Chapter Text
They say that a man of good fortune must be in want of a wife. And as such it was a mother’s wish to find a husband for each of her daughters so that unmarried daughters would not become a burden upon her family.
In the Dupain Cheng estate lived a mother and father of modest means along with their five daughters. Alya, the oldest, was the beauty of Paris, her looks talked about and envied by all girls her age. Marinette, the second oldest, was equal in looks but surpassed her sisters in intelligence, spending a good amount of time reading, a trait she inherited from her father and a special bond the two of them shared. While Mrs. Dupain Cheng favored her youngest daughter Lila, Marinette was the favorite of her father. Juleka and Rose were the middle daughters. Juleka was a quiet girl who worked to accomplish her arts as Rose, although older, spent most of her time with Lila acting frivolously and spending much of their time going to town spending their pocket money and flirting with the local town members. Lila, in particular, was quickly becoming recognized as the town flirt.
It was a quiet spring morning when the voice of Mrs. Dupain Cheng rang through the house.
“Netherfield has been rented!” The cry rang through the house and Lila ran through the house screeching, followed by Rose. “Mama!”
“Hush child,” Sabine Cheng, entering the room. “What is this fuss about?”
“Mama! Netherfield has been rented for the summer,” said Lila, excitedly.
“By who, child?”
“A Mr. Lahiffe, mama,” replied Rose, smiling widely. “And he is single!”
“We must meet him at once!” exclaimed Sabine, as she rose. “Where is your father?”
The Dupain Cheng household was bursting with excitement. Once it was known that the young man named Nino Lahiffe had a yearly income of 2 million a year, the women in the household could speak of little else. It was known that he was to arrive into town with a large party and would be present at the town assembly in two weeks. The nervous girls spent the time getting ready. Marinette, having a talent with dress making, set to work on gowns for the evening.
Located in central Paris, the Dupain Cheng estate was in part a converted bakery, where the household staff would bake goods for the family and the neighborhood, as such, they were a general favorite of those who lived around them. The closest neighbor to the Dupain Chengs was the Kubdel family, and Marinette had found an intimate friend with their oldest daughter Alix, a plain girl of 27 who showed little interest in the prospect of husbands and family other than being a provider for her so she would not burden her family. It was the day of the assembly that the two friends, along with Alya, gathered in Marinette’s room to get ready for the ball.
“Word about town is that Mr. Lahiffe arrived in town earlier this week with his sister and his best friend.” Alix began as Alya brushed her hair and pulled it up into a tight bun.
“Yes, we are lucky that father went to meet him the day after he arrived.” Alya said with a smile. “We will be able to be introduced to him at the ball.”
“How I long to do away with the formal traditions and procedures of long ago,” said Lila, leaning against the doorway, having no qualms about listening in to her older sisters’ conversation with their friend.
“There is nothing wrong with a sense of decorum and propriety.” replied Marinette as she tied the back of Alya’s gown. “You would do well to remember your manners and values you were raised with.” Lila rolled her eyes and left the room.
The dressing ritual continued between the three girls. Alix was dressed in a pale blue frock that was respectable although rather plain while Marinette and Alya were dressed in gowns that highlighted their beauty. Alya in a slightly fitted dress of orange and brown and Marinette in a flowy pale pink dress. Together the women of the family gathered in the family coach and headed to the assembly.
The festivities were already in full swing when the Dupain Cheng women arrived. Lila and Rose immediately set off in search of young men of their acquaintance to dance with while Julika sat before the piano in one of the side rooms and began to play for the few people having conversations. Mrs. Dupain Cheng entered into conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Kubel while Alya and Marinette continued their earlier conversation with Alix, therefore everyone was occupied when a group of three entered the room, causing conversation to stall.
“According to my mother,” Alix whispered, “the tall one in the middle is Nino Lahiffe. He is accompanied by his sister, Chloe Bourgeois, who will keep his house for him and his best friend, Mr. Adrien Agreste.”
“My, he is handsome,” whispered Alya, as she looked at Mr. Lahiffe. The dark skinned man made eye contact with Ayla and smiled as he walked through the room.
“And rich too,” laughed Marinette as she watched her sister’s eyes follow the man. Mrs. Dupain Cheng had noticed the slight exchange between her eldest daughter and the man in question and hurried to make introductions, pulling Alya and Marinette towards the threesome in the corner of the room.
“It is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Lahiffe and your honored guests.” She began with a nod. “May I have the joy of introducing you to my two eldest daughters.” Mrs. Dupain Cheng, stepped back as Mr. Lahiffe moved closer to Alya, gently taking her hand, his eyes focused on hers.
“Nino Lahiffe,” he stated, the smile returning to his face.
“Alya,” she blushed as she lowered her gaze.
“Miss Alya, may I have this dance?” With a slight nod, Alya followed Nino onto the dance floor. As the couple began to sway to the music, Marinette stood in the presence of Mr. Agreste and Miss Bourgeois but as there was no prior connection, it was the duty of the party of higher consequence, in this case Mr. Agreste, to begin the correspondence. As such, Marinette stood watching the dancers waiting to be acknowledged by Mr. Agreste with no avail before moving away from the couple and finding her way back to Alix.
“I didn’t know you were coming to see me,” said Alix, taking her friend’s hand and leading her to a quiet corner so the friends could talk in confidence. “I did discover some things while you were away,” she whispered with a smile. “Mr. Lahiffe’s friend is wealthy as well with an income fair greater than Mr. Lahiffe’s, in the amount of 10 million a year.”
“10 million a year!” exclaimed Marinette as she watched the man in question. “It fits then that the way he carries himself is so proud and aloof.” Marinette quieted her voice as Mr. Lahiffe and Mr. Agreste moved into earshot of her and Alix, although the young women could not be seen.
“Adrien, why are you not dancing?” said Nino as he reached his friend.
“Your sister is currently occupied and I do not know anyone else at this assembly.” He said with an air of disdain.
“There are many fine women here.”
Adrien looked around with a shrug. “There is no one here that can tempt me.”
“Let me have my dance partner introduce you to someone. Her sister does not have a dance partner and she is very lovely.” Upon hearing that, Marinette felt a small blush flood her cheeks.
“She is tolerable but it is not up to me to dance with women who other men have chosen to reject.” Adrien shook his head. “No, you are wasting your time with me. Go back to your partner and enjoy her smiles.” With that the men split, with Nino returning to Alya and Adrien returning to Chloe.
“What an unpleasant, pompous man!” exclaimed Alix. “I am sorry for you Marinette, to have heard such a thing.”
“I am glad I heard it,” she said with a shrug. “I am glad that he finds me so unfavorable.”
“And why is that?” Alix asked.
“Because if he liked me, then I would have to dance with him!” Marinette giggled. The two friends spent the remainder of the night gossiping and imagining the poor girl who one day would have to put up with Mr. Agreste.