For the first time in Luka's life, he had considered backtracking on his word. All weekend he could feel the tension in the air between him and Marinette, and it made it difficult for him to even enjoy strumming his guitar. For the most part, Marinette had spent her time up in the attic, working on her sewing machine, its rhythmic sounds echoing through the old wooden floorboards.
More than once, Luka had his hand on the receiver of the telephone, ready to make the call to Bob Roth and cancel the whole thing for Marinette's sake, but then he would change his mind. Bob might have been many things, but he was his promoter and getting a French artist a spot on British prime time tv was no small feat. He had an obligation and he couldn't change that, even for the love of Marinette.
Then there was the other thing. Marinette was acting differently. She had always been a very affectionate person, wanting lots of hugs and kisses and reassurances, and Luka had always been eager to lavish her in them. Now he felt he had been more alone over the weekend then he would have been by himself in a hotel in Paris. Even when he went to kiss her goodnight, she would turn her head just enough so it would land on her cheek before disappearing up to the attic, the sewing machine running until late into the night. Packing his bag, Luka looked at the second train ticket in his wallet, but she wasn't coming.
"Is it worth me asking one more time?" Luka asked as he stood out the front of the house to wait for his taxi. "There's time if you want to throw a bag together and come with me."
Marinette shook her head, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "I'd only be in your way."
"Hardly." Luka scoffed. "When have you ever been in my way?"
She gave him a half smile. "Well, I'm planning on doing some research this week. There's an elderly lady they call Aunt Lily that Miss Bustier told me about and I'd like to talk to her and see what she remembers about this house and the people that lived here."
Luka nodded his head, but he had reservations. "I hope she can give you the answers you're seeking." He said, his voice sounding a little more strained than he would have liked. He'd had enough time over the weekend to stew over his absurd jealousy of a man that had been dead for 75 years and yet he couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that perhaps there was something more to it than he wanted to believe.
"I hope so too." Marinette agreed, oblivious to Luka's inner turmoil. Her mind was clearly on someone else and Luka could feel it deep in his chest. Luka then dug into his pocket and took out a small box, turning it over in his hand before giving it to her.
"I was going to give you this for your birthday, but I decided, why wait?"
Marinette opened the box and inside was a stunning oval shaped blue opal pendant with flecks of electric green and violet on a gold chain. "Oh Luka." She exclaimed, taking it out of the box. It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it." He said, taking it out of the box. "May I?" Marinette nodded and Luka carefully brushed her hair to the side and clasped it around her neck. He let his hands run down her arms before turning her to face him.
Marinette touched her fingers against the smooth stone. "I'll wear it always." She promised. "To keep a part of you with me."
When the taxi arrived, Marinette walked with him down the drive and watched as he put his bag in the boot. When he came closer to kiss her goodbye, she turned her cheek to him once again. Luka wanted to fight against it, to grab her face in his hands and claim those lips that had been his so many times before. But that wasn't him. Whatever it was she had to process, he just had to let her do it and hope she would still be there when he returned. Luka pressed his lips to her cheek, letting them linger before pulling back, the sweet scent of her perfume following him.
"Don't get lost between dreams and reality. This is real Marinette, you and me. Take this week to find your answers, but then come back to me, okay."
He didn't wait for her to reply before letting her go and getting into the taxi, waving at her as the vehicle drove off. Marinette touched a finger to her cheek. She cared about Luka, of course she did, but her feelings had changed. She didn't see him as a lover anymore. Had she loved him? She had no reason to believe she hadn't, but she had grown up a lot since then and when she closed her eyes at night it wasn't his crystal blue eyes she saw, they were now emerald green.
The taxi was barely out of sight when Marinette ran up the stairs to the attic. There were things she should be doing like speaking to Mr Fu or asking Ms Bustier to visit Aunt Lily, but she needed to see him more. It was all she could do to get through the weekend without seeing his face. Truly she had spent far too much time looking at the picture of Plagg. It was the only thing she had that reminded her of him. She had finished sewing a new dress that would be suitable for riding and she was very pleased with how it had turned out. It was a soft green that reminded her of his eyes.
Heading outside and out of sight, she opened the watch and could hear voices and laughter coming from the stable. As Marinette came closer, she could see Nino working on Tikki's hoof with Alya helping and Adrien nearby brushing down Mayura's mane. When he saw her approaching, Adrien's whole face lit up and he placed the brush down to jog over to her.
"I had a feeling you would come today." He said, taking her hand placing a kiss to her knuckles. Marinette could feel her whole body tingling.
"How could you possibly know that?" Marinette mused.
"I have a sixth sense about these things." Adrien said mysteriously, placing her hand on his arm and walking back towards the stable "Maybe you just couldn't resist my irresistible charms." He gave her a wink and Marinette could feel her face flush. He wasn't even trying to hide the fact he was flirting with her.
"Marinette." Alya called out with a wave. "Are you here for your riding lesson?"
Marinette nodded. "I'll admit, I'm a little nervous. I've never ridden before except on a pony as a child at the fair once. He didn't like me very much."
"I wouldn't worry too much." Nino said, placing Tikki's hoof on the ground. "You have a great teacher here and Tikki is super gentle. Here, she's all ready for you. Do you have riding gloves?"
Marinette's eyes widened. "I never thought of gloves." She exclaimed, holding her head. "See, I told you I have no idea!"
"Hang in there girl, I've got you." Alya said, ducking into the stable before re-emerging with a pair of tan leather gloves. "You can have this pair, I've got others."
While Marinette put the gloves on Adrien took Tikki by the reins and Nino put a saddle on her. It was only then that Marinette realised that it was a side saddle but since she didn't know how to ride anyway she figured it shouldn't make a difference. Once the saddle was on, Alya placed a step stool down for her and Adrien took her hand, helping her up onto the horse.
"If I may be so bold?" He asked, indicating to her foot and the stirrup. Marinette nodded and Adrien helped guide her foot to where it needed to be, gently cradling her ankle as he did.
"How does that feel?" Adrien asked as Marinette tried to position herself more into the saddle.
"Would it sound strange if I said it felt weird." Marinette replied, moving around her skirts to preserve her dignity. Adrien chuckled softly.
"It's just because you're not used to sitting in a saddle. Here, I'll guide Tikki around the house while you find your rhythm alright? Don't worry, I'll be right here beside you the whole time."
Adrien passed Marinette the reins to hold. Even with the gloves on, she felt her heart skip a beat when their hands brushed. Adrien gave Tikki a little tug and the horse obediently followed his direction. Walking steadily around the house, Marinette started to find her balance. Tikki was very calm, and Marinette used that calm energy to find her center.
As they passed the house they could hear a shrill laugh coming from the upstairs attic. "Adrikins!" Adrien waved at Chloé who was half hanging out the window. Nathaniel stood behind her and waved as well before they both retreated back inside.
"Are you sure they're not dating?" Marinette asked and Adrien practically choked on air.
"Oh no. Chloé very much has her eyes on my cousin Félix." Marinette had forgotten that had been mentioned last time she was there. She really should start making some notes. "Her and Nate have known each other for years. One of his early commissions was a portrait of Chloé's mother Audrey. Chloé's father doesn't like Nate much though. He assumed that because Nate paints nudes he was convinced he was having it on with the models."
"I gather that wasn't the case?"
Adrien laughed heartily at that. "Nate is probably the only man I know where a girl in the nude would have absolutely no fear for her chastity. He's very much a professional but also has zero interest in girls except to paint them. The Mayor had forbidden Chloé from seeing Nate, but Chloé can't usually be told anything. Sometimes I think she comes around just to get on her father's nerves. She was the one that introduced Nate to Lila and she was more than happy to pose nude for him."
"Is she good friends with Lila?" Marinette was worried she was sounding nosy, but Adrien didn't seem to notice.
"I wouldn't say that exactly. Lila's mother works for the Italian Ambassador and Chloé's dad is the Mayor so they ran into each other a lot socially. I think Lila was the one forcing the friendship more as an excuse to come over here."
Adrien guided Tikki around the side of the house. "Because she liked you?" She said, Adrien actually looked embarrassed at that.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised Alya told you about that. Well, she was wasting her time. Still, even when I got engaged to Kagami she couldn't seem to take no for an answer and kept hanging around. Kagami knew what she was doing and ordered her out of the house telling Nate if he wanted to stay living here he had to get a new model. Lila was furious but still had the gall to turn up to the funeral."
The more Marientte knew about Lila, the less she was liking her. Adrien had gone quiet and Marientte thought it would be best to change the subject. "So… will there be anyone I don't know at the picnic."
"Just my cousin Félix. I think you've pretty much met everyone else." Adrien said, his smile starting to creep back. "I should warn you, Félix can take a bit of getting used to, but he isn't really as rude as he appears to be, and he's head over heels for Chloé, even if he won't admit it."
Marinette remembered back to when she talked to Ms Bustier. She had mentioned an Aunt Lily who was around a hundred years old, which would mean she was around Adrien's age now. "This might seem like a strange question." Marinette ventured. "But do you know a girl named Lily? I heard she's a friend of yours."
Adrien cocked his head. "Lily? Can't say I know a Lily." He said. Then he looked up at her with a cheeky grin. "Why, looking out for the competition?"
Marientte was sure her face was bright red. "What? No! It's just… maybe I got confused." That was weird. Marinette was sure Ms Bustier said that Aunt Lily claimed she knew Adrien well.
"You're doing great by the way." Adrien said, encouraging her as they continued to walk. "Remember to keep your back straight and look forward between the horse's ears. Now I'm going to let go of Tikki and I want you to give her a little tug there on the reins to go left."
Adrien took a few steps away and Marinette pulled the rein gently. Tikki turned and began moving past the veranda where Plagg was sleeping in the sun.
"Perfect." Adrien clapped. "You'll be an expert in no time."
"I don't know about that." Marinette chuckled. "I'm just letting her do all the work."
"Well we won't be going much faster than this on the picnic, so don't worry too much. A little more practice and we might even get you up to a trot."
After another lap around the house, Marinette felt comfortable enough to at least get through the picnic. When they returned to the stables, Alya and Nino were finishing up re-shoeing one of Kalkki's hoofs. Adrien instructed Marinette to bring Tikki to a gentle stop saying "woah" and lightly pulling back on the rein. Marinette then leaned forward and patted Tikki on the neck, telling her what a good girl she was for taking care of her.
"Um… how do I get down now?" She asked, trying to assess the distance from the saddle to the ground.
Adrien held up his arms to her. "Here, it's better if I help you."
Marinette took her leg off the pummel and slid down into Adrien's waiting arms, his hands securely holding her waist. Marinette's hands landed on his arms to steady herself, but Adrien didn't immediately let her go. Marinette slowly lifted her eyes up to his, looking through her lashes, the air feeling a lot thicker around them. Adrien lifted his hand to gently tuck a stray hair back behind her ear.
Kalkki suddenly reared back, almost breaking free of Nino's hold. "Woah, settle down boy." He called out, Adrien quickly let go of her and ran to his aid. Alya came over to Marinette, taking hold of Tikki.
"I don't know what Félix thinks he is going to do with that damn horse." She tutted, shaking her head. "He might be fast, but he isn't in the same caliber as Flaimidable. Come on, help me with Tikki here while the boys sort him out."
Marinette followed Alya into the stables and helped to take off Tikki's saddle and bridle. She then took off her gloves, tucking them into her bag. Once Tikki was settled and watered, Alya pulled Marinette to one side.
"You know, Adrien is falling hard for you." She said with no prelude. Marinette could feel her face heating up again
"You… you really think so?"
"I don't think, I know." Alya said emphatically. "But I also know there is something you are hiding from him." She said, pointing at Marinette's hand. She looked down at the engagement ring on her finger. She was so used to wearing it, she had never even thought to take it off.
"Oh." She said, looking at the diamond on her finger. "It's complicated."
"It usually is." Alya agreed. "Otherwise you wouldn't be here, but you have to make a choice, Marinette. Adrien is Nino's best friend, they grew up like brothers and it almost killed him seeing how lost Adrien became after Kagami died. He's lost too many people in his life and I don't want him falling for someone that's just going to break his heart in the end."
Marinette looked back down at the ring. Alya then placed her hands on Marinette's shoulders. "Look, I'm not saying this to be mean. I like you Marinette and I want to be your friend and that means I'm going to be honest with you. Since you first came here I have never seen Adrien look so happy. You've changed his whole world and you seem like the kind of woman that can fill that huge whole he has in his heart with the love that he so desperately needs, but you have to be honest with Adrien and yourself. If the guy who gave you that ring is the one you really want, then you need to end this now, for Adrien's sake. I don't think his heart could take that kind of rejection."
Marinette's own heart thudded hard in her chest. Alya was right, more than she knew. She had inserted herself into this timeline where she didn't belong and had already become too involved. She needed to go, to run back to her own time. Marinette was contemplating running to the trees at the lake when Adrien and Nino came back to the stables.
"Can I offer you a drink, Marinette?" He asked. "You really did so well today."
"Oh, um, thanks Adrien, but I really need to head back in time… to time… time is late, yes." Marinette babbled, avoiding his eyes. Alya saw the change in her as well as Adrien did. Concern furrowed his brow.
"Is everything alright?" Adrien asked, looking quizzically at Alya.
"Fine, fine." Marinette said, picking up her voluptuous skirt. "I just… I have to go."
In a panic she bolted out of the stable. Adrien threw Alya a glare, the reporter simply shrugging her shoulders before Adrien ran out after Marinette. She was struggling to run in the heavy riding garb she was wearing and Adrien easily caught up to her in the rose garden, grabbing her wrist.
"Marinette, please." He said, stopping her from running. "Alya said something, didn't she? Please don't go. Alya can be blunt sometimes, but her heart is in the right place."
"She just worries about you." Marinette said, not looking at him. Adrien chuckled.
"Yeah, she's worse than a mother hen at times, but she reads people well and I know she thinks highly of you. You're not someone like Lila. She knows Lila has jealousy issues and it was clear at her last visit that she was jealous of you." He touched her chin with his finger and turned her face to look at his. "She has reason to be."
"Adrien…" Marinette almost begged, closing her eyes to try and not look at him. If she got lost in those emerald eyes again, she might not have the strength to walk away.
"I've never met anyone like you, Marinette. There's something magical about you and you've made me come alive again in a way I've never felt before."
"Adrien please." Marinette interjected, to put some distance between them. "Alya wanted me to tell you the truth and that's why I ran. I didn't… I don't want to lose this. To lose seeing you."
"Why would that happen? Unless you're secretly a serial killer with lots of skeletons in your closet."
Marinette looked away from him. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm just a serial heartbreaker." She forced herself to look him in the eyes. "I… I'm engaged and I have been for the last two years."
A painful silence fell between them and yet Adrien never diverted his eyes from hers. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, licking his dry lips. "Why did you keep coming to see me?"
"I'm sorry." Marinette whimpered. "I know it was wrong of me, but from the first time I saw you at the lake, I couldn't stay away. Luka… he's a good man and he got me through one of the worst times in my life, but he loves his music more than he loves me and I can't commit to a life on the road when I don't even know if I…"
"Do you love him?" Adrien suddenly asked, his face more serious than she had seen it before. Adrien stepped closer to her, bringing up his hand to caress her cheek. "Do you know what you do to me, Marinette? I've only known you for a few days and I don't know anything about you, but I already feel like I've known you all my life." He moved even closer to her. "That I have loved you all my life."
She leaned into his hand, the warmth from his hand radiating all through her. "Adrien…" She whispered, his lips now only a breath away from hers. "I… I think I might be falling in love with you."
Adrien closed the remaining space between their lips to claim hers, softly, gently drawing her more to him. Bringing up his other hand to cradle her face, he tilted her head slightly to deepen the kiss more, her knees becoming weak as his tongue danced a tango with her. It felt so natural, like they had kissed this way a thousand times.
"Don't go." He whispered as he kissed her softly near her ear. "Stay with me longer."
It was hard for Marinette not to get lost in him, but she couldn't stay, not today. "I can't right now, there's some things I have to do first, but I will come back." She said breathlessly.
Adrien looked her back in the eyes, holding her hands in his. "You promise?" He asked. "You still need more riding lessons before the picnic." He added with a playful smile.
"I promise." She smiled back, the joy in his eyes infectious. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Marinette raised up on her toes to give him another kiss before disappearing into the distance.
~~~~~
Marinette got out her notebook and started making dot points of what she knew so far, but nothing was adding up. There seemed to have been no reason at all why the mayor would challenge Adrien to a duel. He didn't like Nathaniel's artistic choices, but there was no danger of a relationship there, plus Chloé liked Adrien's cousin.
Lila, by all accounts, still has strong feelings for Adrien, but that's a different story altogether and has nothing to do with the Mayor. And where does the mysterious Aunt Lily come into any of this? Or Mr Fu for that matter.
Marinette grabbed her hat and headed into town. She needed to find out more, and where exactly the duel took place. As she approached Fu's store, she was startled to find the doors all boarded up and no sign of him anywhere. She tried to spy through the cracks and it looked like it was empty.
"He left a few days ago." Marinette was startled by Miss Bustier standing behind her. "He never said a word to anyone, just boarded up the shop and that was that. Maybe he decided to return back to China. Was there something I could maybe help you with?"
Marinette was stunned. She said she was coming back and he never indicated that he was thinking of leaving. She wanted to ask him about the watch and how he knew about it and what he knew about Adrien.
"That duel that you said Adrien Agreste was involved in, is there anything else you could tell me about it?"
Miss Bustier thought for a moment. "Not really. In truth we don't know exactly what happened, it was just a story that got passed down. Some say it was the duel that killed him, others say it was the woman he was living with. She disappeared right after the murder you see, and was never seen or heard from again."
"And when did the duel take place?"
"Well the records are a little inconsistent, so I don't have a specific date, but according to Aunt Lily there was a ball held by the Bourgeois at the hotel they owned just over the way there."
Marinette followed where Miss Bustier was pointing down the opposite end of the street to the four story historical hotel. "The duel was to take place sometime after midnight, but there were apparently no witnesses." Then her face brightened up. "But, we do have Mr Bourgeois' dueling pistols in our memorabilia hall if you would like to see them. I'm sure Mr Damocles, he's our resident expert, would be happy to show you if you have some time now."
Marinette walked with Miss Bustier to the Town Hall and up the long staircase. At the opposite end of where the portrait hung there was another door that led to the memorabilia hall. Inside was a desk with a portly looking older gentleman in a tweed suit with a tailored mustache and beard.
Miss Bustier approached the man and introduced Marinette, explaining her interest in the Agreste story. Mr Damocles showed Marinette to a glass cabinet where a box sat, two pistols still encased inside.
"These are the actual weapons that were used?" Marinette asked.
"Rumored to be." He replied. "It's only a story. All we know for certain is that Mayor Bourgeois kept these pistols in his home study. The Bourgeois house was next to the hotel, but sadly it's no longer standing now. Personally I have my doubts about the whole duel story."
Marinette was intrigued. "Why is that?"
Mr Damocles scoffed. "Well, if I really wanted to kill someone, I wouldn't put my faith in dueling pistols that are this unreliable." He could see Marinette was confused and he gave her a half smile. "You don't know much about guns do you?"
Marinette fiddled with the strap of her handbag. "I can't say I do."
Mr Damocles took out a set of keys and opened the cabinet, taking out the display and placing it on a table. Picking up one of the pistols he showed it to her. "You have two problems with this kind of weapon. The first is this front sight right here." Mr Damocles pushed on the small silver tab at the top of the barrel. "If that sight is even a few millimeters off, then so will be your aim. The second is the bullets." He placed the gun back in the case and took out a shell. "Now these are empty for safety, but they were normally filled by hand prior to a duel taking place." He pulled the shell apart to show there were two halves. "If the shell isn't filled fully with gunpowder, the bullet won't carry the distance. Easy to cheat if you ask me."
"Nasty business if you ask me." Miss Bustier said, screwing her nose up at the guns. "Guns give me the shivers."
Marinette chewed on her bottom lip before turning to Miss Bustier. "You've mentioned before about Aunt Lily that lived here in town at the time as murder. Is there any way I could talk to her at all? If perhaps there is something she remembers."
Miss Bustier tapped her chin. "I fear she might not remember much. She's a bit senile these days and doesn't talk much…" She could see the disappointment flutter across Marientte's eyes, then she smiled. "Oh why not. I guess there is no harm in asking, is there?"
Marinette felt a lot more optimistic in the car with Miss Bustier. Here she was finally going to be able to speak to someone who was there, at least she hoped she was there on the night of the duel, although she was still unsure of her connection to any of this.
It was only a short trip to where the nursing home was. Miss Bustier was a regular visitor and the nurses seemed to have been well acquainted with her attending. Knocking on the bedroom door, the nurse opened it and announced that Lily had visitors.
"Aunt Lily." Miss Bustier said in a sing-song voice. "It's Caline here dear, I've brought someone here who wanted to meet you. Her name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng and she owns the old Agreste house now."
Marinette came in behind Miss Bustier and looked at the elderly woman in the bed. She had very thin white hair and her skin was quite haggard, which Marinette figured was to be expected at her age. It was hard to tell how she might have looked when she was younger.
"I'm very happy to meet you." Marinette said as Lily raised her eyes to look at her.
"She's interested in knowing more about what happened to Adrien Agreste." Miss Bustier said, speaking a little louder. "Do you remember him? He was the one who's fiancée was killed in that freak runaway horse accident, then later on he was murdered and no one seemed to have known who did it."
Lily looked slowly from Miss Bustier and back to Marinette.
"Please, if you can remember anything." Marinette pleaded. "Anything at all."
Lily just kept looking at Marinette, her face devoid of emotion. Then a tear suddenly slipped down her cheek.
"I…" She began, and Marinette held her breath. "I'm sorry." She said, turning away from them. "I…I can't… I can't…" Marinette went to speak again when the nurse intervened.
"I'm afraid you'll have to go now." The nurse said firmly. "Aunt Lily can become distressed quite easily and her memory isn't what it used to be. It's best to let her rest."
It was a disappointing day, Marinette thought as they headed back to the car. First Fu gone, and now Aunt Lily unable to help. It was becoming clearer that if she was going to get answers, she wasn't going to find them in this timeline.
It was getting late, so Miss Bustier offered to drop Marinette off at the house. Taking out her notebook, she quickly jotted down a few more points before closing it again. On her desk she had dried and framed the rose Adrien had given her. Her fingers came up to brush against her lips and she closed her eyes, remembering the feel of his lips on hers.