Post by Jessamine Fontaine on Aug 31, 2017 15:47:20 GMT -5
As a child, Jessamine learned that people lived up or down to expectations. Much was expected from the Fontaine children, providing them with challenges to overcome and obstacles to surmount; it seemed to her that Lucien's family had been a little hasty to expect little from him and demand less, which was a pity to her way of thinking. Anyone with eyes could see that he merely needed some motivation and challenge to rise high. She could not say so, though; it was not her place, and to speak so disparagingly could in turn cost her the place she greatly enjoyed.
Giving him a look, she shook her head. Jessamine found it frustrating when people claimed that all they held of worth was a name or a rank, as if they themselves had nothing of merit to offer the world. Small wonder so many went to the dogs, if they were allowed to believe that. "You are more than your name. And more use than just a marriage. Who has told you this nonsense until you believed it?" He didn't get here on his own, of that she was certain. Frowning, she rolled her eyes at the twinkle. He was trying to make a joke, and she was being quite serious on his behalf. "Stop that. This isn't a joking matter."
Scold? Why yes, she would if it made her point. "Or we could say that we make our own good. If I waited for good to come, I'd still be in Vielha, moulding away, instead of being here. But it isn't enough to work. You have to go out and find your good." In her case, Jessamine all but nagged the skin off her cousin's ears until Tamara agreed to offer her as a lady in waiting, just to shut her up. If Lucien wanted more, then he'd have to take some iniative himself - aside from randomly kissing women to whom he'd just been introduced, of course. Her head tossed boldly, then. "That's not how this works, sir. I don't pursue gentlemen." Nice try.
Admittedly skeptical, Jessamine remained quiet to hear his reasons out. Clearly, Lucien was the master of spontaneity and quick decisions; she suspected some of that was to get himself out of scrapes, choosing the most shocking or outlandish offer he could think of, knowing that it wouldn't be accepted. It would serve him right, however, if she called his bluff on this and insisted if courtship was truly his desire, he follow through on it properly. Her head tilted slightly, noticing the absent movement of his hand on his leg, leaving her to wonder just what he'd done to it.
"Before I answer any of this, what did you do to your leg? Maybe you ought to sit down." She knew the signs of pain when she saw them, and though he'd held up well during their impromptu dance, Lucien's eyes suggested he was in some discomfort. They could go over his 'punishment' once she had more details.
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Lucien Deveraux