Chapter Six

Maxime's new servant answered the door when Sébastien knocked. Her eyes widened at the sight of him holding a little girl. "Did something happen?"

"Sort of. Is Maxime in?"

"He's seeing someone, but I can get him right now-"

"No, no. If he's with a patient, let them finish. It's not an emergency."

The servant let them in, and Sébastien asked if he could have a wet rag. The servant told them to come into the kitchen so élo?se could sit by the hearth where it was warm.

She was rather quiet, and he guessed it was partly shock even if she didn't understand everything the man had intended. After Sébastien got a wet cloth from the servant to dab at her red cheek, he asked her what happened after her Mother passed.

"A neighbor had Mama taken away. The landlady made me leave and said I didn't live there anymore. The door was locked. I just wanted to go to my flat, and she'd never been mean to me before. She kept yelling at me and telling me to go away, and when she caught me sleeping outback, she threatened to have guards arrest me."

Unfortunately, children were often made to leave and left alone because no one knew what else to do with them. Homeless kids were in every city and Kingdom.

"Where's this flat?"

"On Tamy corner."

Sébastien had been by there before, although he'd never paid much attention to the dwelling. Anything left behind would be long gone by now. The landlady also sounded like a mean old biddy.

She kicked her dirty feet. "Why you take me here?"

"To see the physician. He's busy at the moment." Sébastien tried to give her a convincing smile even though earlier had dragged up things he'd prefer not thinking about if possible. Plus, he'd have to tell Remus now… "I need to make sure you're well."

"I'm not coughing and hot like Mama was."

"I know. We still need to make sure you're okay." He gently wiped at her lower legs. "You're going to come live with me."

The servant, who had been quiet at stirring something at the work counter, made a faint noise of surprise. Sébastien with a kid. Many probably couldn't imagine that too easily. élo?se's mouth made an O of surprise.

"You're taking me to your Palace?"

"No. It's gone. It was destroyed, and I have a house. You must remember when the werewolves were here?"

And the moon had turned red, not that he was bringing that up. Let everyone think it was simply a strange incident due to the sunlight reflecting off the clouds just so. It certainly hadn't been because of Satan.

She squinted at him.

"Where do you think I live now?" he asked.

"Another Palace."

"I don't have Palaces all over to live in." Arquous didn't count as a home in his mind. "I've been staying in a house, and you'll live there too."

Remus might ask for the ring back with Sébastien dragging in an orphan. He'd said he'd be back after checking out the new scent shop. He'd only be getting bath oils and soaps if they had anything nice. Not a child.

"I get to stay with you?" She clapped her hands. "Forever?"

"Yes. You won't have to eat from the middens anymore. Or beg. Nobody is going to force you to beg for them either."

Or do anything else. She wouldn't learn about things a child shouldn't know of. He'd partly cleaned off her feet when he heard the front door open and close. Maxime called from upstairs, and the servant hurried to speak to him.

"Come on." Sébastien picked her up to carry her into the sitting room.

"Where did you get a child from?" Maxime paused on the steps.

"I found her on the street. Long story. I want you to heal her and check her out in case anything else is wrong."

"Bring her up."

Maxime's room for seeing patients had a bed, and he flung a fresh sheet over it. Sébastien set élo?se on it and settled in a chair near the side. élo?se kept trying to look at everything including the cabinet where a bunch of bottles sat.

"She's got bruises and cuts on her feet," said Sébastien. "I want you to heal that first."

"Why is one side of her face red?" Maxime's hand glowed as he gently touched the bruises on her arm. They vanished.

"She was slapped."

"Where's the person who did that?"

"I dealt with him," Sébastien said blandly.

Maxime gave him a look.

"He deserved it. If you'd seen the whole thing, you have done the same. I don't feel like getting into everything, but he won't be harming anyone again. He was going to do something despicable."

Maxime didn't say anything more to that. He'd guessed what happened to Sébastien in his youth, although he hadn't known who'd been responsible. He healed her red cheek and the nicks on her feet. "Do you have any other cuts?"

She lifted her skirt enough to show a nasty scrape on her knee. "I fell down."

Maxime healed that too before he sat on the bed to ask her a few questions. She was five. Her birthday was in the fall, but she couldn't remember when anymore. Her last meal had been that morning when she'd found a few vegetable bits. Maxime also asked if she had other scrapes or cuts. Did anything hurt? Did she have rashes or odd pains inside? She said she felt a lot better but her stomach hurt and felt hollow.

"When was your last meal before this morning?"

She thought for a long moment. Too long. "The day before yesterday."

Fuck. She had to be ravenous.

"What did you eat?" asked Maxime.

"I had a coin for an egg bun."

"I figured she hasn't been eating a lot," said Sébastien. "I'm not sure if she'll get sick if I feed her a regular meal. If I give her a plate of food, is that going to make her throw up?"

"She is quite skinny for a child her age. I'd start with soup and bread, so you don't shock her system with too much at once. She'll likely be fine, but it's best to avoid her throwing up or landing in the privy with an upset stomach."

"I guess it's luck that we're having chicken soup tonight."

"Give her more broth and less solid. See how she feels and let her have more if she wants it. If she's still fine by tomorrow morning, start letting her have whatever she wants within reason, although I'd try to make sure her meals are regular so she gets used to it. Give her snacks if she's hungry so she'll gain weight. Don't give her too many sweets since the food needs to be nutritious. Sweets will waste room in her stomach, and she needs proper meals. If her stomach hurts, pull back a little, and tell me if it continues." Maxime nudged élo?se's arm. "Why don't you go look at those toys in the box by the window?"

She slid off the bed and gave Sébastien a hesitant look. "It's okay. Go look at them."

"I feel better. Thanks, Mr. Phy-physian."

"Physician," he gently corrected. "It's Maxime, and you're welcome. What do you plan to do with her long-term?" he asked Sébastien once she'd gone to the box and pulled out a doll to look at.

"Keep her. What? You think I can't take care of a child?" The words came out a little defensively.

"No. I just want you to take care of yourself too. Last year wasn't that long ago."

"I'm not helpless."

"I didn't say you were," said Maxime. "Adoption can be stressful. A person might slide into the role of a parent without a lot of trouble, but you have to remember it's still a big change, and it's combined with other things in your life like being King and getting married. It's also a big change for her, and you'll both be trying to navigate this. Some parents can also be quite hard on themselves because they may fear they're not doing something right, and kids don't come with handbooks."

Sébastien could see that. He'd have to rearrange some things in his life. He couldn't simply go out with Remus and leave her unattended. Or go out himself if Remus decided he wasn't dealing with this unexpected girl. If she was sick in the night, he'd have to take care of her. He could get a nanny, but he didn't like the idea of foisting the responsibility on another, so that idea was out. A nanny might like children, but they did the work for money, and he couldn't bet on anyone feeling the same about a child that wasn't theirs.

Besides, Mother had never used a nanny, and not all higher-ups left the care of their offspring to paid people.

"If you need help or even just a moment to yourself so you can recoup, ask me. I could watch her for a day or even just a few hours if you need."

"You have patients."

"It doesn't mean I can't help you if you need it. I know you're not inclined to ask, but if you need help, there's no shame in it. How's Remus?"

"He's fine. He was in the office when I left." Sébastien had sent him a short note a couple of days ago informing him of Remus's return and their coming marriage.

"So…he doesn't know?"

"No. How could I say anything yet? I took her here."

"Ah. I'm sure that when you tell him, he'll understand."

Ideally, yes. Except Sébastien was afraid it wouldn't turn out that way. He didn't see Remus setting élo?se outside or demanding Sébastien get rid of her, but that didn't mean he'd be thrilled about sticking around.

"I want to take her home so she can eat." Sébastien stood. "Are you ready to go, élo?se?"

She dropped a block into the box and ran back to him. "Where are we going?"

"My home."

"I don't know where that is."

"You'll see when we go."

"Is he coming?" She pointed at Maxime who laughed.

"I live here."

Sébastien smiled at her. "Whisper's waiting, so let's go. Thank you, Maxime."

***

élo?se watched him take care of Whisper and asked when she had to go back to her spot.

"What do you mean your spot?"

"I kip in an old shed."

"Doesn't kip mean you live there?"

"Yeah, I sleep there."

"You live here now, so you'll never have to sleep in an old shed again. When I said you're living with me, I meant forever, not for a couple."

"Really forever?"

"Yes, really."

Sébastien had the small package from the scent shop, and he tucked it under his arm before he picked her up from the grass. She was light enough to hold against his hip with one arm. The bottoms of her feet were already dirty, and the backyard was dirt and grass, but he didn't want her accidentally stepping on a stray pebble and nicking herself again.

She likely didn't have much energy either, especially after her harrowing day. She leaned on him and wrapped her arms around his neck like she was already attached.

When he entered the sitting room, élo?se spotted the framed portrait of Margot on the wall. "She's pretty."

"That was my Mother."

Remus's voice came from the office. "Uh, Sébastien?"

"Give me a minute."

He hurried into the kitchen where Milly was stirring a pot over the fire. "Oh, I wasn't expecting a visitor."

"Hi, Milly. This is élo?se, and she'll be staying here." Sébastien set the girl down and placed the package on the work counter. "élo?se, this is Milly, and she works here as a cook."

"Hi, élo?se. Aren't you a cutie?"

élo?se said hi and looked around with a rather confused expression. If she'd grown up in a flat, she likely wasn't used to such a big kitchen.

"How ready is the soup?" asked Sébastien.

"The carrots need a bit more softening, but it's mostly ready."

"Can you give her a bowl and a little bread? I took her to Maxime, and he said to give her more broth to make sure she can handle it. I have to talk to Remus."

"Of course. Come sit by the fire and eat." Milly headed for the cupboard by the wall where most of the dishes were kept.

élo?se grabbed Sébastien's leg and looked up at him. "I want to stay with you."

"I'm only going a couple of rooms over. I promise I'm not leaving. Milly won't hurt you either."

"I don't want to stay with the nanny."

"She's the cook, not a nanny, and I've known Milly for a long time. I'm not hiring a nanny to watch you anyway. She's made some nice soup that you'll like." He took her hand to guide her toward the raised hearth where she wouldn't be too close but could sit and feel the warmth. "Once you eat, you'll probably feel better. I'll be right back, okay?"

She drew her feet up to watch Milly scoop broth into the bowl.

Sébastien's dread grew worse as he left the kitchen.

Remus was at the desk in the office, and he stood when Sébastien entered and approached the desk. "I thought I heard a girl's voice."

"You did. I have something to tell you."

Remus came around the desk like he was about to kiss him. "What?"

Sébastien took a half-step back. If Remus decided things were over, he'd give back the ring and go back to élo?se. He wasn't arguing or begging even though it would hurt beyond belief to lose him so soon.

Remus paused. "What's wrong?"

"I found the little girl who gave me the drawing," Sébastien said since there was no point in beating around the bush. "Her name is élo?se, she's been living on the street since I was made Duke, she has nowhere to go, she's not in the best shape, and I'm keeping her. I know this isn't something we talked about, and we didn't decide about kids, but I'm not putting her outside or giving her away. She was in the street, and a man had her. I told her she lives with me now, and I'm not going back on my word."

There. He'd said it. He wasn't going to tell élo?se he'd changed his mind and upset her worse when life likely felt quite uncertain in her young mind. Remus blinked at him like he was trying to absorb the words.

"Erm, you mean like a daughter?"

"Yes." Sébastien couldn't keep the defensive note out of his tone. Even if Remus didn't say they were done, he'd probably hear shit about making a huge decision without his input. But what else could he have done out there on the street? Her life had changed quite abruptly again , and he'd needed to offer a form of stability as soon as possible and not tell her that she might come to live with him. He'd promised her safety.

"I thought you'd come home with bath oils and maybe a cake of soap," said Remus. "If you brought her here to stay, wouldn't we be keeping her?"

"We haven't discussed children and what exactly we want in that area. She's not ours by blood, but I'm still not getting rid of her."

Remus sighed and leaned against the desk. "The only reason I'd ever leave you is if you cheated on me."

"I wouldn't cheat." Like Sébastien would toss away their relationship for a random fuck.

"I know that. You're looking at me like you expect me to pack my shit and say bye."

"We haven't made any definite plans, and I just brought home a kid. This is a huge thing…" It sounded like Remus wasn't going to cut off their relationship, but Sébastien couldn't make himself ease. "I can't put her in an orphanage. I promised she'd be safe, and I told her she'd be living with me. I can't go back on my word or put her in a place where anything might happen."

"I get that. I don't think you'll be bringing orphans home until we're loaded to the rafters, and whatever happened, you had a good reason to do this. This is huge, and I wasn't expecting it, but I'm not telling you to dump her anywhere. I'm also not going anywhere."

"You're not leaving?"

Remus put his arms out. "Can we?" Sébastien stepped forward so Remus could squeeze him in a big hug. "I guess you wouldn't trust that I'd be okay with something you're set on like that. You're used to being criticized."

The Regent had done that a lot to pick and tear at him. Sébastien never would have dared or dreamed of bringing a child into the Palace with Uncle alive, but he could imagine the complaints if he'd tried. "I couldn't leave her."

Remus rubbed his back. "You don't have to defend yourself. I mean, I do want to know what happened, but you don't have to stand here and try to bring me around to your reasoning. Something happened, and you made a decision. I can't pretend that I'm not surprised, but I'm sure it was the right one, and we'll go from here. We'll both take care of her, okay?"

This was almost too good.

"You'll be her Father too?"

"Yes. I'm not going to leave everything to you or demand you get rid of her."

Sébastien felt like pure shit for automatically assuming Remus would leave . "But why are you so accepting of this?"

Remus sighed and pushed Sébastien away only enough to look at him while rubbing his shoulders. "Because with whatever happened, I think you had a good reason. You sort of already know her since you did meet her once before, and you made a decision that was in her best interest. I know you wish better and different decisions had been made for you in the past or that someone had saved you then. It didn't happen. You can do it for someone else. You said a man had her, and I don't see you walking away from that kind of thing. You're not that kind of person."

The shitty feeling increased. Sébastien had automatically jumped to the worst conclusion. Remus had approached him in a logical way before, trying to see things from his point of view while allowing him to also gain trust in and out of bed. He was doing the same now and trusting Sébastien's thought process and reasoning.

"I think you tend to think you can't actually have things you want," added Remus. "Like it'll be ruined. You thought I'd change my mind and never return."

"I'm sorry. I thought you'd at least be angry that I changed everything so fast. We're not even married yet."

"I can see why you'd assume the worst. This is sudden, but I'm not mad. I'm not going to lecture you or leave you."

He drew Sébastien in for another hug, and he squeezed Remus. "You're too good for me."

"No, I'm not. You don't realize your worth. You know, you're a hero in that little girl's eyes. She probably thought she'd be out there forever."

Sébastien didn't feel like a hero. He just wanted to keep her safe. Nobody had kept him safe before, and while Sébastien would never be like his Uncle, leaving her almost would have been like continuing the cycle in a way. He'd be a shitty person in a different way.

"What happened to the man?"

"I think you can guess. He deserved it even though he didn't get the actual chance to do what he wanted."

Remus paused. "If he warranted a blade to the throat, I have a feeling what happened."

"She doesn't fully understand it. I don't want her to either."

"Can you introduce me?" Remus kissed him on the lips.