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Duchesse du Labarre. (laduchesse) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-05-28 16:44:00

Entry tags:

christopher_blake, thérèse_du_labarre

Subject: The dresses no one ever wants to buy; Thérèse buys mourning gowns in London, and visits church.
Who: Thérèse du Labarre.
Where: A dress shop in London, a small church outside London.
Warnings: None, besides a Catholic praying in a Protestant church.
Open to: Christopher; whomever may be passing.

Thérèse was amazed at how much black material there was to choose from. So much fabric for one type of dress, that dress that no one wants to buy. No one wants to lose someone so dear that they spend their days in black, weeping in their bedrooms, eating sparingly. But that was exactly what had happened to Thérèse, and that was exactly what she was doing.

The dressmaker fussed around her as she stood in front of the mirror, the black stark against her pale, French skin that she was certain had gotten even paler recently. With pins here and there, measurements, adjustments, the dress took shape on Thérèse's form, but she didn't care what it looked like, not really. This wasn't a fashion thing. This was a necessity thing. Both for Julien, and because she'd lost the majority of her dresses in her escape.

Nonetheless, she couldn't help trying to lift the mood by going back into the front of the shop to look in the large, full-length mirror, throwing her escort a small smile as she did so. "How do I look? Widowed enough?" Her tone was weakly cheerful, that kind of humour that was a breath away from crying.

Dress shopping shouldn't be so miserable.

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laduchesse
2008-05-29 05:41 pm UTC (link)

Thérèse was quiet for a few moments, rubbing her thumb over the back of his knuckles absent-mindedly before nodding. "Yes. Bloodthirsty wolves with a taste for tearing lives apart. What chance did he have? The duc du Labarre was always going to be at the top of any hitlist." She had no idea what the impact of her words would be, all but informing him of her duchesse status. She turned to watch out of the window again. "My poor Julien."

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	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 05:45 pm UTC (link)
	"Duc...?" So that made her a Duchess. Christopher could feel disappointment flooding him. She was such a fine women but alas, she was still the enemy and enemies had to be filtered out. He had sworn to do his duty and he could make no exceptions - not even for Thérèse. The thought sickened him but he swallowed it down. "Then he was put under the guillotine..." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laduchesse 2008-05-29 05:52 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes. Where I would be, if you hadn't taken me in." She turned, giving him a small, grateful smile. "And you will forever have my gratitude." She sighed, her free hand coming up subconsciously to rub at her neck, swallowing thickly. "I have nightmares about it, sometimes. Either about him, or me. I saw someone be executed once. It haunted me for weeks." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

blakethesecond
2008-05-29 05:57 pm UTC (link)

Christopher could feel his insides twisting. To earn the trust of anyone only to turn them in was usually something to be done without emotion, a sense of detachment which would enable him to turn the Aristos over without a blink of remorse. It was definitely harder to think that the woman clutching his hand and so grateful for his kindness, her good nature shining, was a traitor to the cause. It was even more difficult to stomach the thought of execution - images of Helene's final moments flashing in his mind, the fear in her face... though he hadn't witnessed it the visions were as fresh as if he were watching it first hand.

It was hard, but he blinked them away. "Yes..." he said his voice strangled and weak. "I imagine they did."

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laduchesse
2008-05-29 06:03 pm UTC (link)

"It's not just the execution," She continued softly, the hand on her neck beginning to tremble at the thought. "I've heard stories. The things they do to women in jail, the... the horrors and indecency..." She trailed off, her hands coming together to fold in her lap now. She swallowed, closing her eyes for just a moment before reopening them to look at him. "You are a brave man, for helping me like this. A brave man, and generous. I'll never be able to thank you enough."

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blakethesecond
2008-05-29 06:27 pm UTC (link)

This was all too much. Thérèse was in shreds about the thoughts of what awaited her in France and Christopher felt his temper overcome him. "Stop thanking me!" he snapped all of a sudden, then immediately regretted his outburst, his eyes saddening and he glanced to the floor. "You should not thank me, Thérèse, please. All this talk of guillotines and prisons... it shakes my nerves to think of it."

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laduchesse
2008-05-29 06:34 pm UTC (link)

Thérèse flinched at his outburst, tensing and swallowing again as she watched him. "I'm, I'm sorry," She murmured, turning to fix her gaze firmly on the horizon. Her cheeks were a little flushed, and she felt like a scolded child, resting her head against the side of the carriage, almost hiding herself behind her veil again. She spoke again, her voice still soft. "I didn't mean to anger you."

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	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"No, please Thérèse," Christopher sighed, shaking his head. "I let my nerves get the better of me. I apologise, I did not mean to shout I - I just take care of people because I could not take care of someone I loved deeply.... I will regret that to my dying day and I seek to try and rectify it however I can." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

laduchesse
2008-05-29 06:49 pm UTC (link)

An emotion rose in Thérèse's chest that she couldn't put a name to. Almost a bitterness, but not as harsh. Somewhere between bitterness, disappointment, and resigned understanding. "Forgive me, sir. In recent weeks, I have seen all human kindness drain from my world. Forgive me for trying to convince myself that was why you had taken me in." She didn't mean for it to sound sharp, or bitchy, and she left it at that, refocusing on the horizon.

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	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	"Thérèse," Christopher began, almost pleading. "I do not want anyone to feel the pain that... my friend went through. Nor that I went through. As I explained to you, I aim to aid others' heal where I cannot. That is the reason I bring in people, why I wish to shelter lost souls if you will. Please do not take offence..." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

laduchesse
2008-05-29 07:00 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, I'm not taking offence," She replied quietly, fingering her rosary beads again. "It's a noble thing for you to do. I applaud you, sir. But I am under no illusions of my place. I am a charge, no more. My right to anything more disappeared when they executed my husband." She trembled a little, clutching the crucifix on the end of her beads. "I shall take dinner in my room tonight. I don't want to be a nuisence or a burden."

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	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 07:04 pm UTC (link)
	Disheartened that his attempts for an apology had failed, Christopher chose to take umbridge and sniffed down his nose, looking out of his own window. "Fine," he said simply, in a light way but with every accent of being thoroughly annoyed. With a deep and subtle breath he glared out of the carriage at the passing trees. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

laduchesse
2008-05-29 07:08 pm UTC (link)

Oh, and now she'd annoyed him. That had never been her intention, and she found emotion welling up in her again. But she didn't make a sound. She kept watch out of her window, her body still and her breathing quiet, the tears sliding silently down her cheeks, hopefully hidden by the veil. Her world had fallen apart, and now she was offending the only people who had shown her any kindness. Top job, Thérèse. Eventually, she spoke again, her voice a whisper, choked with tears. "I'm sorry."

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blakethesecond
2008-05-29 07:16 pm UTC (link)

With his head resting on his hand he was lost in his thoughts as he gazed at the passing world when Thérèse spoke. Shifting his position to glance at her he felt his cold exterior melt away - which wasn't hard - and he sighed. "It was my fault. I made you feel inferior and I apologise for that. It was not my intention. My intention is only to help people feel better and I failed. Forgive me."

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laduchesse
2008-05-29 07:23 pm UTC (link)

Thérèse shook her head quickly, turning to him again. She finally removed her veil, sniffing and wiping at her cheeks. "No, you haven't failed, Christopher, I promise." She hesitated before moving to take off her gloves, laying them in her lap before reaching up to press the backs of her fingers against his cheek, the gesture gentle and surprisingly full of emotion. "You haven't failed me."

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	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 07:29 pm UTC (link)
	In a swift gesture Christopher took her hand from his face, held her palm and kissed her fingertips lightly, before stroking the place his lips had touched and looking at her with a soft smile. She looked so tragically beautiful without the veil with her eyes shining. Christopher pushed that thought away. "You are kind, Thérèse. I hope I do not fail you ever." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laduchesse 2008-05-29 07:41 pm UTC (link)
	Thérèse's heart jumped at his actions, swallowing thickly and watching him. He was so handsome, so gentle, and she had to close her eyes, her head dipping. She didn't move her hand, simply letting out a slow breath before reopening her eyes to look up at him again. "You're never going to. I don't think you could." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

blakethesecond
2008-05-29 07:44 pm UTC (link)

Christopher scolded himself on the inside yet still he managed to smile. "For someone who has been hurt so badly you are very quick to trust. I admire it and condone it at the same time... you remind me of myself, and yet you have survived better than I. You are grieving properly, as people should. With respect." He sighed, turning to look out of the window. "Not turn your grief into an angry vow to avenge a lover's death."

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	laduchesse 2008-05-29 07:55 pm UTC (link)
	Thérèse let her hand drop, chewing her lip for a moment before she spoke again. "A lover?" She could've guessed, really. "How... how did she die?" She asked tentatively, trying to gauge whether he'd answer or not, whether she was going too far. She didn't want to press him. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 07:57 pm UTC (link)
	Christopher chuckled, devoid of mirth before he shook his head. "She was not even a lover of mine. Just a woman I was in love with. She met her end by the Guillotine." He prayed that was explanation enough but then Thérèse might wish to know more. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laduchesse 2008-05-29 08:09 pm UTC (link)
	Thérèse didn't want to press anymore. She didn't want to bring up painful memories, and she knew how awful that was. "So we're in the same boat," She murmured, leaning back in her seat. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise. I'm sorry for those things I said..." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	Not exactly in the same boat, Thérèse. "Do not think of them. Let us just... get back to the estate. It has been a tiring day." More than tiring, really - completely exhausting but he did not want to reveal that. "Do you still require dinner to your room?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laduchesse 2008-05-29 10:15 pm UTC (link)
	Thérèse shook her head, wetting her lips before shifting a little closer and laying her hand fondly over his. "No. I think I'll take it in the dining room, if you'll still have me?" The memory of his kisses against her fingertips fluttered in her chest and she tried to ignore it, giving him a little smile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	blakethesecond 2008-05-29 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	Thérèse's smile warmed his heart and he returned it gladly. "I will still have you at my dining table, if you will smile for me as nice as you do now." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	laduchesse 2008-05-29 10:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Of course," She murmured, his own smile inciting much the same reaction in her. "I'll smile for you as often as you like, for when you are around, it's generally all I feel like doing." She slid down in her seat a little way, giving him another, wider smile, and sighing quietly. (Reply to this) (Parent)

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