#otome comte

I sighed. “I’m sorry, if I am not more enthused.” I replied.

“Oh, come now, dearest, you’ve always wanted to see Paris.” Mother reminded me.

“Yes…but not like this.” I remarked.

“You knew this would happen someday, Colette.” Thomas reminded me. “You’re moving up in station through this. I mean look at this carriage le Comte sent for us.”

“Yes, this will raise up the whole family.” Mother reminded me. “And it will help your younger sister find a suitable match as well.”

I sighed. There was no point in arguing. My brother had already completely agreed to this match on my behalf. As of this moment, there really was nothing I could do. On paper, it all did make sense. A French nobleman wanting to marry me, the eldest daughter of a merchant family. My father had only just recently been able to purchase the title of Baron before passing away suddenly, Thomas inheriting the title from him.

Mother’s hand came to rest on mine. “Colette, my dear, I promise you an arranged marriage isn’t the end of the world. Had I not had one, you and your siblings wouldn’t be here.” She gently reminded me.

I nodded. “I know…but at least you and Father grew up together. I don’t even know what my fiance looks like…let alone if he is kind or cruel. And I am to marry him in three days.”

“Just remember, Colette, our family needs this.” Thomas reminded me. “You’re marrying into the French nobility. Old money. It will look favorably for everyone.”

“Not to mention, we really did luck out. At your age…” Mother began.

“I know.” I replied. And how I knew. I was an old maid now, being unwed and in my early thirties. Practically ancient by the marriage market standards…and I had liked it that way.

I decided to look out the window and focus on the scenery. Fresh air and solid ground had already settled my stomach from the seasickness. Now all that remained was how I felt about meeting my fiance.

The carriage ride seemed to take forever. The city-scape gave way to a scenic countryside full of beautiful and vibrant flowers and lush trees. We finally arrived at the gates of a large country estate. The carriage took us all the way up to the front of a large mansion.

Thomas exited the carriage first, reaching his hand back to help my mother and then myself. I couldn’t help but to find myself in awe of the mansion. It was ENORMOUS! Yes we’d had a large house, but it was nothing compared to this place.

A young man with dark hair and wearing a butler’s suit and gloves came to greet us, giving us a bow. “Welcome, Baron Wells. Madame Wells.” He greeted them. “And you must be Mademoiselle Colette. I am Sebastian, Monsieur le Comte de Saint-Germain’s butler.”

“Oh, how delightful. Where is the master of the house?” Thomas asked.

“He is in town attending to some business. He will be back later this evening for the small dinner party planned to welcome you and to celebrate the engagement.” Sebastian explained.

I could feel the knots of anxiety twisting further in my stomach. I had hoped that the man would be here so that I could at least meet him. Sebastian led us inside, giving a casual tour of the mansion as we made our way to our rooms.

“The parlor is there. The dining room there. A game room through there.” Sebastian gestured.

“A game room?” I found myself asking.

“Yes. We have billiards and chess, for example.” Sebastian answered.

“Oh, your fiance enjoys a good game now and then. That sounds just like your father.” Mother told me. Clearly trying to talk the man up…even though she was just as clueless on how he really was as I was.

Sebastian finished showing us around, taking Thomas to his room first, followed by my mother, and then showing me to my room last. The coachman had helped him to carry our things in, meager as our luggage was compared to the guests I was sure le Comte usually entertained.

“And here is your room Mademoiselle.” Sebastian said as he opened the door for me.

I stepped inside, seeing a room decorated in warm soft tones. Whites and creams and golds. The curtains were even light and airy. There was also a balcony that overlooked the garden in the backyard of the mansion. A rather large and gorgeous garden full of colorful flowers blooming.

If it had been under any other circumstances, I would have been in complete awe of this place. It was beautiful, there was no doubt. Grand, for certain. A home most girls I knew back home would kill for. Here it was to be mine. I the lady of such a grand estate…yet I couldn’t help but to feel the anxiety tightening in my gut.

“Should you need anything, Mademoiselle, do not hesitate to ask.” Sebastian told me. “Le thermae is just down the hall should you wish to take a bath to freshen up. Monsuier le Comte has also left a present for you in the closet. I believe he would like for you to wear it to the dinner tonight.”

“I see…thank you.” I replied.

“Pardon me for asking, but is there anything I can assist you with?” Sebastian asked.

“Could…could you tell me about le Comte?” I asked after only a moment of hesitation.

“Ah, you are nervous about marrying a man you haven’t yet met.”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.” I replied. “What is he like?”

“He is a good man. A generous man.” Sebastian answered. “Though, I am sure nothing will assuage your fears as much as meeting him will. You shall see him tonight, fret not.”

Sebastian gave me no chance to ask any further questions and then he was gone. I sighed as I walked over to the closet and opened it up. Inside there was a rather beautiful dress, of gold silk with cream-colored flowers adorning it in places. On the vanity in the room there was a pair of long elegant white gloves. There was a jewelry box and I walked over to it, opening it…earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet to match the dress.

Just then there was a knock on the door and my mother was peeking her head in. “Ah, my dearest, it seems Monsuier le Comte is pulling out all of the stops for you.” She said, her eyes lighting up as she looked around the room and took notice of the dress and jewelry.

“Yes…it seems he wants a doll to dress up.”

Mother frowned. “Come, come. Let’s go freshen up. Those baths the butler mentioned sounded nice. That should help you relax a bit.”

I nodded. “Sure.” Though I knew a bath wouldn’t help me. Nothing would.

I was so anxious that I couldn’t even bring myself to take in the beauty of the bath. How elegant the room was and how warm the water was. Mother made sure that she helped me to scrub, something about getting the stink of travel off of me.

After the bath, we went right back to my room to get ready for the evening. Mother helped me to get ready, putting on the dress and accessories le Comte had gifted me. There must have been a king’s ransom in the diamonds and pearls that now adorned me.

“You look beautiful, dearest.” Mother told me, smiling warmly as she looked at me. “This le Comte has good taste.”

“It is lovely.” I replied as I looked at myself in the mirror. Though I could hardly recognize myself. Yes, we’d done our best to have nice things, but even with the fortune our family business had amassed, there were still some things out of reach.We were new money and generally looked down upon by those of old money.

Just then there was a knock on the door. “Are you ready, Mother? Sister?”

“Yes, we are. You can come in Thomas.” Mother called.

“Sebastian said that dinner isn’t quite ready yet, but we are permitted in the parlor where there are drinks waiting.” Thomas told us. “Perhaps some wine might help to calm you nerves, Sister.”

“Wine can be good for the nerves.” Mother agreed, looping her arm through mine.

“Right.”

The three of us left my room and headed down the stairs. We went to the parlor, where there were indeed drinks awaiting us. There were also some ordesvours. There were no signs however, of my fiance. “Here Sister, have some wine.” Thomas told me as he handed me a glass of wine.

“Thank you…” I replied, taking the glass, though I really wasn’t sure it would help me at all.

Just then Sebastian was coming into the room followed by a group of three men. One had jade eyes and the strangest hair color…it was a mixture of…black or dark blue and gray…? There was also a man with blue eyes and blond hair and a warm smile. The third man had a kind of bluish hair and bright blue eyes. Who were these men? Was one of them my fiance?

Sebastian bows to us. “Monsuier le Comte has only just returned. He has gone to freshen up.” Sebastian told us. “Though he didn’t want you to be bored, so he wanted some of his closest friends to greet you and keep you company. These are Monsuiers Napoleone, Vincent, and Arthur.”

With those introductions out of the way, Sebastian left the room. The three men came over my family and I. “Welcome, it is nice to meet you all.” Napoleone greeted us.

Vincent smiled and I swear I thought I heard angels singing. “And we are happy to welcome you here. Especially you, Madamouselle Colette.”

“Yes, it’s great to meet the bird who could get old Comte to settle down.” Arthur added.

I was surprised when I heard each of the men speak. I couldn’t quite place Napleone’s accent, it almost seemed somewhere between Italian and French? Vincent had a Dutch accent? I think it was anyways.

“Ah, another Englishman!” Thomas declared immediately latching onto Arthur.

“Yes, Comte has quite the collection of us.” Arthur replied.

“A collection?” Mother asked.

“Don’t listen to this idiot.” Napoleone said, shooting a look at Arthur. “Monsuier le Comte likes to support the arts. Arthur here is a writer and Vincent is a painter.”

“Oh, so he’s charitable and a patron of the arts!” Mother declared, turning to look at me. “That sounds like a good man.”

“He’s something.” Napoleone agreed.

We all stood or sat in the parlor together then, Mother and Thomas easily starting conversation with the three men. I would speak up every so often, trying to find out more information on le Comte…yet I kept getting very little…it may as well have been nothing. Arthur would say a bit more than the others, but something about his demeanor told me he wasn’t entirely serious.

I could feel my anxiety getting to me and that parlor suddenly felt very tiny and warm. “Excuse me a moment.” I muttered. “I…need some air.”

I didn’t give anyone time to stop me. I exited the parlor and started wandering through the mansion, looking for an exit. I wasn’t even sure where I was going, but I soon found myself out in the garden I had seen from my balcony. Little did I know, I was being watched.

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