Mme. Suzanne Rouchelay stood before the window of her quarters, looking out into the courtyard at the rows of flowers lining the path between the gate and the entrance of the house. It was quarter past noon and she was expecting her friend, Mlle. Louise for tea. They had met last month at a gala of a friend of her husband's, the prominent socialite M. Claude Louise. Mlle. Louise was his daughter, no more than 19, and yet she found her company quite engaging as she herself was only of 25 years. Mme. Rouchelay had married quite older, M. Rouchelay himself being nearly 53. However, his higher society status and wealth accumulated over the years helped convince her to marry a man that was her elder by so many years. All the same he wasn't a bad man to her, and in this instance he had his benefits for Mme. Rouchelay had been quite fond of Mlle. Louise's company. As she stood there now, glancing into the gardens, reflecting on various things, Mlle. Louise passed into the gate.
Raymonde Louise walked gracefully into the courtyard of the Rouchelays on this warm day in a lavender dress that softly contrasted with the red and yellow foliage of the courtyard, a matching hat shading her tender face from the bright sun. Knocking on the door, she was at once greeted and admitted by the man servant of the Rouchelays, Alexandre. He bowed, took her hat, and directed her to meet Mme. Rouchelay in the tea room, then ascended the stairs to gather his mistress. Raymonde sat down on one of the chairs set up at a small tea table near the center that was covered by a nice white linen with a small vase in the middle. She heard footsteps descending the stairs and stood to greet Mme. Rouchelay as she entered the room. Alexandre left to the kitchen to fetch the tea.
"Bonjoir, madame," said Raymonde Louise cordially as she curtsied. Mme. Rouchelay looked very lovely in a turquoise dress that was accented by a gold necklace which was adorned by turquoise jewels, speaking highly of her husband's riches.
"Good day to you, Raymonde," replied Mme. Rouchelay, "and nothing of this madame nonsense, please, call me Suzanne. No need to be so formal."
"As you wish." They both took a seat at the table and soon Alexandre had returned with the tea, pouring them both a cup. Mme. Rouchelay excused him from the room to give them privacy and they began to chat, discussing trivial things such as the lovely weather and the news of the day.
"Have you ever though of marrying?" questioned Suzanne, changing topics. "You are of age now to consider such things, you know."
"I have," Raymonde responded, "however I am yet to find a suitor whom I feel amorous enough towards to consider. My father introduces me to plenty of young men of good upbringing, and a few are nice enough I suppose, but many are rather haughty and full of themselves."
"Would they support you well?" Mme. Rouchelay countered.
"Most certainly," answered Raymonde, "however it is wise to marry more for than just wealth, is it not?"
"Do not underestimate the value of security in life, Raymonde, things like love can always form later."
"Surely you are not supposing I should consider an unhappy life just for the riches, are you?"
Suzanne paused, collecting her thoughts for a moment. "Raymonde, would you think I am unhappy with my life?"
"Madame?" replied Raymonde, puzzled at Mme. Rouchelay's question.
"Just a second ago you seemed to suggest that a woman who marries for wealth is one who lives an unhappy life. I am merely asking you if you think I am an unhappy woman." Suzanne sipped her tea, looking over the top of it at Raymonde's expression.
"Did you not wed M. Rouchelay for the love which he bestows upon you?"
"M. Rouchelay is indeed a very good man and I have grown quite fond of him over the years, however I shall admit that I was more enamored with his abundance of francs than with his charm when we first engaged." Suzanne noticed the shocked face of her companion. "Oh, not to say I did not think much of him personally, he was and still is a good friend and I should never be away from his side, but I do find that I can share his wealth while having lovers on the side." Through this whole revelation, Raymonde remained as still as a statue, staring wide-eyed as Mme. Rouchelay confessed her deviances to her.
"Do you not find that dishonest?" queried Raymonde.
"Oh pooh," said Suzanne, "the man maintains his happiness in having me on his arm for eternity. He rather enjoys treating me like a queen, and as his queen I maintain my happiness by remembering I am still something of a young lady and need a bit more than the body of a graying old man. I say, why do you not do the same, Raymonde?"
Raymonde Louise could only latch onto her tea cup and stare down into her unfinished portion. Suzanne Rouchelay sensed her younger companion's apprehension at the idea and backed off for a bit, sipping at her own cup again during the pause. Suddenly, as though spurred on by sudden inspiration, Raymonde spoke up.
"Have you... have you had many lovers?"
"Oh, heavens no, not many, just a few young men on an occasion here or there when the mood hit me. However, I kept none of them around too long as I would tend to grow tired of their frivolous attempts. I sometimes get the suspicions that so few of them can truly make a queen of me after the excitement of the affair wanes."