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Born to a noble family and the name Lavinia Lorlinar, Bijou seemed destined for a life of mind-numbing social gatherings and an even more mind-numbing marriage to the "proper" man of her class. Fate had a different story in mind for her, and it all became clear the night her older brother was gravely wounded in a hunting accident.
As her mother accompanied the eldest son to the healer, where he could receive the best possible care, her father sank sadly into his chair by the fire, fearing his son would now never be fit to take on his responsibilities as head of the family. Lavinia brought her father some tea and sat on a stool near his feet, looking up at her father worriedly.
"Lavinia my dear," said her father, "this is not truly the proper time to speak of it, but your marriage is weighing heavily on my mind. Have you considered the proposal of Lord Blugart?"
"Yes, papa. I've decided to refuse him."
"WHAT?" roared her father. "You would shame me so?"
"You gave me the choice, papa. You didn't have to, but I thank you for it."
"This is my thanks?!" her father replied angrily. "I had faith you would make the decision that would be best for our family, girl! I trusted you to accept this man and secure our family's future! Can't you see how important it is, especially now, with your brother likely crippled?"
Lavinia stood and glared at her father. "You raised me to have a brain in my head, papa. For this, I can never forgive you. You've allowed me to read, learn music, even practice swordplay with Lucas, and in all ways treated me as his equal. Then, in the single most important decision of my life, you expect me to forget all that and choose a slow-witted drunkard for a life's companion! I... Think... NOT!" Lavinia twirled on the heel of her boot and left her father gaping after her.
Sitting in her room, she refused to yield to tears. Finding comfort in action, she emptied her jewelbox and began to sort gold from silver, gems by type, and real from costume jewelry. She'd always loved the look of jewelry, so much so it had prompted a childhood nurse to give her the nickname Bijou, the word in her language for gemstone. She fingered one especially pretty emerald set of earrings and made her decision.
As it approached midnight, Lavinia climbed out of her bedroom window, carrying only what she needed for a life on her own. She left the estate silently, stopping only once on her way out of town to see her brother at the healers and tell him her plan. They had always been close and she didn't want worry over her to slow his recovery. Lucas understood her fear of being forced to marry, and wished her safe journey. They embraced and Lavinia, now calling herself Bijou, set off for the capital, Britain.
