"I-I'm not sure but I can try." Sylvie was terrified now.
"Louve and Madame Bouvier will see to it. There is no room for failure in this family. There is no room for weakness. You are now in a position others would kill for, and believe me, when they find out my son chose you, they will want to. I must go. I have a meeting with the Loux Garoux Bank. I expect to see you, ladies, at dinner." He bowed and without so much as a glance, walked away leaving the clueless trio in his wake.
Louve and Bouvier exchanged an icy stare before both gazes landed on Sylvie.
Sylvie wanted to run. Her father-in-laws cryptic speech only made her feel worse. What had she gotten herself into...
Sylvie fell behind Bouvier and Louve, whom she had just been introduced to. She felt like a scorned child as she kept her gaze on the black and dark gray marble floor. All of her worst fears had occurred upon meeting her new father-in-law, and now her new husband's spurned betrothed was to assist her in this new life. It all sounded very unconventional, even to Sylvie. But did she have a choice?
No, she told herself, as they all made a right and went down another long hallway. Sylvie felt confused. Her thoughts had been on her encounter and not where they were going. They stopped in front of the second door on the right Louve opened it. Sylvie had thought it would be another room filled with expensive furniture but was completely surprised when she saw that it was an indoor garden.
The morning sun and the sounds of a happy Brook, not too far off in the distance, caught Sylvie, by surprise and made her smile. It reminded her of the woods she had chosen to live in, and somehow she was comforted by the atmosphere and was instantly relieved. The majority of her tension left her body. Her new life. This home. Bouvier, an enemy turned friend. It was all happening so fast and all at once.
Sylvie had no time to adjust. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of nature. She exhaled all her negative feelings, then opened her eyes. Louve and Bouvier were already sitting at a small white wrought iron table watching her. Sylvie noticed a seat was available in between the two women.
She quickly recovered from her initial shock at the room and sat down at the table with them. Sylvie was stunned by the beauty of the room. She hadn't noticed Louve sneering at her, but Bouvier did.
"So Lord Canus wants you to assist in Sylvie's lessons. I feel honored to work beside you, my lady. I will be sure to let him know how kind and generous you have been with us today." She hoped her veiled threat to Louve would quelch any thoughts she had of terrorizing Sylvie, and that she should toe the line.
Bouvier watched as Louve made sure to answer with a certain elegance and grace only a lady Loux Gareaux could. "It is I who am honored with such a worldly woman. Surely, you will teach this one all she needs to know in bed."
Sylvie was snapped out of her awestruck feeling upon hearing those nasty words. She felt something she never thought she would in a million years. She felt sympathy for Bouvier. It was a strange feeling. This woman was insulting her with sweet words.
Bouvier had a calm look on her face that scared Sylvie. It was a few seconds before she spoke. "It seems like we are all in agreement. Mistress Louve, what would you have Prince Randolf's Bride seek instruction on first?" Bouvier began pouring tea from the blue porcelain tea set.
Bouvier filled Sylvie's cup first, then Louve, and herself last. Louve put two sugar cubes in her tea and stirred it with her teaspoon. She looked at both the ladies, took a sip then spoke, "I would start with the basics of our history and of course etiquette. She is married to royalty. She must learn to fence, and to fight."
Sylvie perked at Louve's last few words. She had lived on the streets of the island alone for a few years. While living there, she had taken care of herself. She had learned how to fight and then she met Caleb and there was no need. Caleb. She wondered if he was alright and if he wondered about her.
Was he looking for her like he had always said he would? She didn't know. Not knowing was painful for her. She pushed aside her nostalgic thoughts of Caleb. "Oh, I can fight," Sylvie stated.
Louve took a sip of her tea. Looking over the rim of the teacup with judgmental cold gray eyes, she spoke, "Can you? Well, we will get to see if that's true. Women here are not the friendliest." Louve furnished.
"I hadn't noticed," Sylvie replied in a sweet tone that irritated Louve and made Bouvier hold her snicker in.
Louve continued, "Lessons will be bright and early tomorrow. Today, I will be giving you a crash course in your new world. I will not repeat myself. "
"So I suggest you pay close attention," Louve said to Sylvie. "I brought you here because no one will disturb us in this room. We have much to discuss. But first, a question. On the island. Is there talk of wolves?"
With Louve's question. Sylvie's interests had been piqued. She answered her, "Yes, the natives believe the spirit of the wolf is on the island and protects it. He is seen from time to time or heard on a full moon."
Louve seemed satisfied with her answer and continued her line of questioning. Sylvie got the impression Louve thought she was illiterate and ignorant. "Do you know about Lycans?"
Sylive answered her once more, "Lycans are the thugs who terrorize the island. Just a bunch of men who are bullies and cowards."
Louve corrected her, "Lycans are similar to werewolves. Except they are mad men who can change at will."
Sylvie thought Louve was taking this Island's history a little too seriously. She took her first sip of tea. She hated the bitter flavor and put it back on the porcelain saucer placed in front of her. "If you say so," Sylvie said.
"Do you know if they are human or not?" Louve asked her.
Sylvie was confounded by that question. "What are you trying to ask?"
"The Legends you have heard about werewolves, Lycans, and Loux Gareaux are real. Sylvie, they are not gangs or even humans for that matter."
Sylvie laughed. She looked at Bouvier who wasn't. Then, she looked back at Louve. "You are telling me that my husband is not human? You aren't human? "Sylvie was smiling at the absurdity of Louve's confession.
Surely this woman was pulling her leg out of spite. Louve answered. "I am not human and neither is your husband and new family."
"He is Loux Gareaux?" Sylvie asked, remembering that was what Bouvier had said.
Louve nodded her head, "Yes, he is."
" What is Loux gareaux?" Sylvie was more curious than frightened.
Louve put down her teacup and answered Sylvie "It is so many things but for now, all you need to know is that we are the purest. We are the strongest. You married a Prince ."
Sylvie was stunned into silence.
Louve took it as a sign to keep speaking, "Your husband is next in line for the crown of King Alpha."
"I- I didn't know any of this," Sylvie stammered.
"You must be the luckiest or the dumbest. Only time will tell. How did you meet Prince Randolph? Again?" Louve questioned Sylvie.
Sylvie didn't feel comfortable telling her about their arrangement. She didn't think she could trust this woman and besides, her husband had already told her to trust no one. But weirdly, she was sure he didn't know about Bouvier being here, or he would have mentioned her. Sylvie was almost sure of that.
She stammered, "I- I-"
"I don't think her ladyship wants to talk about that." Bouvier interrupted Sylvie before she could say anything serious.
Anger flashed in Louve's eyes, "You cut her off. I am positive she can speak for herself. Why is a servant speaking for her mistress?" Louve snarled at Bouvier.
Sylvie rushed then, "I completely agree with Bouvier. I am a very private person and I don't want to betray my husband's trust in me."
Louve rolled her eyes at the naive admission, "Fine. Let's discuss tonight's dinner. It will be you, myself, your father-in-law, and two of his guards. Do not look bored. Do not laugh too loudly. Do not speak unless spoken to."
"Am I going to dinner or the Army?" Sylvie quipped.
Bouvier was amused at Sylvia's quick-witted answer. She noticed Louve did not find it amusing in the slightest. This woman was so stern and cold. She wondered how her husband and she got along.
She stopped laughing then apologized. "I'm sorry."
Louve ignored it and spoke, "Dinner is always held at dusk. Do not be late. I will have my maid bring you proper dinner attire." She informed her.