InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "RAWR"

only_daughter (only_daughter) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-22 20:51:00

Entry tags:

character_development, christine_aubert, patience_hurst

Patience Hurst: Will not gossip in ignorance.
Subject: Not to be ignorant.
Who: Patience Hurst
Where: Aubert Estate
Warnings: None
Open to: Christine Aubert, Merek Aubert

Patience was in a restless mood since the party. She had made the acquaintance of so many fine men and had had so many dances that she was no longer sure of Lady Gwendolyn holding a Salon to discuss the French Problem when there where quite the adequate number of young British men interested in perusing her favour, and other foreigners besides Monsieur Laurent.

One of those, Monsieur Aubert, had been mentioned rather frequently since Patience had met him and not always in the most favourable light. He had been a strange and informal creature but still rather charming and Patience was most put out to hear that he had brought with him a blonde, fragile girl. He’d not mentioned a wife and the description hardly fitted the idea of a family member.

If not for Mina’s influence then Patience would have quite happily named the girl a strumpet and gone on her way but gossip about herself had convinced her, as well as her good friend’s council, had convinced her to meet the young woman for herself before dismissing her as a mistress.

Dressed in her finest, with a basket of treats in hand – she could hardly turn up uninvited without a gift – Patience knocked upon the door to the house wondering what lay in store for her inside and if it might not be too late to turn back.

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ladychristine
2008-08-22 02:58 pm UTC (link)

Christine had been so very busy since her brother Merek had brought her home. After buying a large supply of furnishings and drapes to decorate the house, Christine was now busy directing servants where to re-arrange it. She had had several thoughts since yesterday of new positions and looks for the salon and was keen to have it just right. She was not prepared for company - she had originally wanted to throw a huge soiree to bless the house and christen it for many parties to come, but as the servant announced a Miss Patience Hurst, the name rang a loud bell in her ear and her interest was immediately piqued.

"Do show her in," she told the servant, and when the girl entered Christine curtsied and smiled brightly. "Miss Hurst - a pleasure to meet you."

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only_daughter
2008-08-22 03:08 pm UTC (link)

“Miss,” Patience said, setting her basket down on the nearest table so she could curtsy back. The lady was rather pretty, there was no point in denying it and so very pale and delicate as had been described to her, although a name had not been mentioned in the gossip she had heard.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage as you know my name but I’m afraid I have not yet heard yours.”

She picked up her basket again, uncovering it to show the young woman its content. “I thought a house warming gift would not be out of the question. I’m afraid it is nothing grand – a salt ham for your kitchen and lavender bunches to keep your linens fresh but I understand when one has moved food and simple pleasures are often the last things on ones mind.”

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ladychristine
2008-08-22 06:51 pm UTC (link)

Considering Christine was not exactly fluent in English she was doing rather well in understanding this girl. With a smile and nod of her head, she replied "I am Lady Christine Aubert. I believe I heard your name mentioned in a conversation between Merek and one of his friends, if I remember correctly."

Her eyes lit up on the thought of presents and though she thought Miss Hurst's demeaner rather curt Christine chose to forget this for the moment. "On the contrary, those are the things I was most in need of! The house is still in very much of a state, I hope you forgive me - the drapes are not yet hanging properly and Merek insists on doing nothing to help..."

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	only_daughter 2008-08-23 07:34 am UTC (link)
	"I'm afraid Merek mentioned nothing of you to me, but we met only briefly at my father's party." Patience said, looking around the impressive household. "No, no. It is quite delightful and I'm sure when it's finished it will be the envy of many of a young lady. You have chosen the decoration yourself I suppose?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ladychristine
2008-08-23 07:51 am UTC (link)

"I cannot imagine he would. He was angry at me at the time," she reasoned, going to a vase nearby and re-arranging the flowers momentarily as she passed to gesture to the sofa and say "Please, sit. Oui, Merek does not like trivial things such as decoration. I even have to pick out his wardrobe for him. I think even then he decides to wear his more comfortable attire."

Christine waited for her guest to sit before seating herself. "To what do I owe the honour of this visit? Would you like refreshments?"

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only_daughter
2008-08-23 11:00 am UTC (link)

“Curiosity, I must admit.” Patience said, settling in the chair and smoothing down the skirts of her dress. Christine Aubert? His wife then. The way she spoke suggested as much although Patience had not seen a wedding ring on her finger. “I’ve heard a little about you and wanted to find out for myself what you were like, and who you were. I find gossip is often more interested in what story might be there than the truth.”

“May I ask you how you know Monsieur Aubert? I don’t mean to be too forward but are you his wife?”

“A little refreshment would be lovely. Do you have any tea?”

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ladychristine
2008-08-23 12:05 pm UTC (link)

"People are gossiping about me already? What fun!" Christine beamed, settling down as if to hear a story when she found herself laughing at Patience's question. "Merek? He is my brother! It is true we do not look alike - but he has travelled all over the world. I take more after my mother, it would seem, but dear Lord no! Please spread the word that I am his sibling, single, and very much looking for a suitor."

She grinned widely, good naturedly at her guest before asking one of the passing servants for tea and biscuits.

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only_daughter
2008-08-23 12:23 pm UTC (link)

“Your brother!” Patience exclaimed, both surprised and rather delighted by that turn of events. She was rather confused as to why she was so happy to learn that Miss Christine was Merek’s sister rather than wife or mistress but she dismissed those worries from her mind. That was not important now. She knew something the gossip vine did not and that pleased her greatly.

“Oh I will, of course! There are ever-so-many young men looking for a wife. My own brother’s Charles and Simon to name but a few.” She said, deciding that the young woman was quite enchanting now she knew she was not a woman of ill-virtue and that they should form a friendship. “But you shouldn’t be surprised there was gossip. A strange, beautiful French woman newly arrived? You couldn’t stop tongues from wagging about something so exciting. Have you escaped that dreadful revolution too?”

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ladychristine
2008-08-23 12:56 pm UTC (link)

If there was one thing Christine knew well it was girls, and her interest was piqued when she noticed Patience's sudden change in demeanor towards her. With a curious smile Christine nodded, rearranged herself on the sofa to look better at her guest and replied.

"No doubt I am considered strange! I wandered around London for five days just to get to know the city and that was bound to cause some sort of ripple among society - my dear Merek found me one miserable day and brought me back home." She smiled at the memory. "It so very different to France. You have a wider range of men, too." It was meant to be a compliment, but also simply an observation. There were a great deal of uglier men here as well as good looking ones. "My brother... he returned to France once he knew of the uprising and sought to bring me to safety in case I got into danger."

She opted to leave out the information on her father. That would never do among the chitter chatter.

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	only_daughter 2008-08-23 01:33 pm UTC (link)
	Patience was rather surprised at the comment on the men folk of England, and unsure of how to take it but she smiled. “Oh, yes. Our men are quite individual, you shan’t find the like in France.” “How kind of your brother and how exciting for you. Was it a daring rescue? Or simply good timing?” (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

ladychristine
2008-08-23 02:47 pm UTC (link)

"It was..." Christine looked as if she were attempting to find the right word when really she did not wish to speak much on the subject. "It was very brave of him to do what he did. He ferried a great number of our family from the country. He is a good man."

As the servant brought the refreshments Christine brightened and waited for her tea to be poured. "You must introduce me to the eligible bachelors London has to offer. I hear there are many.."

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only_daughter
2008-08-23 03:08 pm UTC (link)

It was quite plain to Patience that Christine did not wish to discuss her escape from France, which made it all the more impossibly tempting for Patience but she restrained herself from questioning. There would come a time, maybe, when the young woman was willing to talk.

“Oh, I will!” She said, taking a cup from the servant and sipping at it. “There are quite a lot, and I must admit the awful happenings in your country have brought quite the number of fine young French men to our door.” Struck by a thought she smiled widely. “Why speaking of that, my dear Cousin, the next Lord Worthington, would be a most excellent match. His sister is an eccentric of the French Court and takes after their mother but he is superbly English although he spent his childhood in Versailles. Their father was the English Ambassador there. ”

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ladychristine
2008-08-23 05:23 pm UTC (link)

"He sounds very fascinating," Christine agreed, but then she was reluctant to be paired with relatives. People did think so highly of their family that occasionally they could not see where they fell short. Something Christine had never been able to understand, but still - if he was to be a Lord she could at least meet him if Patience was willing to introduce them. After sipping her tea and pausing a moment she looked at her guest with a smile.

"What about you? Do you have any suitors in your midst?"

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only_daughter
2008-08-24 08:26 am UTC (link)

“Oh he is.” Patience said, blowing a little on her tea to cool it down. “Of course there are also the Blake’s – they’re a fine old family with three sons, and the new Lord Wexley is without a young lady to walk out with and then there is Miles Rochester, who had a very promising career in front of him should he give up his dreadful writing.”

“Me? Not at the moment. There have been one or two dances and strolls outside in the moonlight but that’s all the fun of parties, isn’t it?”

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ladychristine
2008-08-24 09:49 am UTC (link)

"All these fine men I have yet to meet - there is an abundance! I shall have to meet every last one of them." And Christine meant it, too. She was not one to choose a husband when she hadn't yet met all there was on offer. A frown appeared at her new friend's answer.

"Oui, fun of the parties, but I do think there needs to be just a tad more. I know we are young but many women have already snaffled up fine figures of men because they simply stopped having as much fun before we did. They took it more seriously. A dreadful thought, to give up fun."

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only_daughter
2008-08-24 10:04 am UTC (link)

"Oh, then we should most certainly host more balls. They are the only place to really meet young men, and I am assured you can tell by the way a man dances if he would be a good husband. After all, if he is frightened to ask you and then forgets his steps he'd obviously be meek in other aspects of his life and you would never find yourself proud of his achievements." Patience said, distinctly unimpressed with the idea of marrying such a weak specimen of manhood.

“I do intend to be married before I reach twenty.” She said, taking another sip of her tea. “I’m sure there is so much fun one can have married – after all, there is the engagement party and the wedding breakfast and travelling to far flung family to introduce your new beloved, and a honeymoon. I think I will go to Bath, I hear the social season there is divine and the shopping most wonderful.”

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