Delphine Martin, 1920s

Paris, France

I couldn't sleep last night and you wouldn't know it from my sparkling eyes and neatly arranged chestnut wavy hair. I had my hair styled the day before in a new way, where the front of my hair has been cropped by my ears and falling in a side swept bang that stops at the start of my brows.  I gave my mother and father a terrible fright when they thought I had chopped my hair entirely. I'm not so bold. 

"Which pieces do you intend to wear today Miss?" Andrea, my bonne (good-girl), and also somewhat a close friend; asks me while going through my collection. 

Andrea and I have played together as children as her mother served in a similar position to my mother. We grew up closely until around the time that such things matter as status and title. 

"Give me the pearl bobs and matching necklace." I touch the low bun in the nape of my neck with jittery excitement. "Oh, and do also take out the heart garnet ring from my 14th birthday thank you." 

Andrea's chubby cheeks dimple as she bites back her smile. We both know that he gave me the ring for my birthday but that an unspoken promise had been attached as he was soon to be gone.  Andrea places the jewels on the vanity before me, as she goes back to attending to my hair. 

"You look perfect!" Her blue eyes sparkle as she gazes at me in the mirror. "You were always a beauty but your transformation into womanhood is undeniable if that is what you are wringing your fingers about." 

My mouth falls open to protest but Andrea knows me well. Michael left home at aged 17 to go further study. He is to return today after only communicating through letters and telegrams when urgent. I was a blossoming girl when he left and now I am seventeen and a great beauty. There have been many suitors, but I glance at the filigree silver ring's garnet heart jewel on my finger. My mood darkens a bit because while my first crush, I had to become practical. 

"Of course I am wondering if he will find me pretty but it's hardly appropriate any longer. He's seen so many beauties and probably has his eye set on someone. I have Robert..." I can hear the wistfulness in my tone. The ring had once stood for the relationship we imagined we would have but the time and reality having made things different.

"You two were inseparable. Everyone was sure of your match. Why else do you think your parents don't press you to have a marriage." Andrea fixes a comb in my bun. 

"I don't presume to know. Father is practical and mother isn't inclined to romantic notions. I think they do care for my happiness but I find it hard to imagine they are holding out for me to marry their orphaned nephew." I delicately respond as I smudge a tinted pink salve on my lips from the silver tin and place none on my cheeks as I am quite flushed. 

The echoing clang of the tube acoustique breaks the moment and Andrea rushes over to answer. "Yes mam." 

"What is it?" I question as she places the brass trumpet receiver back onto the cradle. 

"He's arrived and they are awaiting your presence." Andrea smiles. 

"Well, let's not keep them waiting. "I breathe heavily my chest rising and falling as I attempt to settle my nerves. 

We leave my boudoir heading to the spiraling cherry oak wood case that heads to the petit salon. The space had been recently renovated and redecorated showing the newness of the current era. The fireplace is now marble and the room is full of cream and pale blue with floral accents. The furniture is made of the same red oak of the walls which have delicate and intricate in the fin de siecle style becoming all the rage. 

I smooth out my robe de jour. My hands feel slightly moist against the lightweight softly sheening material in cream. My thin frame is emphasized by the drop waist and causing interest as the fabric hovers over my form barely skimming the lines of my body. My face appears angelic as the high round neckline silk ruffle sits in a manner to be very becoming. I appear romantic with my slightly puffed sleeves which end just beneath my elbow. Most girls wear theirs above the elbow but wearing them a bit below makes me appear shorter and more delicate. 

I feel his eyes on me before I muster the courage to glance at him. I feel his eyes on my silk stockings as my dress only reached my knees. "Good morning mama," I kissed her cheek. "Hello Papa." I kiss his cheek as well and step back with poise. 

"Your cousin is here." Papa gestures to Michael 

I try to keep my composure, stiffening my neck as I've witnessed my mother, I hold out my hand. "Hello dear cousin." 

His lip twitches but doesn't crack to make a smile or expression. His blue eyes glimmer as he takes my hand and kisses the garnet heart of the ring. "Dear 'cousin'..." 

I feel my hand tremor and snatch it back in hopes he didn't notice. It's important for me to come across mature and changed but more so now than before as I notice the man before me is not the boy who left. 

Michael's deep voice holds the boredom laced confidence of a man with means and with experiences. I have read the stories in La Vie Parisienne and other works, while keeping it much private that gives me a pretty informed idea of what a rakish man is like. Michael is such a man and it's all over him. The tobacco smokey scent enveloped in some woody vanilla scent screams lover. He hadn't worn such scents before. 

"Is that how you greet your cousin after so long?" Mama harps. "Hug it out you two." She giggles. "After all, it has been so long since you've seen one another." 

His royal blue eyes appear smouldering with the thick almost black lashes that surround his hunter's eyes. Which quite mesmerize, maybe even frighten me a bit, because the emotion evoked is so...well let's say stolen pecks with Robert haven't caused me to feel the flip in my gut that I hold when Michael's eyes bore into me. 

We step closer by entering a loose embrace that envelops me in his scent and the vitality of his sturdy form. The expensive charcoal grey suit he wears does nothing to stop my hands from feeling the steely muscular form hidden beneath it as they slide over his broad shoulders. I am overwhelmed looking to escape and I swear as we move apart, he sniffs my neck; covertly living a pleasantly and seductive moist kiss beneath my ear. 

I am appalled and invigorated by his bold manner. I am red with embarrassment and guilt as I have forgotten that Robert's presence is also in the room. As the man soon to be my publicly announced betrothed, my parents extended an invitation for him to be here the morning of Michael's arrival. 

"Delphine, you look simply glowing; a sweet rose that by any other name would smell as sweet." Robert grins at her with the boyish charm that he's always held. 

"Oh Robert, you are always so kind." My voice trembles although I make it bright, offering my cheek to him. 

As Robert chastely glides his lips across my cheek, I can only pretend not to feel Michael's eyes on us. I attempted to avoid eye contact with him by becoming more concerned with Robert's presence. 

"Sweetness has nothing to do with the awe that your beauty inspires mon petite rose," He holds onto my hand a little longer and usually that would be thrilling but right now, the energy that I feel from Michael makes it feel like something dangerous is happening. 

"I trust that you slept well." I gaze into Robert's eyes, with what I hope is the appropriate interest that a blushing friend who is soon to be a fiancee. 

"I did, quite well." He responds with appropriate warmth and reserve. 

"Well, we ought to head into la salle a manger intime for breakfast." Mother gently clears her throat with a raise of her eyebrow which playfully says that Robert and I should remember we aren't alone. 

As we seat, I am painfully aware of Robert seated to my left and Michael seated across from us as Mama and Papa take their places at the ends of the smaller table. I immediately grab my glass of water and sip it gingerly, so as not to appear thirsty. The focus on keeping my movements refined allows me to not focus on Michael's eyes falling onto me but doesn't stop the intensifying heat that I feel. 

"So, Michael, you will be staying with us for a while?" Papa says it as a thin question. There isn't really a question as Papa is a man who is much used to getting what he wants. 

An unusually more silent Michael nods before answering. "Sure, there will be some time of adjustment. I don't yet own a property in Paris. I know that I have my familiar properties but they aren't staffed and would need to have the positions filled." 

Mama reaches out patting Michael's hand. "You are always welcomed at Chateau de Fleurs. It is basically your childhood home. We have a lot of catching up to do." 

Michael's eyes dart to my own and I quickly look away as Michael's voice sounds to hold a smile in response. "Of course ma chere tante mere, and I have missed you all so." 

Father chuckled heartily with the pride of a father for his only son, which is the reasonable way in which he views the son of his late brother. "Not much as you have accomplished much. We've rarely heard from you in the past few months and were quite delighted when you sent word that you would like to return home." 

Michael nods as the food is being served onto the dishes. "I received a lot of unexpected opportunities and set out to achieve it immediately. As it was only to establish myself and family name that had me to go far from you all. I did not wish to let anyone down and I believe I have done as well as is necessary at this time. I am now comfortable with my standing and believe it is time for me to focus in the areas of family and maybe even perhaps courting." 

I can't help but to almost choke on my juice as I hear the words courting tumble out of Michael's lips and of course I begin to heat further when his gaze snaps to me. I can't exactly place a finger as to why but I am sure he said so in order to gain a response from me. As I do find myself exceedingly conflicted with the reality of his presence; I find my younger emotions to be intact as the idea of Michael courting someone new bothers me. 

And then I feel a knot begin to twist in my belly as I once again realize I've forgotten my soon to be intended seated beside me. He boyishly jokes. "I am sure that your arrival will suddenly cure the many hearts that are proposed to be broken by my dear growing friendship with Delphine." 

Michael nods. "I am sure many hearts would be broken. My cousin's beauty, wit, and intellect are unparalleled. To have gained such a...friendship with her would indeed make one question opportunity. Yet, maybe they act too quickly to declare heart brokenness as we are truly here as friends are we not?" 

My tongue isn't finding me as easily as it ought but the air is thick with Michael's quite obviously challenging remark toward Robert's place in my life. "Yes Robert is a dear friend. He has accompanied to many off the balls and operas that I have attended this season and often makes cute welcomed appearances with chocolates, flowers, little trinkets and the such things that could make a girl feel somewhat special." 

Mama sighs and at that moment I know that something I have said is wrong. I do believe that Mama noticed how dear a friend Robert is to me and may have encouraged the pairing in order to save me for a possible match with Michael. My pragmatic side did not entertain this ideal for long because I am becoming of an age where it would be better that I marry and a marriage with Robert and I would be advantageous for our family. 

"True enough and who knows what fate brings. The two are very good friends and have been for some time." 

Michael seems smugly to understand clearly. "Well Robert, should we then toast to fate: that she may remain on your side?" 

Robert keeps the composure of a gentle man but I know him well enough to pick up the offence he feels at the slighting of Michael. "To fate: and that she may remain in the favor of all that is a blessing to mon petite rose, the beautiful and charming Delphine." 

The use of the pet name makes the top of Michael's lip to tick, quickly covered with a smile that reveals a dimple by the corner of his full mouth. "To fate." 

As everyone lifts their glasses, the heat that I have felt and stifled becomes quite unbearable. I stand feeling somewhat dizzy. "I must beg the pardon of all, but it seems I have become quite tired and in need of private refreshment." 

The men all stand immediately as they missed signs that I would stand and their quick movement almost sends the room spinning in my view. I grasp the back of my chair in order to stand feeling my clothing become damp, I almost burn. 

"You look ill, I will take you to your rooms." Mama is suddenly at my side. "Someone, call for Andrea immediately." 

"There's no reason to make a fuss over me. I simply need a brief moment of retirement, I am sure." As I say the words my teeth chatter and would give the impression that I am in chill but now I am burning ferociously. 

"Someone quickly!" Mama's worried voice rings out.

I am in Robert's arms before I know it. My legs have become heavy and the heaviness is swimming up my body. Before the room goes dark, I see them, his glittering gem-like eyes on me and for that moment, I can simply do nothing but to stare as I have no power to look away. 

Updated March 21st, 2025