Soft & Still

Chapter 5

Reclining into the rich velvet of the sofa, Madame Rochelle cradled her stomach with one hand while the other penned letters. The celebration of her early pregnancy had already passed and with the doctor's permission she was planning the celebration of the nearing birth. These letters had to be completed, but the baby was making difficult to concentrate.

A sharp knock from the door of the room made her drop the pen and say a word of surprise and relief as she managed to keep the pen's ink from staining a portion of the invitation that was supposed to remain clear of markings.

"Rochelle?" A voice that made a smile immediately bubble up to her face. Madame Rochelle looked up through her eyelashes to glance at the man calling her name and acting as if she hadn't heard the person call her even though the glow of happiness on her face spoke of her mind's thoughts. This was much to her dismay.

The man walked through the room quickly and without apprehension closing the door behind him. Coming to stand behind the chair of the lady who shared his affections. He smiled warmly and wrapped his arms around her to ever so gently pulled her to lean against the back of the chair, as close to his chest as the sofa would allow. He leaned down and placed his face in the crook of her neck and kissed the nape gently.

"How are you feeling my love? You've been working at these invitations since you came in from tea with the artisan," he removed one hand from around her and lifted it to the hair that she had taken down from its intricate style. Twisting it around his fingers he felt what was left of the product used in her hair to keep it in place through the day.

"I'm tired and don't want to do these letters anymore. I could have asked one of our hired help to do them, but this is about the birth of our baby and I want it to be personal; I'm just so excited I can't handle it," she said with a slight huff in her voice showing the thoughts she fought with while working.

"Then why not come with me and take a break? I can wash your hair for you to get the rest of this product out and you can rest," he kissed her neck again making her laugh lightly and lean her head on him.

"That sounds amazing right now," Madame Rochelle sighed as she relaxed against her husband and fluttering her eyes closed for a brief moment. Opening them, she removes the papers and writing utensils from her lap and places her hand in her husband's open one to help her stand.

They make their way to the nearest bathtub and have it filled with warm water. He runs his hands through her hair and begins pouring water on it to start getting some of the leftover product out. They continue like this for some time before a knock comes from the bathroom door.

"Duke and Duchess, the second prince Azrael is here to see Duchess Rochelle," A sweet voice from their hired help comes from behind the door.

"Azrael? What is he doing here?" Madame Rochelle questions and doesn't miss the slightly annoyed look on her husband's face. She smiles and reaches a dry hand up to caress his cheek, "It's okay, you can finish doing this. I'm Azrael will be understanding."

Her husband nods, "Please tell Azrael that it will be a moment that we must put ourselves together," he says to the girl presumably still outside of the door.

"Of course, Duke," The girl replies before the sound of her footsteps become distant as she walks away from the door to relay the message.

Rochelle reaches up and gently slaps her husband's arm and he sticks his tongue out at her, "Why are you making her say that to him? It'll sound indecent." Her cheeks were rosy as she averted her eyes.

"My love, you are pregnant and nearly due. He should know that I wouldn't do that to you while you're already struggling enough," he says as he laughs leaning down to peck her reddened cheeks with his lip.

It wasn't more than thirty minutes that the second prince had to wait for his cousin to come and greet him from whatever it was she had been doing.

"Azrael, I apologize for the wait. Your arrival is quite the surprise, may I ask what brings you here at this time of the evening?" Madame Rochelle takes the offered hand of Azrael as he helps her to sit down comfortably. She thanks him as he finds his place on his seat once again and asks the nearest help to bring them some tea before they continue their conversation.

"I apologize for coming over so late, I hope that I am not intruding," Azrael says keeping a generally professional tone to his voice.

"Oh please, you're no bother. So please talk comfortably," Madame Rochelle encourages as the tea arrives and is served. Taking a sip, she can feel her body relax from the warmth emanating from the cup into her chilly palms. Her hair was still slightly damp and it made her a little chilly.

Her cousin had always been a little standoffish, but his kind actions always spoke more than his words typically did about how he felt towards the people around him. It made her heart warm knowing that he had always been this way and that these habits had only been reinforced when he was a child. He never had to be taught them. She smiled inside her mind and hoped that her child would be as kind as Azrael to those around him.

"Well," he takes a sip of his tea, "if it is okay to be frank, I was curious about that person you had met up with earlier. Over at the Luxel House Café, I believe her name was Miss (Y/N)."