InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "MERF MERF!"

Jacques Belmont (jacques_belmont) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-05-09 07:34:00

Entry tags:

emilie_ashford, jacques_belmont, leon_belmont, lucrete_vernet

Subject: Lunch and an Introduction
Where: Jacques's office in the Embassy
Who: Jacques Belmon
Warnings: None
Open to: Lucrète Vernet and Léon Belmont

Jacques did not particularly enjoy his work , but since it was in the name of France, he worked at it with all the energy he possessed. He leaned back in his chair, shaking out his cramped hand, to examine the final draft of a letter to the British foreign secretary. The English was finally correct, the handwriting neat, the tone professional and even- good.

He pu the letter to the side to dry, then washed his hands and checked his pocket watch. Almost noon; Lucrète would come soon.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-05-10 02:19 pm UTC (link)

Léon raised his eyebrow a little higher as his son flushed, but he said nothing of it, merely gave the young lady his attention. "Ah, Citizeness, I hope you did not find the journey too exhausting?" He asked, inclining his head to her with a smile. "Your stay in England will not be permanent? There are already too many of our kin here that should be back across the Channel."

He looked back to his son, "No, Jacques, I would not take up any more of your time this afternoon. If Citizeness Vernet has only just arrived, you must explore London together. I should you would have much more fun there than helping me with the accounts. I shall leave them until you return and concentrate on the Warrants." He says, gathering up the papers and carefully setting them down on the young man's desk.

And then he looked to the lady again, "Take care of him, if you will, Mademoiselle, he is the only capable member of staff I employ. He will wander off into the Thames if someone does not stop him." He grin widens, "As he did when he was a child, into the Seine."

Politeness was of course important, Léon knew that, and he had been, but what sort of father would he be if he did not tease his unruly son? He could not tease him properly in front of his lady friend, of course, that would have been rude, but it would provide no end of amusement for the next few days. And it would give him something to think about tomorrow on his journey to Kent. Why, of course, they could not make arrests without him, he did not know, but Kent was where he was going tomorrow. And perhaps, tonight, he would even discuss it with Jacques.

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la_jacobine
2008-05-10 04:13 pm UTC (link)

"Indeed it will not be permanent, Citoyen Belmont," Lucrète said and stepped into the room. "I have no desire to abandon my country. I am, however, a friend of your son and when he wrote me a letter inviting me to visit him, how could I resist?" She smiled indulgently, as if asking how anyone could ever resist a summons by Jacques Belmont.

"Though I must say, Citoyen, it is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. I find it very lonely on foreign soil and I find it very comforting to know there are more French citizens here with me." She thought that perhaps Jacques might find her friendliness towards his father odd, given their earlier conversation. However, there was no reason to immediately assume the worst, and she was genuinely curious to know this man. "I confess, I have heard a great deal about you from Jacques." She tactfully refrained from saying what exactly she had heard.

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-05-10 04:30 pm UTC (link)

"One should never turn down the opportunity to travel when one is young and free. I did in my youth, and have always regretted it." He smiles, and looks back to his son. "I am glad you both are enjoying yourselves."

"Ah." Léon said, as if this information explained everything. "No doubt none of it good?" He said, "It is my fault, of course. I was not in the most pleasant of moods on the day Jacques arrived, and I know now I was too short tempered with him. After his journey, I suppose he was not in need of a bad-tempered old man telling him how to behave." He shrugged, "No young people enjoy that, do they, Citizeness?"

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	jacques_belmont 2008-05-10 04:40 pm UTC (link)
	Jacques flushed again. Why was he always doing and saying the wrong thing around his father? "Thank you," he said, rather stiffly. "Ah... might I see the unfamiliar handwriting?" He focused on that, deeply embarrassed and tried to avoid having to speak. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_the_ambas216 2008-05-10 04:51 pm UTC (link)
	Léon nodded, handing over the papers again. "It is in the two incorrect columns. It is not mine, nor it is Hugos, and I do not believe it to be yours." He explained, pointing to the two changed figures. "But you can look at these after your lunch, Jacques. You should know not to keep an attractive young woman waiting, especially one who has come so far at your request!" (Reply to this) (Parent)

la_jacobine
2008-05-10 04:53 pm UTC (link)

"I have not been in England long enough to form an opinion of it," she said politely, "Though I have read a great deal about it... And you needn't worry, Citoyen, your son spoke of you quite respectfully." Alright, she was lying, but Lucrète supposed that Jacques had been respectful enough given what he could have said about Léon.

She walked over to Jacques' desk and looked down at the work on it. "I'm not interrupting anything, I hope?"

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jacques_belmont
2008-05-10 10:41 pm UTC (link)

Jacques stared rather fixedly at the sheet of paper. Just what was his father trying to do? The compliments bewildered him and made him on edge and uneasy. "Euh, no."

Good show, Jacques. How much more vague could he be? "I mean, no, this isn't my handwriting and no, you aren't interrupting, Citoyenne Vernet." He looked up at her and glanced very quickly at his father in an unspoken question- 'are you satisfied?'

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ex_the_ambas216
2008-05-11 09:25 am UTC (link)

"Very well, Jacques." Léon said, taking the papers from him. "It is a matter which will need investigation. But if can wait till after lunch." He says, smiling again at the pair of them.

"Now, I refuse to delay you any longer. Citizeness, you are most charming, but I can not allow myself to be distracted from my work." He inclines his head to her, "I hope I shall meet you again at a more convenient time? Perhaps you should join us for supper at some point?" He offers.

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	la_jacobine 2008-05-11 10:46 am UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Citoyen, I would be honored to join you for supper. I look forward to it." She smiled at Léon, then turned to Jacques. "Shall we?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jacques_belmont 2008-05-11 01:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes," Jacques said, extremely relieved to be out of such a deeply uncomfortable situation. He stood and offered her his arm. "Thank you father. I will see you later." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

la_jacobine
2008-05-11 02:24 pm UTC (link)

Lucrète gave one last polite smile to Léon before leaving the room on Jacques' arm. "He does not strike me as a wicked man," she said quietly to Jacques, "But I suspect that is all the worse. There is something admirably straightforward about those who openly declare themselves to be our enemies. Our true enemies are the ones who pretend they are our friends and then conspire behind our backs..." She thought back to what Jacques had told her about Léon's activities in England. "Those who wear the tricolor, but host balls for emigrés." She shook her head as they walked out of the Embassy.

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jacques_belmont
2008-05-11 10:23 pm UTC (link)

Jacques sighed in relief as soon as they walked out of the Embassy, his shoulder slumping. He had had no idea he'd been that tense. "That was supremel uncomfortable. I am sorry for making you go through that."

He ruffled his hair. "You are right. I have no idea what he means by being so striaghtforward and... polite, almost. He complimented me." Jacques couldn't help but sound bewildered at that. "What did he mean by it?"

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	miss_emilie_ash 2008-05-12 05:23 pm UTC (link)
	Emilie felt her heart skip a beat as she caught sight of Msr Belmont coming out of the Embassy. Her face lit up enchantingly with the glow she felt, inside, upon seeing him again. "Msr Belmont!" she said brightly, dipping into a curtsy. She turned to his female companion and offered another beautiful smile. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	la_jacobine 2008-05-12 06:18 pm UTC (link)
	"Bonjour," Lucrète greeted her and gave Jacques a questioning glance. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jacques_belmont 2008-05-12 09:06 pm UTC (link)
	"Bonjour," Jacques replied, slightly puzzled. "Do... ah. Miss Ashford. We met at, euh... Vauxhall? I hope you are well? This is Citoyenne Lucrète Vernet. Lucrète, this is Miss Emilie Ashford." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

miss_emilie_ash
2008-05-12 09:30 pm UTC (link)

Emilie tried to hide her disappointment at his not remembering her immediately.
"Yes, it was Vauxhall Gardens. I helped you with an out of date guide pamphlet. I am tolerably well, I thank you." She offered a hand gloved in sky blue kid to Citoyenne Vernet and gave her a warm smile, as disappointment never lingered long in Emilie. She hoped neither would notice her gloves were heavy for the fine weather. She also hoped they did not see the bruise on her right wrist, where Lord _____ had twisted it the night before, that she was trying to hide with those gloves.
"Bonjour, la Madame, si très agréable de vous rencontrer. Avez-vous été à Londres longtemps ?"

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la_jacobine
2008-05-12 09:57 pm UTC (link)

Lucrète stiffened slightly when Emilie addressed her as "Madame," but she supposed that she must get used to it. Of course the English would not understand to use the new forms of address. Nevertheless, she smiled back at her, not wanting to get worked up over as what was a well-intended greeting. As she shook her hand, Lucrète could not help but notice that her gloves seemed a touch out of season. As a supporter of the Revolution, she had eschewed the superfluous frivolities of fashion, but she was still a Frenchwoman and she noticed these things. While discretely inspecting the gloves, she also saw the bruise that Emilie was trying to conceal. There were many legitimate reasons for her to have a bruise on her wrist, so Lucrète did not think too much of it, but nevertheless she noted it.

"Non, je ne suis qu'arrivée depuis quelques jours, merci." She smiled. "Je suis vraiment sensible au votre effort de m'accueillir... But I think my English is sufficient to maintain a conversation. Besides, I must improve, no?" She glanced at Jacques. If this woman was a friend of his, she didn't want to send her packing. "Citoyen Belmont and I were just on our way to lunch. We would be honored if you cared to join us."

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miss_emilie_ash
2008-05-13 12:41 am UTC (link)

Emilie bit her lip when she caught the slight flinch in Lucrète's face when she said Madame.

"Your English is lovely, Citizeness Vernet." She enthused. "And only a short while here? I hope you intend to stay a bit longer. I hope London will be full up with interesting people, such as yourself and Citizen Belmont, as soon as may be!"

She looked at Citizen Belmont. Her upbringing was making it a bit difficult to not think Monsieur, but she respected people and their wishes.
"I would be most delighted to join you, if it is no trouble. And I promise to not lead you into any disreputable establishments, Citizen Belmont."

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jacques_belmont
2008-05-14 03:19 am UTC (link)

Jacques bowed. "It would be a pleasure if you joined us, Miss Ashford."

He was not particularly perceptive when it came to fashion and thus noticed nothing more than the fact that Emilie was wearing gloves. He smiled at little at the last. "I wandered into Vauxhall on my own, Miss Ashford. It was my fault for being in a disreputable area. I trust you to guide us somewhere."

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	la_jacobine 2008-05-14 03:58 am UTC (link)
	"Vauxhall?" Lucrète did not know what that was, but it already sounded amusing that Jacques would have found his way there. "Please, Miss Ashford, lead us somewhere pleasant. We are at your disposal." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

miss_emilie_ash
2008-05-15 03:50 am UTC (link)

Emilie smiled and felt sure that she was welcomed along now.
"Oh! There is a small tea shoppe just a few streets over. We can take my carriage, or walk if you wish, for the day is very fine and the streets we will go over aren't muddy today!"

She was happy to meet new people, and most happy to have a chance to talk to Citizen Belmont again. She looked at Lucrete for a moment, suddenly wondering if she was a love interest for Jacques.

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	la_jacobine 2008-05-15 04:05 am UTC (link)
	(Let's start a new thread when they get to the restaurant. This is getting very far down.) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miss_emilie_ash 2008-05-15 04:25 am UTC (link)
	(ooc) sounds good to me (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	jacques_belmont 2008-05-17 03:11 am UTC (link)
	(ooc: Internet fixed! Shall we have them arrive at the resturant?) (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	la_jacobine 2008-05-19 03:52 pm UTC (link)
	(Sure, go ahead and start a new post for that, as this is way back). (Reply to this) (Parent)

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