How to Net a Songbird (Claudette)

[LUCIEN DE LA TOUR D'AZYR]

Lucien liked merrimaking and the sort very much, but not when he had to mingle with the common crowd to experience it. It had been a prudent and clever coup though, even he had to admit that: giving the rabble something to rejoice in, giving them a little feast and merry pastime would distract them from wanting to slit every aristocrats throat. As long as the rabble was happily enjoying itself, they would not complain about the monarchy or want to start a fight again. Whoever had had this idea of the May Day, it surely had been no buffoon. And he guessed, he could dare to spend a little time amongst the common folk today, just to see what this was all about and if he maybe could find some fun in it after all. It couldn’t be all lowerborns here today, right?!

As he was walking, he kept his hand near his purse, not wanting to give any street urchin the slightest chance to get hold of his money. Not that he wouldn’t know how to deal with it, but he didn’t want to get his hands too dirty today. That would only further spoil his mood. At least he was getting a little space around himself by his uniform alone. He rarely went out without it these days, liking the authority he was getting through it. And even if the mood against nobles in general was foul in Paris these days, people still were thinking twice to attack anyone in uniform, which in effect gave anyone actually wearing uniform the necessary safety. Lucien smirked as he thought about the scared face of a filthy beggar who had dared to insult him and hadn’t thought Lucien would turn around and approach him, hilt on his rapier. What cowards they were, truly! There were two character traits Lucien detested most, cowardice on one hand and obstreperousness. Both being found in the same character disgusted him beyond belief. Sadly, Paris seemed to be crowded with such specimen these days.

He sauntered over the large square, only giving side glances at the people, but his eyes lingering longer on the nicely clad females today. There were a few finer specimen out today after all, and as it was a considerable warm day and without any prospect of rain so far, they were showing themselves in lovely spring outfits. It was a true feast for the eyes! Maybe he should get himself some sort of arm candy for the day while he was at it. But his eyes weren’t truly finding a suiting match, until they settled on a truly fair creature just approaching the flower stand – and all on her own! Lucien recognized her by sight, it was the Lady Claudette de Bridoire, a young girl still missing in his collection. He had heard her sing once, she truly had the voice of a nightingale or a lark, but that was not the main reason he wanted to try his charms on her. If Lucien needed a reason for trying to get his way with women at all, that was.

The young Lieutenant wasn’t exactly one for the niceties, he thought that approach rather sappy. But then… he needed to pave the way first, and even a man that took the opportunity of a flower stand wasn’t a complete buffoon, if he kept his poise about it! Therefore, he approached her from behind, hoping that she would not realize his presence before he was close enough, then leaned in to murmur in her ear: “Yasmine… my lady. I think you should wear yasmine today. They do resemble your delicate, enchanting beauty.”

[COSETTE FAUCHELEVENT]

Claudette looked to the left, to the right, and then spared a quick glance over her shoulder. Perhaps she was paranoid now, but after the danger she had recently gotten herself into, she wanted to make absolutely certain she wasn't being followed again. The next time she might not be fortunate enough to find a rescuer whose intentions were honorable, if she even found one at all. The festivities had lost a lot of their allure for her now, and all she really wanted was to find Solange and Nicole and go home where she knew she would be safe.

She came upon another group of performers … a troupe of actors pretending they were pirates and that the audience was the ship they were about to capture. They swung from ropes hanging from their makeshift stage into the midst of the people watching them, and one of them landed right in front of her and pulled her onto the stage with him, claiming that she was his prize. He was quite a handsome fellow and she decided to play along, happy to once again use the skills she had acquired during her illicit acting escapade in England. “I am no man's prize!” she exclaimed as he pulled her close to him, and she pretended to kick him in the groin. She could see the surprise on the actor's face, for he had not expected a member of the audience to do anything but scream and try to get away, but he grinned at her and played along, doubling over and releasing her.

Instead of leaving the stage, she grabbed his sword from his hand and pointed it at him. With a wink at the crowd, she said: “I have to admit this is more exciting than traveling to England with my boring fiance. I don't really resent being taken as a prize, but anything worth having is worth fighting for, is it not?”

The audience roared their approval and one of the other 'pirates' threw the actor his sword. Because of her small size and slender figure, Claudette had once played the part of a boy and her role had included a bit of swordfighting. The handsome actor seemed surprised that she knew how to handle a fake sword and they parried back and forth for awhile before he pinned her against a wooden pole serving as a 'mast' and drew her into a deep and passionate kiss. Now it was Claudette's turn to be surprised, and she struggled for a moment before returning it playfully. The crown applauded in delight, and when they pulled away from each other, Claudette graced the audience with a saucy wink. “I guess he's won me fair and square.”

The actors continued their play, including the young blonde by giving her whispered instructions and telling her what to say, improvising now that she had interrupted their rehearsed performance. Once the play had come to an end, the actors asked her if she would like to become a permanent part of their company, but she smiled, refused, and after a bit of conversation, continued her stroll down the street.

Eventually, she came to a flower stand, and could not resist stopping to admire the brightly colored blooms waiting to be purchased. Claudette inhaled deeply of their heady fragrance as she considered buying a bouquet for her former nanny, whom she loved as much as her mother. Now what sort of flowers was she fond of most? Lost in her contemplations, she was quite startled when a deep voice whispered into her ear, so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath whisper across her neck.

Claudette jumped back and whirled around, finding herself face to face with Lucien de la Tour d'Azyr, a young lieutenant she knew mainly by reputation and the wistful sighs of her friends. He was even more handsome up close than he was from a distance, and a blush blossomed across the young girl's cheeks at his complement. “You flatter me, my lord,” she said with a cheeky grin. “And you know what they say about flattery.”

[LUCIEN DE LA TOUR D'AZYR]

While he was so close to the lady, Lucien’s senses were on high alert, taking in both her outward features, the smallest details, and her odour. It was sweet, intoxicating even in its simplicity and innocence, and yet there was something else suddenly assaulting his nostrils. It was a faint, yet pungent smell, something that didn’t belong here at all and which made him momentarily crinkle his nose. Almost as if Claudette had been very close to someone wearing the sweat and stink of the street all upon himself, but that of course was not possible. A lady would never dare to get close to scum like that, they all carried diseases and the stench alone would make them faint. Hell, it almost made HIM faint whenever he had to come too close for comfort. Maybe his senses were overreacting because he had been amongst the common folk too long today. Such a dainty creature as Claudette would not stoop so low as to let herself be touched by a beggar or con. It was most improper and highly unlikely. So Lucien just chose to forget it and carry on as if he had discerned nothing at all.

He had startled the young lady alright, and he felt smug about this little victory. Vicinity was always a trump card he loved to play out, being alluring but not assuming, cunning and not coarse. He would give only so much that he would make the ladies want to follow for more… and then he would withdraw, waiting for them to follow suit. It was an exciting game to play, especially with the guileless and naïve, since they would walk into his traps wide open, thinking they were the ones in the lead. Lucien smiled cryptically as he saw her blush, knowing that a first step already had been made.

Her answer surprised him though. She still had a little spunk inside her apparently, not that he had anything against it. Those who were TOO naïve and too dull bored him only after a short while. Lucien was essentially a narcisstic character and he didn’t like it when he had a walk-over in winning the ladies. He wanted his skills tested and he wanted to try out different tactics every once in a while. So why not have a little conversation and verbal exchange first? “Now, what DO they say about flattery, Mylady?” he asked with a sly grin, not wanting to go the well caved path of assuring her of the sincerity of the words he had sad. That would be what mindless morons would do, not the masters of this particular game.
Then he turned to the girl at the flower stand and casually tossed a coin her way. “A yasmine flower for the lady, if you’d be so kind.” The girl nodded with wide eyes, and to Lucien’s satisfaction expertly chose the most beautiful blossom and gave it to him.

[COSETTE FAUCHELEVENT]

Claudette felt the sudden urge to flee, but she wasn't quite certain why. She was accustomed to attracting the attention of handsome most of whome spouted adoration like a never-ending fountain. Many of them even gave her gifts, some quite expensive and all in excellent taste, and she enjoyed the gifts much more than the meaningless flattery. Claudette knew she was sought after as a wife because of her family's great wealth and sought after as a lover because of her own golden beauty. She was not about to give the greatest gift in her possession … her purity … away to just anyone and fully planned to save herself for the man who was eventually chosen as her husband. Yet she had desires like any young woman, and was afraid that one day she would be tempted to give into them.

She wasn't tempted now, but the way she felt in Lucien's company was quite perplexing. His handsomeness was undeniable, and his words had seemed sincere, even though she knew of his reputation with the ladies. She was both confused and excited by his presence and in truth, she did not really want to run away. His closeness was intoxicating and she had to admit she liked it, although she was a bit unnerved by it as well.

“You truly don't know?” she asked with a coquettish smile. “They say that flattery will get you everywhere. Whether it is true remains to be seen.”

Her eyes widened when he turned to the flower seller and asked for a yasmine flower. The girl glanced over Claudette for a moment, and then picked out the largest and loveliest of the flowers on display. It was as if the seller was trying to help Lucien impress her, but the young singer supposed that was her job. If the old flower trick worked on Claudette, it would work on others. He would be back and the flower seller would make more sales.

Turning to Lucien, her blue-violet eyes were guileless. "And how do you know so much about flowers?” she asked innocently. “Do they teach you these things in the military? Does such knowledge assist you in using your sword?” The innuendo in her words was subtle, but that was exactly what she intended. Would he believe she was intelligent enough to use delicate double-entendre or would he think she wasn't aware of the multiple meanings in her speech? His reaction would tell her a little more about him, and she grudgingly admitted to herself that there were many things she wished to know about him.