DAI Fic: Settling Down – Josephine/F!Inquisitor (Adult) Parts 6-11

[anxiousgeek.livejournal.com]

Title: Settling Down
Fandom: Dragon Age Inquisition
Rating: Adult
Character/Pairing: Josephine/F!Inquisitor
Spoilers: End game spoilers
Warnings: Smut and excessive fluff.
Summary: Josephine and Evelyn have married and moved to Antiva, leaving Skyhold behind.
Notes: A Dragon Age Kink Meme prompt with a life of it’s own. In this fic, as is my headcannon – Antiva is Catalonia and Ostwick is Germany. Apologies to any attempts to use those languages and the odd smattering of French throughout. Originally posted in eleven parts. 9816 words total.

6.

She was pacing. Josephine knew she was pacing and Evelyn sat up in the bed.

“What is wrong my love?” she asked. “Are you still worried about Yvette?”

Josephine chuckled.

“No, Vettie isn’t a problem. She loves the children and she means well.”

Evelyn nodded, pulling her wife back onto the bed with a quiet squeal.

“Then what?”

“I’m worried about my brothers,” she admitted, settling into Evelyn’s embrace easily.

“All of them?” she asked.

Josephine nodded.

“Neither Laurien nor Antoine have mentioned the children in their letters. I’m worried they are angry.”

“Maybe they’re just not that interested. They’re young. And men. I find most men aren’t interested in adorable children that aren’t their own.”

Josephine knew the stereotype might be true but she was still unsettled. She went to pull away but Evelyn held on tight. She could always pick up on the most minute moods and expressions.

“What else?”

“Laurien was angry when father named me to take over the family. He didn’t speak to any of us for months. Mother was heartbroken.”

“But you’re the eldest. I thought it was tradition.”

“It is,” she said, “and it was always going to be me. But Laurien was so sure that father would chose him over me.”

“Why?”

Josephine hesitated.

“Come on Josie, you can tell me.”

“Father did not approve of me becoming a bard,” she said, with a sigh. “He thought it a waste.”

“Ah.”

“But I quit and became a diplomat and made my amends. It was a long time ago.”

“You are the head of the family, regardless of Laurien and what he wants,” she said with a kiss. “You have saved your family, you are in charge now.”

“I know, but I am worried that if Laurien rejects the children, Antoine will follow suit and then the two of them will be able to influence Frederic.”

“No one is going to treat them badly,” Evelyn said. “No one,” she said, sharply.

“Evelyn.” She was worried she had said too much now, that she’d made her wife angry but the woman simply kissed her.

“You are head of the family. You can get rid of any malcontents.”

Josephine chuckled

“My brothers are not malcontents.”

Evelyn laughed and pulled her over until she was lying on her back in the bed. She moved to hover over her, kissing her until she was relaxed again, settled against the bed.

“I will deal with any problems okay?”

“How?” she asked.

“I have some thoughts.”

There was a wicked grin on her face and Josephine frowned.

“Please, do not injure my family.”

Evelyn chuckled.

“I promise everyone will be in one piece.”

“Evie…” she said, but she ignored her and kissed her hard, slipping a hand up her nightdress. “Evie.”

“Forget about it,” she murmured. “It’s going to be fine.”

Josephine groaned when Evelyn cupped a breast, arching up into her touch.

“Fine, fine…” she moaned.

“Good girl.”

“Please,” she whimpered when Evelyn pulled up her nightdress and dotted kisses down her body.

“It’ll be fine,” Evelyn told her again, “say it.”

“Say what?” she gasped when her wife pulled at her small clothes.

“Say it’ll be fine.”

She didn’t want to, couldn’t focus enough as Evelyn continued to pleasure her with her lips and tongue. Damn it her wife was too good at this, and she truly believed it would be fine, that Evelyn would make it all okay no matter what happened tomorrow.

7.

Laurien and Antoine arrived together. They were a year apart in age, as close as two brothers could be and were both attending the same university in the south of the country. When they arrived Josephine was alone into greeting them, nervous and annoyed with Evelyn who had taken the children out earlier that morning. She’d promised they’d be back in time.

She hugged them tightly as they walked into the house, two men following them with their bags. She was genuinely glad to see them – it had been over a year since her wedding but despite Evelyn’s assurances that it would be alright she couldn’t help the nerves bubbling up inside her.

“I am so sorry!” A loud voice came from the top of the stairs of the vestibule. “I thought we’d be back down in time to greet you.

Evelyn came down the stairs in her Inquisition finery, one of her largest great swords strapped to her back – one that glittered and had a name that Josephine couldn’t remember. Benoit also had a sword on his back and she frowned. He was far too young to have a sword in her opinion but she’d never flat out told Evelyn he couldn’t have one. Thankfully Louisa didn’t have a sword as well, instead she was holding a paintbrush, waving it around. Josephine hoped it was clean because that was one of the little girls finer dresses she was wearing.

“Serahs,” Evelyn said, smiling as they reached the two young men. “It is good to see you both.”

“And you Lady Trevelyan,” Laurien said.

She shook their hands, putting a little extra squeeze in it for the elder Montilyet brother, Josephine noted. Subtlety was never her strong suit.

“May I present out son Benoit Montilyet.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the boy said, bowing, the sword unbalancing him a little. Evelyn steadied him and smiled.

“And our daughter Louisa Montilyet.”

“Hi!” The little girl cried waving the paintbrush.

“They’re gorgeous,” Antoine said, but Laurien didn’t comment.

“Where were you?” Josephine asked.

“Oh you would not believe the morning we have had my darling.”

Josephine held in a snigger. Evelyn only ever called her ‘darling’ when she was in trouble and she was definitely in trouble. And causing it.

“It was terrible mama,” Benoit added and it seemed her son’s acting was no better than her wife’s.

“Some upstart in the market was disparaging the Montilyets. You, the children, the business.”

“Who?” Antoine asked.

“Didn’t catch his name. I challenged him to a duel.”

“Oh Evelyn, you didn’t,” Josephine said.

“Well, not in front of Louisa. She’s been in the studio with your father.”

Josephine gasped her surprise genuine.

“Father hasn’t let anyone into the studio for over a week. No one. Not even Yvette.”

“He wouldn’t let me in either love,” Evelyn said, “but he took Louisa and I got my sword but…”

“He forgot that Antivans use rapi-yers,” Benoit said. “Not great swords.”

“Rapiers,” Evelyn corrected, beaming proudly at him.

“Anyway, we had words and I borrowed a rapier and fought him to the death.”

“To the death?” Josephine asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Fine, first to yield,” Evelyn said. “I won, and the Montilyets have been avenged once more.”

Josephine chuckled, she took her daughter from the warrior, settling her on her hip.

“Please put your swords away and I’ll have lunch served.”

“Laurien and Antoine haven’t seen the new rooms! The training room and my weapon collection and the armoury. Come this way messeres.”

Josephine was amused by the way her wife was using more and more Free Marches words and sayings as she spoke to her younger brothers.

“Mama has some great swords. She has the sword she used to kill Coryff.. Coryff?”

“Corypheus,” Evelyn helped the boy. “Come this way, and then we’ll have lunch. You gentlemen handle any weapons? I have axes, swords, daggers, mauls…”

“Swords mostly, one handed, and shields,” Antoine said. “I’ve never used anything bigger.”

“Well, great swords are pretty standard in Ostwisk. I’ll show you some, see if you can handle it. What about you Laurien?”

Josephine didn’t catch her pale-looking brother’s response as they headed off to the armoury Evelyn had put in almost as soon as she’d moved into the estate. If she was trying to scare her brothers into behaving Josephine was sure it was working.

Evelyn may not be subtle but she was effective.

8.

The estate’s ballroom was decorated in the blues, purples and golds that Josephine favoured – shining in the bright lamp lights hanging on the walls. Evelyn thought it much nicer and much grander than the Winter Palace, but Josephine brushed off her comments and continued to step carefully down the stairs where an announcer was waiting for them. They were the last to arrive, an Antivan custom.

“And I know full well the customs of every state and country in South Thedas,” Josephine had told her, “and carrying children on your shoulders into the party is not an Ostwick tradition.”

Evelyn had simply laughed but allowed Benoit to walk down the stairs while she carried Louisa down on her hip.

“Announcing Lady Josephine Montilyets and Lady Evelyn Montilyet!” the announcer cried, making Benoit jump a little as they walked into the room to the complete attention of the entire party.

“And their children Benoit Montilyets and Louisa Montilyet!”

Evelyn reached the bottom of the steps and turned to look at Josephine where she stood a few steps up. She was staring at her, and waved her down. She realised what she was doing and ran down the steps to join them.

“You…you changed your name?” Josephine said. “To Montilyet?”

“Yes, we’re a family.”

“But what of your own family? Of the Trevelyan name?” she asked, trying to ignore all the people vying for their attention.

“You are my family Josephine. And the Trevelyan name isn’t going to die out because I’ve left it behind.”

Josephine threw her arms around her and Louisa, kissing her wife and drawing Benoit into the family embrace.

“I love you too Josie,” Evelyn said with a laugh, “now, go greet your guests.”

“Our guests,” she reminded her sternly. “No hiding on the balconies.”

Evelyn blushed, putting her daughter down on the floor.

“You ruin all my fun,” she said, sticking her tongue out and Josephine leaned in close, kissing her softly on the cheek close to her ear.

“Behave and we’ll have some fun after the party okay?” she said, enjoying the light blush over her pale cheeks.

“Okay.”

Josephine took Louisa’s hand, and Benoit’s, intending to introduce them to some of the guests. Before she left Evelyn to make her own rounds around the party, she turned back

“That includes challenging any of the guests to any duels, fights, or anything else that will get you injured.”

“Yes my love,” Evelyn said, almost sounding dejected but the grin on her face told Josephine other wise.

“Now go make nice with my brothers while I go see the Countess La Len.”

“Oh God, why did you invite her?”

Josephine decided not to answer, pushing her wife in the opposite direction, she decided her wife had earned a little bit of a reprieve from people like the Countess. At least until she had some cider in her system. She was an Ostwick noble but Josephine wondered how the Void they really did things in the Free Marches.

“I heard Evelyn gave Laurien and Antoine a tour of your armoury and training room this afternoon,” Yves Montilyet said, taking Louisa from Josephine and kissing the girl on the cheeks. “After duelling some noble in the square this morning.”

“Sorry papa, she just wanted to -”

“I understand what she was doing Josie la meva filla,” he said with a smile.

“Is that why you took Louisa?”

“Hmmm?”

“You let Louisa into your studio. You wouldn’t let Vette in but my daughter…”

“My granddaughter,” he told her. “Is always welcome in my studio. As well as my grandson!” he proclaimed loudly, bending down to hug the boy. “Both of whom look lovely today, your mother will be beside herself.”

Josephine beamed at him.

“Let us introduce my grandchildren to the Countess La Len, she will not wait any longer with out being slighted.”

“Of course father.”

9.

Montilyet parties had always been very popular, even before the former Inquisitor and saviour of the world was in regular attendance. Evelyn had been particularly well behaved tonight, Josephine noted. She’d danced with both Countess’, the Count Du Lion, Lord Percy Artwick and both of the Louann sisters. She’d also danced with all three of her brothers, her father and was currently dancing with Yvette who was smiling brightly at her love. By the usual pale colour of her skin she hadn’t had much to drink either so she was less likely to get into any fights with some of the younger nobles later on.

She stood with her mother and brother on the edge of the room, half listening to their conversation about Frederic’s relationship with Lady Helena, nothing she didn’t already know – Frederic had already told both Josephine and Yvette all about the young woman he was courting. The elder Lady Montilyet was looking forward to another wedding – it had been over eighteen months since Josephine’s own wedding.

She watched her wife move around the dance floor, swapping partners with Lady Ceriana and dancing with Ser Rufus of Mordillia, moving around with more flair and grace than she usually had. It seemed the less cider her wife drank the better she danced. Josephine would have to remember that for future events.

“Josephine – look.”

At Frederic’s tug on her elbow she looked over to see her brother Laurien dancing with Louisa in the middle of the room, the little girl on his hip, holding one arm out as if they were really dancing. The little girl looked sleepy but happy and even Laurien had a smile on his face. Benoit was playing with the other children of nobles that were in attendance, the boy laughing loudly despite the late hour.

She smiled. Everything was going perfectly.

“Josie,” Antoine said, placing a hand on her elbow. “May I have a dance?” he asked. She nodded and allowed her younger brother to lead her onto the dance floor.

“Great party estimada germana,” he said, leading her into the first steps of the complicated dance.

“Thank you Antoine.”

“I wanted to ask you a question,” he said, looking at her intently.

“What is it brother?”

“Are you happy?”

The sincerity in his voice and the question itself made Josephine trip over a couple of steps in the dance and Antoine had to steady her, chuckling as he did so.

“Careful sister.”

“Why do you ask?” she said ignoring her falter in the dance.

“Because Laurien and I have been away for a very long time, mother and father have been in Val Royeax with Yvette. Even Frederic has not been here very much.”

“No one is here to look after me?” she asked.

“No, not quite. But no one is here to make sure you are happy.”

“I am happy Antoine. I have Evelyn and the children. They are all I need. But it is wonderful to have all of my family home.”

Antoine smiled. They danced for a little while, spinning around the room elegantly with one another.

“Benoit and Louisa are wonderful,” Antoine said, as the dance came to an end. “Evelyn didn’t need to try and scare us into thinking that.”

Josephine blushed but laughed.

“Not you perhaps, but Laurien probably needed a little push.”

“A little,” the young man admitted. “You know he loves you though.”

“I know.”

The embraced on the dance floor and when they separated the eldest Montilyet brother walked up to them, holding a sleeping Louisa in his arms. The sight warmed her and Antoine smiled at her, with a nod.

“Would you like me to take her?” Josephine asked. Laurien shook his head.

“Please, let me put her to bed for you,” he said. “Lest she wakes up.”

“Very well, Mariona is watching the other children. I’ll tell her to head up to the nursery and help you,” she said. “Let Evelyn say goodnight before you go.”

She bent over to kiss the girl on the forehead and took a few steps away, stopping so she could watch Laurien and Evelyn for a moment. They smiled at each other, Evelyn kissing Louisa in the same way she had, and then squeezing the younger man’s shoulder. She smiled to Antoine and headed over to let the children’s nanny know her daughter was heading to bed.

As the party started to wind down – Benoit asleep and in bed, many of the guests gone or too drunk to do much – Josephine took the chance to dance with her love, slow and sweet, Evelyn’s strong arms wrapped around her waist as her own wrapped around the warrior’s shoulders.

“I think the evening was a success meine Leibe,” Evelyn said, kissing her on the cheek. “Even your brothers are happy.”

“Even Yvette is happy.”

“You love your sister,” she said with a grin.

“Yes, yes but she is hard to please sometimes,” she replied with a sigh.

“And you? Are you hard to please my love,” Evelyn asked with a familiar mischievous glint in her eyes.

“You know the answer to that Evie.”

“Have I been good Josie?” her wife whispered, leaning close enough for the words to ghost over her skin. Josephine shivered.

“You’ve been very good my love,” she purred.

“Do I get my fun now?”

Josephine took a step back, taking Evelyn’s hand in hers. Without a word she led her out of the ballroom and through the estate to their room.

10.

Josephine takes her straight to bed, not even stopping to check in on the children not wanting to ruin the moment between them. Evelyn had that spark in her eye that so often meant trouble for her and once inside the warrior took her hands and led her over to the bed. She kissed her softly and she sighed into the kiss, letting her lead her into another familiar dance.

She stripped her out of her dress, pulling the pieces away until Josephine stood naked in front of her.

“Maker Josephine you take my breath away every day,” Evelyn said and Josephine felt the blush spread down across her chest, her wife chasing the colour with her lips, dotting kissing down to her breasts. She sucked in a harsh breath as she took a nipple in her mouth, a quick pull between her red lips before moving away again. She stood up straight and urged Josephine onto the bed.

As she stripped she smiled, dropping clothing on the floor as she walked over to her chest of things.

“The house is full,” she said casually, Josephine watching the movement of her backside as she moved bent over to dig in the chest. She bit back a groan, running a hand down to her own centre. “Probably a bad time to test out a new toy,” she said standing up with what looked like a very long phallus.

“Evie?” she asked, hand stopping still between her legs, a gush of warmth flowing at the sight of wife bare and smiling.

“I mean, all your family is home, the guest rooms are completely full. There are still guests drunk and drinking below us in the ballroom.”

“Evie.”

“What a bad time to be screaming your head off…” she trailed off with a chuckle and Josephine groaned. “Now I get to have my fun.”

She stood at the end of the bed and started to run one end of the phallus over her centre, pressing it down on her clit every now and then and moaning quietly as she did so.

“Please continue,” she said, gesturing to Josephine who was still holding her hand still between her legs.

“What are you doing?”

“You’ll see, carry on.”

Her voice was so calm, so normal, even as she stood there naked touching herself with what looked like a long phallus – longer than any of their others and it was never going to fit in either of them and then she realised.

She moaned and Evelyn laughed, slowly pressing the long phallus against her wet entrance with a moan of her own.

“Come over here now,” Josephine with a snap in her voice that the warrior always responded too; in or out of the bedroom.

She grinned and moved to lie on the bed next to her, pale skin contrasting to her own bronze colour in a way she loved dearly. They kissed, forgetting the toy for a moment as they caressed skin – Evelyn sliding her hand down her body and between her legs. She arched up into the gentle touch of her fingers as they pressed down quickly over her clit and to her entrance before pulling away again.

She shifted quickly, faster than a warrior should be able to Josephine thought, but spread her legs open with strong hands and immediately felt her tongue licking up her centre to her clit and she threw her head back and let Evelyn pleasure her – let her love make her moan with quick flicks over her clit and teasing presses between her lips and inside her.

“Oh Evie, please,” she forgot the toy quickly, let Evelyn have her way with her like she so often did, so often wanted. She didn’t answer, instead shifting to press a finger to her entrance, teasing again until Josephine was bucking her hips up and then she sucked on her clit and pressed deep inside her and by Andraste she needed this woman like air.

She always loved this, loved the way Evelyn had learnt her body so well until she was nothing but moans and mutters. Every press of her finger inside had her gasping, as her wife slowly added another finger and another, stretching her body bit by bit – never hurting her. Evelyn never hurt her, she was so gentle for a woman who carried around a great-sword. She had more strength than she had ever used on Josephine and she often wondered what it would be like to have all that strength unleashed on her.

Maybe, maybe one day.
She didn’t even feel it coming, that burst of pleasure that hit every nerve and had her crying out much louder than she would’ve liked. She was shaking and Evelyn was still lapping at her slick warmth, pressing another finger into her body, ignoring the way Josephine tried to push her away for a moment until she tugged at Evelyn’s blonde hair.

“I thought you wanted to use your new toy?” she asked, a little breathless.

“Sorry,” she said, “I got carried away.”

Josephine laughed pulled her up to kiss her on the lips, nipping at her bottom lip.

“You are not sorry.”

“No, but I did get carried away.”

“That I believe,” she said, watching carefully as Evelyn lay back on the large bed and pressed the toy to her entrance, pushing it in very slowly, pressing back and forth until she could push it into her body. When she was full and breathing hard, hips moving up against nothing, her fist tight around the other end of the phallus as she pushed down.

“Holy Void.”

Josephine laughed.

“You usually need a little more preparation my love,” she said with a smile. “Eager?”

“I may have been looking forward to this all night.”

“All night?”

“All week,” she admitted.

“Hmmm.”

Evelyn just grinned at her and then patted her leg.

“Hop on.”

Josephine gave her a scandalised look for a second before giggling.

“How long have you been waiting to say that to me?”

“Three years?” Evelyn said.

“You are incorrigible,” she told her, shifting to straddle her and kissing her.

“I love you too.”

Josephine laughed again, feeling a little light headed as she lifted up and took the toy in her hand. The material was smooth but solid, similar to their other toys and she went to ask a question but moaned instead as she pressed the phallus to her entrance. It wasn’t too big, Evelyn had prepared her nicely, and she slid down onto it crying out sharply. She slapped her hand over mouth at the volume of her reaction to being filled up, settling down on her love’s lap with a few minute movements that took her breath away. She kissed Evelyn with a touch of desperation, pressing their breasts together.

“Oh el meu amor,” she mumbled.

She loved the way they were connected, Evelyn settling her hands on her hips and urging her to move. Slowly she moved her hips back and forth, little ‘uh’ noises escaping her every time she felt the phallus push deeper into her, rubbing back and forth over her front wall.

“Yes, Josie, Josie,” Evelyn moaned. “Gonna make you, make you…schreien…” Her eyes were closed and her head thrown back and Josephine loved the way she looked like this – so deep in her pleasure she couldn’t remember her Ferelden, face flushed and mouth open. She leaned forward to kiss her.

“Schreien?”

“Scream,” she translated with a broken laugh.

Josephine smiled, intending to reply but Evelyn was gripping her hips harder and moving her a little faster. She leaned forward then, taking one dark nipple into her mouth and making Josephine cry out in surprise. She started to move harder against her wife, circling her hips a little as she felt it start, a second burst of pleasure building deep within her. Evelyn was grinning around her nipple – she could feel it before she saw it – she was terribly smug when she was right. She couldn’t berate her though even if she wanted to, that burst of pleasure was taking over and she was hot and slick where they met feeling it on her thighs and oh Maker she needed more.

Evelyn was saying something in Ost again, the language interspersed with bits of Ferelden, but not enough for Josephine to understand as they moved together desperately now fast and hard.

“Evie,” she gasped when she felt fingers at her centre brushing over her clit gently. “PleEASE!”

Evelyn laughed at the broken word, fingers moving more firmly over her swollen clit around and down, in the perfect combination of touches. She couldn’t get anymore words out, only strangled sounds as Evelyn thrust her hips up now; the phallus pressing deep inside of her until she was too full, too full and rubbing over that spot inside her that Evelyn managed to hit every. Single. Time.

“I can’t,” she cried, but Evelyn ignored her, kissing her on the lips quickly before pressing down square onto her clit until Josephine felt that burst hit hard, hard, full, too much, too much,

“Oh Creador favor!” she screamed. “Evelyn!”

She grabbed at her love, nails digging into the warriors arms as she shook through her orgasm feeling tears on her cheeks.

“Josie, Josie, I love you,” Evelyn muttered as she came too, kissing Josephine and wrapping her arms around her and pulling her down to lie on the bed. The phallus slipped from her body as she let the warrior hold her as she cried.

After a little while, Evelyn shifted, pulling the toy from her body with a groan before settling back down into the bed, covering them over with the soft blankets. She caressed Josephine’s face with her thumb, wiping around her tears.

“I hate making you cry,” she whispered. Josephine smiled.

“Oh Evie, you are silly sometimes,” she said, kissing her reverently.

Evelyn blushed hiding her face in Josephine’s shoulder, kissing the skin there.

“You made me scream.”

“Totally worth the death glares your brothers will give me tomorrow.”

“Do you think they heard?” Josephine asked, with a gasp.

“I know they heard my love,” Evelyn said, with a grin. Josephine groaned.

“You will be the death of me.”

“I love you too Josie.”

11.

The next morning she woke alone, and after bathing and dressing found Evelyn in the ballroom sweeping up. Benoit was collecting up glasses and Louisa was playing with the bits of ribbon decorating the walls that had fallen to the floor. She frowned at them, walking down the steps and kissed her love on the cheek.

“What are you doing?”

“Cleaning up.”

“We have servants my dear.”

“I gave them all the day off,” she said, “they worked really hard last night.”

“So you and the children are going to do all the cleaning up?” Josephine asked.

“Don’t be silly dear sister,” Yvette said coming into the room from the hallway with a mop and bucket. She started at the other end of the dance floor where Evelyn had already swept and started to mop. Josephine watched on in surprise as her sister started to work.

“Found some more cloths,” Antoine said, Frederic following behind with some more bags for the rubbish. “Good morning sister.”

“Have a good night?” Frederic asked with a wink and a grin. Josephine blushed bright red. Evelyn laughed but kept her head down.

“Where is Laurien?”

“He took the uneaten food to the Chantry,” Antoine said, “Evelyn said they could feed the poor with it. It’s untouched.”

“And my parents?”

“Father is back in his studio. Your mother is making breakfast.”

Josephine smiled, and wrapped her arms around her wife from behind, rising up on her tip toe to kids her on the cheek.

“Death glares from Laurien, but no one else,” Evelyn told her.

“Still worth it?” Josephine asked.

“Oh absolutely my love. Can I convince you to join us?”

“I’ll help Benoit collect up the glass wear,” she said. “Is this normal for the Trevelyan family? To clean up after their own party. Or is it an Ostwick tradition?”

“My family believe in hard work, we work for the chantry from a young age.”

“Ah of course,” Josephine nodded.

“Speaking of which,” Evelyn said, turning around in Josephine’s arms. “Now all the Montilyets have met the children. It’s time to take them to Ostwick.”

Josephine smiled at the nervous look on her wife’s face. She cupped her cheek gently and kissed her on the lips.

“We’ll take them as soon as possible. It’ll be fun.”

“Oh, good.”

“Did you really think I’d say no my love?” she asked.

“I wasn’t sure to be honest.”

“You know I can never say no to you,” Josephine said, voice low. “Last night was proof of that.”

Evelyn chuckled and kissed her.

“If you could behave long enough to eat breakfast, that would be appreciated,” Lady Montilyet said as she walking into the room, the smell of food following her from he kitchen. “Come eat, all of you,” she ordered.

“I look forward to taking the children to Ostwick,” Josephine said, kissing her on the cheek before picking up her daughter.

“You do?” Evelyn said.

“I look forward to getting my revenge,” she said, laughing as she headed out of the ballroom with the children.

Evelyn stood staring at her for a moment, Josephine looking back to see Antoine pat her on the shoulder as he passed by.

“You had that coming,” he said, making Frederic and Yvette laugh.

“Still worth it!” she called out.

Josephine simply laughed again.

This was everything she needed.