Found Heritage

Chapter 7

I should have known the day I met him at Aunt Kay's, but I was distracted by my aunt, who wasn't truly my aunt, and by my own plans that day. But I didn't know, even though I had seen his eyes. For several minutes, I couldn't speak. I attempted to, but couldn't find the right words. "Wha...why?" I finally managed to get out.

"Why what? Why I'm your father? Well..."

"I already know about the birds and the bees, Delaunay. What I want to know is why you're officially making me apart of the family?"

"Because you are, dear child. I wasn't aware that your mother, your biological mother, had bore you and given you up for fosterage."

"Adoption, you mean," I interjected. "So, how's all of this going to effect me? Wouldn't a DNA test be needed?"

"Quite possibly, yes. I still wish to have all the paper work filled out and ready to be processed when the DNA test shows that I'm your father."

Later that day, I told Phédre and Alcuin what Delaunay told me about being my father. I didn't feel so alone in the fact that what he told me didn't sit well when Phédre and Alcuin told me of Delaunay's past.

"You do know that Delaunay was Prince Rolande's lover when they were at the University in Tiberium," Alcuin told me. I shook my head.

"I've been here a week and I haven't even explored half of Night's Doorstep. But please, continue."

"During his time at the University, Delaunay's father, the comte de Montrève, disowned him for Delaunay refusing to marry and have heirs," Alcuin said. "I believe it was at that time, Delaunay took his mother's family name."

"Rolande was engaged to Edmée de Rocaille, who bore no ill will to Delaunay," Phédre cut it. "But she was killed and apparently Delaunay wrote a poem that named Edmée's murderess. It was named anathema to own it and any copies were apparently destroyed."

"But that still doesn't explain him claiming me as his only child. Or the fact that he and I share the same eyes," I argued. "In case you haven't noticed, there aren't that many women that have gray eyes with topaz flecks."

Silence fell while we thought on it. Of all the people I knew in my hometown in America, none pocessed the same eyes I did.

Days later, the city was all abuzz about a birthday party. I didn't see why people were paying much attention to someone's birthday party. Yes, I've seen what friends do for others birthdays, but the whole school didn't turn out for the birthday party for the captain of the varsity football team. To my surprise, Melisande, a woman I found to be in possession of surpassing beauty, delivered our invitation in person. Even for finding out that I'm D'Angeline and see all things beautiful, I had to admit that she was indeed beautiful.

"The entire household?" Delaunay inquired drly, reading the invitation. "You do realize that my protégées aren't included in the contract-fee of Cereus House, Melisande."

She laughed, throwing her chin up in the pleasure of the act. I failed to see how that was amusing.

"I knew you'd say that, that's why I came to give the invitation in person," she said once she finished laughing. "This is my party, and your little pupils are more interesting than any three courtiers combined."

"I thought it was Baudoin's party," I interjected.

She turned her attention to me. My mind was trying to tell my feet to take a couple steps back, but I forced myself to stand before her. "And who might you be? Another one of Anafiel's bedchamber pupils?"

"No, actually." I stared right back at her, as if I was daring her to do something. "Lord Delaunay decided to foster me when he caught me trying to pick his pocket." I surprised myself at that lie. If Melisande saw through it, she didn't say anything, or gave it away.

"Well then... To answer your question, yes, it's for Baudoin, but it's 'my' party. Your lord should know me better than that."

"If you seek to win the son of Azzalle's Lioness over by defying his mother, you're overstepping your bounds," Delaunay said in answer. "She makes for a fearsome enemy."

"My dear Delaunay, you're always fishing for knowledge," came Melisande's light reply, putting her hand on his, grabbing the invitation. "If you don't wish to attend..."

"No." He shook his head. He grinned and took a step back, retaining hold of the invitation. "We'll be there. You may be sure of it."

"I'm overjoyed to hear of it." She made a mocking curtsy and turned to leave. She winked at me and left.

Delaunay turned to face me. "It seems like it's too soon for me to teach you all that your siblings learned. So I say this," he began. "Keep your eyes and ears open. Melisande doesn't do anything without reason. And I don't know her motive in this." He sighed. "I suppose this means going to the tailor."

I stood there, suffering being measured from head to toe and then some. I had went through this for ROTC and band for uniforms, but the way the tailor was measuring me, it made me feel I was being violated somehow. And of course, I couldn't complain to Delaunay since he was in a different room. Finally, after minutes of uncomfortable measuring, the tailor turned and wrote down the last of the measurements.

"You can step down now, child," he said. "Now, Prince Baudoin's natality party is it? And you're going with Delaunay... Subtle coloring suited to your lord's tastes to be sure. But the outfit should also show off your assets as it is."

He began sketching, something I learned later what Eglantine tailors did, an outfit that he saw in his mind's eye. When he was finished, he showed it to me. I saw a dress that even I would enjoy wearing. Having spent most of my school career with guys, I never was one for dresses; suffering through homecoming and cominghome dances.

"It's lovely," I answered.

The day of the party, we were all dressed in our finest for the party for a Prince of the Blood. I saw that Alcuin was dressed in a midnight blue velvet outfit. Delaunay wore a deep umber outfit, which Phédre told me made him like an autumn feast with his ginger hair and saffron slashes in his sleeves. Phédre wore a dress made of a deep crimson red material I didn't even know the color of.

"It's sangoire," she explained while we all slid into the towncar. "Only an anguissette can wear the color."

"How about why your dress is designed to be low in the back?" I had seen her, and Alcuin's, unfinished marque.

"It's unseemly for a Servant of Naamah to bare an unfinished marque," Alcuin said.

I was somewhat surprised that he knew something that I was sure Phédre knew. I didn't say anything though as Guy drove off and headed for Mount Nuit.