((Joint-IC with
@ThaHoward))
Bagnolet, Île-de-France
Henri de Rohan approached the gates to the Lecuyer estate in Bagnolet, this time as an invited guest. He took the time to take in several deep breaths, noticeably nervously, his skin drenched in sweat already. He was meeting with Daphnée’s father, Jérôme, to let his intentions be known so he could associate with his beloved. It was not an easy task, for a father was surely to think the worst of any man pursuing his daughter. Henri had to make certain that he conveyed how dearly he cared for Daphnée and that he would never hurt such a splendid woman as her.
Once at the gates, Henri paused yet again. He could do this. He had to do this. If he ever wanted to be with Daphnée, he had to impress her father. He spent a few moments building up his courage. Before he could finish, he heard a barking sound from down the road. A quick glance to his side revealed the dog from his last visit. With a yelp, Henri rushed through the gates, shutting them behind him. He’d rather face Daphnée’s father than that dog again.
It seemed like an eternity before Henri reached the front door. His nerves were still getting to him. He couldn’t turn back now, nor would he dare. With all the courage he could muster, he banged the door knocker against the front door and waited.
Jérôme had just finished greasing his mustachio and his hair, twirling his facial hair and covered his crown. He looked at himself in the mirror and all he could think of was “splendid”, it was a shame he lost parts of his legs, perhaps if it was still intact it was he who would chase girls around and not this Henri. He had mixed emotions on the expected arrival of Henri de Rohan. His arrival and interest in his daughter made Jérôme quite proud, but still he was not quite ready to let slip of his oldest daughter. She was his jewel and he would go to great lengths to protect her.
Jérôme consulted with his wife, but their conversation was cut off by the barking of Charles. “Blasted dog” Jérôme said and made sure Daphnée were confined to her quarters. The knocker on the door sounded and one of the servants opened it up as Jérôme and Elisabeth went down the stairs to receive their guest. Henri de Rohan was announced, however Jérôme did not approach the young man, not that he had anything against him, instead he refused to humiliate himself by limping toward someone courting his daughter. “Henri de Rohan, welcome to our home. Please make yourself comfortable”, Elisabeth said as she curtsied in front of Henri and escorted him toward Jérôme. Jérôme extended his right hand, while clinging to his sword cane with his left hand, and somewhat roughly said “A pleasure to meet you young man, how may we be of service?”
“The pleasure is all mine,” Henri said, taking Jérôme’s hand and ensuring to shake it vigorously. His father had always told him to give a firm handshake so as to impress a man. He needed every little advantage he could get here, especially since he knew he was not the most impressive specimen, what with being only a few inches over five feet and quite scrawny.
Making sure to keep a pleasant smile on his face at all times, Henri said, “I thank you for agreeing to see me. I understand how dear a daughter is to a father and wanted to seek your permission to see Daphnée again. I have only but fond memories of her from our time together in Bretagne during her visit.”
Jérôme shook the hand of Henri. The boy was at least.. Eager as he shook the hand of Jérôme. Normally such a handshake would impress Jérôme but he was skeptical to the physical stature of Henri. Could such a man foster strong boys for his dearest Daphnée. For now he would set apart his concerns on the physical ableness of the young man, his daughter at the very least was seeing something in this Henri. He listened to Henri as they escorted him into one of the lounges. When they entered the room and sat down for refreshments he pondered on the words of Henri while Elisabeth entertained the guest with some small talk.
“Your words are kind to our beloved daughter”, he said as he twinned his mustache “please, if I may be so frank could you elaborate on where you would take our daughter, and exactly what these fond memories from Bretagne entails?” he said and felt the icy look from Elisabeth who was no doubt feeling Jérôme was stepping over several boundaries.
“Of course,” Henri said with a cordial nod, hoping the sweat he felt drenching his back was not present on his face. “I was thinking of taking her to the Paris Opera. They always put on such spectacular performances, and it is always good to be reminded of all that France has to offer when it comes to arts and culture.”
At the mention of Bretagne, Henri grabbed a glass provided to him and took a long sip, taking the time to collect his thoughts. Best not to let Jérôme know of the more intimate details of the events during Daphnée’s visit to Bretagne. When he put the glass down, he was both calm and confident again, doing his best to ignore the icy look sent his way.
“I have a certain fondness for Bretagne, a rustic paradise so distant from the rest of France, the place I spent most of my childhood. It is always a pleasure to share the wonders of my home with another, and Daphnée seemed to enjoy the splendour Bretagne has to offer.” Henri paused a moment, taking another quick sip from his glass. “I must also admit that I was quite delighted to share the company of a young educated woman. It seems in this day and age that most families are willing to neglect their daughters’ education, believing that they are best suited to stay home and tend to the family. It’s quite a shame, ignoring so much untapped potential. Perhaps recent changes to France’s education laws will see that improve. Regardless, it was simply a delight to converse with a brilliant young woman like your daughter, a rare find these days. I can only assume that such keen intelligence is result of her familial relations or was instilled in her by your fine parenting.”
Where Henri lacked in physical prowess he certainly made up for it in his oratory skills. Perhaps that was the answer to how Henri managed to win the affection of Daphnée, Jérôme was impressed by his appraisals. “Myself having grown up in Paris, Switzerland and indeed even Bretagne know of what you speak of when you address your affection for the countryside. I long back to the simpler life”, Jérôme said and almost got lost in his own thoughts.
Elisabeth chatted a little with Henri, mostly over his remarks on parenting and education, Jérôme on the other hand snapped his finger and whispered something into the ear of the approaching servant. While the servant went out Jérôme had but a simple question for Henri. “Henri, I know your father have been of great service to France. Both in capacity of public office, but also in the capacity as a former officer. Our family have a history of military service. All of my uncles perished during the disaster ushered on by Napoleon, my father served and so did my late brothers. Have you ever served in the Army and Navy?” Jérôme said as he looked toward Henri, he was starting to warm up to the lad. “And those June Days in ‘52, would you say the Armed Forces battled for the glory of France, or are you of a different opinion?” Jérôme said, and his servant returned. At least Henri got time to think over his answer as a carafe of cognac was put on the table, and Jérôme, naturally, offered Henri a drink.
Henri cleared his throat as he took the drink, the topic of the military not exactly something he was overly familiar with. Despite that, he kept a calm and pleasant demeanor and did his best to seem as open and knowledgeable as always. “I’m afraid that I am not suited for military pursuits. My older brother Beau is the one currently serving in the army, something that better suits him than it would me. I am more inclined towards intellectual pursuits. I hope to one day follow my father’s example and serve in parliament, although most likely as a member of the Assembly seeing as it will be my brother one day inheriting my father’s peerage. We must all do what we can to serve our country, and jumping into the world of politics is how I could best do that.”
Henri took a moment to sip at the cognac, letting out a content sigh as he finished. A fine drink, to say the least. Despite that, he put down the glass for now, preferring to only drink in moderation. Unlike his more hot-headed brother, who would likely chug down any alcohol sent his way, Henri was not going to get himself drunk during this important meeting.
“Ah, the June Days,” Henri finally said. He had been fortunate that he had not been in Paris at the time, but he had gotten a full recounting from his father afterwards. “I would not say that the Armed Forces fought for glory, for there is never any glory in being forced to turn on your own people. Rather, I believe they fought for France’s future, to at last provide her with much needed peace and stable government. The Republic was a failed experiment doomed to come to an end and the people of Paris seemed so inclined to drag the Republic down into deeper depths of foul radicalism. Those brave men were willing to risk their lives to ensure France did not descend further into chaos. They did us a great service, for now we can at last enjoy a time of peace and quiet, where France has the chance to recover and prosper. I pray we will finally be free of the spectre of revolution.”
Jérôme was indeed disappointed that Henri had never served in the Army or the Navy for that sake. He had a somewhat childish view that it was in the service of France real men was created. Still he was pleased with his intentions of servitude nevertheless. “That’s a noble calling, and an ambitious one. While some may not be qualified to serve in the military, it is good to hear that you’re a young man of ambition. It can take you places”. Jérôme saw that Henri sipped from his cognac and thought to himself that if he could handle his liquor, he should be able to handle his daughter.
“True, there was no glory in June”, Jérôme approved and respected Henri that he was able to speak his mind and not simply tell Jérôme whatever Henri believed he wanted to hear. “While they did not fight for the glory of France, I must say they fought for her honor”, he said swirled his glass and continued “and for the dignity of France, to ensure the very stability you said. Here’s a toast peace and stability, hopefully you’ll be able to one day serve France for those very purposes”, Jérôme said and toasted his glass toward Henri. The guests small talked some more, but after a few minutes Jérôme again came with another question on a deeper level. “Now tell me M. Rohan, what may you offer my daughter?”
Henri raised his glass in a toast and took a long drink of the cognac. It burned on its way down, but Henri pushed through it. It helped settle his nerves just a bit, and that certainly helped when the topic drifted back to Daphnée.
“I have always been of the opinion that one only truly needs love and respect to create a successful relationship. I suppose that is born from witnessing my parents’ marriage. My mother came from a much humbler background than my father, but that has never diminished the love they hold for each other. Perhaps it seems like silly sentiment, but a union born from genuine affection will bear much more bountiful fruit than one created as a result of political ambition.”
Henri mulled over what he was to say next, since he had to be delicate with his intentions. “But I suppose as a father you wish to ensure your daughter never wants for nothing. Love and respect does not keep a person fed or warm at night. Fortunately, I am not without means. My family is a well established one with deep roots in France. My father has also been quite vigilant in ensuring his children will be able to strike out on their own one day. While the family lands will most likely go to my older brother, my father has recently been involving me in his business affairs in regards to the recent creation of the Rohan-Descombes Manufacturing Company. I suspect he intends for me to help run it one day, and as we have seen in France as of late, the business world can be quite profitable.”
Taking another moment to pause and collect his thoughts, Henri took in a deep breath. He wasn’t sure exactly what kind of impression he was making on Jérôme, if one at all. Honeyed words and polite niceties could only get him so far. Perhaps it was time to take a page out of his brother’s book. “Monsieur, may I be blunt with you?”
Jérôme listened in to Henri, and he remembered the new arms factory created by the Prince of Rohan, he wondered how the factory was going, but now was not the time to ponder of such matters. Jérôme liked that while the Rohans were noble, they had proven they were not afraid to seek out love in spite of whatever social standing of their chosen one.
While Jérôme thought over those things, and that the Rohans were a family of means, surely they could provide for his daughter, he looked toward Henri taking a deep breath, was he bored? Or was he up to something. To his question Jérôme simply said “Yes, please go on” and was genuinely curious of what he was to say.
Henri took a moment to build up all the courage he could. He thought of Daphnée, and that proved all he needed. “I understand that you care deeply for your daughter, and I believe it best that I make my intentions clear. I hold Daphnée dear in my heart, and I believe she is as fond of me as I am of her. Your daughter deserves a happy life, where she is surrounded by those who love her and where she can truly prosper. I wish to be the one to provide her with that.” Henri licked his chapped lips and looked Jérôme in the eyes. “I wish to ask you for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”
Jérôme was baffled at first. He was unsure of what to do. Parts of him wanted to stand up and give the boy a good slap, yet it was quite bold of Henri to make his intentions so.. Clear. What he lacked in physical prowess, he made up for his courage. “I do care about my daughter”, he said and looked toward his wife. “However it comes a time in every man’s life to let his girls to another man. If Daphnée agrees to it I will let you take her to the Opera”, Jérôme said and paled as he prepared to say what he dreaded to say, still he knew the day had to come one day, “and if she wants it I will grant you her hand”. Elisabeth got up and summoned Daphnée so she could meet with Henri. Jérôme held in his tears as she arrived and was ready to depart.
Henri nearly wanted to faint, having overcome the greatest obstacle in his life. Daphnée’s father had agreed. There was nothing standing in their way now. As Daphnée entered the room, Henri felt like his heart was beating loud enough that everyone could hear it. She was just as beautiful as the last time he had saw her. He could never imagine a world without her by his side. Now he would not have to. With as much suavity as he could gather and a sparkle in his eye, Henri gave a bow to the young woman and said, “Mademoiselle, it would my greatest honour if you would accompany me to the Paris Opera this evening.”
Jérôme watched by as Daphnée agreed to the request of Henri, he could never understand why she chose the runt of the litter, but he could see how happy she was. And while he would not show it to Henri it made him, in turn, happy and even strangely enough proud. He looked at them as they departed, and exchanged several words with his wife and he no longer felt compelled to suppress his tears. He then got a hold of his lawyer as they prepared to pen a letter to Henri’s father, hopefully the dowry would not be too much of an issue.
