Chapter 832 - Verninac Chateau Ⅱ (1/2)
The hostess Louise continued to introduce the rest of the children. ”Raphael is in his second year at Beauxbatons. While my Gabriel has Lucas, who is a first-year at Beauxbatons, and Simon, who is only five years old.” She steps back and bows allowing for the rest of the family members to introduce themselves.
The first one to eagerly introduce herself is a salt-peppered-haired witch with clear eyes and pale skin, Nobella Dubois (nee Verninac). She and Sirsa had been very close in their youths. Her clear eyes sparkle with pŀėȧsurė as she sees the traces of her precious cousin in her grandchildren. ”I am Noella Dubois,” she happily declared, before gesturing at her side. ”This is my husband, Victor Dubois,” a French wizard with an impeccable taste in robes.
”My son, Joseph, and his two children, Violette, a 5th year, and Alexander, a 7th year.” Joseph was a widower roughly their mother, Eileen's age, while his two children were both very good-looking with lighter colored hair likely inherited from their deceased mother. The two siblings shared the bright-colored eyes of their father and grandmother..
The Verninac's continue to introduce themselves for a time until everyone in the family is introduced. The air grows chilly again as Philippe and Reginald Prince glared at each other causing sparks to be produced in the air. Before anyone can speak, the door swings open behind them to reveal the tall, slender woman with dark hair with tinges of silver swept up like raven's wings.
A smug smile appears on Georgine's face as she arches her brow at her older brother and Philippe Verninac. ”Oh, it would seem that I arrived just in time,” she loudly declared, while a house elf hurried after her carrying her multiple bags.
”I am simply famished, please show me to the parlor,” Georgine said as if she was in her own home.
”This way please,” Louise, the hostess said with relief. ”The house elves will take up the cloaks and bags to the guest room,” she instructed the house elves, who obediently appeared with a loud pop to do so. ”Would you like to freshen up?” She asked.
Rowan and Severus shake their heads as Reginald gestures that he would. It wasn't so much that he wanted to freshen up, but he wanted to see Philippe Verniac's face as little as possible. It was impossible to do so, but he would valiantly attempt to do so! The heavy leaden house elf toddled away with his various bags and led the guest, Reginald Prince to freshen upstairs in the ȧssigned guest quarters.
The atmosphere in the Verninac front hall is that much more relaxed with the departure of Reginald Prince. The Verninac's follow Georgine Prince, who is led by Louise to the nearby parlor including Rowan and Severus except for Philippe, who retreated to the privacy of his personal study. Philippe disliked the fact that Reginald Prince was in his home, but he could not exactly throw him out. He would do his best to avoid him lest he duels the arrogant old wizard! (That and he didn't have a death wish.)
The ȧduŀts gather at the ȧduŀt table, while the youths and children sit at different tables. Aunt Georgine may hate people at times, but she was infinitely far more sociable than their grandfather. While Rowan carefully studies the faces of their third and fourth cousins. Severus is surrounded by the girls as he was prime meat, er, a prime candidate to wed. Not that Severus seemed to mind the various attentions of their cousins.
Rowan took a sip of the verveine (vervena) tea and made a bit of a face. It wasn't bad, but it was certainly different from what she was used to. She carefully set down her cup of tea to find that the very attractive Alexander Dubois was staring at her with his enchanting colored eyes.
”And how are you, cousin?” Alexander asked with a debonair smile that easily outshone even that of Sirius's heartthrob smile. It was a shame that Alexander had not been old enough to participate in the tournament or else, he would have been just as popular as Apolline among the female population.
”I am well, thank you,” Rowan replied in a slightly accented French. It was one of the few things that their mother had taught them as children. She had not been very patient, but she had still taught them. Severus and Rowan were fluent, but they could read and write far better than speak considering the manuscripts that they regularly read and studied.