It was nearing midnight when a quiet knock echoed from the front door of the Vauclain estate. An aging maid bustled to the door and pulled it open with a small, "Yes?" only to be greeted by one of the few Vauclains that actually lived in the city estate. Juliette gave a tired, yet bright smile to the maid as she brought herself past her and into the foyer. Despite the fact that the servant would usually scold the young noble for being home so late, she's lessened since the girl had joined the Regalian guard and made it a habit to come home late into the night occasionally. Juliette gave a slight bob of her head, as if thanking the woman before shuffling towards the stairs and bidding her a good night.
Upon reaching the top of the stairwell, Julie made her way for her bedroom door but paused by a muffled coughing that came from the room across the hall. She bit her bottom lip in thought, considering the consequences of checking up on the inhabitant before simply shrugging and making for the door of Darcie's old room. Despite the fact that Darcie no long lived in the estate, Julie still expected someone to shove the door closed when she popped it open or threaten her life - instead though, there was no reaction at all and the room was wrapped in a gentle silence that the young Vauclain paused in fear of breaking.
After getting up her nerve and promising to be as silent as possible, she crept through the room and blinked as a dim candlelight from besides the canopy bed illuminated the pale and sickly figure of Juliette's only younger family member. She brought her left hand up to her mouth, a bit shocked by how dear little Raina looked despite seeing her sick before and knowing that she had been ill once more. Juliette lowered her hand and stepped close to the bedside, making sure the blanket over her cousin was tucked in and that her feet were covered before saying in a soft voice, "Jamie told me to tell you that he hopes you get better soon Rain."
She paused a long moment, hoping quietly for a response - even if it was simply Raina swatting her hand away as it had lingered over the younger girl's forehead, as if considering to check for a fever but soon enough lowering it with the realization that whether the girl had a fever or not, she couldn't help and would only wake her. Instead, though, she sat carefully on the edge of Raina's bed and continued on her quiet chatter.
"Sigurna invited me to Bunch this weekend, maybe if you are well enough you can come along." She paused, as if listening to an answer. "I was promoted not long ago, maybe one of the servants told you.." Juliette paused again before finally sighing and rising just as carefully as she had sat, looking down at Raina's face once she'd straightened up only to be met by two, dark eyes who watched her with a tired and hardly there gaze. "Get better, dear Rain." Juliette leaned and gave a gentle kiss to the forehead of her frail cousin, turning to leave because when she'd risen the young girl was already fast asleep again.
