Chapter 7
They arrived at the Chateau just before lunch. Athos and Sylvie arrived a day ahead of everyone else making sure everything was going well.
Athos went to find Monsieur Dumond, the caretaker, while Sylvie went to their room with their bags. A maid who came in occasionally to keep things clean was waiting for them helping Sylvie with the bags and would be there for the day going home to her family the next day for her holiday vacation.
"Monsieur de La Fare," M. Dumond greeted Athos in the shed.
"Monsieur, how is everything?" Athos asked.
M. Dumond hesitated. "Albert," Athos said.
"Monsieur, your father is on his way here. I am terribly sorry. I tried to explain you would be having company for the holidays here."
Athos rubbed his eyes. "It's alright, Albert. I will deal with him. Is there anything else?"
"Good news," Albert said. "We found the Christmas tree ornaments as well as decorations. My wife has already begun decorating and we should have a tree up by tomorrow morning."
"That is good news, thank you, Albert. My friends and I will be decorating the tree when everyone gets here," Athos said.
When he was finished discussing things with Albert, Athos went to the house hoping he would catch his father before he entered the house.
Just as he came to the front door his father drove into the long winding driveway. Athos stopped and waited.
"Father, what can I do for you?" He asked as the other man approached him.
"I'm here to discuss the house," M. de La Fare said. "Might we go inside? It's rather cold out here."
"Father, what would we have to discuss regarding the house?" Athos asked standing straight, looking his father in the eyes.
"I thought I'd do you a favor and take the house off your hands. Surely you're far too busy for the responsibility," M. de La Fare said. "I have papers you can sign today and it will be off your hands by new year."
Athos clenched his fists doing his best to tamp down his temper. There was no use getting angry at the man. If he had to he would contact the local constabulary and have his father removed.
"Father, I do not need you to take the house off my hands, I am perfectly capable of taking care of it myself," Athos said.
"Olivier, be reasonable," his father said.
The front door suddenly opened and Sylvie stuck her head out. "Athos?"
"Sylvie, please go inside, I'll be in in a few minutes," Athos said glancing over his shoulder.
"M. de La Fare," Sylvie said stepping out of the house.
"Sweetheart, it's cold," Athos said.
"Monsieur," Sylvie continued not acknowledging Athos' words.
"Mademoiselle," Athos' father acknowledged her. "Perhaps you can convince my son to allow me to take this house off his hands."
"Monsieur, I could never ask Athos to give up this house," Sylvie said. "He loves it."
"Surely it would be the best choice under the circumstances," Athos' father said.
"And what circumstances would that be?" Athos asked looking at his father with suspicion. Something wasn't right.
"Surely you would want this financial burden off your shoulders moving into a new apartment and having a baby," M de La Fare said.
"What did you just say?" Athos took a step forward towards his father.
"Athos, be reasonable."
"How do you know these things about my life?" Athos' voice rose. Sylvie was wearing a long coat obscuring her baby bump so there was no way Athos' father could tell she was pregnant at the moment.
"I have my sources," his father said.
"Father, if you do not leave now, I will have the local police remove you," Athos' voice was deceptively calm.
"I'm only interested in protecting you, Olivier. You should think of a pre-nuptial agreement if you're marrying her," he pointed at Sylvie, disdain written on his face.
He was in his car a moment later driving off.
Athos' shoulders slumped and he wrapped his arms around Sylvie. "Come on," he said gently walking them back inside.
"Athos, are you all right?" Sylvie asked.
Athos wrapped his arms around Sylvie. "I love you," he said. "I would never ask you to sign a pre-nuptial agreement. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"Athos," Sylvie pressed her forehead against his. "I love you. I'm sorry your relationship with your father is so bad."
"I'm not sure if it was ever good," he said.
They held each other for several minutes.
"Madame Dumond has done a wonderful job decorating," Sylvie said a few minutes later.
"Her husband tells me we will have the tree delivered in the morning," Athos said thankful for the change of topic.
TM
It was evening and they had just finished their dinner. The maid was kind enough to fix something for them before she left. They were sitting in the great room where a fire was blazing in the fireplace.
They cuddled together on the couch. Athos wrapped one arm around her back and with the other hand rested it against Sylvie's protruding belly.
"Oh," Sylvie gave Athos a startled look. He returned it with an equally startled look. She rested her hand on her stomach next to Athos' hand. It wasn't the first time they felt the baby move, but it always gave them a bit of a surprise.
They pressed their foreheads together brushing their noses against each other.
Athos reached into his pocket pulling out a small velvet box. Sylvie's eyes widened as she sat up looking at the box.
"Sylvie Boden," he opened the box where a small ring sat. It had the same setting as the one on her bracelet. "Will you marry me?"
Sylvie looked between the ring and Athos' face and back again.
"Sylvie?" Athos became nervous.
Sylvie rested the palms of her hands on the sides of Athos' face and nodded vigorously. "Yes. Yes, Athos, I will marry you."
Athos took a deep breath pulling the ring out of the box and placed it on Sylvie's left ring finger.
TBC