Thread: Belle du Jour {Prince x Showmeyouloveme}

Valmont noticed Miria's stiffness when he brought up her husband, the woman pulling her hand away and suddenly appearing more guarded. Her words were chosen carefully, it seemed, and the subject visibly uncomfortable despite her platitudes of contentment. No complaints, but no praises either. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with a husband that loved his hounds more than his wife would be a lonely life. Valmont felt sympathy for her, strangely. He'd normally just be delighted at the opportunity that lurked beneath her words. Was he getting soft... letting their past affect his current desires? No complaints, that is well, replied Valmont. A wolf like grin came to his face. A bit bored in the country it seems. Who doesn't want a little excitement in their life? Mayhap I can provide some. Miria's voice grew soft as she brought up her family's circumstances and their departure from court. Clearly still an emotional and likely embarrassing part of her life. To be so close to the peak of society that she could see the mountaintop, and then tumble as far as they had must have scarred her. Well, she was climbing again it seemed. Wealthy and landed at least, with respectability and fashionability as her next goals no doubt. Women were all the same, Valmont rued, trying again to push the young girl he remembered out of his mind. She is just like the others. Still, the idea that Miria was like all the others made him irritated. Yes, we mustn't make the others tongues wag at our absence, replied Valmont as they began the walk back out. I'm sure my Father will continue to seek a match, although he gives me the liberty of some input. No doubt, whoever I wind up with, it will be a political or economic arrangement rather than a woman I'd choose for love. No matter your station, it seems, marriage for one such as us becomes just a tool for family advancement rather than happiness. He spoke the words out with a touch of melancholy, playing up his apparent unhappiness and building empathy with what he thought Miria viewed her own situation. Let her think that perhaps they were in the same boat, society conspiring to prevent them from finding love. Wouldn't it be nice to find happiness for ourselves once in a while? Valmont almost welcomed the bright lights and buzzing din of the party as they left the darkened labyrinth. The shadowed walk had made his spirit dark for some odd reason. He'd merely been manipulating the woman's emotions like he'd done to hundreds of girls before her, planting seeds that now he'd water diligently to harvest later in the fete. Why should he feel guilty at all? Valmont buried these silly thoughts and reminded himself that she was easy prey. He didn't have romantic feelings for women, after all, they were just toys to be enjoyed and discarded. In the garden, two familiar faces appeared and Valmont gave his companions a wave as he turned to Miria. Ahh, Madame, it was a delight to walk with you again. I look forward to continuing our conversation tonight. But for now, if you'll please accept my apologies, I have spied two of my old friends and need a word with them before dinner, spoke Valmont with a frown of sadness. An elegant bow followed, Valmont pressing another lingering kiss on the soft skin of the back of her hand. Adieu.