Who: Genevieve & Juliette What: Vivi makes Juliette an offer she can’t refuse Where: Vivi’s estate When: Tonight! Rating: G - Disney tame, yo. Status: Complete
She had ensured that there were extra sandwiches - tomato, cucumber and brie - for Juliette should she desire something to eat. It would be a pre-dinner snack, of course, but as she was a growing lady who engaged in strenuous labor on a daily basis, she figured that the additional food would be welcome. There would be the typical full-course meal after, of course, but the conversation that Genevieve wished to have with the girl was not one that needed to be had in front of Audrey and Miles.
Particularly because it was because of them that she was going to have this discussion.
She took her typical seat and sipped at her glass - water, wine was for dinner and only a single cup at that - and waited. Juliette had said five o’clock, and the girl was quite prompt. A quick glance at the clock told her she would not wait long.
And indeed, right at the appointed hour, Juliette entered, having rushed home from her last spar of the day to comb out her hair and don a simple dress that was nonetheless far more elegant than her dusty training gear. The maid who had told her which parlor the countess had chosen withdrew, and Juliette smiled as the door closed behind her. “My apologies; I hope you have not been waiting long?”
Genevieve smiled. “Not at all,” she assured the girl, motioning for her to sit. “Do have a sandwich or two to tide you over until dinner.” She waited until Juliette was seated before continuing. “How was your day?” It would be rude to launch directly into the discussion, of course; some societal niceties had to be observed.
Juliette sat, smoothing her hands over her skirt (an almost unfamiliar gesture now; she donned such clothing only on rare occasion now) before helping herself to a plate and a pair of the tiny sandwiches. While she suspected some serious discussion was afoot, she would never ask -- the countess had impeccable timing. For now, she simply answered, “It was productive. I have been working with a number of new training partners, and Lord Finch also still takes time to spar with me.” And some of her old training partners…
Well. This was not the moment to worry about the sudden oddities in Pyr Min’s behavior.
“And yours?”
“Productive as well,” she responded. Now that the items she needed retrieving were in Cian’s capable hands, that was one largely aggravating task crossed off her list. “The guest house should be finished by the end of the month,” she added. Not so far away, and it was, in fact, the perfect segue.
“Speaking of which, I wished to discuss your plans for when the estate is finished.”
It was a strange thing, how this mirrored another conversation that she had had not so very long ago in the Countess’ own library. “I shall be joining Alys and Lord Norwood, I am certain. Thank you very much for your patience and hospitality until that moment comes.”
She nodded; it was as she had expected. The sudden reappearance of Juliette’s sister was no doubt a driving factor in why the young girl would prefer to stay with Alys. “There is no need to thank me,” she replied, waving the thanks off. It was always odd whenever Juliette or Audrey thanked her for something that she had done without asking. “As for my curiosity, I would like to extend an invitation to you. If you wish, you may stay with me once the estate is rebuilt.”
“I…” Juliette trailed off; though she had thought, in the roundabout way that the conversation had begun, that this might be the question, she still was uncertain how to answer it. It had been easier to refuse Lord Finch, for all that she loved him fiercely; it would have looked terrible for both of them. Countess Albrecht was… above reproach. And truly, keeping an unmarried young woman under her care while her married sister went to build a life elsewhere would likely even be seen as the proper thing to do. (And deep, deep within her heart, Juliette could admit that this was something she could not possibly object to -- in fact, that this would likely be something she would ultimately enjoy.)
But…
“I… appreciate the offer more than I can say,” she said at last. Then, quietly, an admission: “It… is not the first such I have received, though I find your offer much more… tempting.”
Genevieve frowned. “Who has offered?” Immediately, she was running through the list of nobility, discarding many even before she had completely thought their names.
“Lord Finch,” she said, looking down at her plate as though it held the secrets of the universe (better to study the china pattern than meet the Countess’ eyes right now). “I did not think it would be appropriate to even entertain the idea, though I assure you, his intentions could be nothing but… noble.”
“Of that, I’ve no doubt,” the countess replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. She had not expected Theodore to make such an offer, but she knew that he was quite fond of her in his own way. Quite awkward, but fond. “Though I will not say that others would not view it as such.”
No, the rumors would begin almost as soon as her first bag was packed. An unfortunate circumstance of class, really.
“I am aware,” Juliette said. “It is one of the reasons I turned the offer down.” She had spent quite enough time in the spotlight; she was content leaving that to the bards. Her own life was better lived away from societal scrutiny. “There would be no such rumors if I remained here, of course,” she said.
She took a bite of sandwich then, trying to formulate her thoughts, which were running along the utterly impolite and improper lines of, does everyone really think I would be so miserable with Alys? True, her sister had a husband now (and her relationship with said husband was… odd). True as well that Juliette and Alys still walked softly around each other.
And even so…
“I… care very deeply… for you,” she said at last, the words coming slow and halting. They felt foreign on her tongue; had she ever said as much to anyone? From her, it was a heartfelt admission of love, but she had no better words with which to make it. “But… Alys is… I know we do not fully understand each other yet.” I know that we are awkward more often than we are not. “I know her husband is… someone to whom she must now pay a great deal of her attention.” Someone who doesn’t want me around, perhaps, though he will be too polite to say it about a human. “But… unless she tells me she prefers me to say behind, I think… I ought to go with her.”
Genevieve reached over to squeeze Juliette’s arm. “I… care deeply for you as well,” she told her, smiling. “And I am not suggesting that you do not go with Alys. I am merely informing you that you have options, and should you ever need a place to stay or return, my doors shall always be open to you.” She paused, searching for the words she wished to say. “This is your home.”
And it was, in a sense. Inasmuch as she valued her solitude, and would be relieved when they the guest house was completed, she did view her home as their home. (Well, not Miles’. He was welcome only as long as he was married to her ward, or when invited.)
Juliette felt herself blinking away tears. Not unhappy tears -- she thought that in this, they had understood each other perfectly. “Thank you,” she said. “Truly. I will not forget.”
And, who knew? Perhaps if Alys and Lord Norwood chose to start a family…
“I hope it is all right if I… continue to call on you often.”
“I would expect no less.”
And with that question settled, Juliette applied herself to her second sandwich. Although she had refused the offer, she was very glad the Countess had reached out to her today.
Although it was not terribly conventional, she felt she was starting to get a better grasp on the concept of family.