Accueil et Invité

"Eclair!" Éclair heard her mother's voice. "What happened?! You are soaking wet! Where is your dress?!" The mother quickly covers her up to not let people see her delicate rosy skin. One of the butlers offered his suit. "You, young man. What did you do?" Lady Grace asked the man who was also drenched. Before the man could have answered, he was cut off. "How dare you lay your hands on my daughter! Ripping off her dress even, this is a disgrace!" The mother shouted. "Mother... Do please calm down. He is my saviour..." The daughter tried to speak up.

The man could only remain silent. Then one of the butlers spoke, "Yes, madame... I saw him jumping off from up there and when he came out from the pond, he had your daughter in his arms... He was saving her, Madame..."

However, Lady Grace couldn't accept it. The moment she laid her eyes on the man in front of her, she thought that he was an insect that needed to be squashed immediately. "Mother, please... I was saved because of him. Do tolerate it, thank him." Lady Grace looked at her daughter, who couldn't stop coughing. She let out a heavy sigh, then a man walked in front of them. John T. Baptiste, a brother of Lady Grace. "Thank you, child. For helping my niece. If you weren't there, she would have drowned."

He smiled at the man, hearing Eclair's uncle thanking him and at least not being arrogant gave her heart at ease. "May I know your name, son?" John asks him. "My name is Michael McGonigle, sir." He said then bowed his head in front of them. "Ah, well then. Mister McGonigle, would you attend our dinner tomorrow night? As a reward for saving my beloved niece. Lady Grace's eyes were shot open, she had actually prepared some plans for tomorrow.

Silence filled the carriage and Eclair was still a little bit wet. Right after her uncle invited her saviour to dinner, the mother insisted on going home immediately. A thick towel was wrapped around Eclair's shivering body. She was hoping to not get a cold or a fever. Her mother finally broke the silence, "How did you fall off the balcony?"

Eclair was quiet, she didn't know how to answer her mother. Is she going to tell her that it was the stupid corset's fault? Maybe. "Ah... Well, the corset was too tight that I couldn't brea- "

"I told you to wait for me." The mother clashed her words, her tone was stern. "Why did you leave?" The mother continues to ask her. There was silence at first, Eclair didn't want to tell her mother the truth. Hesitating, "When you were dancing, I found a famous florist around the hallway. You daughters' "passions for flowers are exorbitant, mother. I apologize for leaving you like that." Eclair lied to her, hoping that the person opposite believes her.

Hearing this, made the mother feel guilty. "Oh, I'm sorry darling... I wanted you to look the best for tonight... You almost died because of that corset." The mother shook her head. "No, mother. It's alright now. Next time, we won't wear that apparel anymore..." Eclair put her hands-on Lady Grace's hands, trying to comfort her.

The mother only smiled, she put her head up to meet her daughter's beautiful honey orbs. "Well, however. I was going to tell you when we arrived at home. I'll just say it now, tomorrow I wouldn't be able to attend the dinner with you." The daughter tilted her head in question, "Why is that, mother?" The mother caressed Eclair's wet hair, "I am going on a trip to your father in Bolovinia, it won't be long. Only around 3 months or so."

The warm smile that was on her daughter's face turned into a frown, not having to be able to spend three months with her mom is quite boring but she knows she might take this as an advantage. She wouldn't dare to though. "It won't be long, just wait for me darling. Don't be too naughty while I am gone." The mother touched her nose like a child, Eclair smiles. "Yes, mother. Please say hi to father, I miss him so much...." Eclair's father has been travelling a lot for business purposes, or he had a meeting with the other people in another place.

"Yes, I will my darling. I miss him too." Lady Grace hugs her almost dried daughter giving her heat to keep Eclair warm.

The gates creaked as the carriage entered their mansion's entrance. "We really need to get that old rusty gate to be fixed!" The mother exclaimed. Maids greeted both of them and immediately assisted Eclair to upstairs for a hot bath.