where; a cafe along the Thames
Whom; self-para
When Laure had gotten the letter letting them know their family were visiting for the weekend they’d been overjoyed. It had only been a few months since they’d left France but Laure missed their family so terribly. Especially their siblings. René, Celestine, and Jules had always been their lodestones. But their siblings had gone off exploring and now...
Now, they rather wanted to toss their whole family (or at the very least their parents) into the Thames.
“Qoui?” They asked, incredulous. “Are you serious? Is this a joke?”
Juliette Deschamps frowned at her eldest child, confused. “The Sauvages are dear friends, Laurette, you know this.”
“Devereux is not my friend.”
“Laurette, please, they needed help. It seemed a wonderful solution, a service we’re happy to provide. And Dev is a wonderful young man.”
“My hand in marriage is not a service to provide!” Laure hissed, and they knew that if more people spoke French they’d have attracted a crowd by now. “And he is a pretentious asshole.”
“Laure Angelique. Watch your tongue.” Their father said, voice sharp.
Laure crossed their arms and glowered, slouching low in the chair.
“Until this nasty business,” Marius said like the whole war was an unpleasant business deal he’d just been forced to sign, “blows over, the Sauvage’s need the security this marriage will bring them. Please, mon chou. There are more people in the Sauvage family than just one boy.”
Laure’s glower deepened. They did like Devereux’s parents and sisters, it was true. Punishing them just because their son was a pile of dung didn’t seem fair.
“It’s going to be a long engagement.” They said at last.
Juliette Deschamps beamed. “Of course, love.”
“I’m not going to wear a dress either. And I’m not going to any dinner parties. He’s not allowed to propose. If there’s a ring he should just mail it to me. Or I’m going to throw it in his face.”
“Those seem like reasonable terms.” Marius said, clearly relieved Laure had come around.
“And I’d like my horses. I miss them. Terribly.”
“We’ll find a place to board them and let you know. Would you like a dessert?”
“All of them.”
Their parents laughed. “Alright, dear. All of them it is.”
