Interlude: Noun, an intervening period of time.
Her boots were muffled as she walked slowly through the hall, eyes studying each of the framed paintings there. Each of the past heads of the Le Havre family and their spouses. She halted towards the end of the hall, gazing up at the portrait of her deceased first husband.
"Ten years now mon amour. I hope wherever your soul is you are able to rest that beautiful head of yours and not worrying after me or your brother."
Darcie mused aloud, raising a hand to gently touch the frame of the painting before dropping it to her side. A small sigh escaped her as she turned her head towards the way she had come, hearing the soft sound of piano keys and music.
It had been nearly a week since she had arrived back in her homeland and it had been uneventful which allowed her to relax and reconnect with her first husband's remaining family, which happened to simply be his Aunt and younger brother, Louis.
Louis, who had been a young firebrand of a teen when Adrien had been alive and well, quickly changed his ways upon his elder brother's death and his wife's departure. He had grown into the role of estate owner, but truly he still had much to learn.Upon learning that she would actually be returning for the anniversary of Adrien's death, Louis immediately welcomed Darcie back into the home that was once hers, with clear open arms and warmth.
Darcie smiled as she found herself following the music and eventually leaning in the doorway to observe Louis at the piano, playing away with clear gusto.
A pair of huskies laid upon the floor together, one a mix of brown and white and the other black with a few spots of white. The larger of the two, clearly the male, raised his head and barked at spotting Darcie in the doorway, causing Louis to halt in his playing.
"Bonjour to you too Pup. Keeping Lila and Louie company I see. Good boy." Darcie remarked, entering the room and dropping to the carpeted floor beside the two dogs.
She gave each of them a few strokes to their heads and a kiss to their foreheads before looking towards the male at the piano.
Louis smiled in amusement, watching the trio of woman and canines. He would chuckle and beckon Darcie over as she rose and dusted herself off. She would comply, settling herself into the piano bench.
"You heard my playing then, Doe?"
"Oui, but I had non intent to interrupt you. Rufus just happened to spot me and ruined the moment."
She jested, shooting a mock glare at the dog in question. Rufus simply barked, wagging his tail at his owner. Darcie chuckled and turned her eyes back towards Louis, smiling at him, who in turn smiled back.
"What were you playing anyhow, it was beautiful."
"Oh uh, just a tune my mother would often play for… Adrien and I. It… It was her favorite."
He fell silent, looking away from her and towards the sheet music. A concentrated expression slipped over his features as he raised his hands and began to leaf through the pages before settling upon another set.
Louis placed his fingers upon the piano and pressed down upon one key and then another, beginning to play a new song.
This one seemed all too familiar to Darcie as she sat upon the stool beside her once brother in law. The music pouring from the instrument seemed to wrap slowly around the woman's shoulders like a forgotten shawl or cloak.
Her lips drew up into a smile as she leaned her head gently upon Louis' shoulder, listening intently to his playing.
"I haven't heard this song in years… Thank you Louie. Thank you for playing for me and for… Letting me back into your life." She spoke softly to him. Her smile widening as the music continued until it reached its end and Louis turned his head to look down at her.
"Aunt Abigail and I missed you terribly when you vanished, Darcie. But we understood that you had to go… You had to leave this place that you called home. Now you're back, for however long… And I believe we both want to treasure that fact that you've returned. You're family to us, no matter what you maybe believe." He spoke gently, planting a kiss to her head.
"You've changed greatly since we last saw each other and you've changed since you arrived. Welcome back the smiling, wonderful Doe. Welcome home, Darcie."
