It's another short chapter and I think there will only be one or two chapters left now, which is actually rather sad because I have adored writing this story. But, there will be more DuMardle stories coming as I have fallen completely in love with them.
Thank you for your wonderful reviews, please do continue as they mean the world to me.
Dedicated to the person who is the Marie Antoinette to my Duchess of Devonshire, thank you for putting up with my rants over the last few weeks! I am such a history geek, I apologize and probably only that friend will understand the reference.
Groaning as he turned in the bed, Florian slid his hand across the bed to where he was expecting to find Josie, only to discover that the space beside him was completely empty. Immediately sitting up, Florian looked around the room in silence to see that she wasn't anywhere nearby and that it was still the early hours of the morning as it was completely dark outside. Climbing out of bed in a matter of seconds, Florian quickly walked out of their bedroom and down the stairs, entering the living room to find the various pieces of papers that they had been writing plans on covering the floor while Josie was fast asleep on the sofa, her hand still clutching onto one piece of paper. Smiling to himself, Florian watched his sleeping fiancee for a moment before leaning down and collecting the pieces of paper off the floor, resting them on a nearby table. He knew that she was starting to panic about their approaching wedding, with only seven days left before they were finally Mr and Mrs Dupont. Leaning down, Florian sighed as he slid his hands underneath her before lifting her into his arms, the brunette groaning as she opened her eyes for a brief moment before wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face into his neck.
"Time for bed," he whispered as she smiled weakly against his neck while he carried her carefully up the stairs. He knew that she was getting concerned that she had overlooked something with their plans and her perfectionist nature had led to a couple of arguments about their wedding, including a very big one over flowers which had led to her going to work in a bad mood and coming home apologising for her behaviour. Stepping into their bedroom with a small smile on his face at the memory of her entering his new music room apologising for being angry for no reason, Florian approached their bed before resting her on her side, watching as she moved to bury her face into the pillow. Lying down on the bed, Florian glanced across at his fiancee before running his fingers into her hair as she turned, facing him as she slowly opened her eyes and smiled weakly. "What were you trying to change this time?" he asked quietly as she laughed gently, realising that he knew her too well.
"I thought I had forgotten to invite someone and then I realised that I hadn't when I checked the list," she admitted as Florian shook his head before leaning across and kissing her gently, her smile growing against his lips as he moved closer to her. "Then I thought I should check all the details, just to make sure that it was all correct," Josie explained as the musician smiled at her, brushing his fingers across her cheek before she buried her face into his neck while his arms wrapped tightly around her body. "One week," she whispered into his neck as he nodded, smiling down at his fiancee who was cuddled into his side.
"Can you please try and enjoy the next week Josie?" he asked quietly, pressing a kiss into her hair as she fell silent. "You have spent the last month changing the details constantly, worrying about every little thing but it is going to be perfect and you are going to make yourself ill if you continue like this. You are forgetting to enjoy yourself," Florian explained as she rested her hand on his bare chest while his fingers played with her dark hair. "Our wedding will be perfect, you have planned everything to perfection, every little detail," Florian whispered into the silence of their bedroom, keeping her close as she smiled against his skin. "Now please start to enjoy yourself."
"My dress still isn't finished though," Josie said quietly as he groaned, realising that her wedding dress was probably the cause of all her other worries. "I know Agnes will have it finished, I just…" she began before shaking her head once more, knowing that her friend would have her dress completed in the next couple of days. "I'm sorry that I have been worrying my darling," she said quietly, leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek as he smiled at her in the darkness before resting back against the bed.
"In seven days you are officially going to be Mrs Josie Dupont," Florian grinned as she bit into her lip for a moment.
"Even if the actual day is an absolute disaster Mr Dupont," Josie whispered as he sighed, reaching across to turn the nearby light on before he glanced down at her.
"It is not about the day for me Josie. Everything could go completely wrong, all I care about is that in the end you become my wife," he smiled before kissing her. "Although it would be nice if the day did go perfectly, like I know it will," he whispered against her lips as she laughed, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as her smile continued to grow. "We have planned every single moment of this wedding, every detail has been planned to perfection Josie. Our wedding will be perfect," he promised as she nodded slowly. "Now will you please try and sleep?" he asked quietly as she bit into her lip and brushed her fingers across his cheek.
"You are the most wonderful man Florian," Josie whispered, leaning up to kiss him before his hands began to move to the dressing gown she was wearing, her smile growing against his lips.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Mr Grove said you wanted to see me Mr Selfridge," Josie smiled as she entered her employer's office as Mr Selfridge stood up and nodded, gesturing that she should sit as she approached the desk and sat down in silence.
"I hear the you are getting married next week Miss Mardle," Mr Selfridge stated as he sat down, smiling across at Josie who nodded quickly, unable to remove the smile from her face as she glanced down at her engagement ring. "I wanted to discuss what your plans were," he explained as she nodded slowly. "I know that it is not usual for women to work after marriage but I offered Mrs Colleano the same offer before she got married and I would like to extend it to you," he continued as she nodded again. "If you would like to continue to work at Selfridges', I would be happy to continue to employ you. You have been part of my team since before we opened and I cannot imagine accessories without you," he admitted honestly as amazement covered her face. Agnes hadn't discussed with her that Mr Selfridge had offered her this and she had never expected to have a career after marrying Florian.
"I would have to discuss this with Mr Dupont but thank you for the offer Mr Selfridge," Josie explained as Mr Selfridge nodded quickly, understanding completely that she would want to discuss everything with her fiance. "I never imagined that I could still have a job after getting married," she added, her smile growing as he nodded, knowing that Agnes had been amazed at the offer as well when he had suggested it.
"Of course, I understand. Mrs Colleano was just as surprised when I presented the opportunity to her," he explained as Josie nodded. "How are the wedding plans coming along then Miss Mardle?" he questioned as she smiled. "You must be nearly ready for the big day."
"We have everything planned now, although Florian is becoming frustrated as I keep going through everything and making sure it is all correct," she admitted as Mr Selfridge laughed. "Unfortunately my perfectionist nature has gone insane over all the plans and I check everything over and over again, I woke up at three o'clock this morning to go through the guest list again," she added as Mr Selfridge nodded.
"Where would we be without your want for perfection though Miss Mardle?" Harry smirked as she nodded slowly before standing. "Accessories certainly wouldn't be what it is without you there, making sure that everything is beautiful for our customers."
"Thank you Mr Selfridge," Josie blushed as he nodded. "I shall let you know more response to your offer soon," she added quickly as he nodded again, Josie thanking him quickly before she excused herself and left the office with a large grin on her face. Could she really have the best of both worlds? Be a wife and still have the career that she adored and still couldn't imagine living without? She knew that she would leave Selfridges in a heartbeat if she was forced to choose between the shop and the man she loved but could she really have both?
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"I have something to discuss with you," Josie commented as she entered Florian's music room to see him sat in his chair, going through various scores, his focus moving to her as she shut the door and sat in the other chair. They had agreed to put two chairs in the room so she could curl up in a chair and read a book while he played, in the comfort of a smaller and more private room than the downstairs living room. This room was their escape, although neither of them knew what from. They lived alone, there was no one to hide from within the house but they both found the small room somewhere extremely relaxing to be. "Mr Selfridge asked to see me today," she began as he put the music down and completely concentrated on her. "He told me that I could continue to work at Selfridges' if I wanted too after we were married," she explained as he nodded, not saying anything as she bit into her lip. "I told him that I would have to talk to you first," she smiled as he stared at her.
"Come here Josie," he said quickly as she stood up and walked towards him, Josie smiling at him as she sat on his lap and felt his arms wrap around her. "Do you want to continue working at Selfridges'?" he asked as she stared at him.
"It's not just about me Florian, you are going to be my husband, it is about you too," she explained as he watched her in silence. "Usually, when a woman gets married she leaves her career and becomes a housewife. She usually has children…" she admitted before falling silent, knowing that would never be a part of their married lives. "You are a part of my life now, you are going to be my husband, you have a say in my life," she explained as he shook his head.
"Josie Mardle, you may be my wife but I am not going to control what you do," he stated as he rested his hand on her cheek. "I love you Josie, I am not looking to make you a quiet little wife. I fell in love with the person that you are right now," he whispered as she leant forward and kissed him, their smiles growing as she watched him. "And you may be a perfectionist who sometimes works too hard and has to be in control of everything, but that makes you the woman I love."
"So what about Mr Selfridge's offer?" Josie asked quietly as he cupped her cheek and smiled at her.
"Do you want to continue working at Selfridges?" he asked as she remained silent. "Because Josie, I can't quite imagine you not being head of accessories. I think, if you left your job, you would slowly go crazy sat around this house," he whispered against her lips as she remained silent. "I will support you whatever you choose to do but I think you want to continue being head of accessories," he smiled before she kissed him again.
"I don't want to be a bad wife though," she whispered nervously as he smiled, finding one of her hands before squeezing it tightly. "I love you and I want to be a good wife to you, I want to be the wife you deserve."
"Just because you continue working doesn't mean you will be a bad wife Josie," he smiled as she stared at him. "I don't want you to stop working and then regret it Josie because I know you will. You love your work, like I love my music, and you have supported me in every performance I have done and I will support you, no matter what you choose to do," he promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead as she shut her eyes for a moment. "Now please never ever think that you will be a bad wife," he whispered, clearly upset that she believed that, while she rested her head against his chest while he held her close. "Because you are already the perfect wife to me Josie. I do not want the quiet wife who sits at home all day waiting for her husband to come home from work, I am marrying you because you are my idea of perfection and I never want you to change who you are because of someone else's ideas. You, this you Josie, the woman who works so hard and is so passionate about every single thing she puts her mind to that she is awake at three o'clock in the morning checking guest lists, is the woman that I wish to spend the rest of my life loving."
Review? It's short, not particularly brilliant and adds nothing really to the story but I hope you still enjoy it.