Demand , Demand

[ROSPIERRE ST JUSTE]

He started to stare out at the fields, his hands crossed to his back as he sighed. Another day were he had to stare out and wonder what would life bring for him. He knew his wife was young and beautiful. She was just a girl. But she was also a woman, her robust form was making him also crave needs that he knew could not satisfy that easily.

Turning around as he saw the servants come inside with the platters of food and cheeses and wine. He grinned as he started to sit at the head and cross the pages of a book. Madame Lafayette was an interesting woman, he writing really did show the woman that was in the average home.

He wondered with what thought was his wife being plagued with. She just seemed silent, not alive, he wanted to change that which was why he had gotten her this little estate. Somewhere to take a breather and enjoy the summer air. Dropping the book on the table, he sighed and wondered if his wife could ever act like any of the characters in her novels.

But then again, the young one had so much to learn. So much to see, but there was also so much to do. Veronique was his most prized possession. Not to mention that he was a bit of a control freak, and also a jealous man. He got jealous easily over anybody looking at her.

But no matter they were alone now, him and his parents would be joined here. They had said they would be coming over for some form of lunch. He just hoped his wife was ready.

[VERONIQUE ST JUSTE]

Veronique had been feeling out of sorts the last few weeks and this trip to the Versailles palace was supposed to help her and cheer her up. But the more days that went by it meant the closer she would be to give birth and the closer to her fear she would be. All she had heard Rospiere talk about was how much he wanted a son and how much it would mean to both him and his father to have the family name live on. But right now for once she was happy there was a fever free day and a day without having the chills and being in bed. Everything at the palace was beyond grand and Veronique loved being spoiled but part of her just wanted to be in her home with her things she just could not think straight

But getting up from her chair she started down the hall from where her husband would be waiting for her. A nice afternoon with just the two of them and some lunch and they needed this. Things had been a bit strained between the two and she knew that she should be more active with him and be able to celebrate the impending birth of their baby. Letting out a sigh she rested her hands on her round belly as she turned a corner and through a set of open French doors she could see Rospierre sitting there looking out over the grounds. On a table was some and cheeses and bread and wine so this wasn’t just a short little nosh it was going to be a long lunch where she had a feeling things would be talked about.

It was not that she didn’t love her husband he meant a lot to her but still in her mind this was all forced upon her and was still going to take sometime to get used to. Stepping through the doors she smiled at him and gently paced at hand on his shoulder. “Good afternoon dear husband I hope you are well.”she said as Veronique gently squeezed his shoulder and walked around to a chair close to him. She was trying not to let her nerves show as she knew her in laws were coming soon and that they would be also pushing for a boy and that was something she did not need more pressure.

[ROSPIERRE ST JUSTE]

He watched as his wife gently squeezed his shoulder. His body stood up as he fixed his coat and coughed. His hand outstretched as he waited for her to take it to be guided to her seat. She looked fine this morning, very fine indeed. This made him happy, turning around quickly he closed the book and started to look at the woman from head to toe. She wore a sort of dress he liked it. His mother would not. But he liked it. It made her hair shine in the daylight. He knew this luncheon and this boredom with his parents was a bit much. But they wanted to check on the mother of his child. He could not deny them that, there was to much at stake to not let them see the overlapping belly.

Walking close to her, he sighed and started to look around. He hated to dote on his wife’s belly when there were people around. But when they were alone this was a privilege that he let himself have. He was a man of propriety , yes that was true. His son would learn from the best , and his son would follow his line just like he would Grow up to be a man , not have a woman’s touch in him. Yet what woman did not make the man. His wife was a prime example of that. Thanks to her he knew his place. His temper was controlled and he was mostly happy around people. Touching her belly with both his hands, he rubbed her and started to wait for the expectant kick. If it was there of course, only if the little one would let him have this privilege.

But when he felt the kick, he started to have a big smile as he pulled himself away and started to stare at his wife. “You have made me proud “he said and started to sigh closing his eyes and turned around to stare at the lands again that were his. These were the lands that he and his forefathers had worked for. That his father worked for, now he wondered what the old man would say. Yet he also was a bit worried of them being to harsh with his wife as well. He knew that secretly his wife felt that it was a big important part that his parents also felt welcomed. Yet was this all in his head as well. But yet, looking at her chest, and he lips . He started to get other ideas and shifted himself away.

Damm again, he was hooked and he could not wait to have her in his bed again. But he had to control his vices, and his impulses as well.

[VERONIQUE ST JUSTE]

Right now the thoughts of seeing her in laws right now were not something that helped calm her ever growing nerves. Ever since she had announced her pregnancy all she has heard from him and his parents is about how they want a boy the family must have a son and a few times she has caught Rospierre referring to the baby as him or he. Veronique smiled as she looked down and watched her husband lay his hands on her belly and then when the little one kicked she let out a laugh and also patted her belly.” Well it seems our child is very active this afternoon I couldn’t sleep with all the moving around he or she was doing.” she spoke softly making a point to say he or she. Veronique did not care what the sex of the baby was all she wanted was a healthy baby and for nobody to get sick and or die in the process. These two had a great sex life and at times things were so sensual that just simple things simple acts such as feeding each other chocolates in bed could lead to nights of passion. And while that was nice moments such as those as of late were not many. She had not been having the easiest time with this pregnancy spending most of the early part in bed and at times she blamed him for this.

Looking back out over the land it did her heart good to see how proud Rospierre was to be here and to bring his father name and estate back to the grandeur it had lost. But to Veronique there was too much pressure on them both that the two of them had not really had the chance to enjoy just being married but then again the age difference she knew had something to do with that. But her slight happiness was short lived when her husband looked and shifted himself away. Letting out a sigh she got comfortable in her chair and then took in a breath loving the smell of the flowers as they hit her nose. “Why do you turn away from me?” she asked looking down at her tea and shaking her head knowing full well ok well maybe it was because they had not been intimate with each other in a while. For when things looked like they would her husband would make an excuse and turn away leave or tell her to take a nap. Shaking her head she thought she was just being paranoid as Veronique looked over at her husband.

His parents would be arriving soon and as much as she wasn’t looking forward to it being so tired as when they arrived it would be a barrage of questions about the baby and then calling the baby a him. As much as she loved being married and being lady of her own home estate Veronique at times wished for moments of the past where she did not have so many things to worry about. But gone were the childish moments of playing with dolls as now she had more things to worry her mind with. “Rospierre are you not happy with something I did is it my dress I know your parents are coming and I want things to go well as …”Veronique stopped talking as a small waved of feeling dizzy came over her but luckily she was sitting down. Looking over at her husband Veronique reached out for his hands as she leaned in to get closer. This marriage was to be her life and she would do anything to make it work and to keep her husband happy.

[ROSPIERRE ST JUSTE]

He started to stare at his wife as he chuckled. He never remembered his wife ever being so fickle about a subject as his parents. When she said that the child she was carrying in her belly was neither a hum or she. He just shook his head and tried to ignore that little comment. There was a 50 , 50 chance that they would have a boy. But if he knew that, only the heavens knew. As for his shying away, he needed to respect the woman and her decisions whatever they were. She was still a woman , women thought differently than men. But now it was just a point of waiting for his parents to arrive.

If he confessed to her that his parents would bore him maybe he and she could do something while they were entertained by the breakfast service he had ordered that morning to be served. But yet when he saw his parents walk in and carry something with them. Another bird he guessed he could only stand up and walk towards them as he patted his father on the back and then gave a kiss to his mother. He was mad for accepting their invitation . It was also a little bit inconvenient because he did not want anybody else to say anything about his wife anymore.

It was complicating matters and he did not want her to suffer. But yet when the old man turned to the mother to be. He stepped back and started to clap his hand as he saw Antoine come out and hold him the bell as he turned to the most humble butler and smiled. “ Tea and then cookies. Followed by the fish, or the dishes that the chef actually prepared. Except any sort of poultry. My father and me will hunt later on for some pig in the grounds “he expressed and saw the young man bow and start to exit out and towards the kitchens were he guessed that everything was prepared.

“So how is the mother to be” he heard his father say as he bit down his lip as he waited for Veronique to reply something. Deep inside him he knew that he loved his wife more then he could express and if there was something that she needed to know is that he would be mad not to think that her safety and her well being were first. Whatever the outcome of this baby would be , she would always be proud in his eyes. Meaning he would be proud of her any way .

[VERONIQUE ST JUSTE]

Don’t get her wrong Veronique loved her husband and she was more then happy to be giving him a child but still as of late they had spent more time just being polite and being proper then being husband and wife. She was bout to offer he husband a kiss when she heard voices coming at them and when she turned her head she saw her in-laws coming closer. She did get along with then but ever since she became pregnant they were over all the time her mother in law was always rubbing her belly and kept saying he or him when she talked about the baby. Not wanting to cause trouble Veronique would just smile and go along with it but really that talking was getting on her nerves, Resting her hands on top of her belly the mother to be smiled as she watched the interaction between her husband and his family,

She could feel the baby kicking around inside of her oh yes this little one was being very active today and feeling her baby made her smile. It did not matter to her which sex the baby was born she was a mother and would love her child weather it be a boy or a girl. The smile still held as she looked at her father in law who she knew was looking at her and wondering about the growing baby inside her belly, When his parents were around Veronique knew that Rospierre had a change in how he acted his mannerisms became more protective of her and sometimes the expressions on his face would be telling her a lot without his mouth speaking a word. She started to walk closer to her father in law as Veronique stood there now facing him hands still resting on her belly. “I am doing fine and so is this little one. The baby is rather active today and kicking up a storm. Today is a good day im glad to be out here in the fresh air and spending the day with family.” she told him as she walked over to her husband and took his hand in hers.

They would always take a stand together no matter what against whomever. But these weekly visits were wearing on her and just for once Veronique would like it to be just her and Rospierre relaxing enjoying time together just the two of them before the baby comes. “Well we do have some tea and small things to nibble on while we wait for the servants to bring the food out so why don’t we all sit down.” She suggested wanting to get this yet another visit started and closer to ending. She looked over at her mother law who to Veronique was no the most affectionate people to her she had no idea why but this relationship was not an easy one in her opinion. “So Mother St.Juste I hope you are well this day.”she commented still holding her husbands hand.