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Odette was worried – Louis was sadly the same – but she wanted to do it, and it was not as if he had known how to refuse her anything, since... well, ever.
"Everything will be fine, Professor Merante."
His wife smiled at him.
"You really do like saying that out loud, don't you?"
"A man in love has every right to boast about his success in seducing the woman of his dreams."
Odette's cheeks turned pink in less than a second and Louis knew she was not the only one by the heat on his own cheeks.
His own words made him a little embarrassed, a man was not supposed to be so emotional, but... Odette deserved all the love in the world, it would never be enough.
"Ready to go?"
Her first lesson, she was both excited and worried, like all of them. He was really pleased to have been able to get her to replace him for the next few days, with a bit of luck her performance would be good enough for her to get the position that had just become available after the departure of a colleague who had discovered a sudden urge to travel around the world.
"I guess I am?"
"My beloved, your talent for reassuring me is beyond comprehension."
She smirked at him and checked their surroundings before leaning forward to kiss him.
"Rest assured, I'm in no danger, and if I have to, I've got everything I need to defend myself."
Her cane was robust and heavier than the average cane because it was reinforced with steel, Louis may have gone a little overboard with the gift, but he really didn't want anything to happen to him. What's more, the dark, elegant wood went very well with the dark blue clothes she preferred - which set off her eyes beautifully.
He left for his office, reassured, and told the director in passing that Odette was starting her day as a replacement as agreed. The director had not even tried to argue, he had said he would approve anyone Louis deemed worthy, he had chosen Odette and the other man had bowed gracefully.
He sat down with a weary sigh and began to read the first sheet of the imposing succession file. He did not like paperwork, who did, seriously? Why did it even exist in these proportions?
He had not looked up from his reading once when the opening of the door interrupted him. The blond figure was not the one he had expected to see, he would have thought it was Félicie who had come to disturb him as she often did. She did not know that he had wanted to be alone to work.
Camille Le Haut may not have been his most naturally talented student, but he had to admit that she was hard-working and resilient, and her determination to find a passion in ballet had made her an official promising young dancer of the opera whom he respected for her skills and had come to appreciate since she had become good friends with Félicie in a development that had surprised... well, just about everyone around them. He did not blame her much anymore these days. Apart from this kind of intrusion while he was trying to settle the inheritance of his maternal aunt who had entrusted him with a large sum to be distributed to good works, needless to say.
"Miss Le Haut, I expressly asked not to be disturbed. I had hoped that the sign on my door would be visible enough."
"Oh, it is," the young woman confirmed with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I overheard another student disrespecting Professor Merante, and I thought you'd like to know about it."
Louis blinked slowly. By the time he realised what she was saying, he was already on his feet and retrieving his jacket.
"Is that all?"
"He precisely said: I don't see why I should listen to a servant, you have no lessons to teach me," the dancer added in a monotone. "The door was open, I don't know his name but he's a pretty boy with dark hair and green eyes, he has a mole on his chin."
He knew who this young man was, and he was going to trample him. No one insulted Odette, whether she was a substitute – she had more than enough to replace him and the director had even approved – or a mere employee. Respect for staff was something he did not compromise with. Today, he was going to teach the young man a lesson, and it would have nothing to do with dancing.
"Thank you, you can go back to class, Miss Le Haut."
"Have a great day, sir."
"Goodbye."
He took a few extra seconds to calm down and walked with a confident and determined step towards his classroom. His face must have been perfectly intimidating because out of the corner of his eye he saw seven people turn out of his way to avoid coming between him and his goal. Excellent.
The door was closed this time, but he could hear the noise through it.
His reputation with his students was good enough, for he did not have to say a word: his mere presence silenced them were they were scattered around the room.
Odette glanced at him, annoyed that he had intervened, surprised that he was even there, and most of all, disappointed in herself. It was intolerable, it was not her fault that these children were unable of acting judiciously.
"A break?" He asked Odette, seeing that very few of them had interrupted a dance movement, revealing their lack of assiduity.
"No, they… no."
"Then train or leave," he said curtly to the class, "lazy and unmotivated students have no place here, there are so many young talented people out there who are dreaming of being in your place."
He then approached his wife – heavens, to think she had actually agreed to marry him – and he quietly leaned towards her.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm sorry, they're just... a bit unruly, and there are a lot of them, I've never managed so many people, with Felicie it was different, she was just one person and she really wanted to learn, I'm probably not-"
"You're perfectly qualified, they're the morons. And insulting morons at that. Mr Chevalier, please leave the room," he added loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Sir?"
"You heard me. Insulting a teacher is not worthy of a student at this opera, and I don't have the kindness or tolerance of my replacement. You will have to explain the situation to your family and the director if you want me to change my mind."
"But-"
"Do you really want to defend to me why you insulted my wife, who is perfectly competent in the field she is teaching you? Her reputation as a dancer is flawless, and I doubt you'll ever manage to get even close to her level."
The young man lost all his bravado at the word "wife" and hurried down the corridor, away from him, with a brief "I'm sorry".
What a pity, it was neither sincere nor addressed to the right person.
"I hope no one will repeat this behaviour?" He said in a mocking and contemptuous tone, but it was rhetorical. "Very well, then. Have a good day, madam," he added more tenderly, kissing the top of his wife's hand like a perfect gentleman.
"And to you, my dear. I'll come and meet you for lunch."
Louis went out with a quiet smile and this time waited outside the door for about ten minutes, listening very carefully to the progress of the lesson.
Odette was so quick to devalue herself but she really had the perfect temperament to teach.
He had such good taste in women, his parents must have been so proud of him from heaven.