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Léon Belmont (ex_the_ambas216) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-03-28 07:54:00

Entry tags:

ambassadors_ball, leon_belmont

An Invitation to the French Ambassador's Ball
Subject: The Ambassadors Ball
Where: The French Embassy
Who: Léon Belmont, the French Ambassador to the English court
Warnings: none as yet
Open to: All (all players may attend either as invited guests of the ambassador, as servants or guests of those invited, as staff, or as gate-crashers.)

The ballroom of the Embassy was already growing busy, and when Citizen Belmont paused for a moment besides one of the large windows, he could see yet more carriages pulling up outside, wreathed in the mist blowing in from the river.

The quartet had been playing now for a good half an hour, new French tunes as well as those the English favoured. His staff was busy handing out good French wine, and then refilling those glasses when they were drained.

It was going to be a good evening, and not only in the eyes of the party-goers. With some of England’s most prominent aristos on the guest list, and some than some newly arrived French nationals, tonight would be a night of information gathering, of sizing up the opposition, and perhaps even ensuring some of those French escapees were returned to face justice.

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ofthemasses
2008-04-22 02:12 pm UTC (link)

"Oh, yes, very impressive," he said jovially. He had a second glass of champagne now, though he was being careful which how much he drank. Too much drink made it far too easy to forget the story he was holding himself to. "I cannot say that I have ever been to an affair quite so extravagant as this." Which held perfectly to his tale of filling in for his father.

"I do not believe we have met yet, sir." He bowed slightly and extended his hand. "Bartholomew Heyward, sir. A pleasure to meet you."

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the_legman
2008-04-22 03:43 pm UTC (link)

"No, the ambassador does seem to have excelled himself this time." His reply was equally as cheery and he nodded, a bit too quickly if he was being honest but it never hurt to give the impression that you were more inebriated than you actually were. "Is this your first ball?"

"I'd be surprised if we had, Monsieur, my work does not often bring me to this fair country." He took Bartholomew's hand and shook it eagerly, "Ferrand Duval, a pleasure also." The name didn't ring any bells to do with the companies or merchants he knew but that meant next to nothing when one thought of how many businesses there were in England alone.

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ofthemasses
2008-04-24 12:48 pm UTC (link)

He smiled genially. "It is my first. My father was meant to attend, but Elisabeth, by sister, fell ill, and he did not want to leave her side. Of course, we couldn't have the family unrepresented, he said, so.." He made a small gesture and chuckled a bit. "I must say, though, Elisabeth has wonderful timing. I'm very glad I did not miss this."

"What work do you do?" he asked, easily. He smiled and took another drink of his champagne. Was this man French? He sounded it, and yet he didn't. Then again, Tolly had to remember that he'd only met a few French speakers in his life, and not everyone in England spoke the same way.

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the_legman
2008-04-24 03:24 pm UTC (link)

"A stroke of luck on your part then, Monsieur, but my sympathies to your father and sister both." It was strange that he was so blasé about his sister's illness, especially if it were serious enough that his father stayed behind, but perhaps they weren't that close. "Still, I think this might be a fine start to your attendance at these events; a good mix of people and a chance to make your own connections outside the influence of your father."

"I'm a reporter for the Québec Gazette, amongst others, but I won't fault you if you're not a reader," he added with a smile, "it might be a little difficult for you to get hold of. Might I ask your family's business?"

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ofthemasses
2008-04-25 04:27 pm UTC (link)

He gave a small smile, as though aware of how heartless he'd sounded about his sister. "My father does not trust doctors, and he fears that every fever is scarlet fever and such. I've no doubt that she is in fair health and merely a little ill." He had to remember to act like he actually had a family he cared about. Unlike the actual situation, where he didn't know where half his family was and didn't care.

"Québec? Ah, Canada, yes? Well, I hope that you enjoy your time in England, sir." He smiled. "My father is a merchant, specializing in silver."

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the_legman
2008-04-25 09:34 pm UTC (link)

He nodded, understanding the father's concern, with city life as it was there was always the possibility that something dismissed as a minor sickness could always turn out to be more serious.

"Ah, then he must do quite well for himself. This country has quite a busy silver industry, does it not?" It was one of the reasons the English had been so interested in his country and the rumours of the native silver there. So far there'd been little luck on the part of the prospectors but much of the place was still unexplored. "I expect it takes him all sorts of places. Do you get to travel much with him?"

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