Author: lady_leia_solo
Story: The Mondian Chronicles
Title: Heartbeat
Challenge: Black Raspberry 27: Blood is thicker than water
Topping(s) and Extra(s): Gummy Bunnies (#37: pretense from 50scenes)
Word Count: 362
Summary: We Everarts stick together.
Rating and Warning(s): PG: Brief mentions of sex and implied adultery.
Note(s): This takes place in 1090 a little bit after the birth of Jean Luc. Daniyel is Jean Michele's younger brother and Lucille is their mother, the second wife of Jean Reynaud Everart, their father. Elisabetta is about 19 in this.



“I can’t say I’m surprised to see you here,” His mother said walking into the main sitting room.

Daniyel looked up. The Dowager Duchess of Cadomiselle looked formidable as always with her hood sitting tightly on her head. She wasn’t smiling and her blue eyes were sharp.

“Hello Mother,” Daniyel said in a stifled tone.

“Why are you here, Daniyel?”

“Oh I just wanted to visit the baby,” Daniyel said rubbing his chin aimlessly.

“You can tell yourself that lie, son of mine, but it won’t work on me.”

“Excuse me?”

Lucille sat down next to him. Daniyel scooted over. He and his mother had never been close; after all he was just the spare. He was closer with the nurses that had helped raise him.

“Daniyel I know you have feelings for…the girl.”

Daniyel bit his tongue. His mother always referred to her as the girl, even though now she was the new duchess.

“She has a name, Mother.”

“She has a husband, Daniyel,” Lucille countered.

Daniyel stared into his mother’s ice blue eyes, the eyes they shared.

“And her husband is your brother.”

Daniyel looked away.

“I don’t know what you see in her. I don’t know what either of you see in the little twit. But she’s your brother’s wife and she’s the mother of the next duke. I won’t have you causing a scandal by pining fruitlessly after her.”

“I don’t think anyone has noticed,” Daniyel said.

“Oh really, perhaps not. The important thing is that your brother hasn’t noticed.”

Daniyel snorted. “Of course he hasn’t, his cock is busy elsewhere.”

“Daniyel.”

Daniyel sighed and turned back to his mother.

“You have nothing to worry about. She wouldn’t have me anyway. She’s steadfastly loyal to Jean Michele, though I don’t see why.”

Lucille frowned.

“Are you telling me if she’d have you, you’d take the chance?”

“In a heartbeat,” Daniyel said.

Lucille looked appalled.

“He’s your brother, Daniyel. We Everarts always stick together.”

“Lord Daniyel, Her Grace will see you now,” a female servant said from the door.

Daniyel stood.

“I’ve never held myself to that old phrase,” Daniyel said.

He walked away leaving his mother slightly stunned.