Soft & Still

Chapter 6

Madame Rochelle's eyes quickly flickered up to meet Prince Azrael's, "May I ask what you want to know about her?"

He paused and a quick hum escaped from his closed lips as he tilted his head and his eyes wandered to the ceiling of the room, "Why were you meeting with her? She wasn't an aristocrat I recognized so seeing you with someone I was unfamiliar with was curious," He brought his gaze back to Madame Rochelle as he spoke. Taking another sip of his tea he allowed her to speak.

"Well, she is an artisan I hired to make a little stuffed animal for my baby." Prince Azrael noticed the corners of her lips rise as she gazed into the tea while taking a pause, "she did such a wonderful job and didn't ask for as much as I thought she would so I offered for her to stay for some afternoon tea as an extra." Madame Rochelle chuckled gently as her tea cup clinked against the saucer and table as she placed it down, "She was very uncomfortable with the idea at first, but I insisted so she eventually agreed and joined me."

"Is that so?" Azrael thought aloud.

"Quite so," Madame Rochelle agreed with little hesitation, "We spoke about small things here and there. Nothing of much importance, but to be entirely honest, I found her company rather nice. She wasn't overbearing and I could certainly see myself wanting to meet with her again in the future."

Azrael sighed before a small smile made its way to his face. Madame Rochelle observed her cousin with a keen eye and saw interest in the situation written all over his face. With the hint of curiosity and enjoyment dotted all over his face it made his beauty glow. A high nose bridge, clear skin that radiated the light from within the room, and black hair so deep that it teased a nearly blue undertone as the lights caressed it ever so gently in their dim warmth.

His sister and him truly were the gems of the royal family. Their glorious features and gentle demeanors truly were the pride of the entire country promising greatness in both their futures and the country's.

"Was there anything else that you were curious about? As I mentioned, we didn't speak a lot in depth; however, I'm sure I could answer a few more things," Madame Rochelle offered Azrael making him pause to contemplate.

"Perhaps," he began, "you mentioned that she ran a stuffed animal business, correct? Does she make and deliver them all herself alone?"

"That is what I would assume, yes," Taking the last sip of her tea, she put the saucer and cup down and politely refused a refill before continuing to speak, "When I spoke with her, she told me that this was something she did to try and help out her family due to them not having a lot of money."

Prince Azrael quirked an eyebrow, "Remind me, how much did she charge you for the cat?"

"Roughly $220 not including the tea at the café if I'm not mistaken," As Rochelle spoke Azrael leaned back into the couch and thought before speaking.

"She must not get a lot of business then as that amount isn't much to scoff at for most accustomed to the lives of that social standing," He ascertained.

"To be entirely honest, I'm not sure. She seems to do fairly well as it is. The clothes she wore were nice and her perfume was pleasant," she adjusts herself in the seat to a more comfortable position holding her belly with gentle hands, "however, she could also just be using those clothes for occasions that involve her going into this part of town."

Prince Azrael nods his head, "Yes, that's more than likely the case," he takes a small inhale while gazing at the tea cups on the table in between the two of them, "Rochelle," he pauses, "Would you mind giving me her address?"

"Certainly," Rochelle beckons over the nearest person to her and they nod before turning around and grabbing some of the paper they had on stand by in each of the parlors to hand to her, "I'm sure she wouldn't mind the business of the royal crown," Madame Rochelle joked as she tried to write it down without bending over her stomach too uncomfortably.

"I'm sure," Prince Azrael smiled, "Thank you."

~~~~~

I wanted to let everyone know that I don't edit these chapters once I finish writing them. I plan to do that much later, so if when this novel is finished and you go back and see changes you don't remember, then this is likely what happened!

I hope that you've been enjoying the story so far!