The following morning Sylvie did not want to get out of bed. She was exhausted. Last night, she had barely slept. Her thoughts of being inadequate and an imposter kept running through her mind. She was finally able to quiet her thoughts and go to sleep.
That was only an hour before Bouvier and Whitley came barging into her room to get her ready for her day. She wanted to tell them both to get out and let her sleep until noon, but knew from yesterday's interaction with her new family, they would think ill of her if she did so. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and ate as much of the breakfast as she could. She still had a nervous stomach and wasn't really that hungry. Her appetite was the last thing she was currently worried about.
Once she was done eating, Whitley, along with the breakfast trolly exited her bed chambers. It was just her and Bouvier.
"Today is a new day. Madame Louve has requested us in the same room as yesterday." Bouvier informed her.
Sylvie was not feeling good about today, or her lessons with Louve. She knew that woman despised her. Sylvie shrugged her shoulders and said nothing. Bouvier had been picking up around her chambers and stopped when she saw the sad, sullen, look on her face. She put the pile of dirty laundry down beside the ottoman that sat at the foot of her bed and gently sat down beside Sylvie.
"What's the matter?" She asked.
Sylvie didn't feel like speaking about it. From a very early age, she had been told that her feelings didn't matter and tears only worked if there was a wealthy elite to see them.
"Sylvie, I know we had a rough time of it on the Island, but you can trust me. I promise. Anything you tell me will stay between us."
Sylvie looked at her then. Bouvier could see the unshed tears.
"I-I miss the Island," she said just above a whisper. Sylvie wiped her tears away before they could fall.
"Is that all?" Inquired Bouvier.
Sylvie shook her head 'no'.
"What is it then?" She asked Sylvie.
"I -I can not explain it. I have always been an outsider. On Canis, I took great joy in that. The isolation was my freedom from all the bad things. Now I am here. Married to a stranger. Louve and his father despise me. I have ruined their plans. I know they will continue to punish me for it." Sylvie couldn't stop the tears.
Bouvier reached into the pocket on her overskirt and handed her a clean handkerchief. Sylive wiped her tears.
"So let me guess, dinner last night was not what you had expected."
"It was far worse." Sylvie was finally admitted. She continued, "She had me wear an inappropriate gown, and she and my father-in-law spoke of my husband the entire time. They made sure I would feel like an outsider. I didn't ask for any of this. I just want my old life back. Why can't I just go home!" Sylvie broke down then.
Her tears were coming freely now, and Bouvier could do nothing except hold the frail girl in her arms. It had been so long since she had shown someone other than Adolf comfort. She felt good. She felt like she was helping someone other than herself. It was a good feeling.
"There, there." Bouvier soothed Sylvie while wiping her tears away. "I am here with you. We are here together. I know that's not much, but you aren't alone. I know how clever you are Sylvie. You have given my bodyguards a good run for their money, so I know you can do the same to that Louve gal. She is full of herself and she does think she is better than us, but we both know the truth." Bouvier encouraged her.
"And what is the truth?" Sylvie asked, not really following Bouvier's words.
"The truth is you are Lady Canis. You are the Queen. Not her. You don't need to impress anyone here. Not even that old Jackal, Adolf. You have to only impress your husband. Do you understand?"
Sylvie knew Bouvier was right, but the pressure was still there. She decided to ignore it and take Madame's advice. She was nice when she wasn't bossing everyone around and running Sylvie off. Sylvie nodded her head 'Yes'.
"Then it is settled. Let's get you dressed and ready for the day." Bouvier stood up then and went to Sylvie's wardrobe. She rummaged through it until she found an emerald green dress. She lay out on the bed. Sylvie touched the material. It was silk. It was a beautiful fabric and color. She almost protested wearing it, but knew she had to accept her new life and all that entailed...
Less than an hour later, the duo arrived at the indoor garden room. Louve was already seated at the table enjoying the morning repast. "You are late! " She said as she put jelly on a piece of toast.
"S-sorry. I had trouble getting into this gown." Sylvie lied, as she walked over to the table, with Bouvier in tow.
"Aye, she did have a time getting into it," Bouvier co-signed on Sylvie's lie.
Louve stared at both of them as if they were dirty dishrags. Today she didn't hide her disdain. She wore it for all to see. Both ladies fluffed their skirts and sat down. Sylvie looked on as Bouvier poured her tea.
Sylvie's glance turned to Louve and she saw Louve's piercing gaze on her. Louve spoke,"Yesterday, we discussed what I will be teaching you. Since the annual pack gathering will be upon us within a matter of days, I will teach you proper etiquette and to dance."
Sylvie hated confrontation, but she knew she had to say something to Louve about her treatment of her last night.
"Hopefully no more wardrobe mistakes." was all she could muster the courage to say, and even that seemed to challenge Louve. Sylvie could tell she wanted to kill her.
Louve began placing sugar cubes in her tea as she spoke, "If you have an issue with me, Lady Canis, you cannot address it in front of servants. I apologize for my behavior last night. It was unkind of me. I should have done better to include you in the conversation instead of leaving you out."
Sylvie wasn't expecting such a succinct apology. It was off-putting. She knew she still had to accept it regardless of how she felt about it.
"Shall we put it behind us?" Louve asked.
Sylvie assessed her. She had no other choice except to trust Louve would keep her word and not teach her anything that would embarrass her family.
For the next two hours, Sylvie was shown how to carry herself like a Loux Garoux woman as well as table manners. Their lessons were interrupted by Whitley who announced that Louve's parents requested her presence at an event. She said her proper goodbyes by bowing to Sylvie and then she left.
It was once again Bouvier and Sylvie. Sylvie continued to practice gliding across the garden.
She felt herself smiling at how silly this all was. She was practicing how to walk and curtsy. If Caleb could see her now she knew he would tease her with no end in sight. She had given up her trousers for expensive silk blouses and skirts. She was no longer the tomboy.
She felt herself feeling regret. Her mind went back to when Caleb had haphazardly proposed to her and asked her to run away with him. She had been so quick to say 'no'. She had been so sure of her life and where she would end up. Now as she walked around feeling her skirts fluttering around her slender legs in a room she secretly thought was enchanted, she felt like maybe she should have taken Caleb up on his offer.
She should have said yes and ran away with him. Where would they be by now she wondered. It felt like it was years ago when in reality it had only been a few weeks. It didn't matter now. She was Lady Canis.
With a few more lessons the old Sylvie would be no more. Sylvie wanted to please her new husband, even though he was a stranger to her. She was slowly starting to understand his position and she didn't want to bring him any shame. If that meant she had to take lessons with his ex-betrothed until he came back from the war, then so be it. She had to prove to them that she had value.
Bouvier escorted Sylvie back to her room. Sylvie walked along and felt a little sad. The day was just starting. Bouvier could tell Sylive was up to something. She had a far-off look in her eye. She didn't have to wait long for Sylvie to say it....