Ray bowed his head, "Champagne, madam?", and Leila smiled softly, "No, thank you, but I might, later. Listen, Jules has told me that you had to bring your son along...Boys his age should have fun...I have a chauffeur friend waiting out there beyond the gardens, in the front, we have a mule, and considering how long this party is supposed to be, well, perhaps your son would appreciate playing with our mule and making friends with my chauffeur, heck, by now, if Ella hasn't noticed already, she would be going down to talk with Jiminy and pet our mule. Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to blab...I'm a bit nervous without Jules by my side for some reason in this party...".
Ray certainly was surprised to hear that; especially since Leila didn't appear to be talking down to him or anything like his mistress usually would.
"I mean...", Ray stammered a bit, with his thick Creole accent. "I'd have to wait to see what Mistress Eleanor would say...", with a nervous look. "I think Jules is trying to chat with her about that at this very moment.", Leila said.
Indeed, Jules is talking with Eleanor Tremaine, having dark brown hair at her age. "Eleanor, I know you care for proper etiquette and such, but I am the host of this party, and I understand that you want to show that you were cared for, by your former husband in his property, yet little Naveen might cause problems...I know Ray taught him well, but serving about 50 people in this party, well, could you risk that as this party has just started an hour ago, and it would last into the night a long while?".
Eleanor rolled her eyes, "I didn't even want the child here but had no real idea what to do with him plus his father obviously would be more distracted if he wasn't around and I do intend to show him off. Quite the specimen if I do say so myself.". She chuckled as she sipped some more champagne. Jules wasn't about to get into the argument about the moral and societal implications of slavery and human ownership; almost half the guests would probably side with her on that, so he just decided to let it go for the time being.
"Well, listen, Eleanor, I think it might be better for them and certainly for the party if the young boy was not stuck here.", Jules said.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow, "How so? What do you suggest?", and Jules replied, "You can keep Ray here to cater and serve the party, but he'd be much grateful if he knew that his son would be safer with a friend I know, beyond the front of the chateau. Miss Russo's chauffeur would be glad to watch over Naveen for the length of the party.".
"Hmm, I suppose that's fair...", Eleanor replied as she seethed on the inside when she heard that peasant's surname, and since this is Jules's chateau, it means he's the host and master of this place, and Eleanor couldn't dare cause a scene especially when this is a social party full of high-class and upper-middle class people.
Eleanor sharply looked in Ray's direction, and he averted his eyes respectfully, and she gave a sharp nod, and Ray looked relieved, smiling, and seeming to thank Leila before going to tell Naveen nearby as he was serving a tray of finger sandwiches.
Naveen looked surprised and overjoyed, being the four-year-old boy he is, and with one of the staff from the Chateau happily taking Naveen to the front to play and socialize with Jiminy who was informed by Pierre, soon joined by Ella who very rarely took the chance to play with Naveen less than Carlo.
Leila smiled as she did a good thing, knowing that Ray appreciated it, from the grateful look he gave her while resuming his servant duties. Speaking in Italian, Jules spoke, "You look splendid when you smile...I hope you feel better now?".
Leila blushed, and nodded, "Yes, much better...I hope I hadn't imposed on you too much with Miss Tremaine...I know she's proper and such...", and Jules chuckled, "No, you hadn't, and besides, you truly have a heart for young children...", before the music changed to a slow tune.
Jules smiled, "I haven't forgotten...", bowing before her, "May I dance with you, Leila?", and Leila curtsied, blushing, "Yes, you may, Jules...", taking his hand as he gently took her waist in his hand, and she spoke, "I thought you were going to be...well, more...", trying to find the right word as she honestly thought that social parties like this and noble parties like in the castle is, well, political...
"Socially focused?", Jules suggested as Leila nodded. "I suppose that's one way of putting it... looking around and seeing who would be... a good match for you.", she told him.
Jules smiled softly, still speaking in Italian, "You know, I mean it, in the letter I personally wrote...I don't just want a wife, or a mother for Ella, I and she both need a friend, a companion to be there for us...I want Ella to be happy...She deserves so much than what I could teach her to survive out there in society...".
Leila looked at him, "Jules...Are...are you thinking that because of the society rules by all those people, or because of why you want this?", and Jules widened his eyes, exhaling quietly, "Leila...".
"I...I don't want you to be betrayed by society like I was...with that man...I was fortunate the first time...I followed my heart when I escaped with Juliet, to reunite with my son...I was lucky to see him grown up before he died...Don't lose your daughter if you hadn't asked her what she wants...asked yourself what you want...", Leila whispered softly, tears pricking at her eyes before she realizes that she's making a scene.
Leila cleared her throat, "I got to take some fresh air in the garden...I'm not one to force you, Jules...I'm not worthy of being a good match, like those women who would do better...", before slipping away from Jules who was stunned for a moment by her speech, and then realized her self-pitying words, and he was about to go after her, wanting to comfort her when he was interrupted, with a few other women politely inquiring for a dance.
Being the host, and such, he couldn't deny those women a dance as he practically called for this party to search for a suitable match, to court, yet his mind was whirling about with Leila's words.
He, for the first time in a while, is starting to hate society rules and such, and he desperately wants to apologize to Leila, to resume his dance again with her, without no eyes watching. After what he realized what Leila meant in her speech, he knew what he wanted...
Telling the staff to distract the party a bit more, Jules quietly ordered before slipping away into the gardens, searching for Leila before finding her sitting before a little pond on a bench in the maze of flowers.
"This is actually Ella's favorite spot...She adored feeding the ducks when they migrate through here...", Jules spoke warmly, and Leila looked up in surprise, "Jules...", and Jules replied, "Love. I don't want obligation...I want love again...I want to follow my heart...".
Leila gaped at him before biting her lip, "I...I want love too, but I...I don't want to be hurt...", looking down in shame, and Jules took her hand, "Leila, I would, could never, ever hurt you in the heart.".
Leila exhaled slowly as the music then was louder, yet still a bit muffled, and Jules gave a tender smile, "There's no one watching us...I believe we haven't finished our dance yet...".
Leila gave a small smile. "Well... if you're offering... I guess we should take the chance before you're missed.", she said as he nodded, "My thoughts exactly.". He helped her up before the two of them were in dancing positions once more.
Jules chuckled, "I hadn't said it yet, but you're a wonderful natural at dancing...", and Leila blushed, "There was village dances back in Italy, so, I had practice...".
"Good to know...Leila, I apologize for imposing you to come...I only wanted to see you have fun...", Jules replied, and Leila smiled, "There's no need to apologize, Jules...And I was actually having fun...The drinks and little nibbles of food was delicious, and I never thought I'd see many different people of accents in one place, including Ray and Naveen...".
Jules was relieved to hear that, "Thank goodness...I must thank your daughter and Perla...they did a wonderful job...You truly are stunning.", and Leila blushed with a giggle, "Well, I taught them well...And I apologize for not saying it earlier, but you clean up very well as quite a handsome man tonight...".
Jules smiled warmly, "Why, thank you...Even Ella said that I was dashing...Can you believe that?", with a chuckle, and Leila giggled, "Well, she has good taste! Must take after her father well.".
Jules looked at her, seeing her smile so beautifully, and he whispered, "Leila...", leaning in, and Leila looked at him, widening her eyes, "But...what about the society rules?".
"The society rules go fuck themselves...", Jules muttered, and Leila exhaled, shocked to hear him curse like that, and she whispered, "Jules...", her heart pounding, screaming at her to go for it...What has she got to lose?
Leila leaned forward and puckered her lips before they both met, gently pressing on one another as Jules gently tightened his arms around her in a hug as they kissed.
Leila felt an old, familiar sensation coming back, and she realized that it was love, yet this is somehow stronger than before, and she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his neck as they kept their first kiss before they had to pull back slightly for fresh air, looking into each other's eyes...
Jules himself never thought he'd feel this again, yet in this amazing woman with the most incredible ability to care for anybody she deems important, he strangely didn't want to lose this feeling, stronger than before, and he whispered, "You shine brighter than all of the stars, even the Evening Star...", before kissing her passionately, and she moaned softly as her hands ran through his hair, feeling his hands roam over her back.
This lasted for a minute and just as Jules was about to kiss her skin sensually, Jules' head of staff, Pierre was calling out in the distance, "Master Jules! Master Jules!", and they stopped, realizing that they were edging into even more intimate boundaries, panting.
Jules sighed with a reluctant look at Leila, "I don't know why I have such passion for a beautiful Italian like you, but know this...The French can be very romantic...", and Leila blushed brightly, "Well, you gave me a romantic dance as this place is secluded...And the Italian people rubs off the French in passion...I don't know why I have such passion for a handsome Frenchman like you too...But I like it...", shyly smiling.
"I like it too...So...can you give this a try? Letting me court you?", Jules asked, and Leila was about to answer when Pierre's calls got closer, and Jules groaned softly, "Answer me tomorrow, okay? I got to go...".
Leila nodded, and Jules gave her a little peck on the lips, "Just being cheeky one last time.", with a wink, and Leila laughed, "Shoo!", gesturing to his hair with her hand, and Jules went to adjust his hair, his jacket and such as he gingerly headed off to talk with Pierre to see what's going on.
With a sigh, she smiled, her heart pounding with love again, and she is truly considering in trying this again...He's very good with his daughter, kind to his staff, and friendly in town, and even humble when he makes mistakes rarely.
"Well, about time.", a feminine French voice spoke, "I was rather getting sick of it...Love...Who needs it?", and Leila widened her eyes in horror and shock as she turned around to see Eleanor Tremaine.
Leila didn't know what to say, but she knew that she was dead to rights as Tremaine was standing there. Part of her wanted to quickly sprint away, back to Jiminy and head home, but then again, it's not like Tremaine could really do anything to her.
Tremaine replied, "You know, I can always tell the others that you were taking advantage of the duke, why, you two were going at it like rabbits.", and Leila widened her eyes, "What, no, I didn't! Jules made the first move; he was a gentleman!".
"Really? Are you certain of that? Would you think that they'd believe you, a peasant woman, over a high-class woman as myself?", Tremaine said, and Leila gasped softly, biting her lip...She knew that society classes are picky and all...She spoke, "What do you want?".
Tremaine hummed, "Oh, nothing much...As I hear that the duke is asking to court you, that would mean a scandal if I...oh, I don't know, gossip about you, say, in the engagement party or sooner...Would you dare to ruin his reputation like that?".
Leila's heart pounded, trying to think fast before widening her eyes, "What about you? Would you want to court him too? I mean, I don't care much about material things, but you do...".
Tremaine raised an eyebrow, "Go on...", and Leila took a deep breath, "I know courtship takes between two weeks to eight years... but you wouldn't want to be too patient, so I suggest a deal...If I am proposed after two weeks of courtship, I want you...", thinking fast before remembering Ray and Naveen, "You to give me your two slaves, Ray and Naveen, and never gossip of my recent improper behavior with Jules.".
Tremaine snorted, "Oh, and keeping Jules for yourself too... and what would you do with two slaves? Set them free, am I to guess?". Leila nodded as Tremaine shook her head, "Bad mistake. You might feel sympathy but make no mistake... those savages would slaughter all of us if given the chance. There's just something in their smaller brains that makes them that way.". Leila closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to drown out Tremaine's bigotry.
"My deal remains... if Jules courts me, then I win. I get Ray and Naveen to do with what I wish, and you can't stop me from freeing them if I so desire. And you keep your mouth shut and don't start any rumors or gossip. More than that, since I would be with Jules, you, more than likely, should just move on from this place... I'm sure there's another noble you could dig your hooks into elsewhere.", Leila said strongly.
Tremaine hummed, "Perhaps you're not the shriveling peasant woman I thought you were...And if I win?", and Leila looked at her, "You get to gossip all you want about me, to ruin my reputation so this kingdom knows what I am, but don't you ever break Jules's reputation by gossiping about him either, for his daughter doesn't deserve to see her father ruined, and you will never, ever see me or my family ever again.", her heart hurting yet somehow stronger than ever, and she knew she can always go meet Perla and Juliet's significant others as they're somewhere up north in another province. If she loses Jules, yet sees her daughter and Perla have true love, it's bittersweetly enough for her as she wants them to be happy.
"You mentioned about material things before...", Tremaine smirked. "Everything you said as well as whatever stuff you and your family have... you will have nothing but just the only clothes you're wearing that day. And to make it even more interesting, I wouldn't even need all your ratty things... I'll just set fire to all of it and force you to watch.".
Leila knew that the only things that is able to avoid fire is the magical compasses, and Evangeline would always vanish them into the family's clothes under Tremaine's nose, and at least, they will have each other. She took a deep breath, and held her hand out, "Do we have an accord, then? Or are you scared to touch a peasant's hand for just a few measly seconds?"
Tremaine snorted, "You're serious? You'd actually risk everything for him?". Leila stood her ground and stared her in the eyes, "Yes... does that make you scared then? Worried I might ruin your chances with him?".
Tremaine narrowed her eyes, "Scared? You should be the one who's scared. But I must admit I have a tiny bit of respect for you. But that does not mean we're equals, Russo. Yet I agree with you. We do have an accord.", holding her hand out, and both women shook hands firmly for a few seconds before letting go.
"The deal begins officially on the morrow, Russo. After all, we are only here to socialize tonight.", Tremaine replied, and Leila nodded. Tremaine then turned around to the little-used path she had used earlier, and headed off, and Leila took a deep breath, knowing that she can't afford to tell her family about this. Tremaine is more powerful than her in social circles, but she's not like the Coachman, yet more intelligent in politics and connections.
She then fixed her gown and hair and face, glancing up at the Evening Star, smiling reassuringly, "Don't worry, Evangeline, I can do this. It's strange, but I know I'm feeling something strong for Jules, and I'm not afraid anymore. I think he really feels the same way. Don't you think?".