danielle smiled at the idea of the Lady taking up half the sitting room with her enormous hoop skirt.
"That was a number of years ago, Milady, and you can rest assured that you will not catch Cholera during your stay in Paris. Would you like to come inside? Our maid concocted some petit fours for you to partake of." Raul was all restrained politeness, as was the English fashion. The boy was like a chameleon, he could adapt and change every aspect of himself to suit whatever company he was in. Danielle had seen him do it many times.
"Dear boy, surely you must know that a proper lady never expresses any kind of excitement over food. However, I will deign to enter your humble home." With a swish of her cottage sized skirts, the honorable Lady Baybridge blew past them and into the house. Being the Vicompte, Raul entered next, followed by Danielle. She braced herself for a very long six months.
There was a squeaking sound behind her, which sounded like the gate opening, and she turned on the top of the steps to look. Enjolras was standing there, with what appeared to be a bouquet of daisies and his usual thoughtful gaze. He walked forward to meet her, stopping at the bottom of the steps with the daisies casually in one hand at his side.
"I'm calling on you today because that woman is here and it would be well for me to make my impression." He informed her stiffly.
"You can't simply come here unannounced, Monsieur. Lady Baybridge just arrived and is very tired from her journey. Please, come later." She dropped down a step, trying to encourage him to back away, but he stood his ground. Insufferable man. Now she was much too close for her own comfort, but was also too proud to go back.
"I believe it is a perfect time for introductions. She's tired from her long journey, as you say, and less likely to completely irritate me." Enjolras gestured for her to precede him into the house with that all too familiar grim expression.
"It seems to me that every person in Paris, no matter their status, has some ground to irritate you, Monsieur." Danielle cocked her eyebrow.
"It seems to me that you enjoy irritating even the most patient of gentlemen, Mademoiselle." Enjolras immediately replied.
"Only when their so deluded as to think they're very patient."
"May I enter your house, or should I ring the bell and ask for Raul?" He gave her the ultimatum. Danielle thought for a moment. She knew it was a losing battle to make him leave, and there would probably be more important battles to fight later, so why exhaust all her efforts on this one? She stood back on the top of the steps and wisely chose to let him win this time. Without a word she swept into the house, gestured to Alain in a sign that Enjolras was to be made welcome, and walked to the sitting room. Without listening to whatever boring speech Raul was making, she sat gingerly on a cushioned chair facing the door and waited.
"Monsieur Enjolras calling" Alain entered and announced.
"Thank you, Alain." Danielle dismissed him with a smile. Enjolras passed the man as he came into the room. The other man gave the boy a nod and friendly grin.
"You are too soft, Danielle. Servants will forget their place." Lady Baybridge sniffed. Danielle nodded respectfully and looked to Enjolras to see his reaction. On his face was a look of pure loathing, which he quickly covered when the object of his emotion turned to look at him.
"Ah, Madam! How right you are!" He drawled pompously. "There seems to be no end to the ignorance of servants. I say! We must teach them all a lesson." Danielle's jaw dropped in shock. What was he doing?
"Lady Baybridge, this is Danielles betrothed, Monsieur Enjolras." Raul politely introduced so that the Lady would be able to speak properly to Enjolras.
"What sort of family do you come from, boy?" Lady Baybridge demanded, peering at him over the spectacles she really didn't need, but they were the fashion.
"I come from old money, Madam, which is fortunate considering how I abhor trade and working." He scoffed and sat down with great flair. Danielle only watched, horrified at the spectacle and mockery he was creating.
"Old money is very good." Lady Baybridge noted, "How much money, if I may?"
"I am to inherit my fathers fortune and estate in Rouen upon his death, and until then I'm given enough per year to live as comfortably as I wish and attend parties as often as I choose."
"Do you have any siblings?"
"None, Madam. I prefer it that way, my mothers love and affection was all devoted to me as a child."
Which, translated, means you're a spoiled enfant, and completely self satisfied, Danielle thought. Her expression turned sour.
"Raul, you chose well." Lady Baybridge congratulated. Danielle was going to be sick. She just wanted to leave.
"Enjolras is also a student at the University, Milady." Raul supplied.
"Furthering your mind, I suppose? I've encouraged Danielle to do that, but she's never been a willing child." Danielle didn't correct her by saying that by 'furthering her mind', Lady Baybridge meant going to an academy to learn to be proper and coy to catch a husband. "What do you think of her dress, Monsieur? I don't believe that color looks well on her, but perhaps she'd be more inclined to listen to you." Lady Baybridge suggested. Enjolras stood, walked towards Danielle, and appraised her gown intently.
"Indeed. that shade of pink does seem to give your skin a yellowish tone that's very unbecoming. Especially with such unremarkable hair. You would do well to burn the dress and wear a wig in the future." He informed her imperiously. Her spine stiffened.
"And I suppose you're an expert of women's fashion, Monsieur. You must consider that a great achievement." She brushed it off.
"Oh I really do, Mademoiselle. It's shocking how many ladies in society are blind to proper fashions and styles." His back was facing the other two people in the room, so he took that opportunity to flash a smirk at her.
""It's a good thing you're there to tell them all how hideous they look." She smiled sweetly at him.
"Indeed! Many women just don't know how ugly they are until one tells them." Enjolras drawled foppishly.
"You're such a benefit to mankind!" Danielle tried her best to hide her annoyance by infusing every syllable she spoke with all the sarcasm she could muster. She was too tired of people in general, and this man especially.
"I like to think so." He sniffed arrogantly. Danielle rolled her eyes, stood up, and went to pace back and forth in a corner of the room. He was acting like an ignorant fop and she hoped he realized that this didn't help their cause any. Why was he doing this?
"How do you feel about this trial period, Monsieur?" Raul asked Enjolras, who sighed deeply and returned to his chair.
"I believe that women are flighty creatures. So very delicate and emotional. But hopefully this trial shows no weakness of character in Mademoiselle." He preened.
"She has a sizeable dowry, but surely there must be some of your estate you'd be wiling to part with for her hand?" Raul pressed. Enjolras glanced at Danielle in surprise before resuming his façade once more.
"I would be happy to contribute," He smirked, "Should Mademoiselle prove acceptable." Lady Baybridge gasped quietly while Danielle paled. A proper gentleman would never say something so condescending, so insensitive. Danielle swept from the room, hoping Lady Baybridge would assume that the boy had damaged her sensibilities. She walked briskly to the kitchen, shut the door, and leaned against it. Covering her eyes with her hands, she replayed the dreadful scene in her head. How could he say such things to her? It was enough to humiliate any girl, but he said it in front of the two people most likely to judge her every move. It was not the act of a gentleman.
" Mademoiselle Danielle, are you alright?" Annette's voice drifted through her thoughts. Danielle dropped her hands and straightened. The other woman was at a counter, hands frozen in the act of chopping carrots. Her face was gentle and kind. The face of the mother Danielle had never known.
"I am fine, Annette. Just a dizzy spell." She smiled reassuringly, "I would like to speak with Alain."
"Of course, he is in the garden picking herbs for me. He will still be able to talk, though." Annette smiled warmly, "Do take a Mille-Feuille with you. I made too many for Lady Baybridge. She seems to not have a taste for them."
"Merci. Lady Baybridge doesn't have a taste for many things, Annette." Danielle smiled, took a piece of the cake, and went out the kitchen door that led to the garden. There were only two doors to the house, the front entrance, and the door in the kitchen. The latter door was to be always bolted unless someone was in the yard. There had been trouble with gamines sneaking in and stealing food from the pantry, and so Raul had implemented the rule.
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle. Avez-vous besoin d'aide?" Alain greeted from his kneeling position by a raised garden bed. Danielle had stressed from the moment they met that Annette and Alain must not stand upon formality with her. Unless, of course, Lady Baybridge or Raul were watching.
"Oui, I need you to make two more baskets, one for Sabine and one for the Gorbeau family. Also, find Eponine and tell me how she is, will you? Tell me how they all are." She practically begged.
"Of course, Mademoiselle. Would you like me to forget to inform the Vicompte of this?" Alain asked her seriously.
"If you would, please. I think he wouldn't consider it very ladylike." Danielle smiled and turned back to the house. She was so grateful to him and Annette. They seemed always prepared to help her in anything.
She walked back inside, but definitely was not going back to the sitting room. She would not subject herself to that. Although she could not decide what sort of person Enjolras was, she knew what sort of person she was: a person that would not be subjected to such cruelty. She knew how she was to be treated, and such a lack of respect and kindness was unacceptable. Her anger was just and completely called for. The more she thought of his new personality the more she couldn't breathe from frustration. She scowled in the general direction of the sitting room, grabbed her shawl, and left the house. She rushed down the path to the gate and slammed it as hard as she could behind her.
Thank you so much for the review, Angel-Unknown! I'm doing my absolute best and you've really helped encourage me. :) I hope this chapter was as good as expected. It's shorter than I planned, but this was the best stopping point for now.
Thank you for reading! Review, if you like! That would be pretty stupendous. :)