Azucena sat in the kitchen as her maids prepared breakfast, swinging her feet under the table. Aside from her meal, she had also been expecting her father’s return to the estate from his morning stroll, so she rested her chin on her hand calmly waiting.
After she had finished with her food, she heard the door open and she got up to go hug him. “Daddy!” She exclaimed. “Why had you taken so long?” The girl asked curiously. It may seem foolish to most the way that Azucena still salutes her father as if she were a small child, but she did not mind that, as their familial relationship was private, and truthfully he was also one of her best friends.
He returned her embrace, but there was a brief glint in his eyes of something other than love. For a second, Azucena could almost sense remorse radiating off of his shoulders. She stiffened, fearing the maids may have told her father about her previous conversation with Lang, or Orpheus, his name in this realm.
She forced herself to appear amused by his expression, because although she feared he may know, informing him of her suspicions would be far worse in terms of her consequences. Instead, she began to take him back by the hand to the room where she had been, inquiring. “Father, have you eaten since yesterday?” Azucena gave him a compassionate look, worried for his well being.
“Yes, Azucena, I had some bread before I left the estate.” He spoke warmly, and she relaxed a bit more. Both because he had eaten, and also because he had lost that strange sensation he was sharing before.
She nodded, understanding. “Would you still like to sit, though? Martha and Louise have made pastries.” Azucena recommended sweetly, he agreed, and they sat.
“So, how has the season been since these few days?”
The maids handed them their pastries, and they began to eat again.
“It has been fine, although I have had some unexpected suitors.”
Her father raised a brow, signaling that she indicate who in particular.
“Archibald has returned, that awful wretch.”
“Oh, you tell that boy not to bother.”
“I did! We shall see if he cares. There have also been some others…”
Her father gestured again.
“Finch.”
“Nice boy.”
“Ilyas.”
“Not so nice boy.”
“Harrison.”
Lionel looked up to her from his plate, and rubbed his temples. Azucena’s father, as much as he had approved of the man for the sake of agreeing with her mother, did not like the earl one bit. The girl knew of this, not while they were courting but after when they were coping, and it was a very important reason of hers to be so precautious now, but, putting her pastry down as well, she wondered if she had already become susceptible to his charm. She wanted to disagree, but she did not have the courage. He was her father, and he knew better than her. “Azucena, please do not speak with that boy. Especially after he has betrayed you so. Not to mention his family’s feud with the Ellis’s. He is not an apt man.”
She had many things she could reply. For one, she could say that she had also made mistakes during that courtship, but he would never agree with that because in Lionel’s eyes Azucena could do no harm. Instead, she decided to be a diplomat. “Father I… am going to the picnic today, and as you know I will be participating in putting my picnic basket up for bidding. How about this; whoever wins my basket, that is the man you decide to open up to trusting for the season.”
“My daughter, you still have much learning to do discussing the subject of courtship. I do hope that you know what you ask for when you make this request. But, since I do agree I am quite discriminatory with these men, I will listen to you.” He reassured. At the beginning of the statement, it seemed as though he wished to reprimand her, yet in the end, he still managed to soften when speaking with his daughter. It made her smile, but sometimes she did wonder; did her father act that way because he was protective? Or was it because he feared Azu’s partners could be like himself?
Azucena arrived to the fields of green grass and family, walking in with her mother and father minding their own mostly. They dressed in dark, serious clothing, with their elbows linked among the fair of people. She, on the other hand, stood alone alongside them in bright blue, bordering on green, colored like the Caribbean sea, it shone a color that brought out the hazel of her eyes, and she prepared for the event in mind with the words of her father.
If I were to fall in love with you
And fall down in a blur
Would I be caught by the warm embrace of a lake cerulean blue?
Allowing me the power to soar beneath its surface as bubbles whir
Or would I thud flat on the ground
With no heart beat and a nose bleed
Would you even hear the sound?
Would you come kiss me back to life, your tears countless pleads?
I find it funny the way these things work
I have known you since I became a debutante
yet i do not know where you lurk
you do not know why i wear my pendant
I have known you one thousand lifetimes
Yet none at all
You’ve heard my rhymes
Now tell me, in your arms or in the dirt, would you let me fall?
Some guards had taken Azucena’s basket to the top of the display, and there it sat as many people bet. During that time frame she felt free to talk to a few of her friends. Finch, Dahlia, Cassian for example. Her basket’s edible content had been curated by none other than the lady’s servants, however she added her own flair’s to it. Her favorite flowers, besides lillies, a hat for the sun, and a book that she enjoyed. A part of a successful courtship in Azucena’s mind was one where they shared a deep connection of values, not only hobbies and current events. She was curious to see who thought the same as her.
After some chatter, a small scruffily bearded man began to announce the winners of each bid. She waited until he reached hers, and to her damned surprise, the man selected for her was none other than Harrison Davis. Of course, but at least it was not Archie.
Before she knew it, he came up to her and caressed her mandible, risque in the eyes of the whole ton. As a reaction, Azucena rolled her eyes and smiled. How did he manage to be so irritating in the best way? It sort of removed her from her thoughts, carried away by chemistry. Before he finished caressing her, however, she lowered his hand back to his side, and then maintained her personal space. He had said something about the stars and fate, and she could not help but squint a bit, wanting to agree after the events of this morning led to the events of just now.
He whispered in her ear and she felt herself tense a bit with pink flushing her cheeks. She hoped that he did not know the effect his low voice had on her. “We shall see about that, travieso.” She whispered back before he could pull away, not gesturing with her hands nor anything else to appear discreet.
He offered that they sit and eat, so Azucena followed him, walking with her hands crossed behind her back. “No, it’s not poisonous!” She laughed, continuing. “That would only apply if I knew the bid was going to be given to a man I despise, which… you are not.” Azucena admitted in suggestion that she may find him agreeable. And then she felt prompted to change the subject. “So, Harrison, what drew you to my basket?” She asked curiously hoping he had noticed the details she hoped to appear obvious.
She attempted to move on, but then she realized she had not answered the end of his question. “Why, Harrison?” She played along, already knowing the answer.
ppl
@kristi harrison
@astxrism archie briefly mentioned
@Caticorn finch mentioned ish
@Megan @CerealKiller dahlia and cassian mentioned if you SQUINT